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Getting Behind the Real Issue

Last month I asked if Tim Tebow, the Christian quarterback for the NFL's Denver Broncos, was in God's football pool. After a season of miraculous victories, Tebow's final victory was a media hit with the numerous statistical outcomes that paralleled John 3:16. This month football remains the theme but rather than highlighting the Bronco's come from behind victories, this column highlights the classless objectifying of women's behinds under the guise of sport. It seems the arrival of the Lingerie Football League to Abbotsford is some sort of adulterated Valentine's Day present for the city. What should our response as Christians be?

Let me get right to the point. This is not an article that will focus on the legislative process of legalizing or sanctioning questionable public behaviour. For all those who want the city to ban all objectionable conduct, this is not the place to get support. I don't support this new league. I find it degrading and exploitive toward women. Based on all current academic research, it is counterproductive in elevating the value of women in sport and in society. Other than potentially keeping a few vendors temporarily employed and the possibility of less of my property tax dollars going to pay for AEC mismanagement costs, I don't see any positives to this announcement.

This still leaves us with the question of a Christian response. The basis for my response is found in 1 Peter 2:9 which states that we as Christians are to be viewed as a peculiar people. A people different from the culture and society around us. In the true sense, we are to be a counter cultural movement. The only way to do that is to be different. This difference is not the result of being forbidden to do this or that, but because we have been given a new heart and a new mind so we can begin to behave differently. Because the love of God is shed abroad in hearts through the Holy Spirit we have a different world view with different values and motivations. It is only in this place of difference that the church has and Christians have any real voice and value in society. If we think that harnessing political power is the solution to society's ills, then by all means use it and abuse it like virtually every other human being has but please don't confuse that with the power of God to change the human heart in a way that doesn't desire to use others but to love and serve them.

With the arrival of the Lingerie Football League, each of us is given yet another opportunity to stand out in society, to be different, to be peculiar. I believe the Christian response to our new arrival should be to value women as God values them. To be in opposition to double standards regarding sexuality and be part of a counter cultural movement that is alive and vibrant for people to see and become a part of when the novelty and distractions of this culture's offerings wear off.

© Todd Martin, 2012