This week I begin a series of messages based on songs by 3 Doors Down. My family really brought their music to my attention and I have come to hear strong themes throughout their work that speak to me about faith (okay honestly, I hear faith-related-themes in most songs- must be an occupational hazard).
“Loser” by 3 Doors Down was written with addiction in mind; it is about a friend of the writer, 3 Doors Down frontman Brad Arnold, who got into drugs in high school and how the friend viewed himself the haze of the drugs. As I reflect on addiction and the struggles that come with it, I am wondering about the Good News in response. I will be intrigued to hear from anyone who comments. Here is a link to the lyrics- Loser.
I am looking currently at two stories from the life of Jesus that capture his working with those who might have been deemed “losers.” One is the story of the man possessed by a demon in Luke 8:26-39. The other story is of the man waiting for healing by the pool of Bethesda (Bethsaida or Bethzatha depending on the manuscript) in John 5:1-9. I welcome any thoughts about these text.
Hey James,
I like this idea a lot. I think that there is a lot that can come from this song. We all have times when we or someone close to us feel like “losers.” Sometimes it does not even take much effort to help out someone around you to come out of this. Lately, a friend of mine has been feeling really down and has been going through a rough time in a relationship– not exactly an addition like in the song, but definitely a difficult time in her life to overcome. Just by providing a listening ear and some of my time I have helped to “heal” her or to “take the demons out” of her.. (sort of). I think that this is what Jesus taught us- that just a little bit of our time is really all it takes sometimes to help heal another.
As for the two passages, I see the value in both of them. I personally like the second one better, but really only because i don’t like the idea of putting the demons in the pigs (this seems like an ethical issue to me…but i may just be digging a little to deep here!)
Good luck, I am sure it will be a great sermon!
Comment by Hillary Peabody — April 23, 2009 @ 6:29 pm
There is a lot here. But I see the main point is in the song you have a person who views himself as a loser,and a focus on the pronoun “I”. He is trapped in a world of his own creation, not God’s creation. This could lead to a nice contrast with the one of biblical passages you mentioned. the man waiting by the pool may be seen as a loser by those who walk by, but he still lives with hope and is not living in the “I world”. The man with demons is more striking, since we could see that as a focus on the “I world”. and after Christ cures the man, the reaction of the locals is not thanks, but to ask him to leave. If we move this back to the song, we here the voice of a person who wants to keep his demons, they have become part of his life, even as the lead him to death. the towns folk like there I world. HH
Comment by harry holloway — April 24, 2009 @ 5:52 am
I really like the second passage with this song. I think that we all struggle with things and are faced with difficult challenges. It can be really easy to think that we are not in control and to feel like we are getting pushed off the edge but the truth is we can make a decision, take control, and give it to God to help us make it through. God is faithful and not on the pushing end. He is waiting for us to be more than just a loser though I do not believe he thinks of us as that ever. He wants us to be the winner we were meant to be…to take that first step. Looking forward to hearing what God brings you in the message this weekend.
Comment by Erika — April 24, 2009 @ 11:29 am
What a powerful set of insights given here by my friends! I have settled I think on the second passage. I am drawn to the part this man may or may not play in his own healing, in leaving some of the brokenness of his life. My special thanks to Hillary, Harry, and Erika for their insights here and my own family for their thoughts on the direction of this message.
Comment by James Henry — April 25, 2009 @ 2:21 pm