Three Letter Hot Buttons

Sex. Few, if any, three letter words are more charged than this. That’s why you see it on billboard and television ads. There is an attraction to find out what is being said, shown, or promoted.

In my youngest years (the 1950s) you would rarely hear the word discussed or said in any public fashion. Married couples on television had separate beds. Levels of intimacy were kept extremely safe. And private.

As everyone now knows, we took a serious left turn in the 1960s. Top 40 radio had ample songs directing one’s mind to sexual activity. I could name several, but why? And everything sexual became more graphic in every facet of “entertainment.” Obscene language is common everywhere today. And…sex talk.

I was an observer during “hippie culture days.” My upbringing had taught me enough to know that sexual liberation and the drug culture would not profit me in the long run. Back in the 60s, the term used for hookups was “free love.”

It was a nearly impossible battle for young guys to fight. These no-cost sexual relationships were happening everywhere. Couples moving in with one another. High school guys talking about their “victories.” College campuses became breeding grounds. And abortion clinics loved the business.

The “advanced” form of all this moved into the new century with what become known as the “hook-up culture.” No doubt intelligent women have figured out that it’s the guys who benefit from this. Just like they did in the 60s. The 70s…80s and 90s. It’s the male species whose bodies turn on at barely a moment’s notice when the scene gets hot. And just as quickly, the interest can easily fade once the appetite is satisfied.

So I’ve never really understood why women found the “hook-up culture” attractive. It’s as close to being used as, well, there really is no comparison. Living together takes it to a whole other level! In this scenario, the male has the benefit package he wants with virtually NO commitment. No wonder these guys stay away from jewelry stores.

Perhaps times are finally changing. A February 18th, 2022, article in thecut.com questions, “Are We Getting Sick of Hook-up Culture?” Laura Pilcher writes, “Welcome to celibacy TikTok. In this emerging subsection of the app, spiritual-celibacy advocates explain sex as “energy transfers,” arguing that meaningless or casual sex doesn’t exist."

As to reasons for the change of thinking, it was said, “Some women are turning to celibacy after realizing ‘guys only want to use you for your body.’” I hope this didn’t come as a shock! Hello…!

I found good news in that these conversations are taking place in what has been termed a “sex recession” among younger millennials and Gen-Zers. Research shows these groups are having less casual or partnered sex than previous generations.

Here’s another not-so-surprising admission from Laura: “While the sexual-liberation movement—from the 1960s through the 1980s in the U.S.—portrayed sex as a means of empowerment for women, the realities of hookup culture have actually left many young people feeling disempowered. It’s easy to see why.” Yeah. It is.

Make no mistake. There is no TikTok pitch for celibacy (at least until marriage) because it’s the godly thing to do. Today the cutting back is just making sense in ways for people it did not before.

The apostle Paul wrote in his day about avoiding both sex—and marriage. He writes in 1 Corinthians 7, verse 1, “Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” Then later in verses 8-9, “Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.”

Here’s the other three letter word that gets people hot: God!! Do His ways take all the fun out of life? Never. He’s just looking out for His kids. As we all should do.

Three letter words. Sex. God. They can both get you hot…and bothered.

That’s Forward Thinking. Click on the link to the right to connect via Facebook.

You can find a number of YouTube episodes and podcasts of Mark’s program, Moving People Forward at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCosyuBzdSh1mXIas_kGY2Aw?

For more information on the Elfstrand Group, please visit www.elfstrandgroup.com

Articles of interest:

https://www.thecut.com/2022/02/hook-up-culture-celibacy-tiktok.html