Several years ago, when something outrageous happened in our culture, I would get all riled up and head to my laptop to blog my latest opinion on the matter. Like everyone needed to know my perspective? Ha!
I am a writer. It is in my DNA, and this blog was initially created to be a place for my passionate opinions to spill out. You could choose to read or not.
Lately, I feel a little hesitant to blog anymore. It’s not that I don’t have those same impassioned responses to cultural events. It is more of just a sadness that overwhelms me over the society that we live in. Why even waste my time blogging my perspective?
But for what it’s worth, I want to share what is on my heart about the Super Bowl halftime show with Shakira and Jennifer Lopez. I witnessed the first several minutes, but then my husband and I decided to turn the channel. We knew where it was headed. We weren’t shocked because this is what our society embraces as entertainment. We can blame Pepsi for allowing that kind of halftime show, but let’s face it, a long time ago we as a culture signed off on allowing the over-sexualization of women—and men—through our televisions. It’s who we have become as a culture.
I don’t want to dwell on the halftime show. You have probably already read enough social media posts and articles about it, ad nauseam. What I do want to convey is a verse in the Bible that speaks to my sorrow over this event.
In Psalm 139:13-14, David writes: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Take a minute and read that verse over again. Let it sink in. You were created by God. You are made in His image and are “fearfully and wonderfully made.”
Friends, we weren’t made for a culture that throws out degrading sexual images at the slightest whim. That’s not the reflection of being fearfully and wonderfully made. And that’s not how we praise our Creator.
As believers in Christ, when you truly understand that God “knit you together in your mother’s womb” and uniquely designed you, then that’s the image you want to reflect—a mirroring that honors the One who loves you as He created you.
Oh, my heart goes out to Shakira and J. Lo, who think their body image and talent have to attract a sexual response from society.
My heart goes out to men and women who feel their worth only comes from their sexuality and desires.
My heart goes out to those who feel that their gender is not determined by God, who so uniquely created them for His purpose.
My heart goes out to those who feel unworthy: trapped in addiction, depression, regrets, and failing to grasp God’s unrelenting love for them.
So here I am writing with sadness because I know how difficult it is to embrace the concept of what “fearfully and wonderfully made” means in our society. I witness it being rejected over and over again because God is rejected.
The enemy will try everything to blind you from that powerful concept of God’s endless love for you. He always distorts your reflection so that you will reject the beauty of your image designed by God, your Creator.
Face it, you are a work of God’s divine hand! You are not a mistake. You have a purpose. God knit you together in your mother’s womb designing your gender, your sexuality, your looks, your emotions, your talents… with YOU in mind!
For me, the halftime show was about the grief I feel for our world. We are lost in a reflection that bears no image to our Creator. We were made for dancing to a different beat to praise and honor the beauty of who we are through the salvation of Jesus Christ. And when you truly grasp the magnitude of that purpose, you’ll honor your image (your body) in a way that doesn’t require anyone to turn the TV channel. Because “fearfully and wonderfully made” is a joyful celebration of God’s design for all of society.
Let’s celebrate and embrace that image, share it with the world— even if it is continually rejected— and more importantly, let’s reflect that in our lives for our children’s sake.
