Beiber Fever

Well, running a little late with this weeks blog. But better late then never. This week, I am going to talk about Justin Beiber. Yes, that cute adorable jumping jackaroo of a kid. I saw the movie a couple of weeks ago. In 3D no less. It was like he really reached out and touched me. I took my sweet Justin loving neighbor with me and her Mom. I don’t have girls, but have a great relationship with my little friend and she is growing into a regular teeny bopping gal that just like most girls out there...is CRAZY for the Justin.

I can see his appeal. He’s a social media miracle. He came out of no where and with some raw talent, mixed with his over stimulated boy hormones to jump, run, sing, dance, twirl, zig, zag and have fun doing it I can certainly relate to having three little hellions exactly in the making. His Mom is a wonderful lady who seems to have a strong Christian faith. His grandparents were certainly very involved in his life and thus a sturdy family unit. Justin seems to have grown in the midst of many friends and family, a humble existence before hitting the music industry machine. He has a great voice, a lot of energy and very entertaining.

So, this is where my praise for the Justin will stop. Why Lucy!? you may ask would I have anything against the Justin. Well, firstly it’s not about him...it’s about Him. Maybe the capital Him that Lady Gaga sings about in her new song that she sang fresh from her alien egg. I think it is sad that Justin’s mom has sold her baby to the music industry. In this movie we see how Justin is pushed to 86 concerts within a short period of time. My question is what the heck is the rush?
WHO DOES this to a young kid? Then they have difficulty in getting the kid to rest his vocal cords...he is sick and burnt out. The music industry's producer I see is pretty self centered. He’s out to make money and make Justin famous and he’s very successful at it. But at what expense?

In the movie we see little 6 year old girls screaming, crying with hysteria saying they will be Justin Beiber’s wife. Yes...6 years old. I couldn’t see any 6 year old boys in the mix, but I could have missed them. Not only is Justin Beiber is the object of desire but these moms are allowing their girls to develop the Justin Beiber idol craze. I think this goes way beyond just going to a concert and enjoying some music. This is mass hysteria. In one breath backstage Justin’s Mom prays that “God be glorified” but in Rolling Stone Justin quoted...”I’ll never tell them they need Jesus.” God forbid that Justin Beiber says Jesus to a crowd of screaming girls.

The wonderful thing Justin does, is give back to his audience. He loves them. And why not. They love him more than Him. He takes one girl, randomly out of the audience and serenades her to “No more lonely girls”, gives her roses and if she’s really lucky gently touches her cheek or gives her a hug. Who would not go gaga with that I tell you.

So here is my thing. Justin Beiber has not been in the music industry very long. He’s green and has absolutely NO street smarts. But I do, and as a Mom and I smell disaster waiting to happen.
So what does idolatry+consumerism = you got it. EVIL. I don’t care if the kid was brought up in a Christian home, his mother sold him to Mr. Producer moneybags and it’s only a matter of time that poor innocent Justin gets polluted by fame and fortune if not already. Not because he is going to fall from grace but he didn’t acknowledge the need for God’s grace in his own life aka...JESUS.

Justin says in Rolling Stone, “the Bible says you only need God in your heart and you go to heaven...” oh baby..someones been lying to you if your actually read scripture correctly it says no one can have eternal life but through Jesus. You need Jesus in your heart. God can be anything in todays culture...it could be cookie monster for goodness sake in your heart.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

So when Justin says he’ll never say to his fans they need Jesus, but at the very end of singing duets with Mily Cyrus dressed in leather thigh highs...think about the message little Hannah Montana sends out in her provocative wares to those little girls. It certainly isn’t ”God loves you!”
This is the commercial over sexualization of our young children is driven by the music industry at it's finest and Justin's mom as well as the production crowd are all part of the picture.
I really wonder if this is the type of "giving God the glory" that Justin’s Mom had asked God to honor in her prayer backstage. Justin gives his fans credit knowing they could someday stop buying his music, which is true...my question is, what will you have Justin when the music industry turns sour on you. In an interview with Diane Sawyer, she asked if he was going to go to college. And he said he already has a career so he thinks he’s doing alright. But while this is true, what message does that send to kids about education? So Justin (if he ever reads this) you said if there was one person in the Bible you would want to be it would be Job. If you don’t give glory and honor to Christ in your time of abundance and feel shame to mention the name of Jesus if you say you are a Christian because Mr. Producer might drop you like a stinky sock then be careful of what you wish for. Will you be content with just lunch meat in your fridge once again?
I doubt it will get to that, but as a Mom of faith...I must protect my children from the over sexualization of our culture and provide the truth which is that every girl out there screaming YOUR name need Jesus and His Grace more than they need a dozen roses and serenaded by your lovely virginal voice. If you give God the glory, He will never let you down.

As a Mom who is Christian, is saddens me to see such young girls completely idolizing a young kid that for all of the 2 minutes he’s been on the scene get so hysterical over the perfection of Justin Beiber. Mostly because I can foresee his rise and fall. He says he never wants to let his fans down, ever. But the music industry doesn't exactly allow him to be set up for success in this arena. He’ll loose that popularity because his clean virginal ways will grow old with the world and frankly the money clock is set to microwave popcorn mode. Just ask the Jonas brothers...where are they? The industry has complete control over his image and like Britney and Christina who also were raised in Christian homes, at the first hint that the records and stadiums don’t sell out...they repackage, remarket with a different message...and it certainly won’t be “You need Jesus”.

So I pray that Justin wakes up and if he’s old enough to drink coffee...maybe he and his Mom will come to their senses and see the truth of the music industry and ship that kid off to college.