A few weeks ago, I was going through my nightly routine before bed (that’s how an OCD person survives – through routines). So there I was taking out my contacts, washing my face, and brushing my teeth when Heather says, “Oh, my goodness! You won’t imagine what commercial just came on the TV.”
Here is the commercial we saw…
We saw this commercial on ESPN around 11pm.
The ashleymadison.com mission statement is “Life is short. Have an affair.” Another commercial for this website (which is way too provocative for me to put on my blog) has a man and a woman being extremely physical and passionate with each other followed by the words, “This couple is married. But not to each other.” Their website has the “100% Guaranteed Ashley Madison Affair Guarantee” that says, “Have an affair to remember or we’ll give you your money back!”
I’m not sure what kind of emotions that stirs up inside of you – possible anger, sadness, or indifference. After thinking about it for a minute, my heart broke thinking about this company. Thinking about all the marriages that will be destroyed, thinking about all the families that will be ruined, thinking about all the children that will be hurt by mommy or daddy, and thinking about all the deep emotional scars that will impact so much more than the participants, my heart broke. It is enough to bring you to tears, isn’t it?
Here’s the deal: this is not an article written by some Christian who from his comfortable bubble of religion and church is pointing and screaming about how wrong and jacked up the world is today. This is not an article asking you to rant, picket, and protest outside this company’s offices or to boycott ESPN for showing this commercial. There are plenty of Christians that choose to be that “Bullhorn Guy” who stands outside of the world shouting how sinful and wrong the world is today. I do not find that strategy successful.
No, this is an article calling you to pray. Pray for the lost. Pray that God will rise up men and women in businesses and advertising that love him more than the almighty dollar. Pray that followers of God will start setting the trends in advertising, marketing, and business. And pray that when Christians do start setting the trends, it looks a lot different from today. We need world changers.
It’s important to know what is out in the world. It is what our kids are seeing. It is the messages they are hearing. Talk to your kids about this commercial. Use it as a teachable moment of how serious and dangerous that lifestyle could be. Don’t play hide and seek like little kids – you know, where they simply cover their eyes, thinking if they can’t see you, then you can’t see them. Face this problem.
It breaks my heart. Does it break yours?
