When I was attending the University of Texas at Austin, I was involved with a couple of really good, thriving college ministries – Chi Alpha and Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship. For some reason I was invited to speak at Inter Varsity about rock music. I don’t know if I asked or what, but they gave me the floor one Friday night at the UT Student Union meeting room they met in. Attendance was usually between 50 and 100 if I recall. This one was fairly packed. I focused on the “ugly” aspects of rock, namely the satanic and negative influence side that people had heard about before. I spoke about the “bad” and focused on the slightly negative, perhaps unhealthy or more aptly put “non-nutritious” musical diet of “secular” music; and then I focused on the “good” – that art made by believing artists.
I have to admit that I was young, unlearned, a bit naive but full of energy and passion. I wish there were a few things I could have back. At the end of my talk I took some questions. Many people asked about their favorite band. Rush came up a lot. “What about these guys? Is it really that bad?”I had a somewhat reasoned response. I think I acknowledged the ability each of us have to defend ourselves and our minds against negative or false ideas. We have a built-in “defense mechanism” that can spot error and resist it. None of us are so soft between the ears that we’ll hear a message on streaking and then suddenly be unable to resist the urge to strip off our clothes and go running across campus. I should have proved that hypothesis right there on the spot, huh? (sorry, I digress) Being that we can resist an idea we don’t agree with, it’s not going to kill us to listen to even the most vile, evil lyric there is. However, if we want to grow and become more and more healthy, it would be wise to watch our diet. That was the balance to my answer. I did quote a line from the popular Rush song, “Tom Sawyer,” which bothers me: “…his mind is not for rent, to any god or government.” I don’t like that line, because it reinforces a line of thought that believers in God don’t think for themselves.
One guy (I think it was a guy named Jorge) that some of what’d he seen and heard was ridiculous. I’m sorry that I used the smoke on a burning building painting (on the cover of Def Leppard’s Pyromania album) to insinuate Aleister Crowley’s face was superimposed in the smoke – or this “guy in the corner, leaning over the railing ” inside The Eagles’ Hotel California album was Aleister, too. Oh brother! Why couldn’t I have left my Crowley references to just the run-off “Do what thou wilt” inscription on Led Zeppelin III, Crowley’s face on the Sgt. Pepper’s… cover or the Ozzy song?
Later on one of the student leaders asked about Rush. Many in the crowd laughed, because it appeared that I’d “struck a nerve” by picking on a popular favorite amongst the faithful here.
What I wish I would have said, beyond the response I shared above, was this: “You, my friend (pointing out the guy that asked the question) are the best defense for listening to Rush. Your maturity in Christ, consistent walk and level-headed-ness are a good argument that proves that listening to Rush will not steer you down the path of sex, drugs and Satanism.” I think it’s true. A mature person can do things that an immature person might flip out on or trip over. This guy was a leader. He had consistency in his life. He was popular, but grounded. This alone spoke volumes to the debate over “what musical listening choices should I make?” If listening to a non-Christian artist would damage anyone’s walk with Christ, where was the evidence in this guy’s life? There wasn’t any. The opposite was true. He seemed to be a growing, healthy, mature believer walking in Christ.
I wouldn’t mind having my mixtape choice back, either. I had a few examples of “Christian rock” on a tape that I played at the end. There were snippets of Darrell Mansfield, Stryper, Sweet Comfort Band and Uli Jon Roth on there. What?! Yes, Uli Jon Roth – the weird, mystical ex-guitarist for The Scorpions who left that band on the eve of their worldwide success due to philosophical differences. He didn’t want to play guitar for a band that had songs like “He’s A Woman, She’s A Man.” He apparently got out just in time, because they’re next album (Lovedrive) had songs like “Another Piece of Meat” and lyrics like, “A car to love, a girl to drive…” The hit “Rock You Like A Hurricane” has some real smutty lyrics in it. I found out later, however, that while Uli embraced the teachings of Jesus, he also believed in reincarnation and the deity of other spiritual leaders throughout time.
While I wasn’t correct in identifying this guy as a “Christian” artist, at least I was making choices based upon some good reasons (what would edify me, build me up and help me grow).
Now, as I look back, I’m so thankful to some of the leadership at IV. I wonder where Pete Wilson is… I wish I could find him. He might have passed away since that time (the mid-’80s). This was a faithful man who has bore much fruit in serving others. Perhaps I’ll luck out and find him on the internet.
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