Expert: Michael Woodruff - 4/23/2011

Question
Hello Michael,

I wonder if you could help me understand the following line from a Christian song:

Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam

If you need more information about the song, please see the following wiki page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Wants_Me_for_a_Sunbeam

I can't get at its meaning. Thank you for your help.
Erik

Answer
When I first saw this question I thought it was a joke and was going to dismiss it. However when I saw it was from China, I understood the context.

On the surface of literal English "Jesus wants me for a sunbeam" could mean "Jesus wants me to be happy". This is misleading because the lyrics offer something that is contrary to honoring Jesus. In simplistic terms sarcasm of the faith.

First of all I'm not a Bible scholar and God reminds me of this on a daily basis. Recently I just discovered Luke was not one of the 12 Apostles..Having said that take what I say as opinion and nothing more.

The logical approach to explaining my opinion (in parentheses) is to look at the lyrics.

Jesus don't want me for a sunbeam. 'Cause sunbeams are not made like me.
(Sunbeams are perfect, humans are not thus the writer assumes Jesus doesn't want him. This is contrary since Christ died for our sins so we can be in favor with God, Romans 3:23)


Don't expect me to cry for all the reasons you had to die. (The reason Jesus died was to heal our sins, the writer is unashamed of his, He likes to sin)

Don't ever ask your love of me(Jesus wants us to love him, the writer is rejecting Jesus, Deuteronomy 6:5)

Don't expect me to cry.(Writer is repeating the previous thought)
Don't expect me to lie. (Again, The writer admits he is not sorry for his sins)
Don't expect me to die for thee. (The writer is rejecting martyrdom for Jesus' name, Matthew 10:39)

Anyway, there are many songs that mention lord, God and Jesus. These songs however are not Christian. Here's a few:
One of us- Joan Osborne
Jesus Of Suburbia- Green Day
Personal Jesus-Depeche Mode
Sympathy For The Devil-Rolling Stones
Enter Sandman-Metallica

I hope this helps ^_^...