On Miley

I've tried so hard to keep these thoughts to myself, but the conversation is still happening almost a week later and I just can't take it anymore.  Miley's performance of her new single "We Can't Stop" along with Robin Thicke's performance of his single "Blurred Lines" has been a hot topic all week.  Part of me is outraged, part of me is saddened, and part of me is irritated.  My thoughts on the situation:

1. This should not be a surprise.  Take a look at the lyrics to each song if you're bored (and brave).  One is classic hedonism - I'm going to do what makes me feel good, and I couldn't possibly care less what you think of that.  The other is classic...well, rubbish.  Thicke's song is basically about a "good girl" who is in a relationship with another man who doesn't treat her right (the hook states "He was close, tried to domesticate you; but you're an animal, baby - it's in your nature.  Just let me liberate you.")  So here we have two lies - one is that doing what feels good is ALWAYS the best choice (and it will make you "happy"), and the other is that sexual satisfaction = liberation.  So we have these two lies, and we have these two performers who are ready to sing these words - are we expecting them to ballroom dance?!  I believe the lyrics reflect the dance, and vice versa; anyone who expected this performance to be tame and appropriate should probably get their heads checked. 

2. The unequal distribution of backlash is troubling.  Miley has received, in my really inaccurate estimation, about 95% of the negative attention from this whole situation.  Robin Thicke, a husband and father who sings songs that utterly objectify and subjugate women, has escaped relatively unscathed.  Ahh, double standards.  Lovely.

3. Moral relativism is debunked by situations like this.  Moral relativism is the notion that there are no moral absolutes in this world - what's right for one person may be wrong for the other and vice versa.  However, the response to this whole situation has been pretty overwhelmingly negative.  I'm sure there are those out there who think that Miley and Robin have the right to do what they want and there are no moral standards to which they need to be held, but I'm sure that there are proponents of moral relativism out there who would call this performance immoral or "wrong."  I count this as a positive.

4. There is hope for Miley.  And there is hope for me.  The truth is, there is hope for an entire world of sinners.  Have you ever looked at pornography?  I have news for you: what you saw at the VMAs was mild compared to most porn.  Have you ever desired your own way above God's?  So have I, secretly - Miley's just public about it, that's all.  Bottom line: we're all sinners; we can despair all we want about the state of the world we live in, but I have better news for you: God's already won.  He conquered Miley's sin, Thicke's sin, my sin, and your sin when He was obedient to death on a cross - and there's nothing the devil can do to change that.  Rejoice, O sinner - you have been bought with blood.