Lady Gaga, the LGBT and the Christians

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, famously known as Lady Gaga, is in the country right now to perform a 2 night concert at the SM Mall of Asia or MOA. This is actually the 2^nd time she is performing in the Philippines. And before she arrives, I think she has already read or heard about the protests of some “Religious” groups here in the Philippines. They don’t want her to have her concert here because they want her to “respect our faith, stop the blasphemy." But organizers from Ovation Productions said they respect the beliefs of critics but promised that the performances "will not pose a threat to their sense of morality and conduct."

She was famous for her songs "Poker Face", "Bad Romance", "Telephone" and "Alejandro" just to name a few. And also some rumors surrounding her sexuality. But we can’t deny that she is also famous for her sense of fashion and the songs that she sang. Alejandro has a very, very controversial video. According to Wikipedia, "’Alejandro’ created a media uproar after the release of the video because of its use of religious imagery. One of the most discussed scenes in the video was when Gaga, dressed in a latex nun outfit, swallowed rosary beads. The Catholic League criticized the video for its use of religious imagery, accusing Gaga of "playing a Madonna copy-cat". Moncia Herrara said of the mayhem: "[Alejandro] courts religious controversy in much the same way that Madonna's 'Like a "Prayer' video once did, intermingling Catholic imagery like rosary beads and nun's robes with sexual cues." In an interview with MTV, Klein explained that the religious symbolism was not meant to denote anything negative, but to represent Gaga's battle between the darker and lighter forces. Thus at the end of the film, she is portrayed again in her nun's habit. Klein added that the significance behind her mouth and eyes disappearing was "because she is withdrawing her senses from the world of evil and going inward towards prayer and contemplation." He added that the scene where Gaga devours the rosary beads was her act of theophany, the desire to consume the body of God, the rosary being symbolic of the Holy.” You can check the link.

Why am I writing about her? It is because of her relationship and stand with LGBT or lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. Lady Gaga is a strong supporter of this group. According to Wikipedia, besides her career in music, Gaga has also contributed to various charities. Among others are:

• HIV and AIDS 
• Born This Way Foundation 
•  LGBT advocacy

Don’t get me wrong. I am not a fan of Lady Gaga. But with all the protests against her in this country, we have labeled our country “THE ONLY CHRISTIAN NATION IN ASIA”. Have we reached out to the LGBT? Or we are like the many who judges them because they are members of LGBT? My previous post has somehow become related to this one. Christians attacking other people because they are not Believers. We condemn people and say that they are Anti-Christ and all, that they are the abolition of the human race, etc. 

I have nothing against Lady Gaga, but I don’t condone her acts and the way she sings and her songs. What I am concerned of, is my fellow Believers. Are we becoming more judgmental? I found an article from USAToday with this headline: “Study: Youth see Christians as judgmental, anti-gay.” We are not becoming light and salt of this world. We are not doing our jobs. We are becoming the antagonists of the world, which should not be. We need to be the people who dispenses GRACE my brothers and sisters. That is our function. That is why we are here. It was said, “hate the sin, love the sinner”. I know we need to draw the line on this issue, but then, we need to draw them while we pray for God’s wisdom.

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Christians on hot waters

I tried to get more info on what Manny Pacquiao said about gays and this is what I got from his official website, “Manny Pacquiao was recently quoted in the USAToday as invoking the old testament and recited Leviticus 20:13, saying: “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.” In the same conversation Manny explained his feelings in regards to same sex marriage which were printed in an earlier article today. “God only expects man and woman to be together and to be legally married, only if they are in love with each other. “It should not be of the same sex so as to adulterate the altar of matrimony, like in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah of Old.” In what appears to be Manny Pacquiao’s official feelings on the subject, let us just say that Pacquiao’s beliefs are not the beliefs, of this writer or the staff of MP8.ph.” (source, http://tiny.cc/2loeew)

I am a Born-Again Christian too. Although I had been on the crossroads of my faith, I know what it is to believe and to say and when to say them. I will not comment on what Manny Pacquiao said, because like the bible says, DO NOT JUDGE… but what I will say is more on expressing our beliefs and standing by them BUT not spreading hate or judgment. 

I have already read a book entitled, What’s So Amazing About Grace? written by Philip Yancey. And one of the common mistakes Christians made is to spread hatred rather than grace. To quote Philip's words, "Christians were becoming known mainly for what they were against: pornography, homosexuality, abortion, etc. That disturbed me, as I see grace as one of the great, often untapped, powers of the universe that God has asked us to set loose." Admit it or not, most of the Believers tend to forget what Jesus did in the New Testament. In Mark 2:15-17, “15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” ” here, Jesus MINGLED with the sinners and tax collectors. 

We need to be the one to spread grace on this world, but it seems that we do forget that.  We tend to forget that the hospital is where the sick go, that the bed is where the tired rests. We just want the world to know what is right and that there should be justice, which is not wrong. But our priority is point people to Jesus. 

Not all good-intentions are easy. Sometimes, good-intentions needs to be delayed. Words have already hurt people. Let us avoid hurting them more by quoting the bible to get our points across. It has and still is being used by a lot of religious groups.

And last, one of the great philosophers said what I think is one of the cautionary words we should take VERY SERIOUSLY. It is the words of Mahatma Gandhi: “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” 

My very FIRST TATTOO!

When I was in high school, I thought of having a tattoo. I was curious as to what it will make me feel to have a tattoo. I was told that if I should get a tattoo, it should be meaningful and one that I will never ever regret inking on my body…

My grandfather died 1998, just before the elections. I was told that he died calling me, I am the first apo. Then his 2nd wife died afterwards. Then their eldest son, Tito Dodong died of TB. Then my bestfriend Abraham died of a disease. And forward 2007, my lolo from my father side died and I wasn’t there when he was buried. And 2011, my lola died. My lolo from my mother side and my lola from my father side gave me a big blow. It was both painful on my end. The night Tito Dodong died, I had a vision of a man visiting me when I was beside the pool, resting with my towel covering my head. When I looked up, nobody’s beside me. The following day, I learned of his death. Then came Abe’s death that also shook me. he was my best friend.


Forward to 2012.

I scheduled my session with Champ Tiangson, PhillTAG member, on a Saturday, March 31, 2012. But it was not doable since he will be going to a group retreat. So I decided to have it on March 30, 2012. AFTER I GOT MY BONUS!

So it was set. March 30, 2012… 4:30 pm. I quickly went to their place for the session. I had the printed copy in full color and ate something along the way.

When I got to their place, we were introduced and I was sat down and was told to relax and get comfy. He then readied his things that he will use. Meanwhile, my friend keeps on giving me beer. When Champ started inking, I brazed myself for the pain. But I felt no pain…

Midway through the session, when he reached my shoulder part, where part of the collar bones are, the pain began. I literally almost passed out! I was thinking that if I can divert the pain and all, it will be more easier… but I blacked out. my artist told me not to do that instead, admit the pain.