MTV killed the rockstar decades ago and was apparently taking aim at the Disney and Idol created teen sensations at this weekend's MTV Video Awards. Host Russell Brand thought is was amusing that bubble gum sensations like the Jonas Brothers wore promise rings as they performed.
A promise ring, for those of you who don't have the fortune of wading hip-deep in the Evangelical subculture, is worn by teens who choose to abstain from sex before marriage. Adults look at these rings and debate the pros and cons of abstinence education; for a teenager, it's merely a simple expression of determination to respect themselves and God.
Jordin Sparks, an American Idol champion and promise ring wearer, wasn't amused. Jordin used her time on stage to respond "It's not bad to wear a promise ring because not everybody, guy or girl, wants to be a slut."
While I appreciate Jordin's spunk and the fact that she was reacting in the heat of the moment, her message was simply off-target for a Christ-follower. Sure, the Creator knows the proper context for sexual expression and reserves the right to hand down the rule book. I just don't recall Jesus tossing out ugly slurs to the sinners and prostitutes whose company he enjoyed.
9.9.08
Jordin Sparks Tosses Down
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As much as I agree with your sentiment, I do not think her words were necessarily out of line for a believer to utter to such an audience. While understanding the phraseology and terminology of a specific culture is one thing, I do not think those immediately in Jordan's presence were offended by her comments, no matter how off the mark they might have been. I for one appreciate her candidness and willingness to stand up to what appeared to be minndless banter from a comedian desperately grasping for a few laughs, using whatever material he could find in the midst of his rather boring monologues. While her words may not have been exactly the same Christ would have chosen, her actions I believe are fairly in line with what His would have been. She was standing up for those who, at the moment, could not exactly stand up for themselves because their time on the stage was done. Her words were, in my opinion, more of a defense of the purity rings, as opposed to an attack on their detractor(s).
But then again, I lost my purity ring long ago, so I'm probably not the best person to comment on this stuff.
i was cool with it. I guess I didn't think the message was that off target...maybe the delivery was a bit crass...but in the end I thought the most important thing was that she spoke out with an unpopular opinion when it might have been easier not to.
I love the fact that Jordin attempted to defend the other artists. I appreciate her desire to defend morality.
But I'd expect the word "slut" to come out of Ann Coulter's mouth before I'd expect to see it come from the mouth of a Christ follower.
If all you want to do achieve moral clarity, you enlist a Pharisee. If you want to extend grace as you do it, you need another approach.
yeah, i guess it comes down to how you feel about that word. we'd probably all agree that 'slutty' would be an accurate description of how some starlets have stayed in the spotlight through the year. I guess just because it fits the bill, doesn't mean it's an appropriate word to say?
those of us who do not keep a sanitized word code on our mouths didn't even flinch at her choice of words. many of us are cussing christians, either privately, with close friends and family, or even at church. from the pulpit. like my church. for some us, it takes a strong vulgar word like slut, or other four letter words, to say what we want to say the way we want to say it.
and that's all the eff i have to say about it.
:-)
(sorry. could not effin resist. oh, dangit. there i go again. i let the effin genie out of the bottle and now he won't shut the eff up....i better go pray or something...)
To me, the problem with her word choice was that it creates an odd and somewhat ridiculous idea that Christians believe that anyone who isn't 100% chaste (and making purchases to prove it) is a "slut". I feel like I know what she meant, and certainly she spoke out of a bit of anger, but that sort of language just makes us all look a bit ridiculous.
That being said, "No Air" is a pretty good song.
this is probably not a good thing, but her use of the word "slut" as an offensive thing didn't even cross my mind. i'm a fairly-young-person (20) and immersed in a culture where "slut" is thrown around pretty casually, even as a greeting sometimes (as in, "hey slut"--appalling, i know), and the only time it would occur to me to see it as a strong and/or offensive slur would be if it were directed at a specific target (i.e. "that girl is a slut"). furthermore, considering the language environment in which the comment was being made, it just didn't stand out to me. (yikes.)
that doesn't say much for the consideration my peers give to the power of language, but i guess i read her comment differently (or it came across to me differently). when you're surrounded by people who openly embrace, endorse, and accept the idea of being a slut (and use that sort of language to say so), a comment like jordan's is like meeting an issue where it comes instead of dressing it up before you respond.
that being said, would i choose that phrasing were i the one in her position? ermmm probably not. haha. but then again, i highly doubt i would have the courage to say anything at all. my rambling 2 cents!
sorry, this is going to bug me, so i meant "jordin's" not "jordan's." not that it matters at all to anyone else. i'm just this lame.
My conclusion, reading these responses, is that I am old.
Wait, is the issue that she said "slut" or is the issue that her generalized statement is, "buy and wear a promise ring to tell the world you're not a slut?"
Kind of both. Both meanings, in my 40-year-old mind, are judgmental and condemning. But maybe I'm just unaware of the venacular.
The latter meaning though is just silly.
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