Paul Derengowski, ThM
In a piece written by Nancy Armour for USA Today, let me first commend her on being blunt, candid, and truthful in her assessment that there is no need for cheerleaders in the National Football League (much less in any other professional sports venue).
Not only are “cheerleaders” totally unnecessary, I’ll go a step further and opine that their sideline presences are “harmful” to society in general and the family specifically.
Of course, zeroing in on the idea of “harm” is important only because certain persons have set harm up as the standard of measure whereby good and bad behavior are often determined.
What they fail to realize is that harm without an absolute voice to determine its merits is purely subjective and could mean anything to anyone.
That being the case, harm means nothing.
Conversely, when Jesus pointed out, “that everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Mt. 5:27), harm means something and everyone should take note.
Jesus is the absolute standard by which if something is deemed harmful, then you may rest assure that it is indeed harmful.
Lust of the eyes that leads to adultery and ultimately the break-up of the family is harmful to everyone!
NFL cheerleaders contribute to both, as they are nothing more than objectified women who are being used by greedy team owners to “titillate” male viewers, as well as a few perverted females, to buy more of the team brand.
They serve no other real purpose.
A byproduct of the titillation (temptation) is the conception of lust that bears sin in the hearts of those watching the “cheerleaders,” as they nearly bare all, which has nothing to do with football.
The end result is death; death of society, in general, and death of the family, specifically (see James 1:14-15).
The caveat, therefore, is “Do not be deceived.”
Do not be deceived into believing that the professional cheerleader contributes something valuable, virtuous, and meaningful to the game being played.
Do not be deceived into believing that the professional cheerleader has anyone’s best interest in hand by being dressed (more like undressed) like a cheap prostitute.
Do not be deceived into believing that the professional cheerleader is not harming anyone, including herself, by serving as an object of lust that leads to death.
Instead, let your eye be “clear,” whereby your whole body is full of light.
Because if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness and how overwhelming that darkness will be! (Mt. 6:22-23).
The same applies to the cheerleader.
Put your clothes on, go home, and be an object of light, rather than an object of deceit, darkness, and death.
