B
Bug
Guest
Is this a discussion topic or a diatribe? But seriously, despite all these words, I feel I am missing some angle...
So:
A Christian singer, whose work I am not familiar with...(is she a country singer?), walked out of the 2014 Grammy Awards show, and then announced that she did so on twitter, and that it was because she was disappointed in the show.*
The reasons a Christian wouldn't want to watch the show are numerous, including "demons" dancing with Katy Perry, many women in sexualized clothing, women dancing provocatively, etc.*
But I immediately found the actions of this artist foolish, however satisfying it was to have discussions (and even condemnation) of the trashiness of Grammys hit the major news outlets.
I personally believe that each Christian plays an individual role, some are meant to be activists (maybe zealots even, but aren't they counter-productive? I don't know) to shout from the marketplace a call to Him, some are meant to quietly follow his path (wherein, 50 years in, someone finally says "what is it about you? I just admire your integrity and the cool way you have with people so much, what is it?" answer: "I think what you are seeing in me is Jesus Christ. I acknowledged Him as my savior when I was 23, the principles of devout Christianity have shaped every second of my life ever since!") and a bunch of different paths in between.
So I'm not faulting this singer, I totally believe she was put upon by the Lord to leave early. But I wonder how much her twitter commentary, though it did wisely exclude calling out any one performer... I just felt...why even comment on it? I see that she might be shaming performers and the audience- what are any Christians doing taking part in this?- but still, maybe Beyonce, for example, who I think calls herself Christian, might think for a second, "what does Christian really mean."
But for me, two things:*
1
Grammy awards, well all awards shows, have been risqué, to be understated, for decades.*
Where do we as Christians draw the line? Are we to be Puritan and avoid all media except exceptionally scrutinized programming (I was a nanny for a family whose sole programming was personally approved Christian shows on Netflix - but even one of their approved selection "Fireproof" didn't meet my criteria if I were to watch ONLY shows that espouse my values. I didn't like how the husband was portrayed as the only one at fault- when is that ever true- and the way the wife responded to her frustration with her husband...I guess it was a try at Christian values addressing a broken relationship, but why not try and also get it right! I would have loved to see one of them open the Bible and start citing some scripture that described or addressed what they were dealing with!)*
Anyway, I have an infant and I'm wondering how I am going to raise him. At this point, my husband and I plan on instilling scripture-heavy Christian values, and guiding him to choose programming that either follows our value system, or when not, teach him to use viewing of non-Christian or questionable programming as an exercise in filtering and strengthening values. I personally watch things like Toddlers and Tiaras this way, as an affirmation of my own values and how I WON'T raise a daughter if i ever have one. Of course, that's exhausting, it's much easier to watch Duck Dynasty, where you can overall guess nothing will offend, and much of the topics will even promote His message.*
So what is this woman's point? That award shows should be decent? The show itself is criticized for awarding billable artists, not just talent. So just from a "man's knowledge" point of view, true artists are very suspect of this particular, if not all, awards show. *Starting from man's knowledge then, the Grammys have no artistic integrity. Why attend thinking you will find any semblance of God's wisdom, if even elite man's knowledge questions the integrity of the institution? Bon Iver had something to say about the Grammys, but still accepted the award. *So even a band (one man?), not identifying as Christian, who I guess has a sense of artistic integrity, couldn't resist the seductive pull of attending this ridiculousness.*
That's where I find this woman singer suspect. How ignorant could she possibly be to attend, if her calling is to not be witness to such evil? I mean, did she suddenly draw the line at beast-like costumes dancing with Katy Perry? Was it that gay marriage occurred on the show? I don't know what we can take from her actions, why didn't someone walk out 15 years ago when the first low V dresses showing an insane amount of bare skin cleavage appeared on the red carpet? Or was that 75 Years ago?*
I guess for me the lady's big stink is a nice drop in the bucket to wishy-washy Christians that Christianity actually comes with hardcore immovable boundaries, it's not about being "nice" to each other or something vague.
2
But the fact that it took demons and in-direct promotion of sodomy to get this woman out of her seat makes me think that her twitter move was out of pride, not righteousness.
Like maybe overall the Heavenly Father used her to his benefit, as he does all, but as far as her own motives, I question?*
But then, for those whose calling is to navigate the corporate world, are we supposed to draw the line? Or do we stay hidden among the wolves, somehow navigating with integrity the battles, what Paul calls the most evil?*
I think the music world, at least insofar as the Grammy's, is corporate. Should I have stopped one day at my corporate job as a graphic designer and just gone and told each offending coworker that they offend? Or quit with a broad statement that the values of any particular firm offend? Yea I guess, but I knew they were offensive going in. And I had faith that I could behave as a light and still act with integrity according to strict Christian values and still succeed. Hopefully I saved one or two while I was working. And if I was never revealed as a Christian, just a mysteriously cool person, then there is a reason for that too.*
So, this woman drew the line. And maybe some non-religious types saw it too and thought, "well, I may not call myself Christian, but that sexy dancing was so over the top, I don't want my daughter to think that is okay. Hmmm, this Christian singer tried to hang in the modern world, she must be cool, but this is where she drew the line? Hey, me too! Maybe I should check out Christianity after all!"
For those of us that watch and listen to plenty of worldly items, we know those without a Christian upbringing are no longer shocked by photos of nearly-bare bums on instagram. So, that's the state of things. Thank God for that I am still shocked to the core every time I learn another bum-photo has hit the media. But it's a reminder that those not fortunate enough to be raised with the integrity to seek what is right (like I was) or more perfectly, those raised with Christian values and acknowledgement of Him...well, this is where those poor soles stand: according to the minimum standard, displayed by very rich so therefore supposedly successful people, it is okay to bare your bum in front of the entire world, and everything else wherever legal too! * **
So perhaps the bigger picture to those of us who still participate in the media, is that this singer reminded us in a very vocal, headline-making but respectable way, that almost none of what we view or hear in the media is righteous according to Christianity. It reminds us to refresh our outrage internally when our local newswoman insists on the low-cut tops to dispense the serious events of the previous day, outrage in God's Wisdom that she dresses like a slut and that someone has convinced her she needs to, outrage that she delivers the news that a man has been murdered with a half-smile on her face...and outrage in man's knowledge that instead of hard-hitting journalism, most of what the newslady reports is sensationalism, demographically chosen for ratings, and, well, fluff.
But in the end, I know the Bible is pretty serious about where all this is going. I'm in it for the long term , and I have a strong pull not to use my creative powers to go against the norm...after all, all this evil is leading up to something tremendous according to Him. The sheep will be saved, and the rest is already written. I guess what I mean is, He means for this all to be happening. Whether we are 200 years or 2000 years from His second coming, these are the pages in the book.
Is my question then just personal? What does he want from me?*
This singer who walked out of the Grammys must have made an impact, guiding some sheep to Him.*
For any who already know Him, did we feel shamed or something for watching the show at all? I had to rethink my whole process, and still, what do I need to watch this crap for, despite all I've said above...i can read the results online the next day.
What am I missing? How do you balance your participation in the corporate world and media with your values?
So:
A Christian singer, whose work I am not familiar with...(is she a country singer?), walked out of the 2014 Grammy Awards show, and then announced that she did so on twitter, and that it was because she was disappointed in the show.*
The reasons a Christian wouldn't want to watch the show are numerous, including "demons" dancing with Katy Perry, many women in sexualized clothing, women dancing provocatively, etc.*
But I immediately found the actions of this artist foolish, however satisfying it was to have discussions (and even condemnation) of the trashiness of Grammys hit the major news outlets.
I personally believe that each Christian plays an individual role, some are meant to be activists (maybe zealots even, but aren't they counter-productive? I don't know) to shout from the marketplace a call to Him, some are meant to quietly follow his path (wherein, 50 years in, someone finally says "what is it about you? I just admire your integrity and the cool way you have with people so much, what is it?" answer: "I think what you are seeing in me is Jesus Christ. I acknowledged Him as my savior when I was 23, the principles of devout Christianity have shaped every second of my life ever since!") and a bunch of different paths in between.
So I'm not faulting this singer, I totally believe she was put upon by the Lord to leave early. But I wonder how much her twitter commentary, though it did wisely exclude calling out any one performer... I just felt...why even comment on it? I see that she might be shaming performers and the audience- what are any Christians doing taking part in this?- but still, maybe Beyonce, for example, who I think calls herself Christian, might think for a second, "what does Christian really mean."
But for me, two things:*
1
Grammy awards, well all awards shows, have been risqué, to be understated, for decades.*
Where do we as Christians draw the line? Are we to be Puritan and avoid all media except exceptionally scrutinized programming (I was a nanny for a family whose sole programming was personally approved Christian shows on Netflix - but even one of their approved selection "Fireproof" didn't meet my criteria if I were to watch ONLY shows that espouse my values. I didn't like how the husband was portrayed as the only one at fault- when is that ever true- and the way the wife responded to her frustration with her husband...I guess it was a try at Christian values addressing a broken relationship, but why not try and also get it right! I would have loved to see one of them open the Bible and start citing some scripture that described or addressed what they were dealing with!)*
Anyway, I have an infant and I'm wondering how I am going to raise him. At this point, my husband and I plan on instilling scripture-heavy Christian values, and guiding him to choose programming that either follows our value system, or when not, teach him to use viewing of non-Christian or questionable programming as an exercise in filtering and strengthening values. I personally watch things like Toddlers and Tiaras this way, as an affirmation of my own values and how I WON'T raise a daughter if i ever have one. Of course, that's exhausting, it's much easier to watch Duck Dynasty, where you can overall guess nothing will offend, and much of the topics will even promote His message.*
So what is this woman's point? That award shows should be decent? The show itself is criticized for awarding billable artists, not just talent. So just from a "man's knowledge" point of view, true artists are very suspect of this particular, if not all, awards show. *Starting from man's knowledge then, the Grammys have no artistic integrity. Why attend thinking you will find any semblance of God's wisdom, if even elite man's knowledge questions the integrity of the institution? Bon Iver had something to say about the Grammys, but still accepted the award. *So even a band (one man?), not identifying as Christian, who I guess has a sense of artistic integrity, couldn't resist the seductive pull of attending this ridiculousness.*
That's where I find this woman singer suspect. How ignorant could she possibly be to attend, if her calling is to not be witness to such evil? I mean, did she suddenly draw the line at beast-like costumes dancing with Katy Perry? Was it that gay marriage occurred on the show? I don't know what we can take from her actions, why didn't someone walk out 15 years ago when the first low V dresses showing an insane amount of bare skin cleavage appeared on the red carpet? Or was that 75 Years ago?*
I guess for me the lady's big stink is a nice drop in the bucket to wishy-washy Christians that Christianity actually comes with hardcore immovable boundaries, it's not about being "nice" to each other or something vague.
2
But the fact that it took demons and in-direct promotion of sodomy to get this woman out of her seat makes me think that her twitter move was out of pride, not righteousness.
Like maybe overall the Heavenly Father used her to his benefit, as he does all, but as far as her own motives, I question?*
But then, for those whose calling is to navigate the corporate world, are we supposed to draw the line? Or do we stay hidden among the wolves, somehow navigating with integrity the battles, what Paul calls the most evil?*
I think the music world, at least insofar as the Grammy's, is corporate. Should I have stopped one day at my corporate job as a graphic designer and just gone and told each offending coworker that they offend? Or quit with a broad statement that the values of any particular firm offend? Yea I guess, but I knew they were offensive going in. And I had faith that I could behave as a light and still act with integrity according to strict Christian values and still succeed. Hopefully I saved one or two while I was working. And if I was never revealed as a Christian, just a mysteriously cool person, then there is a reason for that too.*
So, this woman drew the line. And maybe some non-religious types saw it too and thought, "well, I may not call myself Christian, but that sexy dancing was so over the top, I don't want my daughter to think that is okay. Hmmm, this Christian singer tried to hang in the modern world, she must be cool, but this is where she drew the line? Hey, me too! Maybe I should check out Christianity after all!"
For those of us that watch and listen to plenty of worldly items, we know those without a Christian upbringing are no longer shocked by photos of nearly-bare bums on instagram. So, that's the state of things. Thank God for that I am still shocked to the core every time I learn another bum-photo has hit the media. But it's a reminder that those not fortunate enough to be raised with the integrity to seek what is right (like I was) or more perfectly, those raised with Christian values and acknowledgement of Him...well, this is where those poor soles stand: according to the minimum standard, displayed by very rich so therefore supposedly successful people, it is okay to bare your bum in front of the entire world, and everything else wherever legal too! * **
So perhaps the bigger picture to those of us who still participate in the media, is that this singer reminded us in a very vocal, headline-making but respectable way, that almost none of what we view or hear in the media is righteous according to Christianity. It reminds us to refresh our outrage internally when our local newswoman insists on the low-cut tops to dispense the serious events of the previous day, outrage in God's Wisdom that she dresses like a slut and that someone has convinced her she needs to, outrage that she delivers the news that a man has been murdered with a half-smile on her face...and outrage in man's knowledge that instead of hard-hitting journalism, most of what the newslady reports is sensationalism, demographically chosen for ratings, and, well, fluff.
But in the end, I know the Bible is pretty serious about where all this is going. I'm in it for the long term , and I have a strong pull not to use my creative powers to go against the norm...after all, all this evil is leading up to something tremendous according to Him. The sheep will be saved, and the rest is already written. I guess what I mean is, He means for this all to be happening. Whether we are 200 years or 2000 years from His second coming, these are the pages in the book.
Is my question then just personal? What does he want from me?*
This singer who walked out of the Grammys must have made an impact, guiding some sheep to Him.*
For any who already know Him, did we feel shamed or something for watching the show at all? I had to rethink my whole process, and still, what do I need to watch this crap for, despite all I've said above...i can read the results online the next day.
What am I missing? How do you balance your participation in the corporate world and media with your values?