Lady Gaga, Christian Theologian

Canon Fodder ^ | 1/22/2019 | Michael J. Kruger

[Gamecock]

By now, plenty has been written on the issue of Mike Pence’s wife teaching at a Christian school that supposedly “bans” (the preferred word of the major news outlets, but not really accurate) LGBTQ students.

For those on the cultural left, this is a monumental and stunning discovery. Indeed, we are told (ironically, by the Huffington Post) that the Huffington Post “broke” the story—implying that a remarkable scandal had been uncovered.

Thankfully, many have pointed out that this whole “scandal” is much ado about nothing. There are thousands of Christian schools around the country just like the one that Karen Pence teaches at. And they are all doing something rather unremarkable: they are merely teaching the historical Christian position about sexuality.

But what is remarkable about such public discussions, is that everyone suddenly becomes a Christian theologian. Even people who typically have no association with Christianity are quick to don the theologian’s hat and give a lecture on what Christians really believe.

Enter Lady Gaga, Christian theologian.

In a recent concert in Las Vegas, Gaga stopped the show to offer a rebuttal to Mike Pence’s defense of his wife. Here are her theological thoughts:

“You [Mike Pence] are wrong. . .You are the worst representation of what it means to be a Christian. I am a Christian woman, and what I do know about Christianity is that we bear no prejudice and everybody is welcome. So you can take all that disgrace Mr. Pence and you can look yourself in the mirror and you’ll find it right there.”

Since Gaga has jumped into the theological fray, let’s do a little analysis of her thinking. Does her theological worldview make sense? Does it fit together coherently? A few quick thoughts:

1. Lady Gaga believes in moral absolutes

Gaga says to Pence, “You are wrong.” Gaga is not merely saying she doesn’t personally prefer Pence’s behavior. Rather she is saying that it is really wrong. It is morally deficient, even to the degree that is worthy of public rebuke.

Now, that’s a big claim. One wonders, then, what standard of morality Gaga is using. How does she know certain behaviors are morally wrong? Certainly it couldn’t be the Christian faith that shows her this, because Christianity, for thousands of years, has been remarkably consistent on its view of sexuality.

So, we are left to presume that Lady Gaga’s moral standards come from herself. She creates her own morality. But if everyone can create their own morality, then why not Mike Pence?

2. Lady Gaga claims to be a Christian woman

After declaring Pence is the “worst representation of what it means to be a Christian” she then offers herself as (presumably) a better example: “I am a Christian woman.”

For someone who claims not to be judgmental, this is a harsh way to speak of another professing Christian (more on this below). But there are other issues. To make such a claim, Gaga must have a full-proof way to spot false believers like Pence. But, again, what is this mysterious way?

Presumably, she is making her judgment on Pence’s behavior. Fair enough. But, what if someone did the same back to Gaga? What if someone judged her on her behavior?

For instance, what if people judged Gaga’s profession on the basis of her language just 30 seconds earlier when she lambasts the “[expletive] President of the United States.” Is such language “Christian”?

3. Lady Gaga says everybody is welcome in true Christianity

The fundamental tenet of Gaga’s theology is “we bear no prejudice and everybody is welcome.” Ok, fine. Then is Mike Pence welcome? Mike Pence is a person who surely counts under “everybody.” Will Gaga accept him and his views?

Based on the harsh language of Gaga, it is clear Pence and his views are not welcome. Indeed his view are condemned with a heavy-handed, moralistic superiority.

So, apparently Gaga is not living up to her own version of Christianity. Indeed, it turns out Gaga is as intolerant as those she is condemning.

In the end, Gaga’s theology doesn’t quite hold together. There’s a pious, moralistic feel about it, but it is neither consistent nor Christian.

But she is at least partially right.

She’s right that there are moral absolutes. It’s just that they are not created by us (how could they be since we are not absolute!). Instead, they reflect the character of God and are revealed in his Word.

She’s also right that in Christianity “everybody is welcome.” But, that doesn’t mean that God endorses every behavior. Instead it means that forgiveness is offered to everyone who repents and trusts in Jesus.

No matter what sins we’ve committed, no matter our ethnicity or gender, the good news about Jesus is genuinely for all people.

“The gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom 1:16Open in Logos Bible Software (if available)).

In this way, Christianity is truly inclusive.

[dfwgator]

“The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.
An evil soul producing holy witness
Is like a villain with a smiling cheek,
A goodly apple rotten at the heart.
O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath!”

[Gamecock]

This seems appropriate for this forum as these events occurs outside the church.

If you disagree please move to the Religion Forum.

[Da Coyote]

Good singer.
As for the rest - standard bimbo issue.

[Gamecock]

Ping.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Gag Gag is not a Christian. She openly admitted she sold her soul to Satan for fame.

[beethovenfan]

Contrary to Lady(?) Gaga - Jesus did NOT accept everything or everybody.

[onedoug]

She’s never read the Bible in her life.

[inchworm]

She’s about as Christian as Catholic Andrew Cuomo is after signing the kill your baby bill in New York.

[blueplum]

any comments from auntie Glenn Close?

[Dilbert San Diego]

We are supposed to take theological teaching from a girl who wears dresses made of meat. Got it........

[aces]

Choose to Follow God, all else is dead

[Liz]

She's such a frickin' phony----she'll do anything for a buck. Read on.

rollingstone.com
By EMILY ZEMLER

Lady Gaga Apologizes for R. Kelly Collaboration: ‘I’m Sorry … For Not Speaking Out Sooner’
will remove “Do What U Want (With My Body)” single from streaming platforms

Lady Gaga apologizes for working with R. Kelly on 2013 single "Do What U Want (With My Body)" in a Twitter statement. The singer, herself a victim of sexual assault, introduced the lengthy apology by noting, “I stand by anyone who has ever been the victim of sexual assault.” “I stand behind these women 1000%, believe them, know they are suffering and in pain, and feel strongly that their voices should be heard and taken seriously,” Gaga wrote in response to the women who spoke out about Kelly in the Surviving R. Kelly documentary series. “I’m sorry, both for my poor judgment when I was young, and for not speaking out sooner.”

She collaborated with Kelly on her single “Do What U Want (With My Body),” which dropped in the fall of 2013 and appeared on her album ARTPOP. Gaga also performed the song with Kelly on Saturday Night Live and at the American Music Awards. In her statement, Gaga confirmed that the track will be removed from iTunes and “other streaming platforms.” She also confirmed that she will not work with Kelly again.

“As a victim of sexual assault myself, I made both the song and the video at a dark time in my life, my intention was to create something extremely defiant and provocative because I was angry and still hadn’t processed the trauma that had occurred in my own life,” Gaga explained in her apology. “The song is called ‘Do What U Want (With My Body),’ I think it’s clear how explicitly twisted my thinking was at the time. If I could go back and have a talk with my younger self I’d tell her to go through the therapy I have since then, so that I could understand the confused post-traumatic state that I was in—or if therapy was not available to me or anyone in my situation—to seek help, and speak as openly and honestly as possible about what we’ve been through.”

Fans have been anticipating Lady Gaga’s apology since Surviving R. Kelly began airing on Lifetime. The documentary series includes interviews with several women, including Kitti Jones and Andrea Kelly, who have accused Kelly of sexual assault and abuse. Recently Chance the Rapper, who also appeared in the documentary, apologized for working with Kelly on 2015’s “Somewhere In Paradise” and said was a “mistake.”

John Shearer/Invision/AP/REX/Shutterstock

[Mark17]

Lady Gaga claims to be a Christian woman

That would be a good joke, if she wasn’t serious. I don’t think Lady G and Christianity can be mentioned in the same sentence. In a thunderstorm, don’t even be in the same state she is in, to avoid any possibility of a lightning strike. 😁🤗😇

[Liz]

WIKI----Since the 1990s, R. Kelly has been the subject of numerous allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct,
often with underage girls, all charges he "categorically denies". In 2002 he was indicted on 21 counts
of child pornography, but was acquitted of all charges in 2008.

[Greetings_Puny_Humans]

I wonder, though, if this is a symptom of her own crisis in faith? She is or was a hardcore occultist, even invoking Lilith, performing occult spells (so I have heard from a friend who worked with her) prior to shows.

Then there was that article where she claimed to be having second thoughts about selling her soul to the devil, blaming her illness on it.

And now an exclamation that she is a Christian, but still clinging to a commie interpretation of it? Interesting, or extreme hypocrisy.

[Dilbert San Diego]

She sings songs with lyrics and titles to do what you want with my body?????

How does she reconcile that with all this me too movement and a woman’s body is not for the entertainment of men and all that????

[Secret Agent Man]

She is as much of a christian theologian as a prostitute is an expert on celibacy.

[MHGinTN]

How would this read if instead of ‘judge’ / judging, the term 'discern' / discerning was used, as in Can we discern Gaga’s morality from her behaviors? Using her behaviors as discernment fuel, what does her behavior tell us about her lining up with the family values of GOD’s family. And yes, GOD’s family since something CHRISTIANS have in common is the life of GOD by HIS Spirit in our human spirit because we believe/receive the One Whom GOD sent for our redemption. If discerning Gaga's spiritual state is done using the Bible measuring rod, Gaga is more a hypocrite than a theologian. ... IF she is a Christian, actually.

[Mount Athos]

did you read the interview