Today's Seattle-Tacoma News Tribune (online version) ran yet another story about the bikini barista stands. Apparently enough people have raised concerns and several cities are "clamping down" on the situation. People don't want any illegal activity in their own back yards so the young ladies are being required to wear clothing that provides the equivalent covering a traditional bikini would, whatever that means. Our little corner of the world was not mentioned and I don't recall anything being stated about what is or isn't "acceptable" on the Key Peninsula. (I'm not claiming to be an expert here, maybe they have been asked to cover up a bit as well but I'm not sure.) People are more than willing to remove illegal activity but do we really care when the nature of the activity is immoral?
Time to move on from the over cooked issue of espresso stands. You'd be hard pressed to find someone who supports outright prostitution but there are lots of people who have no problem with enjoying a brief (or prolonged) look at an attractive, scantily clad woman. Even some wives will laugh it off and categorize it as boys being boys. I'll never forget the Sports Illustrated commercial that was using their famed swimsuit edition as incentive for new subscribers; they had a "wife" come on and say something like, "Oh I know he'll enjoy that!" Seriously? Now maybe you're a guy sitting there thinking, "My wife really doesn't mind if I look." Okay then, Smarty, I'll back off for just a second and we'll both pretend that somewhere deep down it isn't killing her that you have to look at other women just to get your heart rate up. Consider this question spoken by a good friend, "What does that say about you?"
It's not just about sizzling images or seductive dress codes; sexuality is permeating our world. Children are becoming inquisitive and taking matters into their own hands at younger and younger ages. Foxnews.com is reporting that an 11 year old girl just gave birth (dated February 5th, 2010 by Jessica Ryen Doyle). Rightfully so the story is void of how this came to be but the point is that kids aren't just talking about sex, they're trying. Messages of sexual tolerance and acceptance are all over the place as we continue to exchange our innocence for experience. People are encouraged to comply with how they feel and what they desire instead of mastering those desires and bringing them under control. Someone is feeding us the line that gratification and pleasure should not be restrained and we're swallowing it yard by yard. Somehow we believe that society is improving as we embrace every pleasure under the sun and we wonder why we're not ever satisfied.
You may be thinking these are the ramblings of a hyper-conservative, Bible thumper who never has any fun at all. You might think stuff like that but you'd be wrong. Sexuality is something that both Scripture and I endorse. God has designed us to enjoy and experience every wonderful, exciting touch in the safe and romantic context of marriage. Within that loving, caring relationship the experience should be a blissful delight for both partners! The problem is that we (society) insist on downgrading God's design for something inferior and reckless. We spread our hormones and hearts around like currency trying to buy some evasive experience that satisfies only for a moment and takes far more than it gives.
Trading your innocence to gain "experience" doesn't equal lasting satisfaction. Anyone who tells you otherwise is.... yep, you guessed it, selling you something.