Thanks to my amazing ability to procrastinate (it may be my superpower) I get to recycle an article from last year. When last year’s Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue arrived I shared this dangerous exchange with my wife.
I was on the road when the swimsuit issue arrived at my home. The lovely Mrs.Burchett led me into a marital minefield with this simple statement.
“Your swimsuit issue arrived today.” She waited.
Work brain, work! Must step carefully. Following the lead of Nehemiah I “prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered”.
My response was simple.
“Throw it away.”
Joni thought she had (to quote Roger Clemens) “misheard”.
“What?”
“Throw it away. I don’t need to see that.”
I think I surprised the Missus. This has been a process for me. I have gone over the years from eagerly anticipating the SI issue to guiltily perusing it to quickly flipping through the magazine and then tossing it. This year I never even saw the issue. Next year I plan to make Al Gore happy by opting out of the swimsuit issue and not forcing a tree to die for such a meaningless cause.
Sadly, I was like Timothy Geithner and his taxes. I forgot. I never contacted SI to opt out of the issue. So yesterday I go to the mailbox and there it was.(Cue Jaws music) The lovely Mrs.Burchett is at a conference so now I had a new challenge. Frankly it was easier telling my bride to toss the issue. I remembered an annoying quote. Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is looking. I looked at the cover. I was tempted to look inside. Really tempted. I went to the trash compactor, put the magazine inside and dumped some coffee grounds on it in case I had second thoughts. I know me.
Cynics will say that I am just getting old. I hope it is a little more than that.
Those unfortunate enough to know me well would hardly describe me as an uptight prude. I am a television sports director so I am all too well aware of “progressive” attitudes toward sexual issues. I am never surprised by inappropriate comments or images in my work world. Today’s thoughts are addressed to my fellow followers of Jesus. I have recently been focusing on my identity in Christ. I believe that my very spiritual DNA was rewritten when I trusted Jesus for my salvation. With that decision I changed. My behavior needs to reflect that change. Paul addressed these words to the church at Ephesus.
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. (Ephesians 5, NLT)
Several years ago my reaction would have been something like this. “Come on, it is just a bunch of skimpy swimsuits. Lighten up.” Alcoholics cannot sometimes have a drink. They must avoid it because they have a drinking problem. Most men have a lust problem. Can we sometimes indulge sexy images and be spiritually healthy? For me the answer is clear. Lust is mostly visual. Lustful images are almost impossible to delete from the mental hard drive. Images can lead to fantasy that can lead to really bad decisions. Paul had a simple solution. Run.
Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. (I Corinthians 6, NLT)
Many years ago I was a regular reader of a men’s magazine famous for foldouts so I am not speaking out of “self-righteous” ignorance. I know why men read such magazines. Incredibly, it is not for the articles! Any man who tries to rationalize that is disingenous at best and a liar at worst. Christian men should have no part of such magazines or websites. I am stunned by men who make threatening comments to young men that come to date their daughters and then go out and ogle and lust over the daughters of others. In New Man Magazine author Matthew Paul Turner writes that “pornography alters your view of humanity by objectifying people. And, it’s almost impossible for a porn habit “not to affect the relationships you hold most dear.”
That is truth. You can believe it now or find out, to your dismay, later.
I work in a secular and testosterone driven world. There may be a small percentage of men who can view these types of magazines or websites and not lust. I have not met any of them yet. If you are that man would you join me for lunch (and bring along a lie detector)? I will buy if you pass.
The Dyce
Hi. I found this when I was browing – relatively new to blogging on WordPress. I did enjoy reading it. I wonder however, taking the issue a little further, how one would deal with the issue of holidays. On holiday a few months ago, even if I did avoid ‘swimsuit issues’ of magazines, how one deals with the fact that the pool is surrounded by bikini clad and topless women. Apart from walking around with eyes closed (might fall into pool let alone temptation) there is little one can do. I personally wonder if actively trying to avoid things actually makes things worse. Anyway, must find my swimming trunks and take a dip in the pool! 😉 P.S. When I buy lingerie and swimsuits as presents for ‘Mrs Blogger’ a similar issue occurs but I’ve never thought of it as ‘looking lustfully’, just enjoying buy Mrs Blogger swimsuits and underwear! 😉 P.P.S. Still new to this so not sure if I’ve managed to provide you to my own blog on WordPress but it’s entitled, ‘How to be a Rubbish Christian’ by ‘thedyce’
Tim
Great article. I am determined not to peruse the SI swimsuit issue on their website this year. They definitely don\t make it any easier this year, though. Now you don\t even have to link to the videos. Now they play them right on the first page of the website.
Janet
Thank you so much for your words. It happens to be Valentines Day and I just realized the ISSUE has been sitting in my fiance’s bedroom for the last week. A heated argument occurred, and half truths were spoken in defense of the ISSUE. I am hurt because I know what lust, especially denied lust, can do to a relationship. I will never be a swimsuit cover model, neither will 99.8% of the women in the world. It just hurts. Pure and simple. It is so nice to see a man speak out about our media and the fact that swimsuits are not the ISSUE. Thanks be to God for your candor. Your blog was a breath of fresh air.
Robin
Thank you so much for this article I read it at Crosswalk.com and so appreciaate your honesty and will to bring this subject up. I was married to a pornography addict. He did not choose to change, even though he was in Bible college. In a time when women have become recognized as athletes, it is disrespectful for SI to continue the swimsuit issue.
Joshua
This may get long, but…
My wife, kids and I were at Menards the other night doing some “quick” shopping. We were at the magazine/book area looking at some home makeover type books. I promise you I wasn’t even aware the ISSUE was near, or even available. As I turned to talk with my wife I caught a slight glimpse, from a poor angle, of it. My wife immediately charged I was trying to look at it and put it in our cart for me to have a closer look…
Now let me explain. I have dealt with porn and lust issues throughout our 10 year marriage, beginning at about age 13. So, obviously she is hyper-sensitive about this sort of stuff. I have been clean of lust and porn for over 2 years, since she discovered this problem. But our marriage has obviously been quite damaged during this time.
… A slight argument followed with me pleading my case about accidentally seeing the ISSUE and about how I have worked extremely hard at keeping my eyes “clean” throughout these past two years.
It seems these types of discussions happen every once and a while. I’m being sincere in saying that I do not consciously look at this filth any more. But you can’t go anywhere in public or have a TV on without being exposed to it vigorously. This is not the time or place for me to give my rant about what I feel the media has contributed to the corruption of innocence and marriage. But I wanted to share a bit of my story.
I told my wife recently that if I were to ever own a NFL team it would be the only team without cheerleaders. I’m not sure if she believed me, but I’m serious.
Thanks for the article and you honesty with stuggles. I have struggles as well and I am committed to continue to fight them through God’s strength.
God Bless.
Scott
Great post. You well say that our DNA is changed and that lust has no place. The only thing I would add is that we are held by Jesus and therefore do not need to run away from the threats of life to a fantasy life. I think that is a big factor for me.