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So, What’s Wrong With The Halftime Show?
If you have taken a breath during this past couple of weeks, then I am sure you have heard all that has happened in regard to the events of the Super Bowl halftime show. I have not personally watched the halftime show. However, knowing what the two entertainers are known for and what I have heard, this show was not suitable for anybody to watch. Yet, I have seen and heard many, even those who claim to be Christians, say things like, “oh, it wasn’t so bad, I personally enjoyed it.” Someone else said, “the summer olympics are coming, are you going to boycott watching that because of the outfits of the athletes?” Another said, “What’s the difference between the halftime show and the cheerleaders?” These questions that many are proposing are honest and alarming at the same time. They are honest because they make us thank about the things that we watch and seek out in entertainment. However, they are alarming because it is almost as if we are seeking justification to watch things that we shouldn’t. So, what should we watch? Are things like the halftime show, cheerleaders at sporting events, and other events with little clothing acceptable to watch?
As we begin to think about this, I want to first notice the definition for the word pornography. The American Heritage Dictionary defines pornography as, “Written, graphic, or other forms of communication intended to excite lascivious feelings.” Think about that for a minute. How much of what is published in books and magazines, what is shown in theaters, and what is seen on television is intended to excite lascivious feelings? Without a doubt, what was aired during the halftime show was certainly intended to excite lascivious feelings. However, what does that word lascivious mean? Lascivious is defined as, “(of a person, manner, or gesture) feeling or revealing an overt and often offensive sexual desire” (Oxford dictionary). So, lascivious behavior is sexual behavior or conduct that is considered crude and offensive. The short of this is the fact that lasciviousness is wrong. This is shown in Galatians 5:19-21. The text reads, “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” The words lewdness is translated in KJV as Lasciviousness. Other versions use words like sensuality, promiscuity, or licentiousness. All which carry the same meaning.
When we look at what these words really mean, I firmly believe that we need to be careful with everything we put before our eyes. David in Psalm 101:3 said, “I will set no worthless thing before my eyes.” We would do well to follow that advice for ourselves. If there is anything that leads our minds to have impure thoughts, we need to remove it from our sight. Whether that be the halftime show of the super bowl, cheerleaders at a sporting event, or any other thing we watch for entertainment purposes. I remind you of what our Lord said in Matthew 5:27-29, “You have heard that it was said [a]to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” This is the real danger of not controlling our eyes. We put our soul in real danger. Let us be like Job who made a covenant with his eyes not to look at things which crossed the line (Job. 31:1)
