I was not anticipating writing another blog so soon after my last. I like to let my blogs be digested and to internalise my thoughts before creating new ones. However I have just read something that has left me so dumbfounded and quite frankly angry. What is the cause of my unbrage? Judgementalism - specifically judgementalism about Christian metal about very trivial matters. Let me explain. Practically since Christians started playing heavy metal there have been detractors who have accused the said Christians of deceit, hypocrisy and out right satanism! Yet not only do Christian bands have to face the full force of the genres critics but also of Christian fans who believe it is their prerogative to shoot down and judge any Christian band they feel is not being 'Christian enough'. So on the one hand you have a pharisaical spirit that denounces all Christian metal as of the Devil and on the other you have a religious spirit that condemns bands for not conforming to their ideal of the perfect evangelistic super holy and righteous Christian metal band.
I have been listening to metal for the past 10 years and I have seen the way many of my favourite bands have been judged and condemned for the reasons stated above. It is extremely sad and disappointing. But only this afternoon I learnt of the most recent example. Becoming the Archetype, a progressive death metal band and one of the most important Christian bands of the last decade in my opinion, released their new album a few days ago. Sarcastically the band made a comment on their facebook about the album containing Fred Durst like hand gestures, which may be unsuitable for children - Fred Durst was at one time one of the most well known nu-metal frontmen from the band Limp Bizkit and was famous for his outlandish image and antics. The comment was clearly a joke aimed at Fred Durst, and while its humour may have been subtle and its barb at the music of Limp Bizkit may only have been funny to long term fans of metal it was met with some vitriolic indignation by some fans.
According to a blog written by the band to defend themselves against many cruel and unfounded accusations they were even called 'satan's sellouts' by some and the integrity of their beliefs were brought into question. I couldn't believe what I was reading! Incidents like these are absolutey ridiculous and are perfect examples of an un-Christ-like heart. Did Jesus respond with scorn and rejection to sinners? No. Jesus conversed with such people with patience, compassion and love. None of us are perfect and even if the aforementioned joke was a little distasteful to some peoples' sense of humour it in no way deserved the hateful reaction it got. The Church and many Christians need to take a long hard look at themselves in the mirror. There is too much judgementalism surrounding the sincerity of Christian metal bands. If they are not treated with suspicion because of the style of music they play, they are judged for not being good enough Christians. But none of us are perfect and if God only used perfect people then no one would be a Christian today. Fact.
As a metalhead (although I use the label less as a medal of honour than I used to) Christian bands like Becoming the Archetype have been nothing short of God-sends, a ray of light in an otherwise darkened genre. They are so important not only in supporting me spiritually but as a witness in the secular music world. Christian fans should do everything in their power to support spiritually through prayer their favourite bands rather than condemn them unjustly and hypocritically. For the Bible says that breaking just one law makes us law breakers. It doesn't matter whether our sins are the same as others, we are all sinners. My message to any Christian metal fan reading this: stop putting Christian bands on pedestals and pray that God would give you the gift of discerning of spirits to reveal to you whether you have a religious or pharisaical spirit that is not of God. Jesus said beware the yeast of the Pharisees - it is not true Christianity.
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