An Open Letter To Katy Perry

Jesse Birkey's picture

You know, I always thought open letters were a little strange.  Do we really expect the intended recipient to read them?  What is the angle when they are written?  Is it a play for some kind of mass publicity?  I don’t know.  What I do know is that I recently watched a short video on the music industry.  The feature artist was Katy Perry.  My emotions were stirred and I feel led to share.  This is a significant departure from what I normally post so bear with me.

 

While this open letter is addressed to Katy Perry the intended audience is much larger.  Silly us if we feel like the issues one person might face is entirely specific to them.  So, with all of those questions looming, here is my open letter.

 

Dear Katy Perry,

 

First and foremost I’d like to tell you how grateful I am.  I love music.  The arts.  I really do.  And it’s clear you’ve been given a gift.  I think you’d agree that you’ve been blessed with a great voice and the passion to sing.  I’m grateful that you’re using that gift while far too many of us sit on the gifts and abilities we’ve been given, refusing to share them with the world.

 

I’m grateful that you dream big dreams.  Dreaming is something many of us don’t know how to do well.  We silently wish for an orchard but ask God for a single apple.  For whatever reason we’ve decided that our dreams are unattainable.  You’ve been able to push past that false notion and the opportunities that have opened up because of your courage have been incredible.  And it does take courage to do what you’re doing.  I’m sure you’ve been afraid many times over the course of your journey for one reason or another.  I’m grateful you’ve decided not to let fear keep you from what you love doing.

 

I’m grateful for the doors that have opened up to you.  Because you’ve dreamed big and had the courage to pursue those dreams, the influence you’ve attained has been amazing.  You have a platform from which to sow into the lives of many.  It’s an honor and a privilege.  While I can’t say all of your lyrics and showmanship are appropriate for my daughter, I’m grateful you and other’s like you reflect the artistic and creative nature of God in some ways that can inspire her.    

 

So, I’m grateful Katy Perry.  But there are also some things that I’m sorry for.  And some things that make me sad. 

 

I’m sorry for the way you’ve been treated by many in the evangelical community.  Christians. And the offenses probably didn’t start after you decided to pursue the secular market but before, during, and continuing after.  Historically we’ve (myself included) done a poor job of loving.  The greatest commandment, the whole of scripture and the gospel can be summed up in love and we’ve failed time and time again.

 

A good friend of mine said that everyone wants to be the watchmen on the wall charged with keeping the Christians safe from whatever evil has been deemed evil.  He said the wall is too crowded.  I’d add that we need most of them down on the street loving like Jesus.  Maybe all of them.

 

I’m sorry for the way you’ve been let down by those closest to you.  The ones you didn’t think ever would.  Unfortunately that’s just the world we live in.  We wound each other and it hurts.  The deepest wounds are the one from those closest to us and I’m sorry for any wounds you’ve experienced over the course of your life.

 

I’m sorry for what happened with your marriage.  I know nothing about your situation.  But I do know from experience that marital pain is some of the most traumatic pain we can experience. 

 

One of the most tragic things that happens from life experience is that we misunderstand God.  I’m still discovering how the true nature of God is different than what my own life experience told me it was.  I experienced the world and it colored my image of God.  I think you’re in the same boat. To what extent I’m not sure.  But I’m convinced people run from God because they’ve misunderstood who he is.

 

You see, we were not meant to understand God through the lens of people and their actions, church, world events, Old Testament scripture, and personal experience.  We were meant to understand God through the lens of Jesus.  What we believe about God must be in line with Jesus.  If it’s not then we should let it go.  My life changed when I looked at Jesus to tell me who God is and I think it could for you as well.  Love is not an ideal.  It’s not an abstract idea or theory or feeling.  It’s a person.  It’s Jesus.  And God is love. 

 

So, I’m sorry for the ways you’ve misunderstood who God is just like the rest of us.  And I’m sorry you’ve felt like you had to do life without him because of it.  That in order to be who you wanted to be, to have the success you wanted meant leaving him behind. 

 

I’m grieved for the emptiness you’ve experienced as a result.  I don’t know you but I know that a life without Jesus is one desperate for distractions.  Something to take away the hollow feeling, the depression.  I’ve felt it like so many others.  Instead of living we live only for those distractions.  It’s exhausting.          

 

A God that looks like Jesus is one that wants us to be successful with the gifts and abilities he’s given us.  He smiles at the sound of your voice and desperately wanted to work with you to make you successful.  That’s what love does, elevates others.  It may not have looked like what you thought success should be but you could’ve had (and still can have) success and abundant life instead of success and emptiness.

 

And that leads me into what I hope for you and others like you.  To illustrate I’ll share a vision/picture to Lord gave me while spending time with him before writing this letter. 

 

He showed me a field of flowers.  The colors were a marvelous variety but dull.  The petals drooped towards the ground.  The Lord looked at me and said, “Just one breath from my mouth and all of these petals will reach up towards the sky.”  He smiled.  “More specifically, they will reach up to me.” 

 

He looked down at a flower with a fond expression on his face.  “Just one touch and what’s been crushed becomes something full and bursting with life.  Eye’s focused on the ground suddenly lift to the heavens.  Despair transforms into hope.”  He looked at me again.  There was sorrow in his eyes.  “And here I stand.  Day after day, year after year asking every single one if I can breath on the, if I can touch them.  But they must decide to let me touch them, to change them, to lift their heads.”  He smiles.  “They are still such a pleasing aroma to me even in this state.” 

 

He bends to a knee and touches one of the flowers.  “Ah, here is one crying out for me.”  There are tears on his cheeks as he delicately handles the flower.  It instantly straightens and blooms into something brand new.  The fragrance fills the field.  Jesus looks at me with a wide grin, his cheeks still wet.  “This is what I see and what I hope for.”  He motions towards the flower that just came alive.  “This is what makes my heart rejoice.  I will leave fields full of blossoming and thriving flowers to find the one that is lost and waiting for my touch.  This is what I came for.”

 

Katy Perry, my hope and prayer is that you come to understand by experience the great and mighty love of God.  That the eyes of your heart will be flooded with light and that you will receive full and intimate revelation of the heart and love of the Father.

 

Blessings,

 

Jesse and Kara Birkey 

www.jessebirkey.com

[email protected]

twitter.com/JesseBirkey

http://www.facebook.com/jesse.birkey

http://www.amazon.com/author/jessebirkey

 

Jesse and Kara Birkey are committed lovers of Jesus who seek to show others the extraordinary life of Jesus is available for everyone.  They have authored two books, been featured in films and seek to serve the Lord in whatever ways they can.  Follow their blog here.    

 

Bring Jesse and Kara to your venue.  Find more information here.

 

Get a sneak preview of Jesse’s upcoming fiction, Finding Home.

 

Life Resurrected, Extraordinary Miracles through Ordinary People has been endorsed by Sid Roth and Mark Virkler and is a collection of inspiring stories making it clear that the extraordinary life of Jesus is available to all who love Him.  It’s also the testimony of Jesse’s life, the road he travelled bringing him into the arms of Jesus. Get the paperback here.  Get the Kindle Version Here. View the trailer here.    

 

Marriage What’s the Point? One couple finds meaning in a crazy mess is the story of their marriage—The tragedy and the restoration.  They bear their hearts in an attempt to get others to bear theirs and finally receive the freedom they’ve longed for.  Get the paperback here.  Get the Kindle Version Here.

 

Jesse is also featured in the film DeadRaiser, a movie shining the spotlight on resurrection testimonies across the nation.  Find more information here.

     

 

Add new comment

Add new comment

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Results

Results 1 - 10 of 479

Pages

4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice

4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 305 Pages | Retail: $16.99

Have you ever wished you could just sit down and have a long talk with the Lord? Wouldn't it be wonderful to move beyond having a theology that states that God loves you to actually hearing Him whisper words of love into your heart? When you're worried or confused, wouldn't you love to see the situation from His perspective and hear how He wants you to respond?


Price: $14.95

Dialogue with God

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 296 Pages

This top seller for 30 years from Bridge Logos provides a narrative, right-brain presentation of the principles of how to hear God's voice. Especially enjoyable for personal use, it makes a great gift for introducing a loved one to the voice of God. This book teaches the four keys to hearing God's voice in readable style, and also devotes two entire chapters to moving samples of people's journaling (i.e. their two-way dialogue with God).

Price: $17.95
Hear God's Voice Guaranteed Package

Hear God's Voice Guaranteed Package

9 Books | 10 CDs | 10 DVDs | Save Over 20%

Have you ever wished you could just sit down and have a long talk with the Lord? Wouldn't it be wonderful to move beyond having a theology that states that God loves you to actually hearing Him whisper words of love into your heart? When you're worried or confused, wouldn't you love to see the situation from His perspective and hear how He wants you to respond? When things don't seem to be going your way and your prayers aren't answered the way you had hoped, wouldn't it be great to hear Him tell you where He is in the midst of it, and what He is working out in your life? Are you ever just a little bit jealous of others who say with such confidence, "The Lord said...."?

Price: $175.00

How to Hear God's Voice

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 317 Pages

We recommend that you order the newest revision of this book titled 4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice. It includes 95% of the content of How to Hear God's Voice but is reorganized so it fits perfectly with the 10 DVDs on this subject by Mark Virkler. In addition, it gets you started using the four keys earlier in the book and gives you more journaling samples and exercises. Since we have removed the large margins, it is a smaller and less expensive book.

Price: $24.95

Prayers That Heal the Heart - Revised & Expanded 20th Anniversary Edition

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 320 Pages

Prayer counseling that breaks every yoke! Everything you need to experience deep healing of your soul and spirit.

Did you know that you don’t need to be continually plagued by negative thoughts, feelings, pictures or memories?

It is not part of the "human condition" to feel the constant nagging of doubt, insecurity, or anger. No matter what sin you are trying to overcome, what lie you think you’ll always believe, or what traumas your heart has suffered in the past, you will receive total freedom and restoration by praying these prayers in faith. 

Price: $19.95

Twelve Weeks to Spiritual Mastery - Group Coaching

A group coaching experience with Mark Virkler

Because I could not find a Spirit-anointed teacher/coach, I spent ten extremely frustrating years seeking to hear God’s voice!!! Suggestions offered did not help me, things like: “You just know that you know. It is a still small voice. He speaks from your heart.” No one could give me the answer I needed which was: Hearing God’s voice is as simple as quieting yourself down, fixing your eyes on Jesus, recognizing His voice as spontaneous, flowing thoughts and writing down His flow as it is coming. Test what you have written after the flow is done, NOT while it is occurring.

Price: $1,200.00

Counseled by God

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 146 Pages

Have you ever been defeated by negative emotions such as anger, fear, guilt, inferiority, condemnation or depression? Have you tried to fight them off unsuccessfully? Is there an answer that is deeper than simply trying to mentally reason yourself out of these emotions? Is there a way that Jesus can speak a word of life into the depths of your emotional despair and bring healing on a deep level? Is there a form of Christian counseling that begins and ends with the movement of Christ within your heart, rather than simply with the words of man?

Price: $10.95
Hear God Through Your Dreams Workbook Cover

Hear God Through Your Dreams Workbook

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 92 Pages

A newer book has been released that accompanies this workbook: Click here for Hearing God Through Your Dreams by Charity Kayembe and Mark Virkler (featured on Sid Roth's "It's Supernatural", with almost a million views just on YouTube).


Do you often wake up feeling there was a significant message in your dream, but you’re just not sure what it is? Like Daniel and Joseph, do you long to be able to help others understand their own dreams and win them to Christ as you explain His night messages to them? Wouldn't it be nice if you could receive mid-course corrections from the Lord while you sleep? Do you wish you could be receiving divine inspiration, creative solutions to problems, and direction from the Lord during that third of your life that you’re “just” sleeping?

Price: $11.95

Hearing God Through Your Dreams

by Mark Virkler and Charity Virkler Kayembe | 292 Pages

Learn How to Hear God’s Voice, Even When You Are Sleeping

It is always fun to be on the winning team. Well look what God has done with Charity's new dreams teaching. It has taken off like a rocket with a live TV interview on Cornerstone Network and her Sid Roth interview which has almost a million views on YouTube!

Price: $16.99

Everyday Angels

by Charity Virkler Kayembe and Joe Brock 289 Pages

You can partner with Heaven’s angelic hosts!

Do you have guardian angels? Does God want you to know them? Find out what Scripture reveals and how YOU can interact with the company of Heaven!

The supernatural realm permeates our natural world! Therefore, experiencing angels should be an everyday occurrence–we simply need to open our spiritual eyes to their reality and role in our lives.

Price: $16.99

Pages