The release of "Fifty Shades of Grey" in theaters the
day before Valentine's Day sends a disturbing message about love.
Of course, I don't expect non-believing, Christ-defying writers
and movie makers and advertisers to avoid promoting sexual exploitation--if
there's a profit to be made, the sad mixture of free enterprise and sexual
chaos in our day is going to result in grim effects like "Fifty
Shades." Not surprised.
But sad, and grieved.
And yet always looking to Christ with hope. Followers of Jesus, let's
PRAY that our ingenious Lord would accomplish all kinds of good and
God-honoring things in his round-about ways through this sorrowful situation (Genesis 50:20).
Here are a few thoughtful comments about "Fifty Shades":
- Owen Strachan: "50 Shades of Grey speaks to where things are headed in our culture. We should not expect that postmodernism will protect women. It will do no such thing. We should not expect that it will ennoble men and call them to self-sacrificial responsibility. It will do no such thing. We should not expect that postmodernism will bless children and strengthen the family. It will do no such thing."
- Tim Challies and Helen Thorne: "As 50 Shades of Grey hits the screens, let’s love God well by honoring him wholeheartedly with our eyes, ears, hearts and minds. Let’s love our brothers and sisters well by encouraging them with truth rather than lies. Let’s love our unbelieving neighbors by showing them how beautiful and alluring purity looks. And let’s love ourselves by committing ourselves wholeheartedly to living in light of the immense love that has been lavished on us. “See what a great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1)."
- Marshall Segal: "The message that sex is selfish, manipulative, and even playfully violent will abuse and violate you. It might feel like a fun and harmless fantasy, but it’s not so subtly redefining the power and beauty of sex, creating spiritual blockages in your heart that will eventually kill you, and impairing your ability to enjoy real and lasting pleasure."
- Kevin DeYoung: "There is nothing gray about whether a follower of Christ should see 50 Shades of Grey. This is a black and white issue. Don’t go. Don’t watch it. Don’t read it. Don’t rent it."
