Counting The Cost

Random thoughts on walking with Jesus in this turvy-topsy world

Got Heroes?

NBC’s ‘Heroes’ Far From Super

 

Written by Joy Robbins

 

 

            I have always been a sucker for superheroes – ever since I first saw Batman swoop across the Gotham skyline to nab the bad guys. Heroes represent the best part of our nature, and they make for great television. At least that’s what I was hoping for when I tuned in Monday night to watch NBC’s new series ‘Heroes’. Despite a great premise, good acting, and an intriguing storyline, the premiere episode left me feeling very disappointed. I had a hard time figuring out what ‘Heroes’ was missing, but I think I have put my finger on why NBC’s foray into the superhero genre never quite leaves the ground.

 

 

            ‘Heroes’ follows the lives of ordinary people who discover they possess extraordinary abilities. Some of these heroes include a cheerleader who is indestructible, an office drone who can bend the time-space continuum, an artist who can picture the future, and a man who believes he can fly. The idea for the show is definitely a winner. We all harbor a secret fantasy that one day, as we are going about our ordinary, hum-drum lives, we will somehow discover that we possess some exceptional gift that sets us far above the norm. We all want a chance to be a hero. I think that ‘Heroes’ plays to that deep-rooted desire within all of us, and I will be surprised if it doesn’t do very well with audiences.

 

 

            So, what is my beef with the show? The acting? The writing? The dialogue? Nope. I didn’t have a problem with anything the show contained – only with what it DIDN’T contain. The writers of ‘Heroes’ are content to leave explanations for the heroes’ super-abilities to the purely physical. For example, one of the main characters, Mohinder Suresh, attempts to explain the heroes’ paranormal experiences to another character. He explains that in each species, one creature is born more special than others – so that their unique DNA coding can propel their species to another evolutionary level. Ummmm…okay. It was explanations and philosophical statements such as these that left me with a dissatisfied feeling long after the show ended. Who wants to find out that they possess an extraordinary gift – only to be told that it has nothing to do with them, it could have happened to anyone, and they are merely the “winners” of an evolutionary lottery? No thanks.

 

 

            In the end, ‘Heroes’ left me blue because there was so much that it could have said – and didn’t. For instance, each one of us DOES have an extraordinary gift. Every member of the human race has the chance to have personal contact with the Creator of the whole universe, through His Son, Jesus Christ. We can, if we so choose, reach out and touch the Divine. I’ll take that over a tingling spider-sense any day! We are also each unique, but not because of some evolutionary sweepstakes we have no control over. The truth is that our Creator God carefully, intimately crafted each one of us from before the beginning of the universe. He twirled together our DNA with a specific plan and purpose in mind for each of us.

 

 

Most importantly of all, the Lord sent the ultimate Superhero, Jesus Christ, to our earth. He didn’t come to leap tall building with a single bound or run faster than a speeding bullet. No, our heroic Savior came to Earth to live, die, and rise again for our salvation. He came so that we would know how special, unique, and precious we are to the One who made us. His emblem is the Cross, where two thousand years ago He gave His life to save us from our sins. When we accept His salvation, we leave our ordinary, hum-drum lives behind and soar far above anything we could possibly imagine.  That, my friends, is a story worth telling.

 

posted by: Jrobbins at 12:39 | link | comments (2) |
heroes review

Metal in the Mainstream, Part 5

Lights in a Loud Place

Written by Adam R. Holz

 

From Plugged In Online

 

 

Metal in the Mainstream (Part 5 of 6)
Plugged In Online's in-depth series on heavy metal music examines its history, subgenres, performers, fans, messages and influence on us all.

 

 

Here's a 72-point headline: Not everything in the metal world is uniformly dreary and depressing. Those messages are definitely in the majority, but a few bands do swim upstream against the prevailing current. They offer songs that encourage perseverance and hope instead of despair and nihilism—even if their music itself is every bit as hard.

 

 

Christian Metal Meshes With the Mainstream
Once upon a time, contemporary Christian music existed in a wholly separate, parallel universe that rarely intersected with the rest of the world. This was especially true for Christian metal, which arose as an alternative to secular material in the 1980s. When I began substituting Christian bands for secular ones late in that decade, artists such as Whitecross, X-Sinner, Bride and Shout enjoyed a wide following among Christian believers but were virtually unknown outside that scene.

 

 

Twenty years later, there are arguably more Christian metal bands vying for fans' attention than ever before. Unlike in the '80s, however, these bands are often on mainstream labels, tour with their secular counterparts and enjoy radio airplay on secular rock stations. Case in point: The hardcore band Underoath recently debuted at No. 2 on Billboard's album chart—an unprecedented feat for a Christian band. Others, such as P.O.D., Still Remains and As I Lay Dying, have also generated a fiercely loyal fan base that transcends the old Christian/secular divide.

 

 

Underoath's Define the Great Line exemplifies the paradoxical tension between brokenness and faith that's common in Christian hardcore. The perennial metal themes of alienation and isolation are definitely present. But they're intersected by songs that also include moments of hope and confession. A self-reliant man, for example, realizes his need for God on "Moving for the Sake of Motion" ("I don't think I can fix this/... But that's the problem/We never speak to Him"). "You're Ever So Inviting" rejects self-deception ("There's no room for cheating and being yourself") and echoes Psalm 34:8 ("Taste and see/I swear I know what's good").

 

 

Underoath's frontman, Spencer Chamberlain, recently talked about how personal struggles inform this tension between light and dark in the band's songs. "A lot of [our latest album] is about my struggle as a human with drug problems and emotional problems and fighting yourself and figuring out, really, how you're going to change," he told Alternative Press magazine. "But many people will be bummed out because I've been struggling with drug problems on-and-off since I can remember, even recently—really recently. I don't believe in lying to people. Being honest, at least I know I could help somebody. As dark and twisted as the songs are, they have that element of hope in their heart, that there was a God, and the only way for me to get out was to hold onto His hand. A lot of people may feel that they've done too much, or it's too late, but that's never the case."

 

 

Despite not being "restricted" by the same CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) boundaries his metal ancestors were, Chamberlain doesn't seem to want to dismiss his failures. He wants to make things right for himself and for his fans. Bandmate Tim McTague agrees that "when you're in a position like this, you need to set an example, and it needs to be good." You won't hear the likes of Slayer saying that.

 

 

Secular Metal Swerves Off the Beaten Path
Not every band with positive things to say can be classified Christian, of course. One that rejects despair and fatalism goes by the ominous name Killswitch Engage. Given such a moniker, I thought this influential metalcore quintet from Westfield, Mass., would be morbidly focused on death. On the contrary, Killswitch's latest offering, The End of the Heartache, is saturated with obvious spiritual allusions.

 

 

For example, "A Bid Farewell" exhorts, "Turn from deceit, the love of self is death." Similarly, "Take This Oath" instructs listeners to let go of self-destructive ways and try for transcendence: "Let us forsake ... all the things that lead to our demise/Open your eyes, see the divine." And in a genre so short on hope, the song "Hope Is ..." offers a rallying cry to hold on: "Hope is not lost/Weep no more, we will prevail/Grieve no more, we will prevail/This is our moment/Will you stand with me?"

 

 

This album simply was not what I was expecting. A bit more research revealed that three of the five band members grew up in Christian homes—thus the Scripture-influenced themes on this album are no accident. Guitarist Joel Stroetzel said in a 2004 interview, "I myself, Adam and Howard were brought up Christian but [were] never really heavily religious or anything like that. I mean, [we] definitely don't try to be blatantly like a Christian band or spread that kind of message. But I think it's pretty obvious if you read into the lyrics that there's some of that stuff going on [and] coming from that kind of background."

 

 

A Not-So-Morbid Mr. Mustaine
Megadeth is another group I never expected to see on the positive side of the metal ledger. But in the last several years, the Megadeth story has taken some surprising turns.

 

 

Late 2003 saw the release of The System Has Failed, the 10th album from Megadeth—the iconic thrash band fronted by the incendiary singer and guitarist Dave Mustaine. And it introduced the world to several recent plot twists that have made Mustaine's already-interesting story even more dramatic. At rehab in January 2002, Mustaine fell asleep in a chair and suffered a nerve injury in his left arm. Doctors gave him little hope that he'd ever play guitar again. Mustaine responded by announcing the death of Megadeth.

 

 

Then Mustaine found Jesus. And after a year of therapy, he relearned guitar and roared into the studio again. Though still a little rough around the edges (his language is still peppered with occasional profanity, for example), the guitarist has not been shy about the role his newfound faith plays in his life. He told one guitar magazine that God had to touch that which was most important to him—his guitar-playing—to get his attention. He's also talked freely about how his faith is changing his priorities and motivating him to be a better husband and father.

 

 

One of the most personal and theological songs on The System Has Failed (which debuted at No. 18) is "My Kingdom," which lays out the singer's testimony, of sorts. The first two verses describe Mustaine's changed allegiance: "The flag I once planted as a King, I abandoned/And now I reclaim this banner by God, my sword, and my name/... Drink from the chalice and be reborn/And the land with me, it will change and transform."

 

 

Further verses poetically detail spiritual truths Mustaine has learned the hard way: "No man who is false can win in combat against the truth/When he lies, he murders some part of the world/We must find what was lost/… I never knew how empty my soul was until it was refilled." The song finishes with Mustaine relishing redemption as he sings, "I have lived through others for far too long/And carried my guilt, my causes, my sins/I hope in the hereafter when I owe no more to the future/That I can just be a man."

 

 

Piercing the Darkness
The presence of bands such as Underoath, Killswitch Engage and the reborn Megadeth means ¬faith, hope, love and truth now compete with nihilism on the heavy metal stage. But it's important to note that competing doesn't equal winning. At best, these exceptions to the generally despairing thematic trend in metal represent flashes of light in a very dark (loud) place.

 

 

And even while gravitating toward the plusses of bands coming from Christian perspectives (or at least positive ones), it's important to stay engaged critically with their lyrics and to pay attention to the worldview they communicate. (Not everything in Megadeth's newest CD can be classified as good news.) Some bands' convictions change from album to album, others between tracks one and three. And thankfully, some hold firm.

 

 

Next week we'll explore a case study in discernment as we look carefully at the new album from Stone Sour, a rising metal band fronted by Slipknot's frontman, Corey Taylor.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

In the September issue of Plugged In magazine, subscribers will find our article "Christian Metal: Why parents and teens remain divided over hardcore music."

 

posted by: Jrobbins at 13:20 | link | comments |
metal in the mainstream part 5

The Privilege (and Right) To Pray

 

'See You At The Pole' on Wednesday

 

By Allie Martin

September 26, 2006

 

 

(AgapePress) - A law firm that protects the constitutional rights of Christians says public school officials nationwide should be aware that students have a constitutional right to pray during "See You At The Pole" observances on Wednesday.

 

 

Tomorrow (Sept. 27) millions of students will gather around their school flagpoles for SYATP rallies. The students will pray for their schools, fellow classmates, teachers, the nation, and the world. The now annual observance began in 1990 when a group of high school students in Burleson, Texas, gathered spontaneously around their school flagpole to pray for their classmates who did not have a relationship with Jesus Christ.

 

 

Students around the country have typically met with resistance from school officials who are not educated about constitutional rights. Anita Staver is president of Liberty Counsel, a firm that has defended many of those students -- and encourages others who encounter resistance to contact the firm immediately. She explains that students do not lose their religious freedoms when they step onto school grounds.

 

 

"The students certainly have the constitutional right to gather around their flagpoles and pray together, and we just encourage the students to do this," says Staver, who emphasizes the observance is neither parent- nor teacher-led. "Certainly teachers and parents can go in other places and gather together and pray, but this is specifically a student-initiated, student-led event -- and we think it's wonderful that the students will be gathering together and revival can break out across the land led by these youth," she says.

 

 

The rallies, which annually number in the thousands and typically occur early in the day, before classes begin, fall well within constitutional guidelines, adds Staver. And that, she stresses, is something school administrators need to know.

 

 

"There is a lot of ignorance [regarding students' religious rights], especially on behalf of school officials," she says. "And sometimes the school officials have to take affirmative action in order to educate themselves about the students' First Amendment rights, rather than just acting out of bias or ignorance."

 

 

The U.S. Department of Education's "Guidelines on Religious Expression in Public Schools" states that students have a right to take part in SYATP as a protected act of religious expression.

 

 

The theme for this year's "See You At The Pole" observance is "Be Still. Know God." The event's official website (http://www.syatp.org) encourages students to submit online reports about what happened at their school.

 

 

Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.

posted by: Jrobbins at 12:15 | link | comments |
see you at the pole 2006

30 Days of Prayer

     Last Saturday, Muslims around the world began the Islamic month of Ramadan, a time when Muslims fast during the day and spend time together to worship and contemplate.    Ramadan is an important time for the Islamic community, and it is also a great time for Christians to come together and pray for their Muslim friends and neighbors.     Christians can pray anytime, of course, since salvation in Jesus Christ gives us the ability to have a personal, moment-by-moment relationship with God our Father.      Prayer is one of our greatest blessings and the primary way our Lord has given us to impact our world for Him.      It is SO exciting to hear the amazing things God is doing in the Islamic world to bring Muslims to the Savior, Jesus Christ!      The next 30 days can be a great time to focus our prayers more specifically that Muslims, who are earnestly trying to seek God during this time, would be able to find Him through His Son Jesus.      There are so many great resouces for Christians who want to take up this challenge to pray and witness during Ramadan, and I have linked them below and also added them to my links on the left for the next month.        If you are a Christian who would like to take on the challenge of 30 days of prayer, please feel free to leave a comment on this post - I am always so encouraged to know when other Christians are joining with me to pray!!    --Joy

 

Why Should Christians Pray During Ramadan?      Click HERE.

The Christian Prayer Guide to Ramadan Blog:         Click HERE.

30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World:                    Click HERE.

Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God? Click HERE.

More Information About Islam:                                     Click HERE.

30 Days of Fire Youth Site:                                           Click HERE.

Find Out Why Some Muslims Left Islam to Follow Jesus:  Click HERE.

Daily Prayer Topics During Ramadan:                        Click HERE.

posted by: Jrobbins at 12:51 | link | comments |
30 days of prayer

Radical? Yup.

Wow.      It's not every morning I get to stumble out of bed, check my e-mail, and discover that I have been accused by a media personality of being as dangerous for America as a terrorist.      Top o' the mornin' to ya!      After I settled down a bit, I wasn't too bothered by those hate-filled remarks.      Unlike some people, when I or my God is insulted, I don't have to run around getting angry or violent.      My God doesn't need me to defend Him (thankfully!).      I just wished that someone who was a true representative of Christianity (by that I mean someone who follows Jesus as much as it is possible in this lifetime, by their actions not just their words) could have responded to Ms. O'Donnell's diatribe.     Then, lo and behold, I checked my email again today, only to discover that someone HAD written a rebuttal.      Dave Burchett has a blog called "Confessions of a Bad Christian" and he has written an amazing article (posted below) about what true Christianity is and why it could never be as "bad for America" as terrorism.      

-Joy (proud to be a radical Christian since 2005  )

From CrossWalk.com

Confessing my "Radical Agenda" to Rosie O'Donnell

Written by Dave Burchett

 

When I was younger you knew exactly when a celebrity's career had peaked and had begun to spiral slowly downward. That career reversal could be duly noted when a one-time big star was booked on The Love Boat.

 

So it is with some reluctance that I address the brouhaha surrounding the comments by talk show host Rosie O'Donnell. I am reluctant to discuss this because I think that Rosie is in the Love Boat phase of her career. To be fair, she has forged a career that garners her national attention. My career has made me a household name only in my household. Nonetheless, her comments conveyed a common misconception (make that "lie") about the "agenda" of Christians in this country. Here is what the always genteel Rosie had to say during a recent episode of The View (see full story here):

 

"Radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam in a country like America where we have separation of church and state."

 

Perhaps part of the problem is a lack of clarity in definition. Unfortunately the sacred name of "Christian" has been compromised. People who clearly do not follow the directives of Christ are still reported as Christians in many media stories. And frankly, many have taken the name on themselves who are not representing Christ in their lives or beliefs. So when Rosie throws out the term "radical Christianity," I really don't know what or who she is talking about. If she is talking about the millions of people in this country who call themselves "born-again" or Evangelical Christians then I believe she is sadly misinformed.

 

The predictable (and likely hoped-for outrage) is happening. Already there are calls from Christian organizations requesting her removal from the show. Some are demanding that Rosie apologize. Regular readers of these humble ramblings know that I take a different approach to situations like this. I don't call for boycotts or dismissals. I suspect ratings will take care of this particular situation. Instead I look to stick my foot in the cultural debate door that controversies like this inevitably open to discuss my faith. I was disappointed when The Book of Daniel was cancelled so quickly because I was having a field day sharing my beliefs with others because of that truly bad television show.

 

And now, because of this incident, I am willing to totally outline my "agenda" for Rosie O'Donnell. Am I a radical Christian? By my definition I would like to be, but I am still trying to get there. My definition of a radical Christian is one who lives everyday trying to become more like Jesus. That makes you pretty darn radical in this self-absorbed and materialistic culture.

 

I had written an earlier post after I had been outed by an internet blogger as being "apparently religious" in my viewpoints. I was stunned at his intellectual prowess in figuring out that a blog called "Confessions of a Bad Christian" was written from a religious perspective. How did I ever get discovered? I thought my cover was airtight! At that time I wrote about my agenda and those words are appropriate today.

 

When I became aware that word of my Evangelical Christianity was out, I went to the secret underground bunker where we all meet to plan how to advance our agenda...

"I have been Valerie Plumed!" I told the group.
"They know?", they asked.
"I'm afraid so. Should I come clean?"
They looked horrified. "You mean tell them your agenda?"
"Yes," I said boldly. "I am going to lay out my entire agenda so there will be no doubt."

 

So here it is. I certainly don't speak for all Evangelical Christians, but I think I just might represent a number of them. Rosie, I am coming clean. Here is what I believe and my entire agenda:

 

·                                 I believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I believe the Bible is the inspired and authoritative Word of God. I believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, His sinless life, and miracles. I believe in His atoning death, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory. I believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.

 

Let me tell you what this particular evangelical Christian does not believe...

·                                 I do not believe you have to be a Republican to be a Christian, despite accusations to the contrary by some of my critics. Like it or not, heaven will be bipartisan and I am totally fine that there will not be sides of the golden aisles.

·                                 I do not believe that God is "judging" America for any particular sin. But if He is judging this country I would suspect it is for the massive squandering of wealth and resources that we have been blessed with while giving back an average of less than three percent.

·                                 I do not believe in ranking sins for their offensiveness. Some things are more offensive to us but all sin is equally intolerable to a Holy God.

·                                 I do not believe that censorship, boycotts, or politics will redeem this culture... only a spiritual renewal can accomplish such redemption.

·                                 I do not believe that it is my place to relish or desire eternal punishment for others. I am willing to leave that to a righteous and just God who sees the real heart and motives for each one of us and Who will judge justly.

 

And finally, here is my complete agenda.

·                                 To try and see everyone through the eyes of Jesus because my eyes are prejudiced and prideful.

·                                 To try and love them like Jesus because my love is selfish.

·                                 To let others know that my relationship with Jesus has changed my life, given my life purpose, given me strength to endure tragedy, and real hope for the future.

·                                 To authentically relate how this personal relationship with the living God saved my marriage and made me a better father to my sons.

·                                 To be gentle in relating the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ to people in every situation and mired in any sin. My goal is to introduce them to Jesus and let them work out their salvation in fear and trembling.

·                                 To exhibit grace and forgiveness to those who attack me for not sharing their views.

·                                 To be an example of the living Christ to everyone I come in contact so that I can be salt and light to my little circle of influence.

·                                 To be an advocate for those wounded by the church and other Christians. Our lack of unity must grieve the Lord who prayed for unity of the body during His final agonizing hours before His betrayal, mock trial, and crucifixion.

·                                 To try to never be surprised or repulsed by the actions of those who do not have a relationship with Jesus. The Lord Himself was always gentle with sinners and always tough on religious hypocrites. We have reversed his example far too often. We are too tough on sinners and too gentle with the hypocrites.

·                                 To try and give generously of my time and treasure to those who have not been as materially blessed in my neighborhood, my country, and around the world.

·                                 To let people know that I love Jesus and I am not at all ashamed of that fact.

 

In short, I am praying to be a "troublesome" Christian. It is easy to dismiss the hypocrite. No problem to ignore the angry and judgmental religious types. But I was troubled when I saw some Christians who displayed something different in their lives. I could not dismiss so readily the joy, peace, strength, courage, and love they modeled. They were "troublesome" Christians to me. I could not ignore them because their lives were authentic and different (different good, not weird). I want to be that kind of Christian. That is my agenda. Sorry if I have disappointed you conspiracy types. But I have come completely clean with you. My entire agenda is to be a "troublesome" Christian because Jesus is transforming my life every day. My prayer for Rosie O'Donnell is that she meets one of these troublesome Christians and then that she encounters Jesus.

 

That's it. End of agenda. That's all I've got in the radical agenda bag. I am so relieved that you finally know the truth.

 

View other recent entries on Dave's blog.

 

 

posted by: Jrobbins at 12:35 | link | comments (2) |
confessing my radical agenda

Messin' With Our Minds?

Rocking Under the Influence

Written by Adam R. Holz

From Plugged In Online

 

Metal in the Mainstream (Part 4 of 6)
Plugged In Online's in-depth series on heavy metal music examines its history, subgenres, performers, fans, messages and influence on us all.

 

Our world is awash in messages seeking to influence our thinking. But what is influence, exactly? Merriam-Webster defines the word as, "The power or capacity of causing an effect in indirect or intangible ways." By its very nature, something with influence sways us in one direction or another.

 

The Bible teaches that the world's molding influence happens continually, whether we're aware of it or not. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Roman church, "Do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2). Bible scholar J.B. Phillips paraphrases this verse, "Don't let the world squeeze you into its mold."

 

We will be conformed to something; it's just a question of what.

 

So why, you might ask, start here when talking about the influence of heavy metal? Because the influence metal exerts works in subtle ways as well as extreme ones. Stories of people allegedly being influenced by metal to commit heinous crimes generates headlines, but less sensational influence happens everyday as we pop our favorite artists into the CD player. Before we address metal's extreme influence, then, we need to understand how it shapes the majority of fans in more mundane ways day by day.

 

Just a Few Drinks Here and There
Despite what the dictionary and the Bible might say, one of the hallmarks of our culture is the stubborn belief that we're not influenced by our environment. We're deeply invested in the idea that we have total control over what affects us. We might call this conviction absolute personal autonomy: Something only influences me if I allow it to, if I give it permission. We desperately want to believe that we're masters of our own destiny.

 

And yet we only have to turn to our own experience—if we're honest—to begin to see that this cherished conviction is very wrong. For example, have you ever told someone who was critical of your music choices that you don't really listen to the words, that "I just like the beat?" I have. And yet ... I can almost always sing the lyrics to those songs. Even if I haven't consciously memorized the words, repeated exposure burns a habitual groove in my brain.

 

But even if I know the lyrics, it doesn't mean they're influencing me. Until recently, it would have been difficult to refute that subjective argument with objective data. Now, several new studies solidly indicate that what we consume, media-wise, affects our behaviors. Increasingly, science is identifying a cause-and-effect relationship between our entertainment choices and what we actually do.

 

According to a study published in August 2006 by the RAND Corporation, for example, 12- to 17-year-olds who frequently listen to music with sexually degrading lyrics are almost twice as likely to engage in sexual activities within the next two years as peers who rarely or never listen to such songs. Another 2006 study by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation discovered a connection between listening to rap music, taking drugs and behaving aggressively. Likewise, other research has demonstrated links between movie and television content and teens' choices regarding sex and smoking.

 

Arrested Development
With that in mind, let's get back to the specifics of metal. In a genre that often majors on minor chords, despair, fatalism, nihilism and suicide are common subjects. How do these ideas affect listeners? What happens when someone listens to Metallica's "The Unnamed Feeling" repeatedly, on which James Hetfield growls, "I just wanna get the f--- away from me/I rage, I glaze, I hurt, I hate/I hate it all"?

 

Some argue that lyrics like these offer listeners a chance to process similar feelings. Perhaps that can happen. But couldn't the other, opposite influence also be in play? It's reasonable to ask whether these songs might at the very least prolong someone's stay at the Hotel Alienation.

 

In my own case, I don't believe my teenage love for metal scarred me for life. (Admittedly, however, most of what I was listening to in the '80s was not as lyrically bludgeoning as today's metal). Still, I did connect with the idea of being a misunderstood outsider. For me, the bands I listened to constantly reinforced that sense of isolation virtually every adolescent experiences. I wonder what might have happened had someone helped me process those emotions in a healthier way. In retrospect—and with a sinking sense of irony—I suspect my music choices may have delayed my realization that everyone feels like an outsider at times.

 

In a recent interview, Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden hinted at exactly this aspect of metal. "If you ever lose the 15-year-old kid inside you," the singer observed, "then [metal] won't make any sense at all." Essentially, he's implying that metal reflects the alienated emotions of your average middle-teenager—someone who by definition hasn't developed a mature perspective on life—and that metal requires a sort of arrested development to keep connecting with it. Given that tendency, I wonder if relational isolation may be the most common collateral damage from metal music—something that's difficult to measure and never makes the evening news.

 

Going to Extremes
Sometimes this sense of being isolated boils over into something deadly. For a very small percentage of listeners, lyrics about violence, death and suicide may be among the catalysts that influence them to hurt themselves or others.

 

Beginning in the 1980s, high-profile cases have regularly implicated the lyrics of hard rock and heavy metal bands as factors influencing violent behavior. The first of these cases shocked the nation; suicide and serial murder linked to Ozzy Osbourne and AC/DC songs (respectively) were front-page news in '84 and '85. Since then, however, metal-inspired mayhem has sadly become commonplace.

 

In 1993, a 15-year-old Houston teen killed his mother while listening to Megadeth's "Go to Hell." The following year, an Ohio man stabbed and killed his father after a 10-hour metal binge that included Metallica's Kill 'Em All. That year also saw an English fan of the band Sepultura stab a 12-year-old girl to death and severely wound two others at a school. In 1995, 15-year-old Elyse Marie Pahler was tortured, raped and murdered in a satanic ritual imitating lyrics of a Slayer song.

 

Then, two teen fans of Marilyn Manson committed suicide (separately) in 1997. The father of one of the victims spoke at a U.S. Senate subcommittee hearing, saying, "I failed to recognize that my son was holding a hand grenade, and it was live, and it was going to go off in his mind." Other cases in Europe have linked black metal (a specific subgenre focusing on intensely anti-Christian messages) with church burnings in Norway and satanic ritual murders in Italy.

 

All of which leads to the obvious question that's often asked when these tragedies occur: Does heavy metal music "make" someone commit murder or suicide? Perhaps a better way to phrase it is this: Could metal be among the influences that enable an unstable or struggling soul to make such awful choices? A 1994 study led by Dr. Steven Stack of Wayne State University suggests that the answer is yes. The researchers examined the relationship between the heavy metal scene and suicide, and reported, "Controlling for other predictors of suicide, the greater the strength of the metal subculture, the higher the youth suicide rate."

 

After further research, Stack expanded on that idea in a 1998 article: "Metal fanship is thought to elevate suicide acceptability through such means as exposure to a culture of personal and societal chaos marked by hopelessness." His research also found that heavy metal fans often exhibit common risk factors for suicide, including poor family relationships, depression, feelings of alienation and drug abuse. He concludes, "The music perhaps nurtures suicidal tendencies already present in the subculture."

 

"Not Casual Music"
Whether metal's influence is subtle or extreme, it's rarely just a phase for its voracious fans. In the documentary Metal: A Headbanger's Journey, industrial rocker Rob Zombie says, "[Metal is] lifestyle music, you know? ... It's not casual music. No one goes, 'Yeah, I was really big into Slayer one summer.' You know? I've never met that guy. I've only met the guy who's got 'Slayer' carved across his chest." Underscoring how deeply fans identify with the music, the next scene shows grainy home video of a teen guy using a penknife to carve 'Slayer' into the forearm of a friend. "No main veins, that's good," he comments clinically. "No arterial spray." As his friend's arm bleeds, he sets it on fire with a blowtorch, presumably to cauterize the wound. Not casual, indeed.

 

Most metal fans won't take things to life-ending or flesh-maiming extremes. But it's worth asking ourselves and talking to our metal-listening friends about how music influences our perspective and choices—specifically, how we see ourselves in relationship to other people. To deny its influence is to ignore both our own experience and the mounting evidence of metal's significant shaping power.

 

Next week, finally, a breath of fresh air. Adam turns the spotlight around and shines it on a few positive trends (and bands) in heavy metal music.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

In the September issue of Plugged In magazine, subscribers will find our article "Christian Metal: Why parents and teens remain divided over hardcore music."

 

posted by: Jrobbins at 16:04 | link | comments |
metal in the mainstream part 4

Struggling to Live a New Life

The Challenges of Being a New Christian

 

Written by Joanna Saul

 

 

From Boundless Webzine:

 

Nobody’s going to lie to you: being a Christian has never been easy. Although salivating lions no longer threaten, MTV-stylized culture presents equal danger in the slick smiles of pop stars. And you think Christianity is hard? Try living a life empty of Christ. Impossible.

 

 

Yet there is something even more fraught with peril than either of those paths -- a life filled with guilt, a constant sense of failing, and utter confusion. Welcome to the world of the New Christian. My world.

 

 

Case in point: going to the movies with new Christian friends from Bible Study. Trying to divorce myself from my old worldly ways, I throw myself into fellowship with practiced Christians, those “in the know” with Jesus. So I am excited to be invited to an evening outing with these Christian brothers who will lead me.

 

 

Thirty minutes into the movie, we walk out. Or, more specifically, they walk out and I follow. “Oh man, it’s going to take me a while to get that out of my head,” says one. “I feel like I need to wash my brain or something.”

 

 

I run through my mental check-list of no-nos. Explicit sex scenes? No. Intense violence? No. Obvious disavowal of religious sentiment? Nope. Shamed, I have to ask what was so wrong with the movie.

 

 

“They dropped the F-bomb like crazy! Didn’t you notice?” Um, well, er, that is, hmmm … no. I hadn’t noticed at all. In fact, I had really been enjoying the movie. Clearly, my Christian radar is inoperative. There I was, laughing away without thought to the peril to my soul caused by that movie -- which I now see has the clear mark of Satan on it. How could I have missed it?! Worse, what is wrong with me?? I am a bad, bad Christian.

 

 

Luckily, I have another chance to prove myself the next night -- dinner plans with my non-Christian friends. These are the people who have always been there for me, who have gone through the horrors of high school life with me and lived to tell about it, who but for a few friendship snafus, have seldom had a major disagreement with me.

 

 

Unfortunately, they consider Christianity to be one of those friendship snafus.

 

Even though I accepted Jesus over a year ago, we seldom talk about it. It is a dead duck in the conversational water, any mention of the J-word greeted with frowns. But with the influence of my Christian friends, I am trying to present a positive example of Christian life -- life sans alcohol, random hook-ups, anorexia, drugs, and late night partying. I love them and want to help them find Christ. I positively glow with ideals.

 

 

The night starts off well. One friend regales us with a tale of a wild night at a club. Another describes a drink guaranteed to blow your mind -- or at least send you into unconsciousness (read: just as good). And then there’s me.

 

 

“So what’d you do over the weekend?” they ask, expectant looks on their faces as they wait for one of my usual I-can’t-believe-what-happened-at-the-bar stories.

 

 

“Well, there was Bible Study on Friday night,” I say. No reaction. “Saturday night was, um, quiet time for reflection.” Not even a blink. Time for a last ditch effort. “Last night I went to that new movie everyone’s talking about.”

 

 

At last, animation. I sigh with relief. “Oh yeah, wasn’t it awesome?” my friend asks. “I couldn’t believe that crazy ending. Were you totally not expecting that, or what?”

 

 

Oh no. She’s waiting for an answer. I’m trapped like a deer in headlights. “I didn’t really see too much of it,” I say. And before they can give each other knowing looks as to why I hadn’t been paying attention to the movie, I mumble, “We kinda walked out.”

 

 

The glances they exchange this time are less amused and I wish I had never mentioned it. God should have struck me mute and at least saved my social life. We continue talking, but it’s not the same. I’ve now brought the dreaded C-word (read: Christ, Conservative, Crazy -- they all fit) into the mix and they watch what they say. When something truly titillating comes up, they say, “I’ll tell you later,” with a pointed look at me.

 

 

I feel horrible. I have been cut out, shut down, drop-kicked to the outside of an inside conversation. They don’t mean to be rude and I know that they still love me, but it’s not the same. Since when did I become everyone’s Mom? I am a bad, bad friend.

 

 

I go home dejected. Where do I fit in? I’m not Christian enough for my Christian friends, and too Christian for all the people who have ever meant anything to me. I have disappointed everyone, most especially myself. I am an utter failure as a person.

 

 

Worse, I don’t even know what I believe. Do I truly think that a movie is going to poison my mind for all eternity? Do I really want to go back to the life of bar-hopping that had driven me to Jesus in the first place? Who's right?

 

 

I am in the dreaded No Man’s Land of the New Christian.

 

 

Exhausted, I drop down onto my bed as soon as I get home. I am utterly alone and I have no answers. I start to pray. Please God, I know that You are there. Please God, I know that You love me. Please God, show me what is the right way to live my life. Please God.

 

 

I pray for what seems like hours. Eyes closed, I concentrate on God, on reaching out to Him, on feeling His love for me, on the certainty of my love for Him. Please God, show me.

 

 

Inexplicably, incredibly, I am blessed -- for God gives me the answer, a miracle beyond measure for those accustomed to unanswered prayers. As I am praying, the thought suddenly comes to me that this is not failure that has brought me to this place, but God. It is not a lack of knowing or a social faux pas -- but God. For this is where God wanted me all along. Alone. Uncertain. Questioning. Doubting. But above all, seeking -- for Him. And loving -- just Him. And depending -- only on Him.

 

 

It is a revelation that truly awes; that God can take a moment that feels like utter desolation and He fills it with Himself. Not only that, but He reveals to my nearsighted eyes that there was never a void to fill, for He was working in me all along. I breathe a prayer of thanksgiving.

 

 

I am not perfect. I will always be uncertain and I will always fall down. But for the New Christian like me, the most important thing is to continually come back to God, to continually reaffirm our faith. Walking that line between the old life and the new is hard -- but the incredible reality is that there has only been one life all along, and it has always belonged to God.

posted by: Jrobbins at 12:32 | link | comments |
challenges of being a new christ

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