Raised Fist or Extended Hand?

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.(Colossians 3:12)

          Once upon a time, Frank Sinatra's "I Did It My Way" was the anthem of the age. It seems to me that Katy Perry's "Roar" fills that role today. The chorus begins, "I've got the eye of the tiger," which was a song by Survivor from 1982. A couple phrases later she sings, "'Cause I am the champion," which brings to mind Queen's song from 1977, "We Are  The Champions." Next, she announces that "you're gonna hear me roar," which harkens back to Helen Reddy's "I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar," from 1975. The video (if I remember correctly) includes swinging on a vine, a la Tarzan.

          Many people have disliked Mr. Sinatra's song because of its arrogance, but within the song, he admits he's made mistakes and takes at least some responsibility for them. Ms Perry's song, on the other hand, is all about how she has been a victim, but now she's going to show you what she's made of, which seems to be songs and images of previous generations. All of them are great ego-boosting songs, seeming war-cries of the top of Maslow's hierarchy of needs: self-actualization.

          The thing that strikes me about these songs is their malevolence. There is no suggestion of proving what a good person the singer is. These are "take no prisoners" songs that seem individualistic except for the fact that they are mass marketed to everyone. In effect, they are "power to the people" songs calling all the "oppressed" people - generally teens and young adults - to rise up aggressively, even violently against those who "victimize" them, even through accidental "micro-aggressions. After all, self-actualization is a need (and therefore a right!) They cannot live unless they are seen to be the gods they believe themselves to be.

           For the Christian, Scripture has a different description. Our goal is not our own glory, but God's. Instead of dressing for success, we're to clothe ourselves for service as described in today's passage. Instead of raised fists, we are to stretch out a hand. Self is not the epitome, it is more often the enemy. Our anthems should be about the Lion of Judah, not attempts to lionize ourselves like the witch of Narnian fame. We are to dress the part of His children, but His children start with the heart.

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Birthday of

G.K. Chesterton A few quotes

John F. Kennedy
Patrick Henry