In My Head - A Horrific Song

[Warning: review of a secular song with sexual content]

Tonight while driving I listened to Unshackled. It's one of my favorite things ever to listen to.

Real people...real life stories...stirring, dramatic accounts of hopelessness, and the hope that changes everything. "UNSHACKLED!" the award-winning radio drama fromPacific Garden Mission in Chicago, grips the heart with compelling and relevant stories of transformed lives.Without Jesus Christ, we are all shackled by sin — by our wrong choices, disobedience and selfish motives. But God is at work, and the power of Christ sets us free of our bondage. We are... "UNSHACKLED!"Since 1950, Pacific Garden Mission has produced this unique series, making"UNSHACKLED!" the longest-running radio drama in history. Still produced in the style of the "Golden Age" of radio, every element is live at the time of the production — the original music, the creative sound effects and, of course, the dynamic performances of talented professional actors.

After the program was over, I hit the scan button. A minister with youth and children for years, and a parent of teens, I do try to keep up with what's playing on the secular stations. I heard a song called "In My Head," by Jason Derulo. It's atrocious. No news, there, right? The world produces sinful art. But the thing I don't understand is why it isn't considered atrocious by everyone, regardless of faith. That's what I wanted to rant about.

Ok, the song is about casual sex. First, parents should be aware of how BLATANTLY today's music glorifies sex with people you have just met. Second, obviously, my faith leads me to object to these messages.

But forgetting my faith for a moment, supposing I had no problem with sex outside of marriage, or even one-night stands, this song is still unbelievably horrible! Let me show you what I mean.

Everybody's lookin' for love, oh, ohAin't that the reason you're at this club, oh, ohYou ain't gon' find it dancin' wit' him, no hohI got a better solution for you, girl, oh, oh
Just leave wit' me nowSay the word and we'll goI'll be your teacher; I'll show you the ropesYou'll see a side of love you've never knownI can see it goin' down,goin' dowhown

Ok, so this guy says:

1. I know you're here looking for love.
2. I'm your guy.
3. I'll teach you.
4. I'll show you another side of love--I mean sex

I'm thinking this woman should be angry already. This guy takes a superior position, assumes he knows what her intentions are, thinks he's God's gift to women in bed, and thinks LOVE can be found in stripping down the first hour you meet someone.

In my head, I see you all over me,In my head, you fulfill my fantasyIn my head, you'll be screamin', oooohIn my head, it's goin' downIn my head, it's goin' downIn my head, yeah, in my head, oh, yeah

This is where I really expect this guy to get slapped. Here's what he sees:

1. She's gonna be all over HIM
2. She's gonna fulfill [or as it's sung: fuhfill] HIS fantasy
3. She's gonna love this so much it'll make her scream.

You're kidding, right? This is a pickup line? Why don't women everywhere take offense at these infantile lyrics? Why is this song getting any airplay? Are women that indifferent to their objectification? Or does everyone ignore the lyrics because it's just a beat to dance to?

That's all I have to say. It just blew my mind, and I wanted to rant.

For the record, the rest of the lyrics follow. Note his offer to skip foreplay, because I'm sure that's what all the ladies are excited to hear...

Some dudes know all the right things to sayWhen it comes down to it, it's all just game yeahInstead of talkin', let me demonstrate, yeahGet down to business and skip foreplayAy yeah
Just leave wit' me nowSay the word and we'll go (And we'll go)I'll be your teacher; I'll show you the ropes (You the ropes)You'll see a side of love you've never knownI can see it goin' down, we're goin' down
In my head, I see you all over meIn my head, you fulfill my fantasyIn my head, you'll be screamin' oooohIn my head, it's goin' downIn my head, it's goin' downIn my head,
Break it downAyooo ayooo ayoooYou singin' to me, baby, in my head right nowAyooo ayooo ayoooShe'll be screamin' out when it all goes down
Just leave with me nowSay the word and we'll goI'll be your teacher; I'll show you the ropesYou'll see a side of love you've never knownI can see it goin' down, we're goin' down
In my head, I see you all over meIn my head, you fulfill my fantasyIn my head, you'll be screamin' oooohIn my head, it's goin' downIn my head, it's goin' down
In my head, I see you all over meIn my head, you fulfill my fantasyIn my head, you'll be screamin' outIn my head, it's goin' downIn my head, it's goin' downIn my head

And this is not from yourselves...

I am writing a note once again to argue with teaching I have heard. I have at times written to agree with teaching I have heard, but there is much less energy in such a post, at least for me. Just to say "amen," I would usually just post the thing I agree with on facebook. To enter a debate, to challenge a commonly held position, that's worthy of an entire post. If you don't like that sort of thing, feel free to skip over this post.

Ephesians 2:8-9 says (in the HCSB): For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— ⁹not from works, so that no one can boast.

I have often heard it taught that "this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift" refers back to "faith," so the verses can be understood to mean: You are saved by grace, and you get to that grace through faith, and that faith is given to you as a gift in order to start the whole process.

Upon closer examination of the verses, though, I believe this cannot be the meaning of "It is God's gift." It seems clear that "God's gift" is contrasted with "from works." It is God's gift. It is not from works. Then if God's gift referred back to faith, the contrast would be "Faith is a gift from God. Faith is not from works." But this doesn't even make sense. What would it mean that faith was from works? Faith and works are contrasted with each other, here and elsewhere in Scripture. These verses are saying that salvation comes through faith, not through works. It is the salvation, not the faith that is in view as a gift in these verses.

So these verses are better understood to mean: Salvation comes by grace. This grace comes through faith. This salvation does not come from what we do, but is a gift from God. Works cannot earn it, so no one can brag about deserving salvation.