Jesus Take the Wheel (Carrie Underwood) and All to You (Lincoln Brewster)
Carrie's song, "Jesus Take the Wheel," has taken this nation by storm. Whether it is Christian or not, however, it demonstrates a truly un-Christian theology. The song demonstrates a dependency on Jesus to take over life after we have been reckless, wishing for Jesus to take over our problems and our mess. This is what I call Jesus-Fix-It theology.
Jesus-Fix-It theology asks for Jesus to take the wheel and take control of the car of life. However, Christ is only called upon in time of dire need. People who buy into Jesus-Fix-It theology only are acquainted with Christ seemingly when they need His help in some sort of predicament. They are otherwise unaware that Jesus is there with them every step of the day, and they have no actual relationship with Christ apart from their perilous times. This theology adopts the idea that Jesus is an all around problem-solver and fix-it man, able to help with any problem that you get yourself into. This is the prominent theme in Carrie's song.
Verse 1:
She was driving last Friday on her way to Cincinnati
On a snow white Christmas Eve
Going home to see her Mama and her Daddy with the baby in the backseat
Fifty miles to go and she was running low on faith and gasoline
It would been a long hard year
She had a lot on her mind and she didn't pay attention
She was going way to fast
Before she knew it she was spinning on a thin black sheet of glass
She saw both their lives flash before her eyes
She didn't even have time to cry
She was sooo scared
She threw her hands up in the air
Already, the song notes the low-faith status of the person who is driving the car. She was speeding, with a baby in the car, in ill-weathered conditions in which she loses control of the vehicle. All she could do was cry out to Jesus and say, "Jesus, take the wheel."
Chorus:
Jesus take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cause I can't do this all on my own
I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
To save me from this road I'm on
Jesus take the wheel
Verse 1 ends with the phrase, "She threw her hands up in the air," thus trying into the first line of the chorus, "Jesus take the wheel." The woman takes her hands off the wheel in desperation, seeking for Christ to fix the problem, take take control in her peril. She seeks desperately for Christ to take the control of the car from her hands because she can't seem to do it on her own, so she simply lets go. She wants to be saved from the road she is on, and she wants it to be done by having Jesus take the wheel.
Verse 2:
It was still getting colder when she made it to the shoulder
And the car came to a stop
She cried when she saw that baby in the backseat sleeping like a rock
And for the first time in a long time
She bowed her head to pray
She said I'm sorry for the way
I've been living my life
I know I've got to change
So from now on tonight
After the car had stopped spinning and laid to rest on the side of the road, the woman, realizing that she almost lost her life, and more importantly her baby's, prayed. She prayed with a repentant heart and cried out that she had to change. As a result, she was going to seek for Jesus to take the wheel.
Now the woman seeks for Jesus to take the wheel of her life. She knows her life is pretty much a disaster, and all she wants is for Jesus to take control and fix it. He is the solution to all her problems, or so she thinks, and if she can just get him to take the wheel and take control, then all her problems will go away, if only Jesus would take the wheel.
You see, the problem with this theology--Jesus-Fix-It theology--is that it only seeks Christ in terms of problem-solving. This is a common thought of those who have bought into it: "If I let Christ take control of my life all my problems will go away." However, this is not what Christ is. He came to not take all your problems away but to provide a way for you to come into communion with God. More importantly, Jesus doesn't want to take the wheel; he doesn't want control of your life. He wants you to be in control as he guides the way for you. You have choices to make in life that Christ can't make for you. He can only show you the way and it is up for you to follow him in that direction. He guides you and leaves it up to you to follow.
Yet, there is a song by Lincoln Brewster, All to You, which has a different theology, one that stands in stark contrast to the Jesus-Fix-It theology in Carrie's song. In it we find that life isn't about seeking a God who will cure all our problems but about devoting one's life to Christ. This is what I call Living-For-Jesus theology.
Living-For-Jesus theology is all about giving to God. It is not about seeking what God can do for the believer. It takes into consideration that God called the believer and the amazing fact that the God of the universe knows the believer's name. This believer makes a decision, not for Jesus to take control of the life-vehicle, but to devote everything--every action, every breath, every deed--to Christ. This devotion carries out into all aspects of the believers life, in both the good and the bad. This is the prominent theme of All to You.
Verse 1:
You called me Lord
You know my name
I'm standing now
I'm not ashamed
Living-For-Jesus theology understands and affirms the Lord's calling in one's life. It acknowledges that the Lord is in a relationship with the believer, which is indicated by the simple fact that the infinite Lord knows the finite creature's name. The believer stands before God unashamed.
Bridge:
I've searched and came up empty
This world has nothing for me
You are my One and only
Living-For-Jesus theology testifies that there is no one else who can satisfy the believer. There is nothing else in the world that can even compare to the Lord. The believer is completely and utterly devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ alone.
Chorus:
I'm living my life for You
I'm giving everything to You
Not holding back but every part
I'm giving it all to You
The believer who buys lives out Living-For-Jesus theology devotes everything to Him. He devotes his entire life to Christ and everything that he does to Him. He does not hold anything for himself but gives everything to God and for His glory. Everything, absolutely everything goes to God. This is what it means to live for Jesus, and this is what Living-For-Jesus theology is all about.
Verse 2:
You are the Lord of all I am
I'll never be the same again
Living-For-Jesus theology recognizes the fact that the Lord of the universe is Lord over every aspect of the life of the believer. So much so that it affects every part of the believer to the point that he simply cannot be the same ever again after having come into contact or experience with the Lord. So, he can't help but devote his entire being to Him. He lives for Jesus. Everything he does is a gift in honor of God. He doesn't hold anything back, but does everything and gives everything to and for Christ.
Living-For-Jesus theology is far different from Jesus-Fix-It theology. The latter is quite immature and incomplete, while the former is abounding in full devotion to Christ--the mark of true perfection of those who are in Christ. These two theologies are quite incompatible. Indeed, these two songs seemingly go in opposite directions.
- Jesus Take the Wheel takes the Jesus-Fix-It route, whereas All to You takes the Living-For-Jesus path
- Jesus-Fix-It believers only commune with Jesus in times of trial and tribulation, Living-For-Jesus believers are constantly in communion with Christ, through the good and the bad
- Jesus-Fix-It believers deny free will; Living-For-Jesus affirms free will
- Jesus-Fix-It theology sees Christ only as a cure-all who is worthy of seeking in times of plight; Living-For-Jesus sees Christ as an incomparable and life-changing Savior who is worthy of dedicating one's life to
- Jesus-Fix-It theology does not recognize the Lord as Sovereign, whereas Living-For-Jesus theology affirms it intimately
There really is no comparison. Jesus-Fix-It theology does not belong in the believer's theological tool-box. A true believer will seek to live out Living-For-Jesus theology in every way--demonstrating the free will to choose to follow Christ as he guides the pathway of life, to be in constant communion with God who passionately in an on-going relationship, to recognize the sovereignty of the Lord, and to dedicate every single little and major thing to Him who is worthy. Christ is not a cure-all and he is not about to take the wheel. He is not going to solve all your problems, but he will be there to help you through them. Dont' buy into Jesus-Fix-It theology; grow up and mature, get off the bottle and start eating some real hardy meat by upholding and affirming Living-For-Jesus theology. Live your life for Christ and let him guide you. Make the choice this day to serve Him with all that you are and with all that you have, remembering that nothing else compares to the sovereign Lord of the universe who knows you by your name. Give it all to Christ, the only one deserving of it, and devote yourself to him.
