Metallica - Master of Puppets
· What lyrics stand out to you in this song?
o Obey your master, your life burns faster.
o Blinded by me you can’t see a thing.
o Taste me, more is all you need. Dedicated to how I’m killing you.
o Source of self-destruction
o Where are the dreams I’ve been after. Promised only lies. Fix me!
o Hell is worth all that, natural habitat
o I will occupy, I will help you die
o I will run through you. Now I rule you too.
· What do you feel like this song means – secular vs. spiritual?
o Secular – Drug addiction being your master “Chop your breakfast on a mirror.”
o Spiritual – Who is your master – Matt. 6:19-24.
· What can be our master nowadays?
o Money
o Drugs
o Alcohol
o Lust
o Food – What happened to gluttony being a sin?
o Media
o Good works
o Relationships with friends and family.
o Church work (to a point)?
· What are other words that be associated with false masters?
o Idols
o Graven images
o False gods
o Half-heartedness – Malachi 2
§ v. 7 – Priests should know better.
§ They ask “What have we done wrong?”
§ God says, “You know what you’ve wrong.”
§ They gave him “crap sacrifices.”
· How could church work be a master?
o Too focused on relationships and even “looking good for the Lord”.
o Not spending time with the Lord.
o Doing things for Him is good, but we must know Him.
· How could family and friends be our master?
o Too much focus on pleasing them.
o Not enough on focus on pleasing God.
· But, should we go out of our way to help someone if that means missing church?
o I think there could be an exception.
o Jesus stopped where He was going all the time to help people.
o John 11 – Jesus couldn’t get there in time before Lazarus died.
§ Why did Jesus weep? – For Lazarus or Mary?
· Could that be considered a spiritual act or sacrifice of worship?
o I think so. Look at:
§ James 2:14-26 – Faith without works is dead.
§ James 4:13-17 – Do good when you can, or you’ll be sinning.
§ Romans 12:1-13 – Spiritual act of worship pleasing to God. Verse 13 says to practice hospitality.
· Why are we going to church?
o Is it truly for worshipping God?
o Is it socializing with friends?
o Is it because it’s expected?
o In South Park (big time secular reference), Stan asks his dad if they have to go to church. Stan’s dad says they get to, not have to.
· Why are we helping those in need?
o Because God says so.
o Because we have compassion on someone. Feel for someone.
o Because it looks good.
o To be seen.
o James 1:27, Isaiah 1:10-20.
§ Help the fatherless and the widow.
§ This is true religion, a spiritual sacrifice to God with our whole heart that He accepts gladly.
§ He doesn’t want “crap.” He wants all of us to surrender to Him being our master. We aren’t puppets but are free to make choices but God wants us to choose Him.