f course, I realize that since I have tattoos, some people tend to make certain assertions about what they assume my interests are...especially when it comes to music. More often than not, the assumptions are that I like rock 'n' roll. I couldn't even begin to count how many times I have been told I should check out a specific Church because they have a really "rockin'" band. For the record, I prefer the old hymns, and in all actuality I loathe the trendy "worship" bands that some Churches have, not only for their lack of good God centered, theologically accurate lyrics, but for their over the top cheesiness.
Before being called to Christ, one of my favorite types of music was Hardcore, which is sometimes confused with Heavy Metal, although there are huge differences between the two even though some bands have blurred the lines. In recent years, the amount of "Christian" Metal and Hardcore bands has grown substantially, with quite a few record labels devoted solely to it, bringing debates on whether Christian Metal and Hardcore is actually Christian at all.
Shortly after being called to Christ, I transitioned from secular Hardcore to Christian Hardcore, and often defended the style of music as legitimately Christian. I often heard the arguments that Hardcore sounds "demon possessed" because of the deep growling lyrics, to which I usually laughed, because who has ever really heard a demon? I highly doubt the demon possessed girl who proceeded Paul, calling
out, "These men are slaves of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!", said such things in a voice that resembled the Cookie Monster. The loud aggressive style Hardcore encompasses was seen by some as angry, whereas I saw it as passionate. I never thought the Church should promote Hardcore bands, and never desired to attend a Church that played such music, but I did enjoy listening to it otherwise.
I noticed that as I grew in a true knowledge of Christ Jesus, I started to rethink some things and began to examine others. I was bothered by the fact that many Hardcore bands never said Jesus, Christ, or God. Instead they would only say Him...if that, more often than not, they spoke so broadly, vaguely and figuratively that only a very active imagination could find anything remotely involving anything Christian. The more I became familiar with the Scriptures, the more I realized how much they were missing from the lyrics in Hardcore music. Instead of the deep theological lyrics found in the old hymns, I saw songs centered on the Christian experience that had more to do with man and nothing at all to do with the glorification of God.
The final straw that broke the camels back for me was the day I contacted one of the most well known Christian hardcore bands. They were one of the few that actually had some theologically accurate lyrics and lyrics that dared mention Christ. The band is called "No Innocent Victim." The thing that bothered me about them is that they often toured with a band called "Hatebreed" which had some very openly anti-Christian lyrics. Not only that but the lead singer of "Hatebreed" is close friends with a famous pornographer. "No Innocent Victim" flaunted their friendship with "Hatebreed," even displaying them on their "top friends list" on Myspace.com
After stewing about this for a few days, I prayerfully decided to email "No Innocent Victim" along with a few other Hardcore bands (some were not Christian), sharing various Scriptures with them and pleading with them to at the very least withdraw "Hatebreed" from their "top friends list" so that a young, easily impressionable child would not be introduced to a pornographer via a Christian band.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE." Therefore, "COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty.
I prefaced the letter with a plea for them not to think I was trying to come across as some elitist, but that I was worried about the message they were sending to young Christians by befriending a band with such venomously anti-Christian lyrics along with a band that was such good friends with a known and famous pornographer.
What was "No Innocent Victim's" response?
They called me a Pharisee. They said that we do not live by the letter of the Law, but by grace, thus alleviating them of obeying any Scripture. They claim that I twisted the above Scripture and I was attempting to dictate to them to live a life of a separatist, and that my close minded attitude is what is wrong with Christianity. The worst part about the response of this so-called Christian band, was that I received three letters back from Non-Christian bands who not only admitted that linking "Hatebreed" to their Myspace was careless because of "Hatebreed's" association with pornography but removed "Hatebreed" from their friends list all together. As for the other so-called Christian bands I emailed...no response.
That is the day I abandoned Hardcore music, for these so-called Christian bands abandoned the Word of God.
Before being called to Christ, one of my favorite types of music was Hardcore, which is sometimes confused with Heavy Metal, although there are huge differences between the two even though some bands have blurred the lines. In recent years, the amount of "Christian" Metal and Hardcore bands has grown substantially, with quite a few record labels devoted solely to it, bringing debates on whether Christian Metal and Hardcore is actually Christian at all.
Shortly after being called to Christ, I transitioned from secular Hardcore to Christian Hardcore, and often defended the style of music as legitimately Christian. I often heard the arguments that Hardcore sounds "demon possessed" because of the deep growling lyrics, to which I usually laughed, because who has ever really heard a demon? I highly doubt the demon possessed girl who proceeded Paul, calling
out, "These men are slaves of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!", said such things in a voice that resembled the Cookie Monster. The loud aggressive style Hardcore encompasses was seen by some as angry, whereas I saw it as passionate. I never thought the Church should promote Hardcore bands, and never desired to attend a Church that played such music, but I did enjoy listening to it otherwise.
I noticed that as I grew in a true knowledge of Christ Jesus, I started to rethink some things and began to examine others. I was bothered by the fact that many Hardcore bands never said Jesus, Christ, or God. Instead they would only say Him...if that, more often than not, they spoke so broadly, vaguely and figuratively that only a very active imagination could find anything remotely involving anything Christian. The more I became familiar with the Scriptures, the more I realized how much they were missing from the lyrics in Hardcore music. Instead of the deep theological lyrics found in the old hymns, I saw songs centered on the Christian experience that had more to do with man and nothing at all to do with the glorification of God.
The final straw that broke the camels back for me was the day I contacted one of the most well known Christian hardcore bands. They were one of the few that actually had some theologically accurate lyrics and lyrics that dared mention Christ. The band is called "No Innocent Victim." The thing that bothered me about them is that they often toured with a band called "Hatebreed" which had some very openly anti-Christian lyrics. Not only that but the lead singer of "Hatebreed" is close friends with a famous pornographer. "No Innocent Victim" flaunted their friendship with "Hatebreed," even displaying them on their "top friends list" on Myspace.com
After stewing about this for a few days, I prayerfully decided to email "No Innocent Victim" along with a few other Hardcore bands (some were not Christian), sharing various Scriptures with them and pleading with them to at the very least withdraw "Hatebreed" from their "top friends list" so that a young, easily impressionable child would not be introduced to a pornographer via a Christian band.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE." Therefore, "COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty.
I prefaced the letter with a plea for them not to think I was trying to come across as some elitist, but that I was worried about the message they were sending to young Christians by befriending a band with such venomously anti-Christian lyrics along with a band that was such good friends with a known and famous pornographer.
What was "No Innocent Victim's" response?
They called me a Pharisee. They said that we do not live by the letter of the Law, but by grace, thus alleviating them of obeying any Scripture. They claim that I twisted the above Scripture and I was attempting to dictate to them to live a life of a separatist, and that my close minded attitude is what is wrong with Christianity. The worst part about the response of this so-called Christian band, was that I received three letters back from Non-Christian bands who not only admitted that linking "Hatebreed" to their Myspace was careless because of "Hatebreed's" association with pornography but removed "Hatebreed" from their friends list all together. As for the other so-called Christian bands I emailed...no response.
That is the day I abandoned Hardcore music, for these so-called Christian bands abandoned the Word of God.
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