Discussing
Lady Gaga: Chaplain of the Super Bowl

Drawing on her own Christian faith, Lady Gaga once again offered hope to the downhearted during the Super Bowl halftime show.

Even though I'm not a particular fan of Lady Gaga, I join many others who appreciated the message and hopeful tone of her Super Bowl show. I was not aware of her Catholic roots.

Thanks for shedding some light on her background. Not being a follower of Lady Gaga, but having watched the half-time show, it was a good performance for all - not just the 'monsters'!

Yes and Amen!

I thought it was a great performance that steered clear of divisive politics and focused on what brings us together.

I'm sorry have you listened to just dance? Do you have any idea how risky such behavior she is describing is? "Can't see straight anymore" "Lost my keys and my phones" as she praises a shirt which is on backwards, indicating intoxicated sexual activity (which she praises in her other songs). Your statement that this is "refreshing" to see a chaplain of "hope and joy" is interesting. Perhaps not wrong from the perspective of the Trump-oriented hand-wringing of many. But I fail to see how this is in any way "thinking Christian" about the content of that half-time show. This might be the most "think secular" post I have seen here - and that is saying something!

I enjoyed and appreciate Jes Kast's take on Lady Gaga, and find myself in general agreement. If the church is going to err on the inclusive/exclusive spectrum, it seems that most Jesus followers would want to err on the inclusive side. Or should want to.

My only quibble, and it is a small one, is the use of Ecclesiastes to support her point about "Do you want to feel good with us?" Surely Rev. Kast is aware of the general bleakness of Ecclesiastes, and the ironic undertones of those few passages, like 8:15, that promise enjoyment and rest. The Preacher seems to be doing anything but enjoying the fruits of his labor. As I say, just a quibble. Nice article.

I loved how she sought to entertain and kept politics, etc. out of it all. There needs to be more of that! Loving someone regardless of who they are or if you agree with them is great! I wish more Christians did that.

The thing is, we must be careful calling someone a follower of Christ at face value; we must look at their fruit! (Matt. 7:16, 1 John 4:1) So, I look at Lady Gaga's spiritual fruit, and all I see is songs such as Poker Face and Bad Romance, which are all about sleeping around, not taking romantic relationships seriously, and other clearly non-Christlike behaviors, and performances and viewpoints that are not appropriate or Christ-like. The Bible warns about about what we put into our minds, (Phips. 4:8) and as much as I love Lady Gaga's talent, she misuses it. She is not Christian just because she says she is. Plenty will think they are saved when they're not (Matt. 25:31-46). I desire her salvation, and for her to use her talents for something better.

"Her followers look to her for acceptance." That statement is the good news we all look for; what all people need. We all fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

In the NT Jesus gives example after example of what accepting others looks like. See the one about a corrupt tax collector named Zacchaeus who was hated by society, but not by Jesus: Luke 19:1-10.

"Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with malice, and be kind to one another..." (Ephesians 4:29-32). http://bit.ly/2lpGps5

There is another perspective that is much more biblical - http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/born-this-way. Not sure that viewpoint will be attractive to those who resonate with Jes Kast.

I would be wary of sanctifying anything from today's pop music--especially Lady Gaga. You can like her Super Bowl show, but don't be ridiculous. This is ThinkChristian, not ThinkWorldly.

Yeah - I mean, it was "feel good" indeed but hardly a Gospel presentation. The Good News of Christ isn't that we just ought to dance and enjoy life, but that we can be saved by our Loving Father from our sin.

I liked the show, all things considered...

And those verses from Ecclesiastes Paul even cites as ultimate truth only IF Jesus didn't resurrect. If Jesus isn't the point, then yeah let's screw going to church and just go to brunch instead! But Jesus IS the point - though not the point of the Superbowl show. If He was, I didn't see Him.

This disturbs me, probably in a good way. Christianity doesn't exist to make us feel good about ourselves but to make us real images of Christ. It's not to make us into good people. That said, Christians certainly feel good about themselves and are good people. What shakes me is thinking about the witness of John Wesley. He was raised a Christian, educated as a Christian, even a Christian missionary; but, according to his own testimony, he wasn't a Christian. He was almost a Christian. I guess it's easy to miss the point of the gospel, both for the churched and for the ones who stay out of the church but love the inclusivity of Jesus. Praise Jesus, not celebrities. Point out positive points whenever possible when the world gets it right. But don't think Ebert that the world gets it right. "The mind set on the flesh cannot set itself onto the things of God."

In Reply to David Greusel (comment #29938)
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Surely she indeed is aware of the bleakness of Ecclesiastes. Point well taken. I think there is something to be said about the resistance of the bleakness of life with the simple joys of goodness. I think that is what the author is getting at in those few verses.