Movie “Redeemed” Presents the Question: What is Adultery?

“But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” ~ Matthew 5:28

Redeemed, opens with Paul Tyson (played by Ted McGinley) having it all. He is happily married, planning his 20-year wedding vows renewal ceremony. He is the devoted father of two adorable children. His company is on the brink of a multi-billion dollar product release, certainly the biggest deal of his career. Finances may be tight as he has maxed out his entire line of credit to pay for the venture, but the pay off for his product looms imminently close. We see Paul’s strong work relationships, his commitment to his family, and his involvement in church.

Enter Julia. Brazilian beauty. Gorgeous and perfectly proportioned, she has been sent by a potential funder to perform an inward audit to determine the true value of the company’s new product versus the debt that is piling up against it. Her unexpected arrival throws Paul’s company into chaos. Things start out innocently enough but Paul allows his attraction to Julia to morph into consuming lust, and his marriage, relationships with his family, church commitments and business suffer the consequences.

The movie poses an interesting question: What is adultery? Is it the act of sex between two people when one (or both) is already committed in marriage to another? Or can it also be pursuing emotional intimacy with someone other than your spouse? Redeemed does an incredible job of showing just how easy it can be to fall into the trap of sin. Within sin’s grip, we lose sight of what really matters and forget what the cost of this season’s pleasure will be. Sin takes over every aspect of our life and becomes the guiding principal for our actions. The movie shows that, as Christians, it is essential to stay connected to God. Only by remaining close to Him do we have the power to resist the devil’s enticements.

“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).

This movie is a perfect wake up call for those already committed in marriage. Its poignant warning should be heard! That being said, I would say it is not a good fit for a family with small children. It opens the door to topics that parents may not wish to go into quite yet such as sex, adultery, business ethics, etc. There are some very tense scenes between the couple, some exposing zoom-in shots of Julia’s body, and a therapist who mocks the Bible and encourages Paul to have an affair. That being said, there is no nudity and no profanity or anything else that compromises one’s standards when watching.

Do you think the Bible’s definition of adultery includes emotional affairs? What plans do you have in effect to avoid temptation?