Voyeurism is the act of gaining sexual pleasure from watching others who are engaged in private or intimate behavior. This could include watching someone undress, engage in sexual relations, or any other activity where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy. Voyeurism is generally considered sinful within Christianity. Here’s an overview of what the Bible says about voyeurism and lust:
Voyeurism is a Form of Lust
Several biblical passages address lust and see it as sinful. Voyeurism inherently involves lustfully looking upon others. A few relevant verses include:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27-28)
This verse equates lustful looking with adultery. Voyeurism involves looking lustfully at people other than one’s spouse.
“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” (Colossians 3:5)
This verse lists “passion” and “evil desire” as sins to put to death. The lust involved in voyeurism would fall under these categories.
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor.” (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4)
Here, believers are instructed to control their own bodies and abstain from sexual immorality. Voyeurism is a lack of control over one’s sexual desires.
The consistent biblical theme is that lust is wrong and must be avoided. Voyeurism cannot happen without lust. So the act of voyeurism itself violates these biblical principles.
Voyeurism Objectifies Others
The Bible teaches that other people should be treated with dignity, not as objects of lust. Voyeurism turns people into objects of sexual gratification. They become a means to an end.
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27)
Every human is made in the image of God. Voyeurism fails to honor this.
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)
When caught, voyeurs often plead for forgiveness. But their actions fail to show kindness and compassion to others. Voyeurism uses others as a means for gratification.
“Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” (Romans 13:10)
Voyeurism clearly does wrong to neighbors by violating their privacy.
The objectification involved with voyeurism is the opposite of how the Bible tells us to treat others.
Voyeurism Damages Purity and Holiness
The Bible often speaks of pursuing purity, righteousness, and avoiding temptation. Voyeurism moves people in the opposite direction.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)
Purity of heart is praised here. But voyeurism reveals impure motivations and thoughts.
“Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.” (1 Corinthians 6:18)
This verse instructs believers to flee from sexual immorality. Voyeurism stems from immoral sexual desire.
“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman.” (Job 31:1)
Job had a covenant with himself to avoid lustful looking. Voyeurs break this same principle.
Overall, the Bible promotes moral purity in our thoughts and actions. But voyeurism moves people in a drastically immoral direction.
Voyeurism Violates Privacy
Privacy is a reasonable expectation. Yet voyeurism inherently violates privacy.
“Do not go about spreading slander among your people. Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:16)
Spreading private information or spying on others can endanger them. Voyeurism shows disregard for how it may affect them if caught.
“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” (Ephesians 5:11)
Voyeurism relies on secrecy and darkness. But the Bible tells us to avoid such deeds.
“He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord, but he who is devious in his ways despises him.” (Proverbs 14:2)
Voyeurism requires devious, secretive behavior. It is the opposite of uprightness.
Clearly, the sneaky invasion of privacy voyeurism requires is contradictory to biblical values.
Voyeurism Can Lead to Worse Sins
Occasionally, voyeurism escalates into more direct sexual assault or violence. But even when it doesn’t, it can lead to other issues like increased lust or pornographic obsessions.
“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” (James 1:14-15)
Sinful desires give birth to more sin when acted upon. Voyeurism can feed addictive sinful cycles.
“Flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22)
The lusts involved in voyeurism are youthful passions that must be avoided according to this verse. Righteousness and purity must be pursued instead.
“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.” (Colossians 3:5-6)
This verse explains that unchecked sinful desires like voyeurism can lead to God’s wrath.
Overall, voyeurism can easily lead to worse behaviors and consequences according to biblical principles. It’s wise to avoid it altogether.
Voyeurism Defiles Love and Marriage
Within marriage, intimacy is beautiful. But voyeurism defiles this in several ways.
Voyeurism Devalues Marital Intimacy
Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well. (Proverbs 5:15)
This verse poetically encourages faithfulness within marriage. But voyeurism diminishes the specialness of intimacy between spouses. It damages the “cistern” of marriage.
“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” (Hebrews 13:4)
Marriage is to be honored. But voyeurism defiles the marriage bed through sexual immorality.
Voyeurism Objectifies Spouses
Married voyeurs often view their spouse as an object of gratification. But the Bible instructs otherwise.
“In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.” (Ephesians 5:28)
Spouses should be treated lovingly, as an extension of oneself. But voyeurism treats spouses like commodities.
“Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life.” (1 Peter 3:7)
Wives deserve honor and understanding. Voyeurism undermines this.
Voyeurism Distorts Sexual Passion
The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. (1 Corinthians 7:3-4)
Within marriage, passion should be mutual. But voyeurism twists this into a one-sided obsession.
In summary, voyeurism within marriage fails to honor one’s spouse or marriage relationship. It distorts and defiles marital intimacy.
Forgiveness and Freedom are Possible
When caught in sinful patterns like voyeurism, the Bible offers hope through Christ:
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
Confession and repentance pave the way for God’s forgiveness. Those ashamed of their voyeurism can find grace.
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Victory over voyeurism is possible by God’s power. His strength can be relied on.
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.” (Titus 2:11-12)
God’s grace empowers believers to renounce ungodly passions and live upright lives. Freedom from voyeurism is attainable through Christ.
In summary, though voyeurism is sinful, forgiveness and freedom are available to all through God’s power and grace. The Bible offers hope for change to all who seek it.