Sorry it’s been so long since my last post. The past couple of weeks have been fairly busy. I was the main speaker at “The Edge” Pioneer Pacific Camp on Thetis Island.
I had to give 7 main talks and 4 smaller talks. My theme was the Kingdom of God which I presented as God’s revolution in the world.
A quick overview…
The coming of Jesus meant the coming of God’s revolution. Like any revolution there is an “Establishment” which is threatened by the revolution. For Jesus the Establishment was mainly the religious establishment represented by the Pharisees and the “teachers of the law.” And Jesus gets into all kinds of trouble because he doesn’t obey the laws of the Establishment. The Establishment are those in power who tells us what is important and what is not important (but not in line with who God is and what he values)…. and this allows judgement – these people are sinners and these people are not (so you cannot hang out with them). This allows for a sense of self-justification – for those who follow the rules. But the rules lead to slavery. Jesus comes and blows away these rules with his message of grace.
Okay… fine. But what does this mean to around one hundred 15-17 year olds from the west coast of Canada? What is the Establishment in their lives which God’s revolution in Jesus challenges? Who tells them what is important and what is not important? Who tells them how and who to judge? Where do they get their sense of justification from?
Well… I suggested that the Establishment for them was our celebrity-driven consumerist pop culture. And a photo of Paris Hilton was on the video screen as a representative of this Establishment. It is this culture that tells (or attempts to tell) teenagers what it important and what is not important, how to judge – this person is trendy and cool and this person is NOT trendy and cool (so don’t hang out with them). And if you follow the rules of the Establishment you too can feel a sense of self-justification.
Anyways… that was last week. Today I was kind of taken aback when I read an articles on the BBC website about a girl band who are complaining about not being given air-time on Radio 1. (Full article here)
This should have been a great week for the Dolly Rockers. The “girl band with balls” have just put out their first single, Gold Digger, amidst a flurry of wickedly entertaining TV appearances. But instead of sitting back and watching the cash roll in, the group have called a crisis meeting with their record label.
“Our single didn’t get playlisted on Radio One,” explains 20-year-old Brooke Challinor. “We’re not ashamed to admit it… we’re very nervous.”
It is “crunch time”, admits the band’s blonde Mancunian mouthpiece, and the reason is simple: “It’s because we’re not in the gossip magazines. We’ve made it into the broadsheets because, apparently, we’ve established ourselves as a band with a lot to say. But everything is about celebrity culture now – it doesn’t really matter if you’ve got a valid opinion as long as you’ve got your boobs out.”
Wow… the Dolly Rockers agree with my take on the establishment!
Their latest single, “Gold Digger” is actually about so-called celebrity culture (the “establishment” of today). Here’s the video with the lyrics below. (Btw, WAG = Wives and Girlfriends of football/soccer players)
Or go to the video here.
So there is a WAG in every mag that you all know
Thinks shes got everything but she ain’t got nothing
Well she was real plain, had no brain and had no dough
But now she can roll in it and watch her boobs grow
All the boys will pay whooa ooow
When shes out for prey if theyre straight or gay
She wont end up alone
All the boys stand still Whooa ooow
If looks could kill they probably will
Chorus
Theres a brand new girl thats going round
turning the boys upside down, Gold Digger
Shes an only child thats been away,
now shes back no-ones safe, Gold Digger
Its all very well if you kiss n tell to get ahead
Fit blokes dont count for much unless they got money
They pay for the glitz and the refurb tits
And turned up nose
Maxes their credit card and then its heave ho
All the boys will pay Waoo-o-o
When shes out for prey if theyre straight or gay
She wont end up alone
All the boys stand still Waoo-o-o
If looks could kill they probably will
Chorus
Theres a brand new girl thats going round
turning the boys upside down, Gold Digger
Shes an only child thats been away,
now shes back no-ones safe, Gold Digger
Stick on nails & plastic hair
Gucci bags and Prada shoes
Girl goes clubbing every night
Get a fright when light comes on
Dj …. Gold Digger
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