Madness in the Melody:
Can a Christian be a Light in the Hardcore Scene?
There are those out there who are lights in the darkness who are on mission to the hopeless, the broken, the depressed, bipolar, and those who are suffering from PTSD. These men and women play their instruments before God and are instruments of light to a darkened generation. In John 1 we read that the darkness cannot comprehend the light: Jesus.
I think of bands like Spirit and the Bride who are not well known, but their lyrics describe the truth of the character of God, and who’s vision is to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I think of the guys in Silent Planet who create beautiful melodies, and sing of the justice heart of God.
“Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before Him with joyful songs.”
Psalm 100:2
When I was a teenager, despair was my constant companion. I would look in the mirror and a million curses upon that face would spew from the recesses of my mind. I remember writing suicide notes and planning my exit. In the spring of 2009, I heard a song that described the nature of who God is. Truth radiated within me, and the months that followed were full of significant moments like hammer blows to the heart.
Over the years my passions, dreams, and desires have collided into one vision: I desire to be a voice where there is no voice. My heart breaks for the marginalized people of the earth, the subcultures that society deems as “unlovely.” One of these subcultures is the hardcore scene. There is this mindset in the church that says that these people are freaks, excluding them from the church in general.
This is wrong in two senses. First, the church is meant to include, to bring into a family. And secondly, just because their culture is different from yours does not mean they are evil. I’ve seen people weep during hardcore shows underneath the presence of the Lord. I’ve heard the gospel preached time and again in-between songs and the sweaty mashers. Who are we, as the church, to say that something that glorifies Jesus is evil?
The Psalms commands us to lift our voices, to S H O U T unto the Lord. When the writer of the book was bringing the Ark of the Covenant back into the City of David, he leaped and danced before the Lord so rigorously that part of his clothing fell off. His wife Michal saw what her husband was doing and despised it.
David’s wife ultimately despised the glory of God, and that is why she became barren. She despised the worship of God.
Frank Sinatra is a name well known and well loved. The tonal quality of his voice is golden. Recently I was listening to an interview by the bassist of Korn, Reginald “Fieldy” Arvizu (who is now a Christian), and he brought up Sinatra’s song, “I did it my way.” the song is full of beautiful melodies and empowering lyrics. Listen Here.
But Fieldy pulled back the creative genius and revealed the lyrics. The song is all about the trials that life may bring, and in my own strength I can overcome it.
W H A T? He said that this is the most demonic song of our time. The reason being is that this song refers to the very root of why we fell in the garden. Eve did it her way. Adam did it his way. This is the root system of sin, the pride of man. It is the depravity of our souls, and this is the very foundation of it all.
So can a Christian be a light in the hardcore scene? Yes! I see Christian bands touring with non-christian bands and not only are they a light to audiences, but the other bands as well. These men and women are mighty in the kingdom. They have the “great boldness” that Acts 4 mentions.
Anyways, here is a song to wet your pallet for Holy Spirit filled hardcore.
