Unfortunately, the shop where I used to work played country music. And one of the songs for which I (involuntarily) learned tge lyrics for was "Don't take the girl" or whatever it's called by...whatever his name is.
In the last verse the guy's wife is going to have a baby and the doctor says she's "fading fast", so Johnny (the husband) gets down on his knees and prays for God to take his life instead of his wife's.
And it occurred to me today that this makes absolutely no sense from a Christian perspective. If only one of you is going to live, you're going to be separated, whatever happens. And whoever dies is probably going to go to heaven, right? That's supposed to be a good thing, isn't it?
So isn't it rather selfish of Johnny to ask to be the one to go to heaven instead of his wife? Why would he ask such a thing?
Or...do Christians not really believe as strongly in an idyllic afterlife as they'd like to think they do?
2007-12-21 14:56:27 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Laura: Actually the song says "the baby's fine".
2007-12-21 15:11:02 · update #1
The Bible says--No greater love hath this than to lay down your life for a friend.
2007-12-21 15:01:40 · answer #1 · answered by zoril 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ok, I don't really know the song, and I would say country music is definitely not the definition of Christianity.
You are right about the perspective you're bringing and your interpretation of Christian understanding: afterlife=heaven. But you're forgetting this is a song about a human being first and a Christian second.
Two lives are at stake, the wife AND the baby, right? So he's not just trading his life for hers, but also for the chance that his child will live on Earth for a while. Maybe he thinks that it would be harder for him here without her than her without him. But he's a human being, and either way he's scared because he doesn't know and he's not in control.
So he turns to God who is in control.
2007-12-21 15:05:23 · answer #2 · answered by Laura 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No not really. Either way, you still get to go be with God. It doesn't seem selfish because he's asking that she live her life THEN go to be with God. .how is asking for someone to finish out their time with their family and friends on Earth then die and getting to be with God selfish?
You said, "If only one of you is going to live, you're going to be separated, whatever happens. And whoever dies is probably going to go to heaven, right? That's supposed to be a good thing, isn't it?" Of course going to Heaven is a great thing but its also painful for the ones you are separated with. Just because we are Christians doesn't me we just love it when someone we love dies. After all, you are right when saying we can be selfish in some ways (we are humans too you know) because we want to hold on to our loved ones for as long as we can.
However, It doesn't seem selfish in this situation because if he dies and not his wife then she gets to stay with the new born baby which is an amazing blessing. And I think its implied by the song that the baby is one thing that both of them had hoped for, for a very long time.
2007-12-21 15:09:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
You just put your mental finger on the heart of the Christian problem.: How much to value THIS, earthly life, versus the supposedly better-to-heavenly one beyond.
If about 75% of Americans REALLY are Christian and believe in an afterlife, they WHY is everyone so afraid to die? --So afraid that we have listened to every message about extending one's life by diet, exercise, modern medical (heroic) techniques, and so many other ways? Why are people kept on life-support for years, in a coma, while Courts try to decide whether to sustain these incredibly expensive treatments?
For our very sick or elderly pets, like cats and dogs, we always recommend euthanasia--put the animal to sleep, out of its misery. But for us humans, we have an entirely different standard.
Apparently, most people who claim to be Christians don't really believe in their own doctrines. Or else, those doctrines are at least a LOT less strong than the biological organism's fight to stay alive. So the belief in an afterlife is basically just a theory, just wishful thinking, for most.
2007-12-22 03:53:47 · answer #4 · answered by DinDjinn 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No I do not concentrate to nation or christian tune. I individually simply do not opt for nation it simply does not attraction to me irrespective of what the which means in the back of a track is. I'm a steel individual. But I do realize for distinct that one of the most bands I concentrate to need to have a few style of Christian historical past within the which means. both means I do not care so long as the tune sounds well.
2016-09-05 10:28:34 · answer #5 · answered by hemmings 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe his wife didn't want to die. So, he was willing to die in her place.
Actually, I think you're reading way too much into this country western song. Maybe the songwriter doesn't genuinely know the first friggin thing about christian theology, and you're making the assumption that he does, which is presumptuous of you.
2007-12-21 15:09:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
He figured the baby needed a mother more than a father.
2007-12-21 15:17:20 · answer #7 · answered by Cee T 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Hmm, that's a Tim McGraw song, that's all I know.
2007-12-21 15:02:14 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋