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Sunday, 7 August 2011
Violence and Sex in Media

     I remember sitting watching a child play a video game where you get points out of killing people. I thought to myself, "this kid is being thought to devalue human life". However, I was made aware of my hypocrisy. I remember having fun at an arcade shooting at people with a simulation gun. I was getting points for killing people who look like your stereotypical terrorist. Granted, they are shooting at me too, but where does this feeling of delight at killing another human being come from?

    It seems that in our criticism of the media, we focus solely on content. We say, movies have too much sex and violence, and people's minds are being programmed to devalue human life and sexual expression. This may be true but not all people who watch violent and sexual movies turn out to be sexual deviants and murderers. It is right for us to appeal to producers to lessen the violence and sex. They will respond that sex and violence sells. Then this should prompt us to ask, "Why does violence and sex sell?" 

    I believe addressing that question can be a great teaching moment. What does those scenes awaken? Scenes of violence and sex awaken in humans the desire for the feelings of power and connection. Those desires for power and connection were placed there by God to help humans accomplish his mandate- to subdue creation and to multiply. Media producers have tapped into the human psyche, and we need to do the same thing if we are to turn the heart of individuals towards God and his rule. It is not enough to avoid the media's influence, if we are to win this battle of conscience (media could dull conscience by redefining what is acceptable and not acceptable). We have to teach what is real power and connection.

     While the world sees power displayed in military or physical might, we need to see real power in Jesus, the crucified God. God's power is ultimately displayed on the cross, a symbol of humiliation, not in a magnificent show of smoke and light. It is through the cross that the powerful sting of death is defeated. It is through the cross that the power of sin is blunted. Sin and death, powerful and indestructible forces, were defeated on the cross.

     What does this mean in our daily life? Humility and love triumphs against human rebellion. Many parents try to, or at least get tempted to, control their children by overpowering them (hitting, yelling), and the children sees force (fighting) as the way to power. People need to be taught that there is greater power in gentleness, that violent power does not solve problems permanently. Although the bully may be stopped by force, there is more power in making the bully your friend, making the bully give up his destructive use of power. The flesh tells us to avoid or eliminate the bully, but the goal of the truly powerful should be to become reconciled to the bully. 

       As far as sex, we should always remember that physical pleasure does not equal the true connection that our hearts really want. That true connection can only be had in the context of a complete surrender to the other. The compartmentalization of the self through the giving of the body without the giving of the soul (become one with another through sharing life together in a committed relationship) will just bring about momentary pleasure, which ends in the feeling of isolation after the pleasure is over. Media's cheapening of sex should be countered by elevating real connection, a connection that lasts beyond death. This connection is built as two people follow the crucified God to the cross, living a life of humility towards each other.


Posted by eeviray at 9:02 AM CDT
Updated: Sunday, 7 August 2011 9:17 AM CDT
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