HENRICO COUNTY, Va. -- A church headquartered in Glen Allen plans to host a sermon series starting the Sunday after Valentine's Day, and it's based on the popular book series about a sexually-explicit relationship between a college student and a businessman, known by its popular title, “Fifty Shades of Grey.”
Pastor Rick McDaniel, of the Richmond Community Church in Glen Allen, plans to tackle topics like adultery, divorce, co-habitation, gay marriage and pornography in the series he has titled "5 Shades of Grey."
“I want them to have a positive view of sexuality, but I want them to understand the dangers that are out there,” McDaniel said.
The series coincides with the release of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ the movie, which is based on the first book of the best-selling trilogy by E.L. James.
“What they get involved in would not be the kinds of things that I believe would please God,” McDaniel said about the relationship between the two main characters.
Fandango, a website used to buy movie tickets, said pre-release ticket sales are better than usual in Southern Bible belt states.
Pastor McDaniel said that`s exactly the reason why he`s doing this sermon series.
“A lot of mothers and women are interested in it, erotica whatever you want to call it, and that tells me there is something going on that needs to be addressed,” McDaniel said.
And, although some do not understand what all the fuss is about, others say there are definitely lessons to be learned.
“There`s always people that are gonna take movies way too seriously, this is just supposed to be fun,” said Robin Seagraves, who is planning to see the film.
“These are areas that we`ve all struggled in, and have people in our lives that have struggled in, and so I know that it will help,” Randy Vaughn, who is a member of Richmond Community Church, said.
Fandango said shows for the racy movie are already sold out in Fredericksburg, Roanoke, Danville, and Winchester. A quick look at the website for Cinebistro cinemas at Stony Point Shopping Center indicates that several shows are sold out over the opening weekend as well.
The pastor said "all are welcome to the 9:30 and 11 a.m. sermons." Click here for more information.
The sermon chapters are planned as follows:
February 15 – Affair Proof Your Marriage
February 22 – Till Death Do Us Part
March 1 – Poison Of Porn
March 8 – Cohabitation Station
March 15 – A Moral Impossibility
