March 26 2009
John Legend sings about cheating Christians
Tagged Under : John Legend, Matt Chandler, sin
I’m a sucker for some R&B, I dig John Legend. But the thing about R&B is the lyrics are usually the most blunt, abrasive ways to communicate a story. Metaphors and poetic phrasing are of no use to the R&B community. They just go to the basest level of language to express themselves, which is certainly efficient if not tactful. How else do you explain “I wanna make love in dis club“? Tell me how you really feel Usher.
John Legend has this song called Number One, which is sung from the perspective of a cheating boyfriend basically telling his girlfriend to stop whining about him cheating, in fact the opening line is:
You can’t say I don’t love you just because I cheat on you
I always found the song grossly comedic and had a fun time singing it with my wife in the car in jest. But as I was singing the chorus I got convicted that I’ve sang this same chorus to God many times, with the same pathetically transparent BS that John sings with. Tell me if you’ve ever sung this to God during worship:
You know that I love You
There’s no one above You
I said it the last time, that this is the last time
Don’t make me over
Cuz I can be faithful
You’re my number one, You’re my number one
We carry on “struggling” in sin, willfully choosing ourselves over God throughout the week, walk in on Sunday and sing this weak love song claiming that “this is the last time.” We should stop making promises to God we have no intention or ability to keep. Matt Chandler addresses this topic of “white knuckle struggling” where in our flesh we just grit our teeth and repeatedly promise to never do it again. Only to fail time and time again. But as Paul said in Romans 9:16
“So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.”
How do I need to continue to rest in the Holy Spirit and to continually place myself in his hands to form me and shape me. I can’t do it on my own no matter how hard I try, no matter how much I want it. Religion is a tricky thing, it’s constantly at our heels, presenting itself as some new level of spirituality. Take me back to your heart Jesus, I have no righteousness in myself.
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Kyle thank you for this post. Great thoughts! It hit me at the core. One thing I thought was comedic is in you tag line in says.
John Legend, Matt Chandler, sin
now where would you see all those tags in the same post except for ourrisingsound.com… Love it!
Wow.
how many times have I sung that very song to God. Powerful stuff Kyle, what an amazing revelation. Thank you for that fresh look on a struggle we all face. Powerful, thank you.
[...] [...]
Preach Preacher!
I am too, I find my self in the same spot. In love with R&B and the John Stephens sound but my eyes were open to that spirit last night. GOD was showing me how that spirit is so deceptive and it has the form of light( john legend is inspired by Gospel Music) but denies the power there of just like Jude talks about. The spirit is ugly and it is like candy sweet but it rotts your teeth so that you can not eat the word of GOD and properly digest it . The spirit is ugly and grimy that creeps in when you are most vulnerable. Instead of turning to God's voice, some might turn to their favorite lyric like mine "Refuge, When it is Cold Outside" . I can't allow that spirit to trick me like it has in the past. Instead of giving me life it takes life away from me.
But in order for me to get that insite I had to first be in HIS face. The Lord will give you discernment so that you can see things as they really are. I had to first pray to HIM and let all the other chatter of the world cease. Just pause. Pause and listen to the Holy Spirit
I got this in cite after going to church and praying all night to the Father. When you are close to HIM, He gives you insite(like don't marry him, don't date him, don't even talk to him) God knows our weaknesses and our strong points. We can't continue to feed our sicknesses with candy and sweets. We must cleanse our wounds with the Word.
I ask the Lord for help as I continue to brush my spiritual teeth so that I can eat the Word the way He called us to !