tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735040292604331611.post8653150775912133283..comments2023-10-17T10:25:57.853-04:00Comments on learning my lines. . .: What Do You Think About Lady Gaga's "Judas" Video? . . . .Walt Muellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16502588185280592205noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735040292604331611.post-17349843890532465732011-05-13T21:34:15.647-04:002011-05-13T21:34:15.647-04:00I have always enjoyed listening to Lady Gaga, but ...I have always enjoyed listening to Lady Gaga, but when I read about this new song of hers I have to admit, I felt uneasy. Thanks to your feature however, I have learnt to view it in a different light to how more conservative Christians might. Thank you and God bless.Marknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735040292604331611.post-16161567709613144482011-05-13T12:47:51.817-04:002011-05-13T12:47:51.817-04:00Few teens would carry from this anything more than...Few teens would carry from this anything more than a cheap thrill and a demonic influence. Whatever message is being conveyed here, the same message can be conveyed in a way that is more congruent to God’s definition of beauty and entertainment. Is it entertaining? Let’s say it is. But, people are entertained by porn also. It just doesn’t do anything positive for the soul or spirit of an individual--in fact, quite the opposite—especially for a teen. I’m not sure God approves either. Does it take talent? It absolutely does. But, so does the perfect murder or bank heist. Not all art and not all talent is Holy Spirit inspired—regardless of how intriguing or entertaining or deep and mysterious the message is. Perhaps the most spiritually and emotionally mature among us can be exposed to something like this without much fallout—kind of like a sex-crimes investigator for a police department or a ministry to prostitutes or porn stars. The problem is that the most mature among us aren’t going to be the ones watching this “lady” most of the time. It will probably be the most naïve and impressionable among us. <br />Watching it for the sake of understanding the culture should be reserved for guys like Walt and others like him—a commendable task indeed. But, I happen to know how our five senses affect the deeper spiritual side of human beings in general—especially sound and visuals. Bach said that all music should be for the glorification of God and the refreshment of the human spirit. I’m not sure this does either. This, by no means, is an indictment against secular music. Much of it is more uplifting than some of the Christian garbage I’ve heard. But, as entertaining and creative as this piece of “art” might be to the carnal side of our humanity, for most of us, it is a blight on our spiritual side—especially our kids. However, entertaining ourselves into death and hell is the direction our nation is going; and, it is using the “dagger of art” to get us there. <br />This piece is quite tame compared to any number of others, however. With all the commendable and beautiful “secular” and “Christian” music and entertainment that is out there, it seems to me that our culture’s intrigue and appetite for things like this is indicative of a nation de-civilizing before our very eyes. Is there any wonder why more missionaries are now coming to America than going out? Some of the world’s most gifted artists have no idea how damaging their “art” can actually be. Remember Emmanuel Ninger?<br /><br />Trace Embry<br />Founder & Director<br />Shepherd's Hill AcademyTrace Embryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03002821036372059069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735040292604331611.post-34372366451873630602011-05-12T15:18:32.804-04:002011-05-12T15:18:32.804-04:00Let's face it, Gaga is a sensationalist. No d...Let's face it, Gaga is a sensationalist. No different from the many that have come before her. The fact is her music and especially her videos are created to grab attention. She does not have mine. If anything, I find her music unexceptional, I've heard it and much like it before. Sure, she probably has a notion of the age old battle between darkness and light but like the scripture says "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." John 3:19 <br />I don't condemn her or her music but, I certainly am not going to give her any attention either.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735040292604331611.post-55848712937569168632011-05-06T15:43:59.632-04:002011-05-06T15:43:59.632-04:00Good observations. I too watched the debut of the...Good observations. I too watched the debut of the video on E! last night and I was not impressed. Madonna seemed to break this ground with her "Like a Prayer" video. Unfortunately, to me, all of Gaga's music sounds much of the same (exactly how the Beatles were once described). I did find her interview with E! interesting, which preceded the video. She claims that she is obsessed with religious art; considers herself a devout Catholic; and Judas represents several old lovers of her's. Once she explained this, the video seemed to make a little more sense. The downside of viewing the video is for the viewer who may have no frame of context--teens and adults alike--and are slightly (and rightly?) offended by the video. I'll be interested in hearing what the other youth pastors at your conference have to say about "Judas".john mcclunghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01867649060434321288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735040292604331611.post-44278553354100211282011-05-06T14:35:43.436-04:002011-05-06T14:35:43.436-04:00Lady Gaga with her seeming personal struggles, phi...Lady Gaga with her seeming personal struggles, philosophy of beauty/death, and her use of religious/Christian themes in her music reminds me very much of Marilyn Manson.glenn and juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09360236979892812731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735040292604331611.post-8160527545240405702011-05-06T13:56:11.545-04:002011-05-06T13:56:11.545-04:00wow, some good thoughts... i guess sometimes we ca...wow, some good thoughts... i guess sometimes we can just start out being so cynical about a person, a title of a song, or the style of a video.Timothy and Mindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13599826448934397583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735040292604331611.post-76282627846166705742011-05-06T13:47:01.747-04:002011-05-06T13:47:01.747-04:00When I watched the video last night I was left wit...When I watched the video last night I was left with the impression that it was a brilliant video. Once you get over the amount of flesh, I agree with you... we all can see ourselves in the struggle between who we desire more: Jesus or Judas. <br /><br />I also thought the scene where she was in the tub with both of them was a very insightful commentary about the amorality (rather than immorality) of our times. Jesus and Judas are there together, and at one point they even kiss each other. This really does reflect our culture's views on right/wrong. <br /><br />There's obviously a ton I disagree with here, but I think it was a really smart and heavy and multifaceted video that's worth paying attention to.Mike McGarryhttp:crosswalking.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735040292604331611.post-9706707174023040032011-05-06T13:34:22.203-04:002011-05-06T13:34:22.203-04:00I totally agree with your observations. What a gre...I totally agree with your observations. What a great way to create conversation with youth about that struggle between right and wrong.By: Steven M. Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11683328406056601624noreply@blogger.com