FREEDOM 21 DAY 6

DAY 6 – Unhealthy Perspectives of Women and SEX

 

Today we will focus our prayer and repentance on our unhealthy perspectives towards women and sexuality.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. –Romans 12:2

Just as culture molds our social behavior, values, and unique outlook on life, it also shapes our views on sex and women.

IN THE UNITED STATES

In the US, where we are constantly saturated with sexual innuendo, images, movies, and TV shows, the majority of the population’s perspective of women and sex is warped. Men idolize the body of a woman, elevated on the impossible pedestals of Hollywood standards. Men have perverted sex by selfishness and pleasure-seeking. Women have fueled this by exploiting the manipulative power of their bodies.

IN MEXICO

Mexican culture has some specific terms and values that define gender roles, perceptions, and attitudes. Machismo “values strong and dominant men and justifies identifying women as property and violence against women in various forms.”(1) The presence of this value unfortunately results in a tolerance of the existing sexual labor force. Women’s roles are further defined by marianismo, “the expectation that women present as wholesome and must comply with the needs of their family, particularly the male members.”(2) An overarching principle is respeto, a core value of respect, which complicates matters because a woman in an abusive situation “would likely fear the consequences of speaking out against an elder, relative, or man because it could be deemed disrespectful.”(3) In the process of striving to fulfill these roles, many women throughout Latin cultures become silent sufferers of violence.

IN THE CHURCH

In the Body of Christ, sexual immorality, due to these negative social perspectives, is rampant. We cannot afford to mix Kingdom culture with worldly culture! Sex, when not respected, will be perverted. This adds fuel to the human trafficking fire because men not only lack self control of their sexual appetites but are also culturally taught to devalue the sacredness of sex and the humanity of women.

We must renew the minds of our nations and shatter all perverted cultural paradigms by deciding that we will no longer stand for the objectifying of women and devaluing of sex.

To read the full USRPN article on this issue, please click here.

PERSONAL REPENTANCE

Lord, forgive me if I have not had the right perception of sex and people as You intended. I repent if I have entertained ungodly cultural perceptions that are found in my nation.

CORPORATE REPENTANCE

Father God, we stand in the gap on behalf of our nations and ask forgiveness for perverting sexuality and objectifying women. Have mercy on our nations as we repent for creating and exporting movies, TV shows, and music that teach our citizens to not follow your standards. Forgive us as your Church for submitting to these negative cultural forms instead of standing up for what is moral and pure.

INTERCESSION

• Holy God, we call out to You to bring a cultural revolution of purity and a restoration of godly sexuality and marriage as You created them.
   
• Bring a spiritual transformation to movies and entertainment in our nations, reversing the portrayal of women as sex objects to one of dignity and respect.
   
• We pray for cultural views that devalue women and girls to be transformed into biblical views (Gen. 1:26-31).
   
• We pray for a counter-cultural movement opposing the normalization of homosexuality, pimping, pornography, and prostitution.
   
• We pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our two nations, with a river of righteousness, holiness, and purity.

TAKE ACTION

1. Evaluate the standards in your life. Do they contribute to the objectifying of women and devaluing of sex? Define your standards and values. Make yourself accountable to a fellow believer.

2. Speak into the lives of younger people who look up to you. Teach them the woman empowering and man-purifying standards that God has created for sex.

3. Teach your children the value of sexuality as God intended it. Focus On The Family has great resources that will aid you in this.