The Deep Depths of Relevancy: A Response

We have been recently deluged with comments regarding a post on our blog from the end of July. It was about the Cornerstone Music Festival and the way the festival and bands are trying to attract people to the event. I cannot answer each one personally as most were posted anonymously. It seems better to start with a new post to answer questions as opposed to creating a long comments thread.

First, I stated that Texas Chainsaw Massacre was shown at the festival and was accused of lying. I got my information from a person who attended the festival. It is an eyewitness account. I assume that the movie was part of an evening as described by the Cornerstone website where they showed movies that were “not kid friendly.” They describe them as “movies your mother warned you about and that you watched anyway.” So that is where I got my info.

Next, most of the comments were negative against my assessment of the band Grave Robber. They are a band who dress in costumes that make them look like they are decomposing corpses. In the comments, many claim that the band is reaching a horror-punk subculture in a way that no one else can.

The question is, does the end justify the means? Do we really need to become more and more like the world in order to reach the world? Isn’t the very nature of a Christian one who has been saved from the world and is no longer a slave to the world and to sin and to the flesh? Grave Robber is trying to be like the world. They promote the fact that some of their influences include Alice Cooper, Type O Negative, GWAR, and Black Sabbath. So, in essence, they are saying “We are like those sinful things that your sinful flesh desires.” They are taking the worst of the world and trying to Christianize it. At the same time, they are giving credence to the very bands they mentioned. They do not speak against them but try to emulate them. And on a personal note, I know these bands well. I was a big fan of Type O Negative at one point, and they are not anything to try and emulate. Why do we need a poor, Christianized version of something evil?

Trying to use the world and its ways to attract people is against scripture itself. Here are a few: ". . . do not be conformed to this world. . ." -Romans 12:2. "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ." -Colossians 2:8. "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." -1 John 2:15. "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God." -1 Corinthians 3:19.

We just produced a video on this subject that may be helpful to you. http://vimeo.com/15035465. Please watch it and remember that it is not based on what we think but what scripture says.

Next, some of the comments defended the sincerity and genuineness of the guys in Grave Robber. I am not saying anything against their sincerity or personal devotion. I do not know any of them. But as the old saying goes you can be sincere, yet sincerely wrong. Plus, even if someone was converted to Christ, the end does not justify the means. I rejoice over a conversion, but pragmatism is not the rule of thumb. Scripture is our only source of truth.

Some have questioned why I am against their celebration of death since death is natural and all around us. We do not rejoice in nor glorify death. Horror movies and zombies are unacceptable because they are not only glorifying death but glorifying death by entertainment. They also glorify the sin of murder. At this moment I can hear the argument of “Well, don’t we glory in the death of Jesus?”. Yes, but any such questions shall be ignored and not posted. There is great difference between the atoning sacrifice of our savior and the morbid fascination with murder and the death of sinners. Death is the result of sin. It should be preached but not gloried in.

Lastly, we will not allow comments that only call names or are rude or offensive. We don’t mind being disagreed with, but when someone resorts to name calling, we will keep it off our blog. I will respond to one comment, however, that resorted to such tactics. I was called a tie-wearing door-knocking do-gooder who would not have the guts to share Christ in a dark bar room at midnight on a Friday.” You apparently do not know me. First, I hate wearing ties. Secondly you envision me as a suit wearing fundamentalist. Funny. I am covered in tattoos as a result of the sinful lifestyle I had before Christ saved me. I know where this culture is. I was in it. As I said earlier, I loved bands such as Type O Negative. If you know anything about them, you know where I was. I was saved on my way to jail one afternoon. The sin I once loved I now hate. And as far as going to bars is concerned, I’ve been there too. I have been to bars in the middle of the night in order to share the gospel. I have labored with a fellow brother to bring the gospel to those folks because we were once one of them.

I urge the people who run Cornerstone and bands like Grave Robber to repent of trying to be worldly in order to reach the world. Don’t depend on gimmicks. Depend on the Sprit of God. Use scripture as your guide. Study the Word for yourself and seek wisdom from God.