Give it a listen. http://youtu.be/fqITwSOXX2g
T. Rex was an early 1970's glam rock group best known for its hit Bang A Gong. Marc Bolan, the founder and lead singer-songwriter wrote 20th Century Boy and released it as a single. It was nothing more than a fun little song, never released in album format during the band's career. Yet the song reached #3 in the UK charts. 20th Century Boy has been covered by a variety of musicians, been used in commercials and movie soundtracks, and continues to have an enduring life in our sonic airways. In the words of the writer Marc Bolan, "Everybody says it's just like rock-n-roll."
The lyrics are about what you might guess...sex. Rock 'n' roll is cliched with sex as the topic for millions of songs. It's no surprise that I will write about songs that have sex as the main focus. Not wanting to seem sex-obsessed, I want to focus on the more general topic of temptation. Take a look at the lyrics.
20th Century Boy by Marc Bolan (1973)
Friends say it's fine, friends say it's good
Ev'rybody says it's just like Rock and Roll
I move like a cat, charge like a ram
Sting like a bee, babe I wanna be your man
Well it's plain to see you were meant for me, yeah
I'm your boy, your 20th century toy
Friends say it's fine, my friends say it's good
Ev'rybody says it's just like Robin Hood
Fly like a plane, drive like a car
Bawl like a HOUND, babe I wanna be your man - oh
Well it's plain to see you were meant for me, yeah
I'm your toy, your 20th century boy
20th century toy, I wanna be your boy
20th century toy, I wanna be your boy
20th century toy, I wanna be your boy
20th century toy, I wanna be your boy
Friends say it's fine, friends say it's good
Ev'rybody says it's just like Rock and Roll
Move like a cat, charge like a ram
Sting like A BEE, babe I wanna be your man
Well it's plain to see you were meant for me, yeah
I'm your toy, your 20th century boy
Part of temptation comes from the influence of our friends, especially in the socially charged environment of adolescence. Kids are trying to figure out who they are apart from what their parents have passed on to them. Adolescence is marked by pushing away from the same old-same old and trying something new.
Parents say, "Don't do that." Friends say, "It's fine. It's good." A person has to decide what voice they will heed.
The writer of Proverbs, traditionally King Solomon, passes along wisdom for young men to learn.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
They are a garland to grace your head
and a chain to adorn your neck.
My son, if sinful men entice you,
do not give in to them.
If they say, “Come along with us...
my son, do not go along with them,
do not set foot on their paths;
for their feet rush into evil... (Prv 1:7-11a, 15-16a)
The opening chapters focus on urging the young pupil of wisdom to prize wisdom above all as a means to life. Wisdom is personified in the proverbs. She was there as the first of God's creations and and witnessed the making of heaven and earth. (Prv 8:22-31) She calls out to all to heed her voice for she will lead them to life and prosperity.
Remember the story of Adam and Eve? They were placed in paradise. They were given everything they needed from the hand of God. So perfect was Eden that they needed no clothing, nor were they ashamed to walk about naked. They were completely innocent under the loving care of God. God told them they could eat fruit from any tree in the garden, but one. They were commanded not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God warned them if they do, they would die.
But there was another voice in the garden. The serpent, the craftiest of all God's creatures. We know this serpent to be the devil or Satan. The serpent asked Eve,
“Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”
“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. (Gen 3:1b-6)There you have the voice of temptation. Wisdom speaks the counsel of God, the Lifegiver, who would lead us into Life. But she isn't the only one speaking; there are other voices. A person has to decide which voice they will follow.
Shall you follow what your friends say? Will you follow what everybody says? Will you do what everybody else is doing? Will you follow their path into evil? Sure, sinful pleasures might seem exciting and fun for a while, but it leads nowhere good. Sin separates us from God who is life. And where there is no life, there is only death.
The person who learns to discern the voice of God's wisdom from the voice of the serpent, among the many talking heads around us, will find life. For not every voice inside our heads is from God. (1Jn 4:1)
The best way to learn how to discern the voice of God is by reading the bible and getting to know God who has chosen to reveal Himself through Israel and through His Son, Jesus Christ. For God has acted to save us from our fall into sin's trap and the alluring spell of the serpent. The Savior Jesus lived a mortal life and was tempted in every way we are tempted, but did not sin. He did not follow the voices of His friends who said sin is fine and, "It's good." Instead Jesus remained faithful to the instruction of His Father in heaven. He obeyed even unto death upon the cross and became the source of our salvation. His strength, overcomes our weakness. He strengths overpowers the devil. His strength defeats sin, and even death. In Him is life abundant, life everlasting.
The animalistic appeal to following the buzz of the bee, the charge of the ram, or the movements of the cat is just a way to answer questions of self identity. The lyrics of 20th Century Boy display a sensual posing making the singer an object of sexual appeal. The 20th Century Boy wants to be loved, adored, and even worshiped. He wants to belong to his object of affection and played with like a toy. Everybody's doing it. Everybody says it's just like Robin Hood, robbing from those who have and giving it to those who have not.
Before you convince yourself that the temptation you desire is good and fine, consider the long term. Where will it lead beyond the moment? Where will it lead 10 years from now? Look at the suicide rate, the accidental overdoses, the domestic violence and the unhappy homes. What is the common denominator? Is it not the trappings of temptation and ignorance of God?
Blessed are those who find wisdom,O God, our Father, give us ears to hear Your voice and hearts that long to please You. Give us courage to walk on right paths, even in the face of peer pressure, that we might live with You and know the joy of abundant life. Amen
those who gain understanding,
for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
those who hold her fast will be blessed. (Prv 3:13-18)
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