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Romans 12:2
Encouragement to fulfill God's purpose through Practical Life Application and Navigation

Fifty Shades of Garbage!

Greetings Readers!

 

I originally posted this article some seven months ago, and with the movie release looming, I feel it’s prudent to give it one more go round.

 

From Deadline Hollywood yesterday, “Stateside, Fifty Shades Of Grey has been the fastest selling advance R-rated title in Fandango’s 15-year history. It’s also broken records elsewhere and has spurred a phenomenon in France where advance purchasing is somewhat unusual.”

 

The previous buzz over the Fifty Shades of Grey book, series, and movie trailer has been reignited to an epic level. For the life of me, I cannot understand why.

 

I’m not surprised. I knew it was coming. But it’s still so disappointing to see it happening.

 

Admittedly, I haven’t read the book and I don’t plan to. My knowledge is based on book summaries, commentaries, reviews, and media coverage, but they are all telling the same story.

 

In a nutshell, young, wealthy, handsome, entrepreneur, Christian Grey, meets quiet, innocent, beautiful, and witty Anastasia Steele. Christian, at just 27 years of age, is a self-made billionaire who never seems to work. He’s a concert pianist, licensed pilot and athlete, who is also doing his part to cure world hunger, of course.

 

Oh, and I forgot to mention, he likes to hurt women for sexual gratification.

 

And THIS is what has people, primarily women, so captivated?

 

Apparently the modern day term for Grey’s sexually deviant behavior is BDSM. I’m not going to waste blog space describing it, and honestly, I don’t know a lot about it, but the research I’ve done leaves me with no desire to read or watch the emotional and sexual abuse.

 

Fifty Shades is being marketed as a Romance book; Erotic Romance to be exact. This is a lie. The movie trailer is being advertised as a love affair with erotic sex. This is an even bigger lie.

 

The story is about abuse and violence, and grooming a young girl into sadistic sex.

 

My theory is the porn industry, and make no mistake about it, THIS IS PORN, knows it already has the men. Just look at some of the stats from Covenant Eyes by clicking here.  Notice the disproportionate number of addicted men vs. women.

 

Fifty Shades is the porn industry’s answer to drawing the women in. Tell em’ it’s a love story. Yeah, that’s right….they’ll buy it. They’ll buy anything! Make sure the protagonist is a handsome, smart, talented, rich, and charming billionaire, add an enticing cover and stick a little bow on it. Beautiful!

 

And THEN, when the women are sucked in, hook them with crude language, shocking imagery, and sinful ideas that most have never experienced before. Sure, they may gasp and find it all so appalling and shameful, but the seed has been planted. Words and images are seared into their minds.

 

Nothing good can come from this.

 

Porn addicts experience:

  • drug abuse
  • failed relationships and marriages
  • fractured family relationships
  • job loss
  • feelings of guilt
  • trouble with the law
  • diminished relationship with God

 

Abused women suffer from:

  • eating disorders
  • depression
  • drug addictions
  • inability to care for self and family
  • loss of joy
  • feelings of embarrassment and shame
  • diminished relationship with God

 

The list goes on and on.

 

Yes, this type of material and influence has been on the market for years, but it has NEVER before exploded in the literary world, and soon to be, on the big screen, in this grand fashion.

 

You should be afraid. Very afraid. Not excited. Not curious. Not giddy. But scared to death.

 

Why? Because anyone can fall prey to the deception that this behavior is Desirable. Sexy. Fun. Intriguing. If you think you’re exempt, then you are seriously underestimating Satan and sin nature. People who have never used drugs before can become overnight addicts. People who have never previously consumed alcohol, can become alcoholics after just one taste. And people who have never even heard of BDSM will give it a try. And some will be hooked. It might even be you.

 

Alarmingly, some of these ‘people’ will also be your daughters AND sons.

 

That’s right. Fifty Shades isn’t just for the ladies. It also does an exceptional job in bidding for the men as well. Men will have more women to prey on. To abuse. To beat. To disrespect. To violate. To destroy. Oh the ideas this has given them.

 

This type of story, hyped up to such a degree, is like a gateway drug. The intoxicating launch pad for Interest. Experimentation. Addiction. For both men and women.

 

And if you don’t believe me, then you are incredibly naïve. And at more risk than most.

 

The same women who complain about their husband’s porn addiction will reason and rationalize this away as a sexy, love story.

 

But wait, there’s a love story in there, somewhere, isn’t there? Some redeeming qualities to justify reading or seeing it?

 

Well, to be fair, after Grey abuses Ana, he does tend to the wounds, he himself inflicted, with gentleness and care. Your kind of hero, right?   NO.

 

And Grey did have an incredibly abusive childhood. Isn’t it incumbent upon Ana to try to rehabilitate him?   NO.

 

But underneath it all, Grey is struggling with his feelings for Ana. Maybe he’s a good guy after all?   NO.

 

NO, NO, NO!

 

This story is a sensationalized depiction of sexual slavery, abuse, and deviance. It promotes dominance of one human being over another, and relinquishing, without question, all control and self-preservation. It attempts to make violence look and feel sexy; tantalizing.

 

Don’t buy into this garbage.

 

And lest you judge me and think this is nothing more than a prudish, self-righteous rant, think again.

 

I am resisting the urge to go ‘All Bible’ on you and pull out my ‘does this sound like a healthy relationship’ diatribe because honestly, I don’t think it’s necessary. Fifty Shades of Garbage is SO FAR removed from ANYTHING even remotely biblically or relationally sound, that it would likely be more ridiculous and insulting than helpful.

 

This is simply my heart imploring you to take a stand for what’s right. I’m praying you don’t get sucked into the propaganda or swayed by peer pressure, persuasive tactics, or manipulation. I don’t want you to open the door for seed planting and put yourself at risk.

 

Instead, invest your time and energy into healthy, loving, nurturing relationships. Enjoy physical, emotional, and sexual excitement with your husband or wife. Explore the pleasures God has provided with someone who adores and respects you.

 

It’s not nerdy, conservative, or sanctimonious to say NO to immorality and abuse. It’s actually, rather attractive.

 

The movie industry, in all of its glorious perversion, is releasing Fifty Shades just in time for Valentine’s Day.

 

I am pleading with you NOT to read the book if you haven’t already, Fifty Shades of Garbageand NOT to see the movie when it’s released. Don’t feed into this repulsive lie. Don’t promote violence and abuse with your interest and money. Don’t put yourself and your relationship in harm’s way.

 

Don’t fall victim to Fifty Shades of Garbage.

 

 

 

Any Matt Walsh followers? You might appreciate his take on Fifty Shades. Click here to read 4 Reasons to Hate 50 Shades of Grey.

 

 

Does the thought of being both sexual AND spiritual interest you? Intrigue you? Definitely check out Pulling Back the Shades. These ladies are also running a genius ‘Trade Your Shades’ campaign. If you already have a copy of the Fifty Shades book, they make an offer you might not be able to pass up!

 

 

And a favorite writer of mine, Sheila Wray Gregoire, discusses why Why 50 Shades of Grey is Bad for Your Marriage.

 

 

BCPCCDid this speak to your heart and you desire help? Click here to search the American Association of Christian Counselors’ referral guide.

 

 

 

 

 

 

turn my eyes

 

 

Friends, I love you more than words can say and pray that your heads and hearts will sift through the garbage and hold strong against sinful, destructive, worldly temptations.

 

 

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8 Responses to Fifty Shades of Garbage!

  1. Lori Palmer says:

    I am blown away by this article! Sherry, you are a masterful writer, commentator, educator, encouragorator (sorry, was stuck on the ‘ator’) 🙂 Totally agree with everything that you have stated here. I just kept hearing that simple song in my head as I was reading this, ‘Oh be careful little eyes what you see…’ and it’s so true. If NOT reading or seeing 50 Shades is being “prudish” then sign me up as the first prude! I’ve seen enough hurt women and men in my lifetime to know that this kind of behavior doesn’t benefit anybody. It’s not Love, it’s Lust,and those two things are very different. This kind of relationship might seem exciting for the moment, but many moments have devastating consequences that last a lifetime. I just keep thinking that Love shouldn’t hurt or be something fearful, so why invite this kind of “Love” into a relationship. Yes, I know that some are going to say, “It’s just a book or it’s just a movie, it’s not real” but the effects of reading or seeing it can become VERY real. People are impressionable. I hear so many people talk about all of the drama in their lives, yet here they go inviting it in. Just say, “No, Thank You!” There, that’s my rant :\

    • Sherry says:

      Oh do I appreciate your rant and agree on every level. Now that song will be stuck in my head too, but that’s okay! I can’t think of a more appropriate one for this topic. Lori, thank you for YOUR boldness, for being willing to take a stand and speak out, and for sharing your heart’s convictions. Love you sister!

  2. Lindon says:

    Jesus: Revelations

    15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!

    Basically believers, it is time to stand for something. We must first examine our own hearts, then the softness of the the Church as a whole over the last 40 years.

    Christians quite frankly, are full of fear. Afraid to to stand on the promises of God, His truth, and His commands.

    If you, as a follower of Christ, are reading, watching, and supporting this garbage and are unwilling to take a stand against such things, it’s time for you, ‘us’, to get back to what Christ taught and continues to teach us through His word. Are you Hot? Cold? Is your heart and mind free? Clean? Renewed? or full of doubt? Are you in bondage to the things of this world?

    It is time to come out of the dark, get off the fence, and jump into the light of God’s love. God and His word are straight up black and white, there is no ‘grey’ when it comes to His expectations for His children.

    Lindon

  3. Jennifer Rosenbaum says:

    Ok…I shared this on my Facebook. It took me several minutes to hit the share button. I am such a non confrontational person and I’m a people pleaser. I never want to offend or upset anyone, but I just had to get this out there. I have friends and family both Christian and non Christian who have read the books and are going to the movie. It makes me sad that they’ve bought in. Anyway thank you for your post and for being so bold.

    • Sherry says:

      Thinking something and openly standing for it are two VERY DIFFERENT THINGS! God will bless you, Jennifer, for your willingness to take a stand and speak your heart. I can just picture your finger hovering over that share button. HA! To push or not to push?? YOU PUSHED!!! Just know if there is backlash, God will strengthen and equip you to manage it. He will NEVER leave you hanging! But you may not experience that type of protection if you don’t take a leap of faith. You’ve leapt and He’ll equip and protect! Love you!!!

  4. Becca Matlock says:

    Well put me in the category of a woman who almost instantly hears a word from God about whether something is right or wrong for her life. But also know that this is a woman who like Jennifer will hover over the push button and sometimes never push. Backlash and confrontation are not things I think I’ll ever be comfortable with. When fight or flight present themselves to me, more times than not I choose flight. However, this particular book and movie have been something I found so distressing since it initially hit the scene. Like others I know friends, acquaintances, and probably some family members who have read the book and will choose to see the movie, and it breaks my heart. There is nothing of value in this movie and though we can say that about the majority of the movies that come out of Hollywood this one comes with the potential for great harm. Thank you Sherry for standing strong and being willing to put yourself out there even though you may also experience and some negative backlash. I love that heart of yours and how it encourages the rest of us to stand firm as well. And the song “be careful little eyes eyes what you see”, is a perfect analogy. And thank you Lori it’s stuck in my head now as well. God bless you and Lindon and your ministry.

    • Thanks for chiming in Becca, and thank you for your wisdom, insight, and words of encouragement. I’m good with backlash and confrontation not being ‘comfortable’ for you! If it were, it might cause questioning of the heart motive. Those who pleasure in such scenarios are generally more interested in fighting than in genuinely promoting their cause. And I do agree that it’s intimidating to put our neck out there. Oddly enough, so many of the issues I oppose have advocates who are EXTREMELY vocal in support of their agenda. This, in part, motivates me to not be shy about shoring up the ‘other side’. You are MUCH appreciated Becca!

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