WARNING: This post is not politically correct. My goal is NOT to offend, simply to share what I feel the Lord wants me to write. I am speaking to myself as well as you—not wanting to judge, but desiring to challenge us to rethink how we are viewing God.

Our culture revolves around sexualization. Some of it’s blatant, sometimes it’s craftily hidden in an innocent guise. Regardless, our world is steeped in lust.

It starts young.

Young children are being taught in kindergarten more than they should know at 13. In the little girls department, mini skirts and edgy tops hang where innocent blouses and feminine clothing should be. Victoria’s Secret launched a new line of lingerie targeted toward middle school girls, while Bratz dolls with dark make-up and Barbies with the ideal figure decorate toy isles.

I blush when I scroll down Instagram and see photos little boys and men I know have “liked,” saddened by the airbrushed celebrities little friends “follow” and comment on.

It’s everywhere.

Same-Sex marriage is a focal point for debate and physical relationships start younger and younger (“he’s really your boyfriend? You’re 10!”) It’s on the magazine rack, in the social media adds, on commercials, in movies, and everywhere we go people try to imitate what they see praised—immorality. Sexualization. Parents flock to watch 50 Shades of Evil yet wonder why their daughters end up pregnant . . . why their sons are crippled with lust.

It’s not always obvious.

Many of my favorite “good” Country songs have sexual undertones (okay, maybe overtones). It is in or surrounding almost everything we’re apart of.

Why is our world’s focus on sexualization? On physicality?

Because we crave relationship . . . a hole only God can fill. The World doesn’t want God. So they seek to fill that emptiness with a physical, sexual relationship. Intimacy. Selfish Intimacy.

Yet there are more broken homes, more rejected mothers, more irresponsible fathers, more hurt, and more destroyed relationship than ever before.

Man’s attention is never going to make us feel loved, dear girl. All that a woman can give you isn’t going to be enough to satisfy your desires, dear man.

We need Jesus . . . and yet, we are sexualizing him too.

It’s subtle, but scary.

First, let’s look at who God is, who Jesus is.

He’s powerful. Majestic. All-knowing. Worthy of praise, honor, and respect. Holy. Righteous. Our Creator. Yes, he is a loving God, a God full of amazing mercy and grace. But, he is also a judging God (Oh my gosh, did I just say he judges???).  He is a God that demands justice and was willing to send his son to carry my sin, your sin–the weight of the world–and die a torturous death.

We are reducing God. We want to make him a physical, cuddly, loving boyfriend that loves us no matter what we do wrong.

This is particularly apparent in our “worship songs.”

Does God feel honored when I praise him for heaven and earth meeting like a “sloppy wet kiss” and making my heart turn “violently inside of my chest?” Does he smile when we tell him, “as I feel your touch you bring freedom to all that is within” (what does that even mean?). Praise the Lord he brings freedom and victory, but it’s not some spark from his physical touch.

“Lay back against you and breath, hear your heart beat, this love is so deep, it’s more than I can stand.”

This sentence is emotional. A passionate moment between two individuals. I’m not gonna lie, this writer captures a pretty appealing scene. However,  I struggle finding the reverence, the honor, our King deserves in this song.

Jesus is the bridegroom of the church as a collective unit. His relationship with us is likened to that of a marriage in scripture, but it’s the nation of Israel as a whole and the church as a whole, not an individual romance between God and a single human.

I don’t want to assume we are sexualizing Jesus. I’m not saying we don’t have hearts of worship when we sing these songs in church on Sunday. Many do. But I want to challenge you, as I am challenging myself.

How are we letting the culture affect our view of Christ?

For me, I naturally view God as a Father. I am blessed with an amazing earthly Daddy that comforts me when I’m hurting, loves me even when I mess up, forgives when I don’t deserve it, pursues me, has my heart, protects me, chastens me, challenges me, teaches me . . . and does so unconditionally. He loves me with a love that isn’t passionate emotional fervor, but steady, relentless, consistency. He’s always there. I can rely on him. To me, God is a perfect version of that love.

Some people can’t say that of their dads. But God wants to be that father to the fatherless, the perfect provider and protector you’ve never experienced.

Frankly, that’s a lot more appealing than the love of a passionate boyfriend. A guy that’s going to give  a moment of excitement–an experience–and then move on. Jesus isn’t an experience, he is my life.

Emotions fade. Emotions are not consistent. God is.

Sexualization revolves around a moment of ecstasy. But God is more than a moment. He is God.

Let’s praise him for who he is.