"Ruin My Life..."

"Ruin My Life" - Zara Larsson **

It's interesting what you hear when you first listen to a song, when you don't know what it's called, and you just find yourself singing along to the radio in the car...

That's what happened with this one, and it was one of those "accidental worship" moments, when all of a sudden I'm belting out:

"I want you to rule my life, you to rule my life, you to rule my life, yeah..."

And now that I know they're not the right words, I still can't help but here them...

**  Another "Potty-mouth" warning here... Along with the "Scantily-Clad-Lady" warning

I was so intrigued by the song that I brought it to our staff meeting "contemporary theology" session, along with an offering from the more regularly quoted "Mumford and Sons."

Our task was simple:
What theology is there in this song?
Could we use it in our personal worship?
Could we justify using it in corporate worship?

​Answers on a postcard once you've had a listen...

Aside from the sad indictment on society that this speaks for so many, that the presence of something unhealthy is missed and preferable to loneliness when it comes to love, I think there is something here about meeting God, particularly in the chorus.

Now remember that my first listen was on the radio, and the radio edit, as I heard it stated:
"I want you to rule my life... I want you to rule my nights"
Replace "Baby" with God, and I'm all in: Desperation for Him to take the lead, to feel his presence again, and to let him lead.

But come back to the original version:
"I want you to ruin my life... I want you to fuck up my nights..."
That's a completely different sort of openness, willingness, expectation and commitment to being all in.
I want what it is that comes with following you; My life is no longer my own but yours; I'm ready to be hated as they hated you; I'm ready for the struggle and the battle that will come from being with you and following you, because that is far preferable than trying to go through life without you.

I think we decided as a team that we could, if we were brave enough, use this as a prayer for ourselves... If we were brave enough.
I think we decided that we could take the sentiment and pass it on as teaching and justify it theologically, without necessarily having to play the full track in corporate worship.

Lyrics:
I miss you pushing me close to the edge
I miss you
I wish I knew what I had when I left
I miss you

You set fire to my world, couldn't handle the heat
Now I'm sleeping alone and I'm starting to freeze
Baby, come bring me help
Let it rain over me
Baby, come back to me

I want you to ruin my life
You to ruin my life, you to ruin my life, yeah
I want you to fuck up my nights, yeah
Fuck up my nights, yeah, all of my nights, yeah
I want you to bring it all on
If you make it all wrong, then I'll make it all right, yeah
I want you to ruin my life
You to ruin my life, you to ruin my life

I miss you more than I thought that I could
I miss you
I know you missin' me too like you should
I miss you

I miss you, I miss you
I wish you, I wish you
Would come back, would come back to me
Come back to me, come back to me