I have a confession. It's really, reaaaaally weird. There's this thing my brain keeps doing (not me, my brain ;) It will NOT QUIT thinking about Beyoncé. I know... not Jesus, not the lovely people in my life, not my looming exams... Beyoncé. I can't tell you how many times:
* I'm channel surfing or just passing by the TV and her video happens to be on and I stay glued to it till it's over.
* I'm reading articles online and see yet another headline about her and her wonderful life- and no amount of reasoning can keep me from clicking the link!
* I suddenly start singing her tunes or dancing her dances in the privacy of my room.
All it takes is to hear a song or stumble upon a news clip, an advert, a picture; and Mrs. Carter takes up my brainspace for Lord knows how long. Sounds like the symptoms of a die-hard fan, right? Think again- I don't follow her on Twitter, don't patrol her website, not subscribed on YouTube- and that's what gets me the most- I don't even (actively) listen to her music. Let me explain...
I decided years ago to not buy or play music that does not glorify God or edify my soul. Up till that point, I was a hip-hop/R&B junkie, and Destiny's Child was right up there among my favourites. It was a struggle (and apparently, still is) for me to give up music that was so... look, some people can listen to music and just walk away. I'm one of those odd, intense people who listens to music and it goes my inside like the song was written into my very being. So now, 8 years down the line, when casually naming secular music as one of my 'used to's is one of my life's achievements, can you get that I resent Beyoncé for making music that bursts out when I let my guard down; songs that make me want to dance- against my better judgement? No wonder when she's on my mind, I'm often thinking:
* That body cannot be real- she's had surgery
* Is she Illuminati? She must be- how else did she get where she is?
* What's she really like? I bet she's faking the 'nice girl' image!
* She must be unhappy deep down inside. Nobody's life is that perfect.
* Did she really have a baby?
* How come nothing bad ever happens to her?
* Well, I bet if I had the time and nothing else to do, I could also practice till I could dance like that.
... no wonder... right? You know, I love writing, but sometimes putting stuff on paper seems to diminish the soundness of the reasoning behind it... and now I have to figure out what this obsesscination is really about. Ostensibly, I despise Beyoncé because she is hindering my efforts at pleasing God. Is she? Even if she is, should I?
Is she?
It's true that Beyoncé poses a challenge to my godly music aspirations, but that's my problem, not hers. She has never been under any obligation to make music to my taste. I guess I joined in on the popular whining, 'She's supposed to be a Christian... she started out in church'. But if God has not forced her to use her talents for Him, who am I to? If I'm honest enough to set aside the blame-shifting, I'll admit that Beyoncé is not responsible for my Christian sensibilities. You know what? In a sense, she's doing me a favour by causing disruptions to these 'efforts' of mine. I think my inability to totally let go of ungodly music begs the question: how does God feel about it? Romans 8:38 (NIV):
I'm absolutely convinced that nothing - nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable - absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.
Does God sing Baby Boy along with me in the shower? Probably not. But does He fume and do some editing to The Book of Life when I do? I doubt it. Maybe it's because He recognises better than I do that transforming my tastes in music, as with every part of my life, is a lifelong process. On my part, I'm confident that He who began this good work in me eight odd years ago will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Phil 1:6).
Going even deeper to the root of my problem, I've had to admit to myself today that a large part of my resentment is rooted in jealousy. I want what Beyoncé has. It's not just her discipline and dedication- here's someone who has found something she is good at, has worked hard and pushed herself to the point where no one can deny her talent. On an even less noble note, I envy her success and acclaim. I've read 1 John 2:16 so many times, and out of the 3 lusts, I have always thought the only one that applied to me was that of the flesh. Lust of the eyes and pride of life, I've never identified myself with. And here it is. I thought I had outgrown my childhood dreams of being a popstar- making lots of money, being loved and adored by millions of fans, wanting to be recognised and respected everywhere I go, etc. I thought knowing Jesus and feeling the fulfilment of what life is really about, human acclaim and material things have little appeal to me. I would never have pointed myself out as egoistic or materialistic and yet, here it is.
All this makes me want to take another look at my attitude toward celebrities in general, and I challenge you to do the same. If you spot any disdain or resentment for someone rich and famous- actor, singer, politician- take some time to assess what it's really about. You may be surprised. If you say it's on the grounds of your being a Christian, ask yourself what right you have to assess someone else's lifestyle:
“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? (Matt. 7:1-4, MSG)
When it comes to judging, lots of people say stuff like, 'So shouldn't we point it out if someone does something sinful?' Go right ahead, but mind what you say, how you say it, and what you harbour in your heart concerning the person you're talking about.
For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. (Matt. 7:2, NLT)
... Should I?
Suppose Beyoncé is a priestess in the order of the Illuminati, bent on destroying every Christian soul she can through her music. What then?
“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty..." (Matthew 5:43, MSG... gotta love how they phrased verse 44).
How on earth can I love someone when I hate what they do/represent? Like Sammy Adebiyi said in 'Why are Christians so homophobic?', we do it all the time anyway. C. S. Lewis put it best:
There is someone I love, even though I don't approve of what he does. There is someone I accept, though some of his thoughts and actions revolt me. There is someone I forgive, though he hurts the people I love the most. That person is me.
I guess that's what Jesus meant by loving my neighbour as I love myself.
* I'm channel surfing or just passing by the TV and her video happens to be on and I stay glued to it till it's over.
* I'm reading articles online and see yet another headline about her and her wonderful life- and no amount of reasoning can keep me from clicking the link!
* I suddenly start singing her tunes or dancing her dances in the privacy of my room.
All it takes is to hear a song or stumble upon a news clip, an advert, a picture; and Mrs. Carter takes up my brainspace for Lord knows how long. Sounds like the symptoms of a die-hard fan, right? Think again- I don't follow her on Twitter, don't patrol her website, not subscribed on YouTube- and that's what gets me the most- I don't even (actively) listen to her music. Let me explain...
I decided years ago to not buy or play music that does not glorify God or edify my soul. Up till that point, I was a hip-hop/R&B junkie, and Destiny's Child was right up there among my favourites. It was a struggle (and apparently, still is) for me to give up music that was so... look, some people can listen to music and just walk away. I'm one of those odd, intense people who listens to music and it goes my inside like the song was written into my very being. So now, 8 years down the line, when casually naming secular music as one of my 'used to's is one of my life's achievements, can you get that I resent Beyoncé for making music that bursts out when I let my guard down; songs that make me want to dance- against my better judgement? No wonder when she's on my mind, I'm often thinking:
* That body cannot be real- she's had surgery
* Is she Illuminati? She must be- how else did she get where she is?
* What's she really like? I bet she's faking the 'nice girl' image!
* She must be unhappy deep down inside. Nobody's life is that perfect.
* Did she really have a baby?
* How come nothing bad ever happens to her?
* Well, I bet if I had the time and nothing else to do, I could also practice till I could dance like that.
... no wonder... right? You know, I love writing, but sometimes putting stuff on paper seems to diminish the soundness of the reasoning behind it... and now I have to figure out what this obsesscination is really about. Ostensibly, I despise Beyoncé because she is hindering my efforts at pleasing God. Is she? Even if she is, should I?
Is she?
It's true that Beyoncé poses a challenge to my godly music aspirations, but that's my problem, not hers. She has never been under any obligation to make music to my taste. I guess I joined in on the popular whining, 'She's supposed to be a Christian... she started out in church'. But if God has not forced her to use her talents for Him, who am I to? If I'm honest enough to set aside the blame-shifting, I'll admit that Beyoncé is not responsible for my Christian sensibilities. You know what? In a sense, she's doing me a favour by causing disruptions to these 'efforts' of mine. I think my inability to totally let go of ungodly music begs the question: how does God feel about it? Romans 8:38 (NIV):
I'm absolutely convinced that nothing - nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable - absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.
Does God sing Baby Boy along with me in the shower? Probably not. But does He fume and do some editing to The Book of Life when I do? I doubt it. Maybe it's because He recognises better than I do that transforming my tastes in music, as with every part of my life, is a lifelong process. On my part, I'm confident that He who began this good work in me eight odd years ago will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Phil 1:6).
Going even deeper to the root of my problem, I've had to admit to myself today that a large part of my resentment is rooted in jealousy. I want what Beyoncé has. It's not just her discipline and dedication- here's someone who has found something she is good at, has worked hard and pushed herself to the point where no one can deny her talent. On an even less noble note, I envy her success and acclaim. I've read 1 John 2:16 so many times, and out of the 3 lusts, I have always thought the only one that applied to me was that of the flesh. Lust of the eyes and pride of life, I've never identified myself with. And here it is. I thought I had outgrown my childhood dreams of being a popstar- making lots of money, being loved and adored by millions of fans, wanting to be recognised and respected everywhere I go, etc. I thought knowing Jesus and feeling the fulfilment of what life is really about, human acclaim and material things have little appeal to me. I would never have pointed myself out as egoistic or materialistic and yet, here it is.
All this makes me want to take another look at my attitude toward celebrities in general, and I challenge you to do the same. If you spot any disdain or resentment for someone rich and famous- actor, singer, politician- take some time to assess what it's really about. You may be surprised. If you say it's on the grounds of your being a Christian, ask yourself what right you have to assess someone else's lifestyle:
“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? (Matt. 7:1-4, MSG)
When it comes to judging, lots of people say stuff like, 'So shouldn't we point it out if someone does something sinful?' Go right ahead, but mind what you say, how you say it, and what you harbour in your heart concerning the person you're talking about.
For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. (Matt. 7:2, NLT)
... Should I?
Suppose Beyoncé is a priestess in the order of the Illuminati, bent on destroying every Christian soul she can through her music. What then?
“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty..." (Matthew 5:43, MSG... gotta love how they phrased verse 44).
How on earth can I love someone when I hate what they do/represent? Like Sammy Adebiyi said in 'Why are Christians so homophobic?', we do it all the time anyway. C. S. Lewis put it best:
There is someone I love, even though I don't approve of what he does. There is someone I accept, though some of his thoughts and actions revolt me. There is someone I forgive, though he hurts the people I love the most. That person is me.
I guess that's what Jesus meant by loving my neighbour as I love myself.
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