Elvis the Pelvis

If you consider Elvis in his day, or Marilyn Monroe in her day, or Madonna, or Beyonce, or many other ultra famous (as well as relatively unknown) worldly musical entertainers, at the core of their rise to fame is their ability to sell themselves as sex symbols. It is a fact that Elvis’ stage performances were much about seducing the minds of women and stirring up their lust into a sexual frenzy.

One famous music journalist said of Elvis that he was "the man who brought overt blatant vulgar sexual frenzy to the popular arts in America."

I’ve never been to an Elvis concert, but if I’m to believe the reports, some women even threw their panties at Elvis as he performed. Did women throw their underwear on stage because Elvis was a paragon of virtue? I think not.

Not only in his stage performances, but in his movies and in his personal life Elvis, as are so many performers, was a womanizer.

Oh, and the reason Elvis was nicknamed “Elvis the Pelvis”? I believe it had to do with so many being offended by his gyrating and grinding of his pelvic area during performances in a lewd and sexual manner.

It perplexes me how some who profess to be Christian (even some who are teachers in the Christian arena) find no conflict between following the Bible while at the same time idolizing performers like Elvis.

When we see “Christians” putting on stage productions or dressing up like Elvis and doing Elvis impersonations, one naturally wonders how these individuals reconcile this with the scripture. Excuses you might hear from these individuals may go something like:

- I just do it because it’s fun
- Or, I grew up listening to Elvis
- Or, Elvis was raised in the church as a boy and he did do some good
- Elvis was really talented
- I’m just entertaining people; they enjoy it; and I don’t mean anything negative by it; it's just a stage performance

Oh, I cannot deny it’s fun and pleasurable. I imagine it would have been fun for Moses in his day to hide away in the palaces of ancient Egypt, enjoying all its pleasures, denying the holy destiny God had designed for him. But I’m so glad about the choice Moses made.

Hebrews 11:24-26 (KJV)

24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.


There are various ungodly habits and pleasures many of us may have grown up taking part in. God sent his son that we might be new creations in him.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

The fact that someone may have done some few good deeds doesn’t merit that we hold them up as someone to emulate if that person’s personification is all about promoting ungodliness. We can find at least one good thing done by pretty much anyone in the world, even Satan (remember he was once a holy angel, before he decided to rebel). However, I don’t want my daughters dressing up like Madonna to go entertain at the church dinner, or in the senior citizens' rest home, or etc.

The fact that a person has natural ability or talent doesn’t sanctify what they do with that talent if they use it to promote wrong. What we need to do is emulate David in 1st Samuel who was a skillful musician who would play under the anointing of God and drive the evil spirit from King Saul:

1 Samuel 16:23 (KJV)

23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

I recently happened to catch a short clip of a news interview given by Eminem were he tried to explain that the vulgar stuff he did on stage was totally different than what he did at home; which I guess is supposed to excuse the filth that he spews forth in his performances.

Why do men dress up like Elvis? Many of these men may have some sort of fantasy of being famous like Elvis with hoards of beautiful women pursuing them for a sexual encounter. Worldly women enjoy the Elvis impersonators as it allows them to make believe they’re right in the presence of the real Elvis whom they idolize and fantasize about. There was one woman who admittedly would have her husband dress up and imitate Elvis when they were alone in the bed.

We need to commit to following God and his ways above all else.

1 Kings 18:21 (KJV)

21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word

We cannot reach the world the way God wants us to by conforming to their ungodly ways.

Romans 12:2 (KJV)

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.


If we try to play both sides of the fence by emulating and promoting Elvis (and other ungodly performers that we like) while telling our children not to idolize their ungodly celebrities, then even our children (as well as the unbelieving world) will recognize our inconsistency and hypocrisy, even if they're unwilling to tell us so to our face.

Don’t yield to the temptation to rationalize what you’re doing, pray and make a decision right now to forsake ungodliness and follow biblical holiness.