Have you ever heard a worship song referred to as a “Jesus is my girlfriend” song? That’s when the words to the song are so intimate it borders on the romantic, sensual or even sexual.
Of course, worship songs are all about God, but when you start talking about feeling Him under your skin, or falling in love with Him and sharing sloppy wet kisses it begins to sound like you might be singing to your girlfriend or boyfriend.
But you know what I think is even scarier than the church singing “Jesus is my girlfriend” songs? The mainstream pop world singing “My girlfriend is Jesus” songs.
my·girlfriend·is·Jesus·song
1. a love song written to another human being, which sounds like it should be addressed to someone possessing superhuman powers
2. a love song that’s like a worship song
Sure, these “My girlfriend is Jesus” songs include “crawling under my skin” romanticism, but behind that, they reveal a depth of longing on the part of the singer that no mere mortal could ever fill.
Case in point: What’s Left of Me by Nick Lachey. Here’s just the second verse, chorus and bridge:
I’ve been dying inside little by little. Nowhere to go
I’m goin outta my mind, An endless circle runnin from myself until
You gave me a reason for standing stillCause I want you, and I feel you crawling underneath my skin
Like a hunger, like a burnin to find a place I’ve never been
Now I’m broken, and I’m faded. I’m half the man I thought I would be
But you can have what’s left of me.Fallin’ faster, barely breathing
Give me something to believe in
Tell me it’s not all in my head. Take what’s left of this man
Make me whole once again
Wow. Can you say “needy,” boys and girls?
How about “lost” or “in need of therapy?”
Am I saying that someone sharing their internal wounds so openly is bad? No! Expressing such vulnerable sentiments in the right context is healthy. Indeed it’s the only way to get healthy. However…
Confessing the depth of my emotional neediness to a romantic interest is about as prudent as sharing my financial problems with the drive-thru bank teller.
As if they could, oh I don’t know, maybe add a couple stacks of cash to my withdrawal. That sweet bank teller with the bright-eyed smile might rush to sympathize. She might truly want to help, but she simply can’t balance my budget. She can only withdraw from what’s already in my bank account.
And no human being you’re dreaming about can possibly heal the kind of pain that Nick describes in this song. No matter how sweet or how bright-eyed their smile.
So what do you do with “what’s left of you”? The same thing I have to do with “what’s left of me.” Confess your need, brokenness and hurt to the only one capable of filling your every need, healing your every wound, even transforming your every hurt into something unimaginably beautiful.
Sound too good to be true?
Well, if you don’t think God can or would be willing to “take what’s left of you and make you whole once again,” THEN WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU KEEP HOPING ANOTHER HUMAN BEING CAN OR WILL?!?!
See how deceptive Satan is? (“God doesn’t want to (or can’t) heal you, but that gorgeous human being staring at you right now does want to heal you, and can!”)
Huh?
Here’s the truth: the hard work required for the complete healing of every heart has already been done. That’s what Jesus accomplished on the cross!
And he did so for Nick Lachey as much as he did for YOU!
Is God’s healing instantaneous? Sometimes, but not usually. This is why we’re reluctant to go to God for healing. We want a quick fix. One we think a story-book (or pornographic) romance will deliver.
Don’t believe the lie. The thrill of romance can make you feel alive in a way few other things can, but in the end you discover it was only a feeling.
Passion and romance can’t save you. Only the passion and resurrection of Christ can do that. Indeed, it already has!
And now He who died for you, is dying to hear you say something like this ONLY to Him…
I want you, and I feel you, crawling underneath my skin
Like a hunger, like a burnin to find a place I’ve never been
Now I’m broken, and I’m faded. I’m half the man I thought I would be
But you can have what’s left of me.
Fallin’ faster, barely breathing
Give me something to believe in
Tell me it’s not all in my head. Take what’s left of this man
Make me whole once again
If you relate at all to the lyrics above, won’t you sing them to your true love?
He’s not your girlfriend. He’s your God!
DNA: It’s What’s For Dating
Dug this weekend’s DNA? Be a good friend and share with your friends on the social media platform of choice: Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, or Twitter.
Want to go beyond what a blog post can accomplish? The LoveEd discipleship series, Beyond Sex & Salvation, will empower you to prepare for relational success when it counts: BEFORE YOU FALL IN LOVE!
It’s NOT for couples, but for any wise individual who thinks they might want to get married sometime before they die. And would like to learn how to better build healthy relationships in the meantime.
Check out all three study guides in our store. You can walk through it on your own, but it’s more fun with friends, so consider putting together an FMU LoveEd small group study. Even better? And ask a married couple you respect to lead it!
