Can you name some of
the top song/video’s on YouTube?
Justin Bieber “Baby”; Lady Gaga “Bad Romance”; Eminem and
Rihanna “Love the Way you Lie”; Jennifer Lopez “On the Floor.” These and a few others have over 500 millions
hits.
But the number one song/video is by a Korean singer named “Psy.” “Gangnam Style” is closing in on one
billion hits!
What’s it about?
In a nutshell it’s about a guy wooing a girl with a colorful assortment
of choreography and sexual innuendo that support the basic message of the
song.
It doesn’t have a meaning. Not really. There is no deep message. It is a headlong plunge into the surreal. The message of the song is as old as dirt. Someone described it as “getting high in miniature.” Much like the effect of a drug, the beat is everything. Take
the beat away and the song is b-o-r-i-n-g!
The song isn’t indicative of anything special about the
artist. But it is strongly
indicative of what is happening in our culture. Such artists are simply riding the trends driven by the
instinctual. They find a niche and use
it to their benefit. People said the
same thing about Elvis. Elvis started
something. Elvis also revealed something about people…something that has always been there.
Deep down in the pit of our souls, we love the surreal. It allows us to be in the moment with little
thought of anything beyond the moment. To
be carefree. To feel what we want to
feel. Its appeal is not in itself. Not really.
It is brought to life by what is inside
human beings. Gangnam Style is
really about what’s in people.
Why is so hard to be a Christian? You can answer that one from a lot of angles. I don’t mean Christian in a doctrinal sense or
whether we gather in assembly with other believers. I’m talking about our ability to intersect our
“minds” and “spirits” with the Spirit of God. To live in a consciousness of God. It’s hard to do. It’s hard because it transports us away from
the surreal and into thought about real things – things that really matter.
The ESV of Ephesians 5:15-20 reads this way:
15 Look
carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best
use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not
be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.18 And do not
get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another
in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the
Lord with your heart, 20 giving
thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ,
The Message says it this way:
15So watch your step. Use your head. Make the
most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! 17 Don’t
live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants. 18-20 Don’t
drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge
draughts of him. Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! Sing songs from your
heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the
Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ.
These words are as current as when they were first written. More importantly, they strike at the root of
our daily challenge to be people who live above the intoxication that comes
with the surreal and in the reality that is the Spirit of God and the discovery
of His will for our lives.
·
Look carefully – watch
·
Make the best use of our time.
·
Seek God’s will.
·
Avoid a life of sedation – keep our wits about us.
·
Live in the Spirit through songs that stimulate
our minds about the things of God and His kingdom.
This text from Ephesians chapter five probably won’t get many hits on YouTube. But, it has everything to do with living a life of wisdom that
transcends the temporary and deceptive promises that come with the surreal. In short it helps us be in our moments as we can and should so that we can "make the most of the time."
Father, may our spirits reach out for Your Spirit everyday. Show us continually the wisdom and blessing
that come from keeping our sensed sharpened to the things that really matter. Amen.
Randy Daugherty
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