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Is U2s Bono a Christian?
August 16, !1 in christianity, "iscernment, #mergent Church, religion $ %ags& 'ono,
Contemporary Christian Music, ( $ 1 comments
A church ) use" to atten" once plastere" pictures of 'ono in their fellowship hall while promoting a
foo" "rive. My heart san* in "ismay. )t was "iscouraging because ) *new the following
information. +lease rea"&
%,# -.C/ 0-.(+ (
by 1avi" Clou"
%he following is from the latest e"ition of the 2!!3page 1irectory of Contemporary 4orship
Musicians, which is available in print as well as a free e'oo* from the 4ay of 5ife web site 6
http&77www.wayoflife.org.
888888888888888888888
( was forme" in 19:; an" has been hugely successful. %he ban" was selecte" as -olling <tone
maga=ines 'an" of the #ighties an" was still calle" >the biggest ban" in the worl"? in -olling
<tones 1ecember !!2 issue. ( front man 'ono was %ime maga=ines +erson of the Year in !!6.
'ut ( is much more than a popular roc* ban". ( has a great influence in the emerging church
an" the contemporary worship movement. (s lea" singer 'ono is praise" almost universally
among contemporary an" emerging Christians. +hil @ohnson observes that >'ono seems to be the
chief theologian of the #merging Church Movement? AAbsolutely BotC #Dposing the +ost3mo"ern
#rrors of the #merging Church, p. 9E.
>'ono playe" a far more significant role on the formative years on those who became emergent
than anyone else, from a human stan"point. 'ono, in the 19;!s, was, if not worshippe", then
absolutely a"ore" by millions of Christian youth who were hanging on his every wor". %hey saw
his cool *in" of Christianity. ,e helpe" lea" people into what eventually became the emerging
church. 'ono has le" people into a version of Christianity that is so slippery, so un"efinable, so
liberal, yet he is consi"ere" the main icon of the emerging church? A@oseph <chimmel, %he
<ubmerging Church, 1F1, !1E.
#ugene +eterson, author of %he Message, says ( has a prophetic voice to the worl" an" says 'ono
is a prophet li*e @ohn the 'aptist Aforewor" to 0et (p .ff Your /nees& +reaching the ( CatalogE.
'rian 4alsh believes that (s lyrics shoul" be use" for seminary training an" as commentaries
alongsi"e the 'ible, an" that (s concerts shoul" be stu"ie" to see >how worship really happens in
a postmo"ern worl"? A0et (p .ff Your /neesE.
Mar* Mul"er has taught a ( course at Calvin College an" he observes that the school shares
'onos view that the worl" will not be "estroye" but will be renewe" A>Calvin College on (,?
Christianity %o"ay, Geb. !!HE.
'rian Mc5aren an" %ony Campolo say that 'ono is moving the worl" towar" the *ing"om of 0o"
an" increasing the *ing"om of 0o" in the here an" now AMc5aren an" Campolo, A"ventures in
Missing the +oint, !!I, pp. H!, H1E.
'ill ,ybels interviewe" 'ono at 4illowcree* Community Churchs 5ea"ership <ummit in !!6
an" that interview has been shown in thousan"s of churches all over the worl".
-ic* 4arren invite" 'ono to <a""lebac* Church to help launch his +.#.A.C.#. program.
-ob 'ell testifies that the first time he really eDperience" 0o" was at a ( concert AFelvet #lvis&
-epainting the Christian Gaith, p. :E.
#merging lea"er <teven %aylor calls 'ono >a worship lea"er? an" on his blog promotes ><even
%hings ) 5earne" from 'ono about 4orship 5ea"ing.?
Christianity %o"ay almost worships (. 4hen #piscopalian ministers -aewynne 4hiteley an" 'eth
Maynar" publishe" >0et (p .ff Your /nees& +reaching the ( Catalog,? Christianity %o"ay
respon"e" with a review entitle" >%he 5egen" of 'ono FoD& 5essons 5earne" in the Church of (.?
)n fact, ( is no church an" is "estitute of spiritual truth when Ju"ge" biblically. %hat ( is wil"ly
popular with contemporary Christians is a fulfillment of the apostasy "escribe" in %imothy&
>Gor the time will come when they will not en"ure soun" "octrineK but after their own lusts shall
they heap to themselves teachers, having itching earsK An" they shall turn away their ears from the
truth, an" shall be turne" unto fables? A %imothy 2&I32E.
(s #arly Christian #Dperience
)n their teenage years, +aul ,ewson A>'ono?E, 1ave #vans A>#"ge?E, an" 5arry Mullen visite" a
charismatic house church calle" <halom an" ma"e a profession of faith in Christ, but they have long
since renounce" any formal church affiliation.
( member A"am Clayton "oes not ma*e any type of Christian profession, an" in my opinion, he is
the most honest of the four ban" members. At least he "oes not preten" to have faith in Christ while
living a roc* L roll lifestyle an" "enying the 'ibles clear teachings.
'ono, #vans, an" Mullen a"mit that they wrestle" with Muitting roc* L roll when they began
stu"ying the 'ible. %hey chose to stay with roc* L roll an" have been moving farther an" farther
away from the 'ible ever since.
.f that early struggle 'ono tol" a -olling <tones maga=ine senior e"itor& >4e were getting
involve" in rea"ing boo*s, the 'ig 'oo*. Meeting people who were more intereste" in things
spiritual, superspiritual characters that ) can see now were possibly far too remove" from reality.
'ut we were wrappe" up in that.?
%his i"ea of spiritually3min"e" Christians being >too far remove" from reality? is a common
smo*escreen use" by rebels to eDcuse their worl"liness. %he 'ible says&
>)f ye then be risen with Christ, see* those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right
han" of 0o". <et your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Gor ye are "ea", an"
your life is hi" with Christ in 0o". 4hen Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also
appear with him in glory? AColossians I&132E.
'ono moc*s as >superspiritual? those who reJect the things of this worl" to set their min"s on
heavenly things, but that is precisely what 0o" wants ,is people to "o.
( guitarist 1ave #vans testifie" that he chose roc* L roll over holiness&
>)t was reconciling two things that seeme" for us at that moment to be mutually eDclusive. 4e
never "i" resolve the contra"ictions. %hats the truth. N 'ecause we were getting a lot of people in
our ear saying, %his is impossible, you guys are Christians, you cant be in a ban". )ts a
contra"iction an" you have to go one way or the other. %hey sai" a lot worse things than that as
well. <o ) Just wante" to fin" out. ) was sic* of people not really *nowing an" me not *nowing
whether this was right for me. <o ) too* two wee*s. 4ithin a "ay or two ) Just *new that all this
stuff Oseparating from the worl"P is 663 OvulgarityP. 4e were the ban". .*ay, its a contra"iction
for some, but its a contra"iction that )m able to live with. ) Just "eci"e" that ) was going to live
with it. ) wasnt going to try to eDplain it because ) cant? A'ill Glanagan, ( at the #n" of the
4orl", 1996, pp. 2:, 2;E.
Bote that #vans "i" not base his "ecision upon the 4or" of 0o". Contrary to +roverbs I&H36, he
leans on his own un"erstan"ing, an" in accor"ance with %imothy 2&I32 he follows his own lusts.
)n an interview with @oseph <chimmel, Chris -ow of <halom Gellowship, 'onos former pastor in
)relan", sai" that 'ono, #vans, an" Mullen chose roc* L roll over the 'ible. ,e sai" that when
'ono flew him to 5os Angeles to perform his marriage, he wasnt allowe" to go bac*stage at a (
concert because they "i"nt want him to see the things that went on there A<chimmel, %he
<ubmerging Church, !1, 1F1E.
%here is no evi"ence in (s lives, music, or performances that they honor the 4or" of 0o". %hey
have been at the heart an" soul of the wic*e" roc* L roll scene for over three "eca"es. %hey are one
of the most popular roc* L roll ban"s alive to"ay an" this certainly woul" not be the case if they
were striving to obey the 'ible an" live holy lives to the glory of @esus Christ an" if they were
preaching absolute truth, the reality of heaven an" hell, an" salvation only through Christs
atonement.
%o the contrary, their lives have been anything but holy an" their message anything but <criptural.
(s Christianity
%he members of ( "ont support any "enomination or church. )n fact, they rarely atten" church,
>preferring to meet together in private prayer sessions? A(& %he -olling <tone Giles, p. 1E.
<un"ays fin" them in a pub rather than in a pew. %hey are >not rabi" 'ible thumpers? A)bi"., p. 12E.
)n the song >Acrobat,? 'ono sings, >)" Join the movement7 )f there was one ) coul" believe in N
)" brea* brea" an" wine7 )f there was a church ) coul" receive in.?
.ne church 'ono "oes atten" from time to time is 0li"e Memorial (nite" Metho"ist in <an
Grancisco. >4hen hes in the area 'ono is a freMuent worshipper at 0li"eN? AGlanagan, ( at the
#n" of the 4orl", p. 99E. 'ono atten"e" 0li"e Memorial "uring a special service to honor 'ill
Clintons 199 presi"ential election. <pea*ing at a meeting connecte" with the 19: (nite"
Metho"ist Church Qua"rennial Conference, Cecil 4illiams, pastor of the 0li"e Memorial
Metho"ist Church, sai", >) "ont want to go to no heaven N ) "ont believe in that stuff. ) thin* its
a lot of R 3 R 3 OvulgarityP.? A @ewish rabbi is on 4illiams staff. 4illiams was the 0ran" Marshall
of the <an Grancisco 0ay +ri"e para"e an" the chairman of his boar" was a homoseDual. ,e has
been >marrying? homoseDuals since 196H an" says, >) have not marrie" a single couple at 0li"e
who werent alrea"y living together? A4illiams, spea*ing at the Centenary (nite" Metho"ist
Church, <t. 5ouis, Muote" in 'lu3+rint, April H, 19:E. 5ong ago 4illiams church replace" the
choir with a roc* ban", an" its >celebrations? have inclu"e" immoral "ancing an" even complete
nu"ity. After atten"ing a service at 0li"e Memorial, a newspaper e"itor wrote, >%he service, in my
opinion, was an insult to every Christian atten"ing an" was the most "isgusting "isplay of vulgarity
an" sensuousness ) have ever seen anywhere.?
%his is (s type of Christianity.
%he boo* 'ono on 'ono& Conversations with Mich*a Assayas A,o""er L <toughton, !!HE
contains a wi"e3ranging interview with a music reporter that eDten"e" over a long perio" of time.
Bowhere in this II:3page boo* "oes 'ono give a scriptural testimony of having been born again,
without which @esus sai" no man can see the *ing"om of heaven.
'ono says that he believes @esus is the Messiah an" that ,e "ie" on the cross for his sins an" that
>he is hol"ing out for grace,? but 'onos >grace? is a grace that "oes not result in ra"ical conversion
an" a new way of lifeK it is a grace without repentanceK it is a grace that "oes not pro"uce holiness.
Bowhere "oes he warn his myria"s of listeners to turn to Christ before it is too late an" before they
pass out of this life into eternal hell.
)n fact, the only thing he says about heaven or hell is that both are on earth. >) thin*, rather li*e
,ell, ,eaven is on #arth. %hats my prayer N thats where ,eaven for me isN? A'ono on 'ono, p.
H2E. )t soun"s li*e 'ono has been listening more to @ohn 5ennon than the 'ible, an" in fact, he
says that when he was 11 years ol" he listene" to 5ennons album )magine an" it >really got un"er
my s*in, the bloo" of it? Ap. 26E. .n this album 5ennon sang, >)magine there is no heaven above
an" no hell below.?
%he members of ( "o not believe Christianity shoul" have rules an" regulations. >)m really
intereste" in an" influence" by the spiritual si"e of Christianity, rather than the legislative si"e, the
rules an" regulations? A#"ge, (& %he -olling <tone Giles, p. 1E. %he 5or" @esus Christ sai" those
who love ,im woul" *eep ,is comman"ments A@ohn 12&1H, I, 1H&1!E. %he apostle @ohn sai", >Gor
this is the love of 0o", that we *eep his comman"ments& an" his comman"ments are not grievous?
A1 @ohn H&IE. %here are more than ;! specific comman"ments for Christians in the boo* of
#phesians alone, the same boo* that says we are save" by grace without wor*s. %hough salvation is
by grace, it always pro"uces a =eal for holiness an" obe"ience to 0o"s comman"s, for we are
>save" unto goo" wor*s? A#phesians &;31!E. Accor"ing to %itus , the grace of 0o" teaches the
believer to "eny ungo"liness an" worl"ly lusts an" to live soberly, righteously, an" go"ly in this
present worl".
'ono says that the ol"er he gets the more comfort he fin"s in -oman Catholicism. >5ets not get too
har" on the ,oly -oman Church here. %he Church has its problems, but the ol"er ) get, the more
comfort ) fin" there N murmuring prayers, stories tol" in staine"3glass win"ows, the colors of
CatholicismRpurple mauve, yellow, re"Rthe burning incense. My frien" 0avin Gri"ay says
Catholicism is the glam3roc* of religion? A'ono on 'ono, p. !1E.
%hough he spea*s positively of -omanism, 'ono has nothing goo" to say about >fun"amentalism,?
falsely claiming that it is a "enial that 0o" is love A'ono on 'ono, p. 16:E an" calling it vile names
Ap. 12:E.
%he problem is that 'ono "efines love by the roc* L roll "ictionary rather than by the 'ible, which
says, >Gor this is the love of 0o", that we *eep his comman"ments& an" his comman"ments are not
grievous? A1 @ohn H&IE.
(s 5ifestyle
%he members of ( live in blatant contra"iction to the reality of biblical grace. %hey are "escribe"
in the following passages&
>%hey profess that they *now 0o"K but in wor*s they "eny him, being abominable, an" "isobe"ient,
an" unto every goo" wor* reprobate? A%itus 1&16E.
>,aving a form of go"liness, but "enying the power thereof& from such turn away? A %imothy I&HE.
>Gor the time will come when they will not en"ure soun" "octrineK but after their own lusts shall
they heap to themselves teachers, having itching earsK An" they shall turn away their ears from the
truth, an" shall be turne" unto fables? A %imothy 2&I32E.
>,e that saith, ) *now him, an" *eepeth not his comman"ments, is a liar, an" the truth is not in him?
A1 @ohn &2E.
%he lives of the ( roc* stars eDemplify their no3rules philosophy.
)n 199 >'ono was name" premier male seDpot? A(& %he -olling <tone Giles, p. DDDviE.
.f seDual activity, 'ono says& >You *now, if you tell people that the best place to have OseDual
activity 3e"P is in the safe han"s of a loving relationship, you may be telling a lieC %here may be
other places? AGlanagan, ( at the #n" of the 4orl", p. ;IE.
'ill Glanagan, a ( frien" who has travele" eDtensively with the group, in his authori=e" biography
"escribes them as heavy "rin*ers an" constant visitors to bars, brothels, an" nightclubs. ,e says, >)f
) wante" to ) coul" fill up hun"re"s of pages with this sort of three3sheets3to3the3win" O"run*enP,
navel3ga=ing "ialogue between ( an" me? AGlanagan, ( at the #n" of the 4orl", p. 12HE. 'ono
a"mits that he lives >a fairly "eca"ent *in" of selfish3art3oriente" lifestyle? AGlanagan, p. :9E. %heir
language is intersperse" with the vilest vulgarities an" even with profanity. .f bas*etball star Magic
@ohnsons wi"ely publici=e" seDual escapa"es, 'ono flippantly an" foolishly says& >'e a OseDualP
machine, but for Christs sa*e use a con"om? AGlanagan, p. 1!HE.
Many of 'onos statements cannot be printe" in a Christian publication. %he cover an" lyric sheet
to their Achtung 'aby album containe" photos of the ban" in homoseDual "rag Amen cross3"ressing
li*e womenE, a picture of 'ono in front of a topless woman, an" a frontal photo of A"am Clayton
completely nu"e. 'ono sai" the ban" enJoye" "ressing li*e homoseDual "rag Mueens. >Bobo"y
wante" to ta*e their clothes off for about a wee*C An" ) have to say, some people have been "oing it
ever sinceC? A'ono, cite" by Glanagan, p. H;E. 'ono tol" the me"ia that he an" his ban"mates
planne" to spen" Bew Years #ve !!! in 1ublin, because >1ublin *nows how to "rin*? A'ono,
(<A %o"ay, .ct. 1H, 1999, p. #1E. 'ono has simulate" OseDual activityP with women "uring his
concerts. %heir concerts have inclu"e" vi"eo clips portraying nu"ity an" cursing. %he ban"
members have ha" serious marital problems an" 1ave #vans is "ivorce".
+eople maga=ine "escribe" 'onos >nine3hour binge which left him brainless.? >%he ( star N got
struc* into beer, wine, coc*tails an" bubbly celebrating the American release of the ban"s -attle
An" ,um film. ,e was slobbering, shouting an" showing off, sai" a barten"er at the <anta Monica
niterie that hoste" the bash. #ven the rest of the ban" tol" him to calm "own. %hey shoul" have
been *ic*e" out but because of who they are we let them stayN? A+eople, .ct. I, 19;;, p. 1HE.
4hen as*e" about his position on homoseDuality, 'ono sai"& >My bottom line on any seDuality is
that love is the most important thing. %hat love is it. Any way people want to love each other is ./
by me? A'ono, Mother @ones maga=ine, May7@une 19;9E.
At 4heaton College in !!, 'ono sai", >)ts a remar*able thing, the i"ea that theres some sort of
hierarchy to sin. )ts something ) can never figure out, the i"ea that seDual immorality is somehow
much worse than, say, institutional gree". <omewhere in the bac* of the religious min" is this i"ea
that we reap what we sow is missing the entire Bew %estament an" the concept of grace
completely? A>'ac*stage with 'ono,? Christianityto"ay.com music interviews, 1ec. 9, !!E.
%he Christianity %o"ay reporter un"erstoo" that 'ono was saying that reaping what we sow is not a
biblical teaching an" is contrary to grace. )n fact, the 'ible plainly says, >'e not "eceive"K 0o" is
not moc*e"& for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap? A0alatians 6&:E, an" that was
state" in the very conteDt of +auls teaching about grace. 0o"s grace through Christ is offere" to all
men, but its reception reMuires repentance an" faith AActs !&1E. Bowhere in the Bew %estament "o
we fin" Christ or the apostles fretting about >institutional gree"? or rebu*ing the -oman
government for its institutional sins, but the Bew %estament says a 5.% about +#-<.BA5 sin an"
seDual immoralityC Most of the Bew %estament epistles warn about seDual immorality.
Appearing on the 0ol"en 0lobe Awar"s broa"cast by B'C television in !!I, 'ono shoute" a vile
curse wor". %he inci"ent was investigate" by the Ge"eral Communications Commission AGCCE,
which "eeme" his language >profane? but "eci"e" not to fine the stations. )magine an allege"
Christian shouting such vile things on the public airwaves that he is investigate" by the GCCC
)n !!6 'ono sai"& >) recently rea" in one of <t. +auls letters where it "escribes all of the fruits of
the spirit, an" ) ha" none of them? A>#nough -ope with An"rew 1enton,? March 1I, !!6E.
)n .ctober !!;, GoD Bews reporte" that 'ono an" roc*er frien" <imon Carmo"y partie" with
teenage girls on a yacht in <t. %rope=. %he report, which was accompanie" by a photo of 'ono
hol"ing two bi*ini3cla" teenagers on his lap at a bar, sai", >'ono, Carmo"y an" the girls partie"
into the night on the yacht? A>Gaceboo* +ictures <how Marrie" ( <inger 'onos -en"e=vous with
<eDy %eens,? GoD Bews, .ct. :, !!;E.
(s Message
(s Christian supporters tout the ban"s >biblical? lyrics as evi"ence of the reality of their
Christianity. 'ut (s ambiguous lyrics "o not present a clear Christian message, an" the few songs
that "o mention Christ typically "o so in a strange, unscriptural manner. >%he listener senses
something religious is being "ealt with but cant be Muite sure what? A<teve %urner, ,ungry for
,eaven, p. 1:E. %hey never preach the gospel of @esus Christ in a plain manner so that their
listeners coul" be born again. %hey pose moral Muestions in some of their songs, but they give no
'ible answers. >( "ont preten" to have the answers to the worl"s troubles. )nstea", they "evote
their energies to letting us *now that they are concerne" an" to creating an awareness about those
problems? A(& %he -olling <tone Giles, p. 1!E. 4hat a pitiful testimony for professing Christian
musicians who C.(51 be preaching the light of the 4or" of 0o" to a "ar* an" hell3boun" worl".
Consi"er, for eDample, the lyrics to >4hen 5ove Comes to %own?&
>) was there when they crucifie" my lor"7 ) hel" the scabbar" when the sol"ier "rew his swor"7 )
threw the "ice when they pierce" his si"e7 'ut )ve seen love conMuer the great "ivi"e. 4hen love
comes to town )m gonna catch that train7 4hen love comes to town )m gonna catch that flame7
Maybe ) was wrong to ever let you "own7 'ut ) "i" what ) "i" before love came to town.?
%his is typical of ( songs. )t intermingles thoughts about a girl at the beginning with thoughts
possibly about the cross at the en", but nothing is clear. 5isteners can interpret the ambiguous lyrics
in a multitu"e of ways.
Consi"er the song >All 'ecause of You? from (s !!2 album ,ow to 1ismantle an Atomic
'omb. >)m alive7 )m being born7 ) Just arrive", )m at the "oor7 .f the place that ) starte" out
from7 An" ) want bac* insi"e.? %hats a confusing, really meaningless message.
.ne of (s most popular songs even proclaims that they havent foun" what they are loo*ing for.
>You bro*e the bon"s7 You loose" the chains7 You carrie" the cross7 An" my shame7 You *now )
believe it7 'ut ) still havent foun"7 4hat )m loo*ing for? A>) <till ,avent Goun" 4hat )m
5oo*ing Gor?E.
%his is a strange message for an allege" Christian roc* ban" to broa"cast to a nee"y worl"C %hey
sing about Christ an" the cross an" then state that they havent foun" what they are loo*ing for.
A <ocial 0ospel
%he group is active in political causes, but they are liberal, humanistic ones. Gor eDample, in 199
they playe" a benefit concert for the environmentalist7pacifist group 0reenpeace an" Joine"
0reenpeace in protesting against a nuclear power plant. .ne of their hits, >+ri"e,? is a tribute to the
civil rights lea"er Martin 5uther /ingK an" in 1992, ( receive" the Martin 5uther /ing Gree"om
Awar". /ing was an a"ulterous, theological mo"ernist who taught a false social gospel. (
supporte" the a"ulterous, abortion3 an" homoseDual3supporting 'ill Clinton in his 199 run for
presi"ent. Clinton converse" with them on a national ra"io tal* show "uring the election campaign
an" met them in a hotel room in Chicago. At the same time they moc*e" 0eorge 'ush "uring their
(<A concerts that year. %hey feature" a vi"eo clip "epicting 'ush chanting the wor"s to >4e 4ill
-oc* You? by the homoseDual roc* group Queen. Members of ( performe" at 'ill Clintons
televise" inaugural ball on M%F. 'ono sai" he was gla" that Clintons election was a victory for
homoseDuals AGlanagan, p. 1!!E.
'onos passion in recent years has been A)1< an" poverty in Africa. ,e has petitione" 4estern
governments to cancel the "ebts of African nations an" to increase foreign ai". 4hile 'ono "oes
call upon African lea"ers to >practice "emocracy, accountability, an" transparency,? he "oes not tie
this in with foreign ai" an" "oes not put the blame of Africas A)1< an" poverty problem where it
truly belongs, which is government corruption, pagan religion, an" its corollary, the lac* of moral
character an" immorality. )f the entire wealth of America, the (nite" /ing"om, an" #urope were
transferre" to Africa tomorrow, it woul" not result in significant an" lasting change unless these
factors were first a""resse", an" 'onos plan "oes not significantly a""ress them nor reMuire any
such ra"ical systemic change. )nstea", 'ono puts the largest part of the blame for Africas ills upon
the unfair tra"e practices of an" lac* of ai" by 4estern nations an" an allege" lac* of compassion
on the part of Christians.
<pea*ing before 4heaton College in 1ecember !!, 'ono sai", >Christ tal*s about the poor Oan"
saysP whatever you have "one to least of these brothers of mine, youve "one to me. )n Africa
right now, the least of my brethren are "ying in shiploa"s an" we are not respon"ing. 4ere here to
soun" the alarm? AChristianity %o"ay, 1ec. 9, !!E. 'ono thus grossly misapplies Christs
statement in Matthew H&2!, applying it to the unsave" in general rather than to the nation )srael.
%his is the Gatherhoo" of 0o" heresy that Mother %eresa also hel", that all men are the chil"ren of
0o" regar"less of whether they have faith in Christ. Gurther, if Matthew H&2! is a reference to the
unsave" in general, the apostles an" early Christians faile" miserably, for there is no recor" that
they attempte" to relieve the social ills of the -oman #mpire in general. )n fact, the conteDt of
Matthew H&I326 is imme"iately following the return of Christ at the en" of the %ribulation, an" it
"escribes how Christ will Ju"ge the nations on the basis of how they treate" ,is people the @ews,
which will be so viciously persecute" "uring that perio". Compare -evelation :&2312.
(niversalism an" a Galse Christ
'onos christ is a false one. ,e says he is >attracte" to people li*e Martin 5uther /ing, 0an"hi,
Christ, to pacifism? A(& %he -olling <tone Giles, p. DDviiiE. %he 5or" @esus Christ of the 'ible is
not a pacifist. ,e is not anything li*e the a"ulterous Martin 5uther /ing or the ,in"u 0an"hi.
Christ "i" instruct ,is people not to resist evil in the sense of ta*ing up arms for religious causes.
4hen persecute", we are to en"ure it A1 Cor. 2&1EK but Christ "i" not teach pacifism. Christs
forerunner, @ohn the 'aptist, warne" sol"iers to be content with their wages, but he "i" not rebu*e
them for carrying arms as sol"iers A5*. I&12E. 'efore his "eath, Christ instructe" his followers to
provi"e swor"s for themselves A5*. &I3I;E. Christ sai" he came not to sen" peace but a swor"
AMt. 1!&I2E. )n fact, the 5or" @esus Christ will return on a white horse to ma*e war with his enemies
A-ev. 19&11316E. %he Christ of the 'ible is no pacifist an" ,e "i" not establish a pacifist movement.
4hen as*e" by Mother @ones maga=ine if he believe" that @esus is the only way an" if that eDclu"es
other people from heaven, 'ono replie"& >) "ont accept that. ) "ont accept that fun"amentalist
concept. ) believeRwhat is itS %he way is as narrow as the eye of the nee"le, an" all thatR'ut )
thin* thats Just to *eep the fun"amentalists out. ) never really accepte" the whole born again tag?
A>'ono 'ites 'ac*,? Mother @ones maga=ine, May 19;9E.
Gor their Fertigo %our in !!H, ( promote" >CoeDist? as an icon for worl" peace. 'ono wore a
>coeDist? hea"ban" that feature" the cross of Christianity, the crescent moon of )slam, an" the star
of 1avi" of @u"aism an" he le" the crow"s in shouting, >@esus, @ew, Muhamma", its trueK all sons
of Abraham.?
Anti3Christ
'ono has repeate"ly worn upsi"e "own crosses in his concerts, which are satanic anti3christ
emblems. ,e has "isplaye" the inverte" cross while singing the 'eatles song >,elter <*elter.? ,e
has worn it while singing the -olling <tones vile song ><ympathy for the 1evil? A@oseph
<chimmel, %he <ubmerging Church, 1F1, !1E.
'ono has aggressively promote" the movies of the occultist /enneth Anger. 4hen 'ono was
consi"ering establishing Too%F to rival M%F, he envisione" it >as a win"ow for the worl" to see
the films of /enneth Anger? A'ill Glanagan, (& At the #n" of the 4orl", 1996, p. 2::E. 'ono tol"
1etails maga=ine, >+art of Americas "ilemma is its %F because as a mirror its a pretty "istorte"
one. ) mean, where can you see /enneth Anger films in the (nite" <tatesS? A>%urning Money into
5ight, 1etails maga=ine, Geb. 1, 1992E. Anger, a homoseDual who has >5ucifer? tattooe" into his
chest, wrote the forewor" to Anton 5aFeys boo*s %he 1evils Boteboo* an" <atan <pea*s. Anger
eDalts the occultist an" moral pervert Aleister Crowley in the movie 5ucifer -ising& )nvo*ation of
My 1emon 'rother. ,e promotes Crowleys vision of a Bew Age worl" or"er calle" the age of
,orus. Angers movie )nvocation of My 1emon 'rother starre" 5aFey an" Mic* @agger an" /eith
-ichar"s of the -olling <tones. Anger Joine" 5e" Teppelin @immy +age guitarist in trying to
eDorcise Crowleys former resi"ence in <cotlan" of what they believe" to be >a hea"less mans
ghost.?
Bo Christ3loving, 'ible3believing man woul" promote the wor* of /enneth Anger, an" )m sure he
woul" agree with that statement.
'ono even transforme" himself into the "evil in the Too%F tour "uring the early 199!s. %he "evil,
which he calle" Mac+histo, was an aging roc*er who ha" sol" his soul for fame. %hat certainly
soun"s li*e 'ono.
.ther Muotations "emonstrate that (s >spirituality? is not base" on the 'ible&
>'ono "isli*es the label born3again ChristianRan" he "oesnt go to church either. O,e says,P )m a
very, very ba" a"vertisement for 0o"N? A(& %he -olling <tone GilesE.
>A ( concert aims to raise peoples sense of their own worth. )ts a celebration of me being me
an" you being you, as 'ono once put it. %he music soars an" swirls but never blu"geons. N )
want people to leave our concerts feeling positive, a bit more free, says 'ono? A<teve %urner,
,ungry for ,eaven, p. ;E. A celebration of me is eDactly what roc* L roll is at its most
fun"amental level, an" it is a fulfillment of %imothy I&. >Gor men shall be lovers of their own
selvesN?
>) believe that its a womans right to choose Oan abortionP. Absolutely? A'ono, Mother @ones
maga=ine, May7@une 19;9E.
'eware 4hen the 4orl" 5oves You
( is eDalte" as >the biggest ban" in the worl",? an" they are praise" by everyone from Christianity
%o"ay to -olling <tone. %he worl" loves (, an" that brings some <criptures to min".
>)f ye were of the worl", the worl" woul" love his own& but because ye are not of the worl", but )
have chosen you out of the worl", therefore the worl" hateth you? A@ohn 1H&19E.
>) have given them thy wor"K an" the worl" hath hate" them, because they are not of the worl",
even as ) am not of the worl"? A@ohn 1:&12E.
>%hey are of the worl"& therefore spea* they of the worl", an" the worl" heareth them? A1 @ohn 2&HE.
>An" we *now that we are of 0o", an" the whole worl" lieth in wic*e"ness? A1 @ohn H&19E.
%he worl" loves ( because ( is of the worl", an" the worl" recogni=es its own. %he love that
'ono sings about is the worl"s love. (s philosophy is the worl"s philosophy. (s lifestyle is the
worl"s lifestyle.
Consi"er this line from the song >Fertigo? 6 >A feeling is so much stronger than a thought.?
'ono Muote" this in an interview with the wic*e" -olling <tone maga=ine, an" it summari=es the
roc* L roll philosophy an" its blin" mysticism, which is to "o what feels right regar"less of what
the 'ible or some other authority says about it. %he 'ible says we are to live by 0o"s 4or", but
roc* L roll says, >5ive by your feelings.? %he 'ible says the heart is "eceitful above all things an"
"esperately wic*e", but roc* L roll says, >@ust follow your heart.? %he 'ible says we can only
*now 0o" through the soun" "octrine of ,is revelation in the 'ible, through right thin*ing that
comes by the right un"erstan"ing of 0o"s 4or", but roc* L roll says, >Geelings are more
important than thoughts.?
%his is why the worl" loves (, an" this is why apostate Christianity loves (.
From Way of Life
April 9, !11 in Christians, Church $ %ags& Contemporary Christian Music $ 5eave a comment
5ucarini is a former contemporary worship lea"er, an" his testimony can be foun" in 4hy ) 5eft the
Contemporary Christian Music Movement. %he following is eDcerpte" from 1an 5ucarini, )ts Bot
about the Music, !1!, p. 129.
>At one of the churches where ) le" worship, we ha" nearly complete" the sli"e into a totally
contemporary style in every service an" we ha" not use" a hymnal in months. .ne wee*en" ) was
preparing for a <un"ay service that inclu"e" observance of the 5or"s <upper. N ) was le" bac*
into the hymnal that ) *ept nearby on our piano. %he 5or" prompte" me to select Bear the Cross.
N
>.n <un"ay morning, when it was time to prepare for Communion, ) as*e" the congregation to
open a hymnal an" turn to the correct page number. %here was a brief moment of confusionK ) hear"
murmuring an" shuffling. %hen ) sai" to the congregation, You *now, the blue boo* stuc* un"er the
pew in front of you. 'ut the au"itorium lights were always "imme" "uring our worship time, an"
as a result many coul" not fin" either the hymnal or the page. ) as*e" the crew to turn up the lights.
>4hat happene" neDt was both sweet an" sa". %he light replace" the "ar*ness an" we sang out of
the hymnals, with beautiful harmonies that brought tears of Joy to my eyes an", from what ) coul"
see, to many other eyes in the congregation. N %here were no "rums or electric guitars or
synthesi=ers to smother the singing of the saints. N #very age group, no matter what their taste or
preference, ha" been Joine" in a common song of repentance an" praise to @esus. N?
%,-.4)B0 .(% %,# ,YMBA5 AGri"ay Church Bews Botes, April 9, !11,
http&77www.wayoflife.org
1avi" Clou" writes&
My rea"ers have sent me countless eDamples of how the singing at their churches "ecline" after the
transition to the screen. More people are stan"ing aroun" watching an" listening to the performers.
N A hymnal is very "ifferent from the contemporary worship song of the month. %here is the
benefit of relying on the wis"om of go"ly men an" women who very carefully assemble" the
hymnal. Bo hymnal is perfect, of course, but we can trust the vast maJority of selections without the
nee" to eDamine each song an" composer. N 4hen we throw out the hymnals, we also throw out
0o"3given protections against "octrinal "rift, heresy an" shoc*ing musical worl"liness. 4e turn
over the musical catechism of our chil"ren to an ecumenical music in"ustry "riven by the worst
fashions an" lusts of this present age. )t is past time to en" the eDperiment an" invest again in a
goo" hymnal.?
Way of Life examines Bono
April 9, !1! in religion $ %ags& 'ono, Christian Musicians, Contemporary Christian Music, ( $
comments
'.B. <AY< @#<(< AB1 M.,AMM#1 A-# '.%, %-(# AGri"ay Church Bews Botes, April
9, !1!, http&77www.wayoflife.org fbnsUwayoflife.org, ;6639H3212IE 3
'ono, frontman for the popular roc* ban" (, is hel" up as an i"ol by many Christians. 'ut while
he "oes ma*e a profession of faith in Christ, he "oesnt have a biblical testimony, "oesnt atten"
church with any regularity, an" has live" the worl"ly roc* L roll lifestyle to the hilt. ,e is the
ultimate >cool Christian,? but is he really a ChristianS A couple of years ago ) rea" the boo* 'ono
on 'ono& Conversations with Mich*a Assayas A,o""er L <toughton, !!HE, which contains an
interview with a music reporter that eDten"e" over a long perio" of time.
Bowhere in this II:3page boo* "oes 'ono give a scriptural testimony of having been born again,
without which @esus sai" no man can see the *ing"om of heaven. ,e says that he believes @esus is
the Messiah an" that ,e "ie" on the cross for his sins an" that he is hol"ing out for grace, but the
+ope says that much. 'onos >grace? is a grace that "oes not result in ra"ical conversion an" a new
way of lifeK it is a grace without repentance. Bowhere "oes he warn his myria"s of listeners to turn
to Christ before it is too late an" before they pass out of this life into eternal hell. )n fact, the only
thing he says about heaven or hell is that both are on earth. >) thin*, rather li*e ,ell, ,eaven is on
#arth. %hats my prayer N thats where ,eaven for me isN? A'ono on 'ono, p. H2E. )t soun"s li*e
'ono has been listening more to @ohn 5ennon than the 'ible, an" in fact he says that when he was
11 years ol" he listene" to 5ennons album )magine an" it >really got un"er my s*in, the bloo" of
it? Ap. 26E. .n this album 5ennon sang, >)magine there is no heaven above an" no hell below.?
As for church, 'ono says that the ol"er he gets the more comfort he fin"s in -oman Catholicism.
>5ets not get too har" on the ,oly -oman Church here. %he Church has its problems, but the ol"er
) get, the more comfort ) fin" there. N murmuring prayers, stories tol" in staine"3glass win"ows,
the colors of CatholicismRpurple mauve, yellow, re"Rthe burning incense. My frien" 0avin Gri"ay
says Catholicism is the glam3roc* of religion? Ap. !1E. %hough he spea*s positively of -omanism,
'ono has nothing goo" to say about >fun"amentalism,? falsely claiming that it is a "enial that 0o"
is love Ap. 16:E an" calling it vile names Ap. 12:E.
,e praises singers who have pro"uce" some of the filthiest music, such as +rince an" Mic* @agger,
insinuating that they are goo" people who are only ma*ing innocent art App. 1HI, 1H6E. ,e says his
favorite lyric in a song is /ris /ristoffersons immoral >,elp Me Ma*e )t through the Bight? Ap.
19E. ,e a"mits that (s music is >seDual? an" even preten"s that >erotic love can turn into
something much higher,? a"mitting that he seems >to segue very easily between the two? Ap. 1!E.
%he truth is that 'onos Christianity is a heretical miDture of 'ible Athe smallest partE an" roc* L
roll philosophy Athe largest partE.
,e is a stu"y in contra"ictions. .n one han" he says that @esus is the Messiah who "ie" on the
cross for mans sins, while on the other han" ma*ing statements by his mouth an" lifestyle that
blatantly "eny the @esus of the 'ible. )n fact, he says that @esus an" Mohamme" are both true.
At (s Ma"ison <Muare 0ar"en concert in !!H 'ono le" the crow" in the chant >@esus, @ew,
Mohamme"Rall true. @esus, @ew, Mohamme"Rall true.? %ara Cobble, who atten"e" the concert,
testifie" that this chant "estroye" her ill3place" "evotion to 'ono. >,e repeate" the wor"s li*e a
mantra. 4as 'ono, my suppose" brother in Christ, preaching some *in" of universalismS As )
loo*e" aroun", ) saw all the people stan"ing an" chanting with himRit was "isgusting N 4hen he
state" that lie so bol"ly, it "evastate" me. )t was, without Muestion, the most "isturbing eDperience
of my lifeK ) felt li*e )" been covere" in bile. %he reality is that 'ono hel" too high a place in my
heart. An" ) "ont thin* )m alone there. )ve wrongly hel" him up as the heroic i"ealRthe cool
representative for ChristianityK he may have been my Christian i"ol, but he was my i"ol
nonetheless? A%ara 5eigh Cobble, >,ow to 1ismantle an )"oli=e" 'ono,? -elevant maga=ine, 1ec.
19, !!HE. 4e appreciate her can"or, but from a biblical stan"point there is no such thing as a cool
representative of Christianity. )f a man ta*es the 'ible seriously, he will not be cool by any worl"ly
stan"ar"C )n fact, he will be some sort of thrice3hate" fun"amentalistC