Get Out of The Water

Just like many of you I am still trying to process what happened last night at the Super Bowl.

We’re admittedly not diehard Chiefs fans, but being raised in Kansas City, MO we still loved the excitement of history being made! Something we hadn’t seen in our lifetime and something our 5yr old would be able to witness and remember. We told her the importance of this moment and she looked on in excitement with eyes and ears open trying to soak it all in.

A moment where we all were able to enjoy the festivities as a family. 

As a Military and Veteran spouse I was surprised, and brought to tears during the tribute to our Flag. The singers sang beautifully and we all watched on in eagerness and excitement as they played. 

Sadly, though looking on during the halftime show we both sat shocked and in disbelief.

As the dancing and camera views became more sexual and less entertaining.

How do you begin to even try and explain that to an innocent 5yr old? She doesn’t know or understand what she just watched. To be honest I am not sure I even do?

How would ... and even should we try to navigate that as parents, as Christians? I am sure many of you are trying to wrestle with the aftermath of what we saw and how we should react. 

For one, I do not believe we should be labeling or name calling the performers and dancers. That is not loving or kind. But I do believe that as a society we should speak up and argue that the content provided as ‘family friendly’ was anything but.  

As Americans we have so many freedoms given to us. Fought for us! They have the freedom to perform, to wear and dance as they want but at what point do we as Americans, husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, men, women, Christians need to ask ourselves “Are we doing more harm than good with our Freedom?”

As a wife, mother, woman and Christian I will speak for myself but I don’t believe there was anything that showed love to our fellow brothers and sisters around the world during last night’s halftime show.

There was nothing about that halftime show that encouraged, championed or furthered women’s rights or even human rights.

There was no love or consideration for the 40million Americans who regularly visit porn sites, a third of them being women (Source). With estimates of 50,000 people trafficked in the United States EACH YEAR, 2018 reported that over half of the criminal human trafficking cases were sex trafficking cases involving CHILDREN (Source). Where was the love and consideration for them?  Did you know that more than 300,000 young people here in the US are considered “at risk” of sexual exploitation (Source)?!

How is the programming allowed last night showing any love or consideration for our vulnerable, impressionable youth?

I have seen many comments to the effect ... “they are exposed to much worse.” Is that really how you want to respond as a society?

“Well, at least it’s better than actual porn!” Is it really? And shouldn’t we as parents be making that call and not an industry that benefits from the exploitation?

There are many people looking on as society is literally turning up the heat with regards to what is morally acceptable.

Much like the fable of the frog being boiled. Slowly, as the heat gets turned up higher and higher the frog doesn’t even notice the difference ... until it’s too late.

How as Americans can we not see and feel what is happening to our society, our world? The water is simmering all around us and we desperately need to get out.

Out of love for one another, can we take a step back and honestly ask ourselves... “what am I doing to contribute to this epidemic?” How can I as a Christian woman in today’s world truly help my fellow brothers and sisters who have or are struggling with sex exploitation, abuse or addiction? How can my choices of freedom in dress, speech, dance, music, television and video content be a positive or negative contribution?

Out of love can we lay aside our personal freedoms to help another person... to save another person… to save a child!?

Wouldn’t we have a better world for it? Don’t we have an obligation to the sound the alarm before it’s too late!? We owe that to the MILLIONS of children affected by the sex industry?

It’s not a matter of what I think or feel at this point.

There are facts to back up the harm this is having on our society and world.

We need to stand up for the innocent victims who don’t have a voice and say enough is enough.