There have been many opinions expressed on social media over the last few days regarding the Superbowl halftime show. While some were upset about the strong sexual overtones, others were pleased with the performance and praised the athleticism and cultural expression of the Latina female performers. I have spent a lot of time thinking and praying and mulling and reading over that time. I don’t like to give a “quick take-” not that anyone is dying to hear my “Slow take” either. I am a nobody and am probably just writing this to sift through my own musings.
I have just sat down and watched the halftime show in its entirety. I already knew from the bit I caught on Sunday that it would not benefit my sons or husband to watch it, but I wanted to see if I could catch a glimpse of the cultural recognition that has been attributed to the performance since its airing. And I did see it. The beautiful Latin dancing and Puerto Rican flag was on full display during the last song. How I wish they had opened with that song! I am saddened that my boys missed the chance to learn and celebrate with those on stage. We spend a lot of time reading, learning about, and praying for other countries and cultures. I am so thankful that the God we serve brings us to Himself ‘from every nation, tribe and tongue.’ It is a blessing to rejoice in all types of heritages!
The reason my sons missed the last song was that we turned off the T.V. during the first. (My husband had already long been in our garage working on our vehicle.) We had informed the boys that they may miss the halftime show, so they were prepared for the decision when it came. You see, as parents to sons in a highly sexualized culture we have to diligently train them to ‘make a covenant with their eyes’ (Job 31:1) from a young age. We do not want them to learn to linger, which leads to lust. We want them to flee temptation. And from comments I read from men, there were many mature, wise, grown men who did flee from that halftime show.
We are trying to instill in our sons the mindset that their standard of beauty will one day be their wife. All other beauty will be compared to her beauty. She will likely develop stretch marks, love handles, and wrinkles, but that will be beautiful because her husband will be knit to her: physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I hope she will age with grace and accept the changes that come with age because that is life in a fallen world. I hope her beauty overflows from a heart in love with God. And her husband will love her, and find her beautiful. That is our hope and our prayer for our sons.
Jennifer Lopez is in fantastic shape and at 50, looks better than I ever have in my life. I applaud the time and hard work it took her to maintain her body in such a way. However, even with her almost perfect physical appearance, she is not the standard of beauty. Even more than my sons’ potential future wives, I want them to look to the bloody, beaten body of Christ as their ultimate standard of beauty. Our Savior willingly laid down his life for us while we were still sinners. 1 John 3:16 says, ‘We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.’ Lay down our lives, sisters. Do you know who is included in the “brethren” that that verse mentions? Not just sisters. Brothers. Men. Some Latino, some black, some Asian, some white. Every nation, tribe, and tongue. Men who are responsible and accountable for their lustful thoughts and lingering eyes. Men who must flee from temptation. Men who were created by God to be stimulated visually. Men who live in a fallen world where sex too often becomes debauchery. Do you know who else is included in the “brethren” we must lay down our lives for? Sisters. Sisters who have fled slavery. Sisters who, upon seeing a woman dancing on a pole are traumatized with memories of their oppression. Sisters who see ropes and cages and remember their own horrors.
I was not surprised by the halftime show. It is an annual tradition, and frankly, it isn’t too strange to me that the world has trouble finding the line between cultural appreciation and inappropriate sexual gestures. What did shock me was that there were many of the brethren who only found reason to praise. I guess I wonder at what line does it then become un-praiseworthy? Where do we draw the line on what is appropriate? Ladies, can we be honest about this? Can we admit both that the show did depict strong, fit women, and that it was too sexualized? Can we both admire the cultural tribute and despise the soft porn? I humbly ask us to consider these things. Also, because we are sojourners in a foreign land we have our own unique “culture” to display. It is a culture that reaches to all corners of the earth, but does not find its roots there. Ours is one that is truly alien to this world, which means that sometimes we may look, sound, act other-worldly. And that’s okay. Because we are. Perhaps sometimes our strange convictions and habits will point those without hope toward our Life-giving Lord, our Standard of Beauty.
I understand wanting to appreciate beauty and hard work. I understand wanting to applaud the empowerment of the marginalized. But we must do so in ways that are worthy and uncompromising to our conscience and purity. I leave you with a quote from a pastor who is known for his kindness and winsome ways, Scott Sauls. He was concerned about women he knows who have been trafficked and their response to the show. He replied on Twitter to Chuck Degroat, who commented about ‘the juxtaposition of free Latina bodies with caged Latinx children’:
‘While your juxtaposition is prophetically on point, it is difficult to see pole dancing and open legged pelvic thrusts as a path to dignity, empowerment and freedom. I imagine Christ looking over this with a compassion that says, “Dear ones, there is a better, more healing way.” ‘
Next time, sisters, can we seek out Christ’s better, more healing way?
– written by Elizabeth Sim
