This painting is entitled, “La Liseuse” (The Reader). It was painted by Renoir in 1877. At this point in history many women were fighting for their freedoms and personal liberty. While they desired equality in many areas of life, I’m not sure this is exactly what they had in mind…
In an article titled, “‘Magic Mike’ & ‘Fifty Shades’ Break Down Sexual Boundaries For Women,” the author, Nicole Karlis, gets what many Christian women don’t. Here are a few quotes from her short article:
“From men taking off their shirts in ‘Magic Mike’ to Anastasia Steele embracing adventurous sex in ’50 Shades of Grey’ — this summer is all about leveling the playing field when it comes to sexually objectifying men and women in society.”
“…modern day women are embarking on a new sexual revolution and pop culture has proved to be on board for the wild ride.”
“50 Shades of Grey has sparked worldwide controversy because of its sexually explicit content, andMagic Mike — starring Channing Tatum — is all about male strippers! And the best part is women of all ages aren’t embarrassed to shout from the mountain top that that’s the book they’re reading or the movie they can’t wait to see this summer.” (emphasis mine)
“This is a new kind of sexual revolution. For once women can be open about exploring their sexuality — specifically through pop culture — and aren’t looked down upon. Women of all ages are reading 50 Shades Of Grey. When I visited my grandparents in South Florida, almost every old lady at the country club was reading the erotic novel! And nobody gossiped negatively about it.”
She is dead on in her analysis. This is an attack on women. An older survey found:
28% those admitting to sexual addiction are women (internet-filter-review.com).
34% of female readers of Today’s Christian Woman’s online newsletter admitted to intentionally accessing Internet porn in a recent poll and 1 out of every 6 women, including Christians, struggles with an addiction to pornography (Today’s Christian Woman, Fall 2003).
The Enemy already has large numbers of men addicted to a pornographic industry that is ripping families apart. This must be seen for what it is, especially within the church. This is the Enemy’s attempt to divide and conquer the family. Now, some of you will say that this is not pornography. You may be right, but if it’s close enough that we have to have this discussion, surely you could see that it is a “gateway” to pornography. Why would you want to get close to this edge?
As I write this, my heart is breaking. I see people I love and care greatly about being led astray on a path that will not end well for them. Some are close friends, some are family, some are new friends, some are old acquaintances, some are virtually strangers, but the pastor in me is hurting for the decisions they are making. They are buying the culture’s lies wholesale.
I heard a teacher on the radio this past week address this issue in this way. He stated that Christians are saying, “God’s love is so great that personal holiness does not matter.” This is an old antinomian argument, but as I thought about that statement, I was convicted because the truth is; God’s love and mercy are so great because personal holiness does matter.
In fact, we are given the command in 1 Peter 1:13-15, “13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
Before you get too far, I want you to hear my heart. I’m not saying that I don’t want you to read that book, watch that movie, visit that website, or go through with that questionable action. To simply say, “Don’t do it!” would be legalistic. What I am saying, is that I want you and I to so love Christ that we don’t want to do those things; that we so love Christ that the culture does not matter that much to us. My earnest prayer is that you and I will be so filled and fulfilled by the love and presence of Christ that we don’t feel like we’re missing out on anything this world has to offer.
The question is this, is God’s grace/mercy/love so great that personal holiness does not matter, or is God’s grace/mercy/love so great because personal holiness does matter? Don’t bother answering, our attitudes and actions have already answered for us. Choose Christ, not Culture.
17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
-1 Peter 1:17-21-
So, before your women’s ministry at church goes out to watch “Magic Mike” or you Christian book circle gets to into “50 Shades of Grey”, maybe you will see the snare that the Enemy has set for you?
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This Time Hollywood Gets It While Christian Women Don’t…
Jul 12
Posted by Jeremy A. Byrd
This painting is entitled, “La Liseuse” (The Reader). It was painted by Renoir in 1877. At this point in history many women were fighting for their freedoms and personal liberty. While they desired equality in many areas of life, I’m not sure this is exactly what they had in mind…
In an article titled, “‘Magic Mike’ & ‘Fifty Shades’ Break Down Sexual Boundaries For Women,” the author, Nicole Karlis, gets what many Christian women don’t. Here are a few quotes from her short article:
She is dead on in her analysis. This is an attack on women. An older survey found:
The Enemy already has large numbers of men addicted to a pornographic industry that is ripping families apart. This must be seen for what it is, especially within the church. This is the Enemy’s attempt to divide and conquer the family. Now, some of you will say that this is not pornography. You may be right, but if it’s close enough that we have to have this discussion, surely you could see that it is a “gateway” to pornography. Why would you want to get close to this edge?
As I write this, my heart is breaking. I see people I love and care greatly about being led astray on a path that will not end well for them. Some are close friends, some are family, some are new friends, some are old acquaintances, some are virtually strangers, but the pastor in me is hurting for the decisions they are making. They are buying the culture’s lies wholesale.
I heard a teacher on the radio this past week address this issue in this way. He stated that Christians are saying, “God’s love is so great that personal holiness does not matter.” This is an old antinomian argument, but as I thought about that statement, I was convicted because the truth is; God’s love and mercy are so great because personal holiness does matter.
In fact, we are given the command in 1 Peter 1:13-15, “13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
Before you get too far, I want you to hear my heart. I’m not saying that I don’t want you to read that book, watch that movie, visit that website, or go through with that questionable action. To simply say, “Don’t do it!” would be legalistic. What I am saying, is that I want you and I to so love Christ that we don’t want to do those things; that we so love Christ that the culture does not matter that much to us. My earnest prayer is that you and I will be so filled and fulfilled by the love and presence of Christ that we don’t feel like we’re missing out on anything this world has to offer.
The question is this, is God’s grace/mercy/love so great that personal holiness does not matter, or is God’s grace/mercy/love so great because personal holiness does matter? Don’t bother answering, our attitudes and actions have already answered for us. Choose Christ, not Culture.
17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
-1 Peter 1:17-21-
So, before your women’s ministry at church goes out to watch “Magic Mike” or you Christian book circle gets to into “50 Shades of Grey”, maybe you will see the snare that the Enemy has set for you?
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