Mark Schnitzer September 14th, 2010

I appreciate Mr. Whitehead's comments, and also his concerns about Lady GaGa's music/videos.

Believe it or not I am 51 years old and a fan of her music, and her videos. I find her to be a very creative, "out of the box" thinker and performer. I do also believe that while there is millions of dollars to be made, she also does care in some way for her fan base. Which I think is a rare thing in todays performers.

Having said that I do agree with the assessment here concerning parental control. Where are the parents? I have three grown children and while they were growing up the approach I took was to somewhat limit what I thought might be inappropriate but at the same time allow for some other things in order to discuss with my children the good or bad found in music, film, and television. My hope was to help them make critical thinking a normal part of their lives instead of sheltering them from the "evil" people of the world.

This should be the case when it comes to Lady GaGa. What is her music saying to people? what is the focus of her vidoes? What does she say that is good, and what does she say and do that is against what we believe to be as biblical norms.

I think that most parents don't give these questions a second thought. They either allow their children to be immersed in the culture without thinking or "cocooning" them from the culture without thinking but never giving them the tools to engage the culture we live in.

Thanks again for this good discussion.

Peace,
Mark Schnitzer MS

Again, thanks for this good discussion.

JOHN STONE September 14th, 2010

She is Madonna all over again but trying to go further; that's all such entertainers can do. It isn't only about the money; you can spend only so much before being rich becomes boring.

What is missing for her; only God knows, really, Jer.17:9-10; My guess is her hunger for significance…is insatiable. But who can satiate that hunger but Jesus (I can hear Tim Keller saying this in my head – though I don't know if Tim Keller has ever referenced Lady Gaga anywhere, yet.)
I am always intrigued by the prostitutes and tax collectors, public sinners, being attracted to Jesus. Why is this? Why are they attracted to Him? Will they give up their shameful lifestyles; is that what draws them? They want to be more moral (so do Pharisees); and people drawn to Jesus do get better morally, but why?
I agree with Mr. Whithead, our whole culture is coarsening, but 18th/19th century London was probably worse and that was supposed to be a Christian city. (Read Charles Dickens a little and you get the flavor of some of the hypocrsy that should be familiar to us in the 21st century)

I don't think there's much in the way of solutions from you and me; I think we still need a Savior.
Pray about that prostitute / tax collector situation; I think there is a secret there we need to examine and that we believers tend to underestimate. Imagine Lady Gaga's conversion….look what conversion did for Chuck Colson.