Superman or SuperMEEK?
Blessed are the meek ... for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5)
A short time
ago I was looking for a new song to write about. I was hoping to find one
that would help me illustrate what Jesus meant when he said "Blessed
are the meek." When I looked through the top 50, however, there was
no song that stuck out quite like "Superman" by Eminem. The Detroit
bad boy has hit the charts again. But in this song, he has dove into the
area of, well, let's just say the opposite of meekness. According to Slim
Shady, Blessed are the ‘players' for they shall use many people
along the way to get what they want!Have we forgotten how to respect human dignity?
While not all of the lyrics can be printed in this article, I need to use some as examples in order to give you a clear understanding.
You know you want me baby
You know I want you too,
They call me Superman,
I'm here to rescue you
I wanna save you girl,
Come be in Shady's world
In Webster's Dictionary, the word "meek" is described as showing patience and a gentle disposition -- being submissive.
"Superman" describes for us the opposite of what it means to be meek. The song has a very aggressive tone and the way Eminem disdains the woman is very apparent. Unfortunately, he is not alone in this way of dealing with other people. Our society has lost its sense of respect for the human person.
When you walk into a store, are you treated like a person or an object? Sometimes people tend to see you (the customer) as an object they must deal with in order for them to get what they want (a paycheck).
Treating people with respect has become secondary to personal freedom. Society sometimes interprets such freedom as meaning that I can do or say anything I want to you -- it is a God given right. But this is simply not true.
Is
Jesus calling us to be aggressive -- or patient?We are called to be patient with others. If we say people are valuable, then we need to realize that not everyone wants or needs the same things we do. We must be patient with others. Jesus was always patient with those who needed it. He was always the most aggressive to those who were arrogant and "full of themselves".
Girl you just blew your chance,
Don't mean to ruin your plans,
But I know one thing though,
B*@#!/< they come and they go,
Saturday through Sunday, Monday,
Monday through Sunday yo . . .
Patience also keeps us from getting too deep into dating relationships before the time is right. We are able to pace the seriousness of the relationship -- seeing if this is the right person or if we are better to remain "just friends." If we are patient, we are also able to find out much more about others. What do they like? What do they dislike? What are the things I really like about this person? What are the things that I struggle with about this person?
What does it mean to have a gentle disposition?
What Superman is speaking about is something that is a large part of our culture today. It is the notion that "it is all about me". This is the idea that if I don't get what I want at first, then I will kick and claw to get my way -- even if I am going to lose big.
They call me Superman,
Leap tall hoes in a single bound,
I'm single now,
Got no ring on my finger now,
I'll never let another chick bring me down . . .
When we have a gentle disposition, we are more likely to put others ahead of ourselves. We see ourselves as only part of the big picture -- not the big picture itself. We are part of a Master plan that is not of our own making or design. If I see myself as needing to use people to get what I want, then is that God's plan for me? It's doubtful.
When God sees humanity, each of us is a piece of the "big puzzle" of life. But with Eminem -- as with many people of our culture -- it is as if we are each our own puzzle.
In any friendship, we must remember that it is always give and take. When it comes to being in any relationship there are times when we will not get our way. If one person in the relationship always gets his or her way, then that relationship will fall far short of what it could be, and it is probably doomed to fail.
Too much pride
Between you and I
Not a jealous man, but females lie,
But I guess that's just what sl@#% do . . .
A gentle disposition is important when it comes to dating. Having patience and a gentle disposition are the ways that we let other people know they are important to us.
Does being meek mean being submissive?
When it comes to meekness there is an undercurrent of submissiveness. We must remember who the Author of the plan is. We need to remember that we are the child in the plan and not the parent. To be submissive means that we understand that it is God's plan. It's not of our design - or anyone else's.
To be meek means we have decided that we are going to try to follow God's plan as closely as possible. We then understand that this world is made up of people who are also trying to follow the plan God has for them.
Each of us is valuable. And my part in God's plan is no more valuable than yours. Each of us is so valuable that we can never place ourselves above another. And perhaps being "meek" means that we are committed to helping others realize their own value.
The good news is that when we do live a life of meekness, God promises that we will inherit something wonderful -- eternal life!
What society needs is a little meekness. We have a Messiah -- we don't need "Superman."
Reflection Questions:
What do you think of the lyrics Eminem writes?
Why does pop culture idolize someone like Eminem rather than those who are "meek"?
By Dcn Jim Corder
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