Posted on 02/14/2015 11:07:30 AM PST by Gamecock
While many Christians were in their local church hearing God speak in the reading, singing, and preaching of his Word, Katy Perry was preparing for the half-time performance of Super Bowl XLIX. I suppose for any artist this is a once in a life time chance and is probably the biggest venue they will ever play. According to recent ratings, Katy’s performance was the most-watched halftime show in history, with 118.5 million viewers. To whom does she attribute the success? Well, in her own words, to God. “It’s funny, I was praying and I got a word from God and He says, ‘You got this and I got you.’”
Not surprisingly her comment caused a flurry of responses. Some people find it impossible that God would speak to her. Though raised in a Pentecostal home Katy no longer identifies herself as a Christian, she publicly promotes movements that are contrary to the Bible, and one would need to do gymnastics to find redemptive quality in her music. Others are suggesting this as her “burning bush” or “Damascus road” experience–God confirming his wayward daughter that he hasn’t let her go.
There’s probably been enough commentary on all of this to make most people go bonkers. After all, does it really matter if a super-star celebrity claimed God spoke to her? Many will brush it off, “Maybe he did, maybe he didn’t, but does it matter?” Well, I would think that for any Christian who loves the Word of God it would matter a lot. Not because Katy Perry has a bigger platform than others, but because anytime someone–a pop-star, televangelist, or six year old boy back from heaven–says, “God said to me…” we’re forced to decide yea or nay.
Of course this language isn’t restricted to a few isolated people. It’s become an almost ubiquitous Christian phrase. I remember when I was studying at a Christian college there was a running joke that if you wanted a girl to date you, you would say, “The Lord told me we were meant to be together.” Who can argue with that? The smart girl would respond, “Funny, he didn’t tell me.” Triviality aside, it’s a very serious claim to say “God said to me…” The Apostle John wrote, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). The word there for “test” means examine, prove, or to discern. So when someone claims to be speaking the words of God we’re not simply to nod our heads in charity and say, “Well, who am I to question?” We’re called to be discerning. Even the Bereans heard Paul and “[examined] the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so” (Acts 17:11). Unfortunately, and I write this without hyperbole, one of the greatest weaknesses in the American Church is our inability to be discerning.
Let me put it this way. Whenever someone claims “God said to me…” we have one of two options. Either God did speak, or he did not–that’s not a false dichotomy! If he did speak we need to receive and accept that word not as the word of men, but as it is the Word of God. If we don’t we’ll be guilty of not listening to the word of the Lord, like those whom God charges when he said “you cast my words behind you” (Psalm 50:17). And the Apostle Paul reminds us of the seriousness of this, “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies” (1 Thessalonians 5:19-20). If, however, God didn’t speak that word, then the one who did is lying in God’s name since he didn’t speak it (see Jeremiah 14:14). That’s something the Lord takes seriously, “The LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain” (Exodus 20:7). And if we receive it as his word–when it’s not–we put ourselves in the greatest danger (2 John 1:8-11). As Christians we must be sure that we neither add to or take away the Word of God (see Revelation 22:18-19).
Did God speak to Katy Perry? Does he tell the televangelist to raise money? Did a little boy have a transcendent experience of heaven? If so, we’re compelled to listen. I, however, am compelled by biblical conviction to say, “Absolutely not!” But to my evangelical friends who may not agree with me, I would simply encourage you to consider these things and weigh them carefully. Remember, it’s no little thing to say, “God said to me
Watch Perry’s videos. They are full of Satanic/Illuminati references, especially the “California Girls” one.
Are you joking or being serious?
I pray my sister repents. I admit there are many things I don’t understand, such as Katy Perry and Alice Cooper.
When God speaks, He confirms His word with signs and wonders. There is no reason as of yet to either believe or disbelieve Katy Perry’s assertion, except that it is not something that would be self-serving to her career, so it is less likely that she made it up. I will wait to see what God will do. Also, as anyone who has watched her movie in 2012 or who follows Kim Clement knows, Kim spoke over her when she was a child back in 1993; this could well be the beginning of the fulfillment of that word. Or not. That is between God and Katy, and it is before her own master that she will succeed or fail (Romans 14:4).
Alice Cooper is a Devout Christian, so I’m told.
I sincerely doubt it was God talking to her. I would suggest that it was the Father of Lies.
I pray that she comes to her senses and asks God’s mercy.
For some reason the parable of the prodigal son comes to mind in this situation.
It's been my experience to never write off anyone from God's love and forgiveness.
If He forgives me He can and will forgive Katy if she is wanting to hear, repent, and follow Him. Her story would be a compelling one if this were to happen.
Instead of judging her, perhaps our attitude should be along these lines: Luke 18:9-14
“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11“The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13“But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14“I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
I have another option: perhaps she simply LIED. Would not be the first time that someone claimed the God spoke to them when he did not.
It would seem to me that there are two discernments going on here, one of Katy and one of the word. The discernment of Katy is that she evidently is not in the Christian camp; that can change in the twinkling of an eye, but that would be true of all who are not in the Christian camp. The discernment of the word is something different, however. The word may have been confirmed in two ways, one being that it was repeated to her by someone who did not know she had received the word, and the other being that the performance indeed went off without any injury to her, as the word intimated. Beyond that, the word itself did not proclaim anything that contradicts Scripture. The only method of discernment remaining would be the testimony of the Holy Spirit within us, which is a completely different tack than the one this thread's conversation is taking.
I’m serious. Perry’s videos contain all kinds of devil references.
Until she is in the camp, well, she us outside the camp. Until she returns home her words mean nothing
I have heard similar things.
Katy does have "Jesus" tattooed on her wrist, her and Kacey Musgraves talked about that on CMT Crossroads last year.
If sit and worry about all Music as the Devils Music than would never enjoy any of it.
OR have Metallica !
Alice Cooper? How 1970s. He is a conservative (albeit moderate) republican. And
Katy Perry is now and I don’t get her appeal except for her looks. Which I find to be pretty hot. But her music is nothing.
Mat 7:20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
Mat 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
Mat 7:23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
Metallica.
Awful horrible boring band.
God is God.
He can and will speak to anybody He choses. Sometimes, children make an early commitment to accept Jesus as their Savior, and then life takes them in wayward ways.
However, having witnessed the redemptive POWER of God’s love, you just can’t discount it. A young man dying of AIDS confessed to me he had given his life to Jesus at the age of 7; life got in the way .. but God did not forget him, and when I offered an opportunity for him to repent, he did. He still died of AIDS; but I’m confident he made it into heaven.
I don’t recommend waiting until you’re on your death-bed, but .. it’s better late than never.
Unfortunately, many who experience what Katy did .. don’t always immediately change their lifestyle .. but once she acknowledged God was speaking to her .. I’ll bet it’s going to eventually change her life and her music.
If God can cause a donkey to speak .. surely he can cause the music talents of a young woman to change what she writes and produces on video.
I’ve added Katy to my prayer list .. I hope everybody else will too.
This God told me language is metaphorical or symbolic. Talk should be in quotes.
Otherwise, there is reason for a lot of concern.
Good points.
She, though, has said right out she’s not in the Christian camp anymore.
So, even that sort of discernment isn’t needed.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.