Commentary by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Yes, it’s disappointing to note the box office success of Fifty Shades of Grey this past weekend, but the bottom line remains the same – people may be lured into cheap (and in this case, degrading) imitations of love, but they’re still looking for the real thing.
Ben Kayser, Managing Editor of the Christian-based Movieguide, writes about the $94 million dollar box office receipts for the opening weekend of Fifty Shades of Grey, a BDSM “romance” featuring the regular degradation and humiliation of a young woman, saying that these numbers are “saddening at the very least.”
“Why would so many people put their money toward a movie so disgraceful? Have we as a nation stooped this low? What does this mean for Christians who desire to make a difference in culture?” Kayser asks.
For starters, we need to understand the “cause”, he says.
“This nation is plagued with lust and people will try anything to find happiness, or at least do anything to forget their pain. Is this not the purpose of romantic movies like Fifty Shades of Grey, be they erotic or not? Everyone longs to be known and loved. For many who are dissatisfied with various elements of life, Fifty Shades of Grey presents an option that sounds enticing, but as many of us know, ultimately leaves one feeling empty.”
We also need to understand the implications of the spread of a movie with this kind of disturbing content and be prepared to confront them.
“Study after study . . . shows that sexual deviancy not only results in a nation’s moral decline, it also negatively impacts nations economically in a domino effect in which the end result is broken and impoverished families,” Kayser writes.
“The filmmakers don’t want to hear it, but young people seek to emulate what they see on the screen instead of wisely discerning it. It may not be apparent immediately, but even the slightest implication in Fifty Shades of Grey that tells young men that women want to be ‘dominated sexually’ will result in an increase of rape and abuse.”
Anyone who doubts this outcome is encouraged to view the lewd merchandising being used to sell the movie which definitely depicts women as “wanting it”.
Last, we need to understand the solution.
“At the end of the day, the solution is always the same. People are unsatisfied with material things and want love, and if they can’t find meaningful love, they want a distraction.”
Rather than judging or even pitying people who consume trashy media such as Fifty Shades, our job is to lovingly warn them about the dangers of movies like this one, not just to individuals and to societies, but also to the eternal life of souls.
“Pray for those who are looking for satisfaction elsewhere, that they might find it in Jesus Christ, who never disappoints.”
Always remember that throughout the history of mankind, “where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more” (Rom 5:20). Jesus does His best work on souls who are mired in exactly the kind of culture that produces disgraceful media such as Fifty Shades. We don’t call Him “Savior” for nothing!
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