Fifty Shades of Grey. By now everyone has heard of it. People have read the book and are awaiting to see the film in theaters. Count me out. I have watched the effects of this lifestyle unravel people, families and communities.
Recently, in Detroit, Bob Bashara was convicted of first-degree murder of his wife. Prosecutors unraveled his secret BDSM lifestyle and used this as a motive to have his wife killed. I have known Bob for almost two years now. As a volunteer prison chaplain, I write and visit people who are incarcerated. Over the past two and a half years I have been in contact with over a dozen different inmates. My goal is to share the love and hope I have in Jesus Christ to these dear people who have been cast away from society. Even though people need to pay their debt to society because sin and breaking the law have severe consequence, it does not mean they are worthless trash to be forgotten. Several young people I have befriended have been convicted of murder. Thankfully, my job is not in the legal realm to decide if they are guilty or innocent. My job is to be their friend. I show up and do life with them.
Back to Fifty Shades of Grey. I urge everyone not to support it. I am not sure how any self respecting woman could read/watch it let alone work on the film in any way. This movie does not depict love, it promotes lust, abuse and control. Love is gentle, self-sacrificing and joyful not violent, controlling and manipulative. No woman should ever feel so insecure to put herself in a “relationship” of this kind. Just as I tell all my inmates, our worth can only be found in Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, so many young females will see or hear about this porn movie and think it’s ok to demean themselves to this level to please a man.
I suppose this short post is two-fold. One, sexual sin is ugly and Hollywood only perpetuates it. Two, healing and forgiveness is always possible with Christ. I love the unlovely because Christ loves me. We are all guilty of sin and are in the exact same need of God’s forgiveness whether it be for murder or talking behind someone’s back. So, I will continue to be a good friend to Bob and all my other dear ones in prison just as Christ continues to pursue me despite my disobedience to him. I am honored to be the friend of the friendless.
Katie from Michigan!! 