(Maybe) I’ll catch a grenade for you…
THERE’S a Bruno Mars hit song with a chorus that says “I would catch a grenade for you”, which seems to be a commentary on the times we live in, and begs some questions. In the song the singer basically argues about being willing to “take a bullet through [his] brain” and die for his girl, but the problem is, she wouldn’t do the same for him. He makes the woman who’s the subject of his song out to be a very bad woman because she’s not poised to “step in front of a train” for him, as he’d gladly do for her. But why should she?
Why in the world would that be an issue for him? That song might seem absolutely ridiculous to a man born say, in the Middle Ages, or in Bible times. Moses, Daniel, Peter and John the Baptist might wonder what kind of a man would sing such a song. Men were always expected to be the protectors of their wives. Giving your all to protect your spouse is what men do, right? Well, it may be that times are changing, and men are no longer willing to lay it all down for their women. Maybe? It may be a very sad reality that some women must adjust to now. What might have contributed to a departure from the chivalry of old and the desire to protect at all costs? Is it the feminist movement that has killed the desire of men to be chivalrous? Is the alpha male no longer willing to nobly “take a bullet” for his beloved, because of the empowered woman? The song may be revealing a downward spiral in perception of romance and love.
However, before Peter Gene Hernandez, known professionally as Bruno Mars, wrote that song, the Bible presented husbands with the ideal of being mature enough to understand that husbands are called to be willing to die for their wives. It says, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for her.” Ephesians 5:25 (NIV). It explains that Jesus died for his bride, the collective body of believers. It explains that He laid down an example for husbands to follow — love your wife and be willing to die for her, if it comes to that. It’s a part of being a good husband, being willing to “catch a grenade” for her — to “stand in front a train” for her — to “take a bullet straight through” the brain for her. And not expect her to “do the same”. She’s not called of God to do that. She’s not expected to do that.
I have recently heard some men say they are shying away from chivalry, because women are seeking to do what men do, so they’re done with it. They say if women want to be the boss, then let them pull out the chair for themselves, and go into the dark room by themselves, and chase out the lizard for themselves. There seems to be a present sentiment that if women want equal rights with men, they must suffer equally the ills and harms of men. But Christian men are not permitted to take such a stance. The Bible maintains a call to role recognition, despite cultural changes. Some things are maintained as a responsibility of a husband, and protection of the wife is one such, whether the feminist thinks so or not. Whether the anti-feminist thinks so or not. The Bible says so.
So yes, men, especially godly men, should still be willing to “catch a grenade” for their wives. Despite the shifting times and the vicissitudes of life, the Bible directive remains the same. Love is sacrificial. There is a sacrificial call on a wife, too, which is unique to her, but the sacrificial call on a husband is to be willing to give his life. That remains unchanging.
Rev Christopher Brodber is a counsellor and minister of religion. E-mail him at chrisbrodber@yahoo.com.
