Another Disney Girl shocks the world

Miley Cyrus, 15-year-old star of the Disney Channel’s hit show “Hannah Montana,” is viewed as a role model for the pre-teen and “tween” set. So it came as quite a shock to the entertainment world when provocative photos of Miss Cyrus appeared in Vanity Fair magazine. Although the offending picture only showed the bare skin of Miley’s back, the suggestion that she was nude with satin sheets was widely viewed as borderline child pornography.

I wasn’t going to comment on this story, but then I read this column in Sunday’s newspaper and, together with this week’s presentation by the Dramatic ministries team in chapel, led me to consider giving you a forum to express yourselves. In the column I referenced, there is a mention of girls as young as 11 showing themselves off in their underwear on the hood of a sports car and then posting it on Myspace (which is supposed to be prohibited to anyone under 14). And “role models” like Linsday Lohan, Brittney Spears, Christina Aquilera, and Miley Cyrus only encourage young girls to even more exhibitionism.

When I was recently in Utah, there was a big story breaking about middle school kids exchanging nude photos taken with their cell phones. In fact, the Christian School to which I am headed even had to expel a boy who had been involved with this type of activity. From the sounds of police reports, this sort of behavior is considered routine at the junior high level, and obviously Christian young people are not immune to temptation.

The numbers are staggering. When 90% of 8-16 year olds have viewed pornography on line, it is no longer a problem only for losers who can’t get a date. It appears that our fight against the culture is not going well. But, as God’s word says, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, the authorities, against the powers of this dark world against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:12-13)