Selena Gomez, Communion, and Car Theology

Alternate Title: How my 8 year old won a theological debate with me in the car about a pop song.

Guys, this is what you call a fluff piece. But I just had to share. For the last few weeks, every time Selena Gomez’s new song “Come and Get It” comes on, my son tells me we should play it during communion at church. The first time he said this, I was entirely baffled and thought he might be talking to his Nintendo DS. But he said, “No Mom, listen: ‘when you’re ready come and get it.’ That’s what we say every week for communion. So we should play this song!”  I laughed, because that’s a sure sign of a pastor’s kid. He hears those words and thinks of communion instead of…well, anything else. And he’s right- we DO say that every week.

This has become a running commentary in the car. Every time the song is on (which is a lot), he reminds me that we really should consider playing this song at church. I usually just give it a laugh and move on, but he’s become more and more adamant about it as time has gone by.

Yesterday, the same scene played out, but this time, he insisted that I listen to the words. “Really, Mom, it’s a communion song.” Mostly to amuse him, we listened.

And WOULD YOU BELIEVE, the kid has a point.

I’ve made bold the words the kids argued were communion-friendly:

When you’re ready come and get it
Na na na (x3)

You ain’t gotta worry it’s an open invitation
I’ll be sittin’ right here real patient
All day all night I’ll be waitin’ standby
Can’t stop because I love it, hate the way I love you
All day all night maybe I’m addicted for life, no lie.
I’m not too shy to show I love you, I got no regrets.
I love you much too much to hide you, this love ain’t finished yet. This love ain’t finished yet…
So baby whenever you’re ready…

When you’re ready come and get it 
Na na na

You got the kind of love that I want, let me get that.
And baby once I get it I’m yours no take backs.
I’m gonna love you for life, I ain’t leaving your side
Even if you knock it ain’t no way to stop it
Forever you’re mine baby I’m addicted no lie, no lie
I’m not too shy to show I love you, I got no regrets.
So baby whenever you’re ready…..

When you’re ready come and get it 
Na na na 

This love will be the death of me, but I know I’ll die happily 

I’ll know I’ll know I’ll know

Because you love me so…

 

My favorite inversion is how the most annoying and feminist-smackdown-worthy line in the whole song (“this love will be the death of me, but I know I’ll die happily”) becomes the surprise of the gospel story rather than a declaration of some sadistic teen love wish.  It was at that point that I laughed out loud and told my son he won the argument.

Apparently Selena Gomez accidentally wrote a (partial) communion song, y’all. WHO KNEW.