Periodically I find myself reflecting on the music that used to feed my soul with when I was a teenager.  I remember the first CD-player we got and how excited we were.  Our first CD purchases were Def Leopard’s “Hysteria” and Poison’s “Open Up and Say Ah”.  The CD-player, like the i-pod after it, was the beginning of a musical awakening for many.

After these two albums, my music collection might be considered comical by many: Led Zeppelin, New Kids on the Block, Garth Brooks, Young MC, and Milli Vanilli to name a few.  In fact, if you surveyed the concerts I attended you probably wouldn’t be able to nail down a particular genre that I preferred:  Motley Crew, Lita Ford, John Bonham, Metalica, Garth Brooks, New Kids on the Block (x2), Milli Vanilli, Kings X, Cheap Trick…..

This week I’ve been reflecting on a particular season of my life; right after I graduated high school.  I was filling my brain and soul with Nine Inch Nails, Pantera, Tool and others like them.  Let me give you a snapshot from a drug-filled night that is so vividly burned in my brain:  One night, in my house with the only friends I had left in the world, we were all high on meth.  Tool was blaring on the enormous sound system we had fooled the rent-a-center into giving us, and we were all pouring our hearts out as we sang along to Tool’s song, “Opiate”.  Here are the lyrics (warning – this might be offensive to some of you):

If you want to get your soul to heaven, trust in me.

Now don’t judge or question.

You are broken now, but faith can heal you.

Just do everything I tell you to do.

Deaf and blind and dumb and born to follow.

What you need is someone strong to guide you.

Deaf and blind and dumb and born to follow.

Let me lay my holy hand upon you.

My Gods will becomes me.

When he speaks out, he speaks through me.

He has needs like I do.

We both want to rape you.

Jesus Christ, why don’t you come save my life now

Open my eyes and blind me with your light

If you want to get your soul to heaven, trust in me.

Now don’t you judge or question.

You are broken now, but faith can heal you.

Just do everything I tell you to do.

Jesus Christ, why don’t you come save my life now.

Open my eyes, blind me with your light now.

Deaf and blind and dumb and born to follow,

Let me lay my holy hand upon you.

My Gods will becomes me.

When he speaks, he speaks through me.

He has needs like I do.

We both want to rape you

The song paints a picture of Christians as powerless, mindless, stupid followers that live there lives without questioning their beliefs and ultimately end up being deceived and “raped” of a genuine life.

When I reflect on that particular night however, I see faces that were filled with despair and sorrow, that were crying out for something more.  It’s kind of funny, but in many ways at least a few of us in that room were using a song that was intended to blaspheme God and mock Christians as a genuine cry for Jesus Christ to come and save us.

Also at the time I WAS already powerless, mindless and stupidly following my flesh and the patterns of the world, not questioning anything around me but authority, being completely deceived and “raped” of a genuine life.

Actually, the real Gospel isn’t a message of powerlessness and blind following; it’s the exact opposite.  Jesus brought a message of hope and friend, coupled with a promise of power and inheritance.  All believers of Jesus are filled with Holy Spirit, and equipped and empowered for great things.

When I remember things like this though, it begs the question, “How on earth could Tool ever think such things about Jesus, the church, and Christians?”

Food for thought:  What could they have possibly seen or experienced that would cause such a terrible view of people who follow Jesus?  Is it merely their own blind worldview, or are there some things that we should question about the practice of our faith and the message it portrays to the world?

I’d love to know what you think!