Tomorrow the music video for the Lady GaGa song "Judas" will debut. I have heard the song and read the lyrics. Taken one way the song is an alternative telling of the story of Jesus, Judas and Mary Magdalene. Taken another way the song is dangerously close to blasphemy. So why does it matter about this one song and this one artist?
As people we are influenced by many different wavelengths everyday. We often listen to things without really hearing what is being said. I recently realized the meaning of a hymn I had sung hundreds of times without ever catching the deeper, theological meaning. You may have had a similar experience of singing lyrics and only later realizing what they implied or meant. I believe what happens tomorrow is important because Lady GaGa has a massive, extremely devoted fan base. The "Little Monsters" as they are known (GaGa is Momma Monster) will push for the song to get more radio play and encourage people to watch the video. Beatles fans were similar in their devotion and as John Lennon stated so famously, the band became "bigger than Jesus" to its fans. The cult of personality is rampant in our entertainment, sport and political culture. I believe we need to remember that we (nor anyone else) is beyond getting swept up in the excitement of some new thing. Remember the people of Athens who Paul addressed in Acts 17. They were the smartest, most mentally advanced race in the world at the time and yet all they desired was "to hear some new thing."
Let us be people that take our guidance from Scripture and the examples of faithful Christians and not from the latest personality dominating the Internet and television. When we look to Christ as our ultimate Example, how we live and behave in life falls perfectly into place.