The World of Sexploitation

By Rev. Eric Andrae

Benjamin Franklin once said, “In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.” It is obvious, though, that one more thing has become certain in this world: “Sex sells.” And sex will be used to sell everything from ATVs to zip files, from bikes to Yahoo ad space.

Recently I was at one of my favorite places: Barnes & Noble. You gotta love a place that has books, magazine, CDs, food, let’s you lounge around, provides easy-chairs for your comfort, and is open just about the whole day! But I’m getting off the subject.

Anyway, I was checking out the magazines– especially the sports, music, and entertainment sections–when I noticed not only how many magazines had gorgeous, half-(or three-quarter)- naked women on the cover (pitching the usual bikinis, workouts, and music, but even computers, guitars, and home-care), but how many had the word “sex” or a form thereof on the front:

There was sex and math: “100 Sexiest Women” “22 Sex-Bomb Bathing Suits” “32 Unbelievable Sexy Pages” “769% More Sex, Probably” “4 Sexy-Guy Posters”

Sex was paired with things I’d never (before or since) thought of as sexy: “Sexy Destinations” “The Word’s Sexiest Careers, Technology, and Shirts”

And don’t think that these were magazines only for adults or so-called “adult magazines.” No, this list included: Seventeen, J-17, Elle Girl, YM, Cosmo Girl, Sugar, and others targeted specifically at...you!

It’s a “Sex-plosion,” as another of the periodicals screamed from its cover (which, by the way, was right next to Kick-Off, the magazine of Pop Warner football, and nearby Christian History)!

You may be thinking: “This is old news. What’s your point?!” It is this: you are being taken for the dummy, you are being used, and some (many?) of you are naively playing the part of the fool. This is not so much “sex-plosion” as it is “sex-ploitation.” The media and pop culture lords are targeting today’s teen in the hopes that you will not be savvy enough to see beyond the shallowness of cheap sex, “romantic” dreams, stud boys, and hot babes. This culminates in the sale of the product they’re hyping as well as your soul. It is the drool-inducing eye-candy that may give a momentary sweet rush, but ultimately decays your mind and spirit. It is style over substance.

The problem is not that you are turned off by this stuff. No, the problem is that we are turned on. And turned on to what? Most often, to seeing others as simply objects for our selfish, lustful pleasures; to viewing only with eyes, but not appreciating with mind and heart; to poor stewardship of money, time, and, yes, even our bodies.

Let us instead, with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind and with all our strength, look to another Body. Look to God who became man for us, "to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God" Jesus died and rose for our life and salvation. As the Holy Spirit fixes our gaze, indeed our whole life on the Crucified Christ, all other things find their rightful place.

Is there then a right place for sex? Of course! Sexuality is a wonderful, blessed gift from our Creator. “I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members...” (Small Catechism). He has created male and female in His image (Genesis 1:26-28). Our sexuality is God-given, which finds fullest expression in the emotional and physical love within a Godpleasing marriage (Hebrews 13:4).

In the meantime, what’s an unmarried teen like you to do? Communicate with members of the opposite sex; treat them with respect; listen to them; talk to your parents and pastor about sexuality; with their guidance, spend time with girls and boys; invite them to church (the Body of Christ!) and youth group activities; let your thoughts, words, and deeds be marked by purity and decency; get or stay healthy (your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, after all!); pray; when you fall short of God’s will for you, confess your sins and hear the Lord’s forgiveness.

Does all this mean that we must remove ourselves from any and all influences of pop culture, including bookstores? No. Certainly, in humility and thanksgiving to God, we can enjoy the talents and gifts of others that are on display in various ways. We can, with our Lutheran goggles and hearing-aids on, enjoy the things of mass media–that’s what my regular Pulse column is all about!

But don’t be just another naive victim of the media’s sex-ploitation. Be cool young men and women of street smarts and godly wisdom, of style and substance. Dare to be different. Dare to be Lutheran!

Test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:21-24)

Rev. Eric R. Andrae is campus pastor at First Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.