American Idol Kisses Off Genuine Manhood

I recently confessed a secret to my accountability partner that I had been harboring for many months: My wife and I have become moderately addicted to American Idol.

My gracious friend barely took a breath in responding: "I watch it too, but never wanted you to know." Now that the unadorned truth was out, both of us laughed heartily at our attempt at Pharisaical "super piety" and assured each other — as if we were both still a little unconvinced — that there is "nothing wrong with watching American Idol, so long as we do so discerningly and in moderation."

While I always seek to observe and analyze popular culture through the lens of a Christian worldview with the aim of taking every though captive for Christ, one incident between the "talent" and judges earlier this season was so blatantly atheistic (and unmanly), it bears a bit further analysis. Under the not-so-subtle headline "American Idol Virgin Fires Back at Seacrest," Cybercast News Service recounts the sad (if unsurprising) details:

"At the Dallas auditions for the 2008 season of "American Idol" last month, 19-year-old Bruce Dickson discovered that his singing wasn't the only thing that got a no vote from the judges, who also questioned his decision to "save everything for that one special woman."

When Dickson, from Bastrop, Texas, was asked to share something about himself, he said he'd never kissed a girl.

"What?" Randy Jackson asked. "On purpose?"

"On purpose," Dickson said. "On my wedding day, that will be my first kiss."

Jackson's advice to Dickson after the judges sent him packing: "Go kiss some girls."

Simon Cowell, eyebrows raised, told him: "Avoid Ryan (Seacrest) on the way out."

Seacrest himself ended the segment featuring Dickson with these words: "Maybe next year he'll come back less a boy and more a man." But Dickson fired back at Seacrest in an interview with Cybercast News Service. "A real man would rather wait than just do whatever with whoever," he said."

Bravo! Way to demonstrate true manhood, Bruce Dickson!  

It seems that perhaps this young man has something transcendent to teach the presumptuous judges of AI about the qualities that comprise genuine manhood.  After all, manhood according to our sovereign Creator's inspired blueprint is not measured by romantic conquests, but by Spirit-imbued humility and servant leadership that demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit, one of which is self-control.

The real man protects the purity, honor and integrity of women; like Paul, he makes his passions submit to the bridle of self-control. Like Joseph, he flees from flirtatious temptation and knows well that "the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey...her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol." (Prov 5:3a, 5) He knows that the answer to Solomon's question "Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned?" (Prov 6:27) is a resounding "no." He understands well that a young man "Dies for lack of discipline and because of his great folly he is led astray." (Prov 5:23) 

He knows that God did not make women for the distinct purpose of satisfying his carnal urges, but realizes that God created them in His own image, full of dignity, worthy of respect and honor. The real man does not see a woman as an object to be used, but as a gift to be cherished as a perfectly suitable helpmate.