Mike and I decided to get rid of cable/dish over a year ago and haven't really regretted it at all. Occasionally during football season he misses it, and I think with the upcoming Olympics we will miss not being able to watch all the different events. Because of this, I think we have lost a small amount of connection to Pop Media... we don't see commercials (unless we are watching the news in the evening, which rarely happens), we don't know what movies are out (unless we have seen a preview on a rented Red Box movie), we don't know what new shows are coming out, and I guess, maybe, we don't care anymore.
So when I started to hear about a new movie and a new book that was creating a buzz, I had to check it out. The movie was Magic Mike, the book, Fifty Shades of Grey. Before I go on... This is my personal opinion... if you don't agree, that is perfectly OK, its your choice. Also... I mean no condemnation or judgement. This is my personal decision based on my personal relationship with my Savior. I just really felt like I wanted to share this. I usually keep my political and personal opinions like this to myself because it is personal.... for me, my life, and marriage, my family, etc. I also am not looking at this from a sin perspective, for me, its more than that... I want to honor my husband and our marriage vows... not only physically, but mentally, spiritually, and emotionally.
Side note... this is most uncomfortable blog post I have ever written and I am not sure I will ever even post it. If I do... its because I felt very strongly that the Lord wanted me to post it.
Magic Mike. I haven't seen the movie and I will not be seeing it. Why? Because it is a movie about male strippers. I could end there. That's enough for me not to see it, but I want to explain why. If the movie where called Magic Melissa, I would be truly upset of my husband went to see it. A movie about strippers is a movie glorifying sex for sale. Its a movie about enticing women or women, stirring them sexually. No man in the real world can live up to a movie star's airbrushed, enhanced physique. These men spend 1,000's of dollars and hours a year keeping themselves looking perfect. Our husbands can't live up to a false representation of a man on a screen. In the same way the we as women will never look like a porn star. Unless we too are spending oodles of money to do so. A lot of women don't want their husband looking at porn, or going to strip clubs, etc because we know we wont look like that, we know we cant live up to that fantasy. Not to mention, for me, the idea of my love looking at another women lustfully makes me feel horrible! Jealous, unimportant, unattractive, inferior, unwanted and unloved are just of few of the things I would feel!! So, in all honesty, how can I then turn around and go do the same thing? If there is a standard to which I hold my husband, then I must hold myself to the same standard.
I know some people argue that men are visual creatures and they will look at a stripper lustfully, but women are not made the same way, they just enjoy the aesthetics. Um. Yea, OK. That argument makes me chuckle! I'm not even going to truly argue this... because its silly. Women lust after men... it happens everyday all across the globe.
Fifty Shades of Grey. I havent read this one either... and I don't plan on doing so. Wikipedia's first line about this book are this:
Fifty Shades of Grey is a 2011 erotic novel by British author E. L. James. Set largely in Seattle, it is the first installment in a trilogy that traces the deepening relationship between a college graduate, Anastasia Steele, and a young business magnate, Christian Grey. It is notable for its explicitly erotic scenes featuring elements of BDSM. I love to read and I will read almost anything... sometimes I pick up a book because I like the title and just read it. I don't like to read the synopsis, I want to be surprised as the book progresses... this is probably not the best way to pick books at the library. I have picked up books with an interesting title and an interesting front cover and started reading it, only to find it is a little more than a story about sex meant to stimulate the female mind. But I am thankful I have never picked up one that would carry the label of being erotic and BDSM. Yes, I had to look that one up. Check Wikipedia if you are unfamiliar with that term.
I truly believe that sex is only for marriage. That no man but my husband should excite me. The Bible says that if a man looks at woman lustfully, he has committed adultery. And that goes for us ladies too. So when I committed my life, my body, my everything to my husband, I promised to stay faithful, so if I am looking (or reading and imagining) at a man from a sexual point of view, that is the same as committing adultery.
And from what I have read about this book, it is very "dark". My God is the Father of lights. He is holy and full of light and I desire to be like him. So if I am immersing myself in darkness, I cannot be like my Daddy God... I cannot be like Christ if my mind is full of darkness and my heart is being consumed by lust.
Also, many people have commented that by the end of the third book in the trilogy, there is a "happy ending" and that the main character (female) does not judge the male who is into the BDSM and helps him deal with his messed up life and helps him turn it around. That's all fine and dandy. And many have said, if you can get past the sex, its a great story. I don't want to have to get past the sex. Those sexual images will stay in my mind and as a Christian, I am called to think on PURE things. And if you have to get past the sex to enjoy the story... maybe it wasn't necessary?
My personal convictions, my desire for an amazing God-centered marriage, my desire to be like Jesus and follow God's will for my life make these 2 pieces of modern entertainment incompatible.
Before I end this post... I'd love to ask you for your opinions on these things.
Please also know that if you have watched/read them, I don't think you are some evil adulteress, or a sinner doomed to hell. It was your personal choice and your personal relationship! And if you still think they were fine, that is up to you. I respect your right to make your own choices!!!! :o)
If you do feel convicted, please also know that Jesus has already forgiven you, there is no condemnation. You are a beloved child of the King of Kings and He just wants to shower you with love and forgiveness... and please remember, He not only forgives, He forgets... forever. Never to be remembered again. Ever.
(Here is someone else's opinion of the book that I fully agree with and she just writes much better than I do!!)
http://www.purefreedom.org/blog/?p=320
