Snakes in the Music
Skillet's "Christian" rock exposed
Many people have been emailing me in regards to music today and how it is no better than television. This is true. Especially, they have asked me as to what I think of the so-called contemporary Christian and Christian rock music. I've been meaning to cover this topic, at least the little I know about it. Eventually I may even have an entire subsection dedicated to just music, the good and the bad.
The following is my experience at a Skillet concert in December of 2004. Skillet was paid and brought in by one of the Christian groups on campus, and the concert was free for us. If it wasn't free, I probably wouldn't have gone. I knew it wasn't my kind of music, but I went to see what it was all about. I had heard roumours that Christian rock wasn't really Christian, and I went to find out for myself. Some may consider this biased; I don't "like" any kind of rock music, Christian or secular. This is what I saw.
In the lobby they had the "cover art" for their CD "Collide," blown up to the size of the wall. They also used this as the backdrop on stage. I was shocked out of my mind to see this, as any discerning Christian would. If you thought it extreme that I titled this article "Snakes in the Music," please note that I got that idea from Skillet's own cover art. Take a look at this:
A snake wrapped around an angel! How Christian is that? You have a snake, biblically symbolic of Satan, entangling an angel, a messanger/servant of God! Which side, darkness or light, is winning in this picture?
If you do not believe that this is the acutal cover art, please see the official Skillet website www.skillet.com and see it there yourselves! Browse the entire website and notice the snakes that keep appearing in the background!! The image above was taken from amazon.com
Getting back to the concert, I entered the auditorium, which was pitch black, with smoke everywhere. Did God tell us to imitate this world or separate ourselves from it? They blasted their music so loudly that no one could hear, let alone understand the lyrics. It just sounded like a secular rock concert to me. It didn't sound any different than the secular (pagan) music I was forced to listen to at work. Well, you have to give them some credit, they did play one slow song that you could make out the lyrics, and they did make a weak, wimpy, watered dowm, easy-believism plea to "give Christ a chance." I do not know if they gave an invitation or at least a challenge at the end, because I walked out of it, but I'd be supprised if it was any stronger than the one they gave us halfway throught the concert.
The concert was attended by both Christians and non-Christians. This would make for a good witnessing opportunity. But your witness goes against you when you act just like the world. During the concert, many were doing the "el diablo" "sign of the devil" hand signal. I was hoping that only the unchurched in the crowd was doing this sign. I noticed that some of the Christians were doing the "love" sign, which looks similar to the "el diablo," but the thumb is pointed out, not in. The members of Skillet should have at least been aware of this, and requested the crowd not to to "el diablo" signs. Not only did they not do this, but they also seemed to encourage them. For suddenly, the lead singer cried out "Let me see your [uninteligible]," while doing a hand sign (which one, I couldn't tell.) The crowd erupted in noise, whith most of them doing the "el diablo," some even with both hands. I couldn't hear exactly what he told them to do, but is it indeed possible that a Christian artist would ask their fans to give them the Sign of the Devil??? is that indeed what he asked? I hope (and pray) not.
I am not saying that the members of Skillet are or are not Christians; only God knows that. But it is evident that they are at least somewhat ignorant and undiscerning regarding the symbology used in their cover art and website graphics. We need to pray for them, that God would take their blinders off.
