Stefani Germonatta
Continuing the essential question of how do we bear Christ to the world’s women, to women who don’t believe, to women who may be very different to us, we come to the fourth essential story we must learn: the story of the very women who need to know the hope of Christ.
This is where Stefani Germanatta came in. I recognized a revulsion in my heart when she appeared on American Idol, and I began to think about it. I figured there was pride and contempt lurking in my response and thought God might want to see that become a heart for the hurting. So I acted on my own ‘preaching’ and began to listen to her story.
What I learned was fascinating, and though it did not convince me to love her lyrics or laud her stylistic endeavors, it did reveal we have more in common than I ever would have believed.
Tomorrow I’ll share with you what I learned about Stefani Germanatta, but let me end today with one caveat. Because I fear this blog will send people googling Gaga videos, let me tell you my conclusion about why I experience deep distaste for her lyrics and especially her visual performances (I like the “poppy” sound of her songs and would dance in my kitchen to them if I couldn’t hear the lyrics.) My sense is that the Lady demeans women and invites violence against them. The stories she acts out make women objects and darkens their sexuality (which is not how God created us.) I know many, including her 36 million fans don’t see it that way, and I’d be glad to hear your thoughts.
That being said, all the more reason to listen to Stefani Germanatta and hear her story and try to understand what we have in common and see what powerful news the gospel has to bring in this conversation.
“Take every story a person tells and be more curious about it than they are themselves.” Dan Allender
