So starts the irresistibly catchy 'Jesus Freak' by Christian soft-rock group DC Talk. The trio comprised of devout Christian's who wanted to spread the message of Jesus of Nazareth through accessible radio friendly rock. Sounding like a religious Nirvana (the band not the Buddhist state of enlightenment) they managed epic success that led them to be signed by EMI records. By 1995 the aforementioned 'Jesus Freak' debuted at number 16 in the Billboard 200, and sold two million copies of the album. It is clear with this success to see why record labels are interested in signing Christian bands, but to me their success is a sign of the growing power of new Christian youth movements.
When I think of Christianity I think of traditions, churches, Jesus on the cross and most particularly an aging congregation enjoying tea and biscuits with the local village clergyman. The historically riveting dependence and obsession religion seen in the crusades, the reformation, Spanish Intuition and the Catholic persecution seem as buried in the past Beta max. Religion, whilst interesting, is ultimately archaic to those who are not religious, and an increasingly small part of the lives of those who are. Or so I thought. Looking across to America we can see the new rock and roll Christianity taking hold and spreading fast. Worryingly they seem to have managed to find their way over here.
The old neighbour who would walk down to the Kirk on a Sunday may look at Rock n Roll and youth culture with a middle class sneer and conservative dismissal, but this is not particularly problematic to music or youth culture. It isn't being threatened by mildly religious people who's concerns are their own and who's beliefs have no bearing whatsoever on anyone else. Despite disagreeing on certain things I don't doubt the lead singer of a new rock band and Mrs Lemington from down the road would manage to enjoy a perfectly civil, enjoyable cup of tea with one another. No, religions threat to youth attitudes and expression isn't from your traditional religious focus. It is coming from a manifestation of Christianity itself.
You may be wondering why I think something as insignificant as people following religion in a non-traditional way is something to fear. The truth is it is more than just an alternative faith, it is propaganda. I came to this realisation when I visited one of these 'Rock n Roll Churches' in Australia. The Planetshakers church in Melbourne was an evening congregation that took place in an auditorium. Predominantly teenagers sat and listened to a mixture of guest speakers and people in their early twenties singing overtly religious songs wearing Britney Spears style microphones. Kids wearing trendier than trendy clothes danced, sang along, applauded and lapped up the show. I call it a show as that's what it was like. It was a gig, a gig with guest speakers admittedly, but a gig all the same. Finding it different to Churches I'm used to didn't startle me, rather it interested me. However there were two things that did concern me.
Half-way through the show one of the good looking mid twenties singers announced to the crowd 'If anyone is here at Planetshakers for the first time raise your hand and one of our friends will come and talk to you'. I resisted the temptation, but watched as those that did raise their hands were taken out of the room by the staff. I like to think they were anally probed, brainwashed and forced to sign their souls away, however I think it was simple indoctrination. The other concern was the content of the songs and the subject matter of the speeches. Not about Christ loving us, no biblical readings and no interesting religious thoughts prophesised from the pastor. Rather it was based around being 'saved' by Jesus, and the immorality of Abortion, homosexuality and pre-marital sex. We were being told that scientific theories such as evolution were false, we were being lied to. I watched around as impressionable teenagers were lapping it up, agreeing, cheering with the content. This is what scared me.
Rather than seeing religion as an archaic institution these kids were being taken to a rock concert, being indoctrinated into a counter-progressive belief system. The flashing lights, cool music and attractive role models were taking these teenagers and turning them into an arch-conservative army of ignorance. Now these churches are coming to Britain, and I fear for our youth. I fear we will be corrupted by religion, corrupted my immorality masking itself morality. It seems that finally Rock and Roll music has arrived to corrupt the youth, not into drug addicted, liberalised delinquents, but into arch-conservative, immoral religious zealots. To these people I urge them to read Mathew 7:15 "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing."
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