This week, Formula One announced the end of grid girls - the young women who walk around holding signs, model in front of cars, and greet VIP guests. "We don’t believe the practice is appropriate or relevant to Formula One and its fans, old and new, across the world," announced Sean Bratches, F1's director of commercial operations.
There has been mixed reactions to this.
On the one side, many are celebrating this as an advancement for women. They are no longer being paraded around for the bemusement of ogling men. On the other side, the women affected are mourning the decision. They are being laid off from a highly publicized job that they really enjoy due to complaints from people who don't even watch the sport.
I think there is something we can learn here.
We like to see the societal advancement of Christian ideals. And rightfully so. That women are people to be known and not objects to be enjoyed is a Christian ideal. We want more of the former and less of the latter, and so there is something about this news that sounds good. We want this kind of change to happen. Yes and amen.
The problem, however, comes in the question of "why?"
Why is this change occurring?
In this instance, Formula One's decision seems to be a caving to external pressure. Those who participate in it don't have a problem with the grid girls. The change is coming from the top down, not the bottom up. In other words, it's not a reflection of actual advancement. It has the appearance of cultural advancement of Christian ideals, but not the substance.
As Christians, we need to be careful that we don't do the same thing. We may greatly care about someone and want them to make good decisions, but imposed morality does not a Christian make. Pressuring someone to make the right choices may change their behavior, but that's not what really matters. A morally outstanding life only gives you cuts in the line to Hell without the redeeming blood of Christ. We don't just want behavior modification, but heart regeneration. And if the latter occurs, the former will happen in due time.
We don't want people to make moral decisions because they are imposed from the top down, but because it's their desires being transformed from the inside out. And as people change, the society will follow.