A lot of women had a lot to say about the Super Bowl—the halftime show. For the most part, if moms asked what children thought, they were smart enough to say they were uncomfortable. They were probably also curious. Children are masterful in reading cues—facial expressions, eye contact, tone, word choice, volume, intensity. When a mom senses her child is exposed to or enticed by something that may hurt now or in the future, she’s likely to have a strong response so her child knows to stay away from it—traffic, flame, pornography, a stripper pole. The intensity came from a place of good intent.
But while we blurted out strong impressions about the halftime show, young women and some future brides heard more than just concern about the objectification of women.
Truth is, sensuality isn’t sinful. In fact, secret and sacred intimacy between a man and woman who have pledged their lives to each other is a beautiful and God honoring experience. Proverbs 5 talks about a husband being “intoxicated” with the love of his wife (Proverbs 5:18-19).
Holding back isn’t holy.
When a place of deep trust and total commitment exists to be expressed in the uninhibited joining of two people, body, mind, and spirit, it’s good. God created it. A well-loved and loving wife can make the words of Song of Solomon 7:10 her own, “I belong to my beloved, and his desire is for me.” (Song of Solomon 7:10)
A lot was said by a lot of women about the Super Bowl stage. This post isn’t meant to say everything else. No one took the show as a lesson on marriage. But did it sound like Christian women believe sensuality is sinful? Like sexuality is evil? Or caring about physical beauty is shallow? Today’s young women should hear more than that. God says more than that. Maybe we should say more about how God views the beautiful, sensual side of a woman’s design. Is there room in our conversation for that?
Sensuality isn’t the problem. As it sometimes does, social media became a place for finger-pointing and judging. When it gets toxic, the people the speakers hope will hear have already stopped listening.
So if you heard what only sounded like older women bashing Super Bowl sensuality, let’s make that right. Young women, you should enjoy being beautiful and feeling the freedom in God’s design for you to be enjoyed. You don’t have to have a stripper pole in your bedroom, but it should be a place to feel beautiful. The bedroom is a place to express your design as you give yourselves to each other. You don’t need to be inhibited there. You certainly don’t need to be ashamed. As you embrace your intimate skills and abilities fully, God is glorified in it.
Young women, forgive us if after—game banter sounded like bashing. We’ve learned, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting,” (Proverbs 31:30a). We’ve learned the hard way, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment … rather, it should be that of your inner self,” (from 1 Peter 3:3-4) and we want you to want that most. Turn off what’s deceitful, but turn on what’s good.
Older women, let’s not waste ourselves worrying our girls will look up to barely clad megastars as models for intimacy. Instead, let’s focus on being the women they’ll want to be like.
