that God is with you all the time. You might be [John] That’s a really hard question, I honestly we necessarily need to become just like the
picking up on a little cynicism. It’s fine, I believe don’t know. I do agree with the fact there are culture around us. But I do think that the church
all of those things, so I don’t mind saying it. a lot of similarities to the 60’s movements that has got to be influential on the world.
But the truth is the reason I wrote this song are happening in politics and in our culture right wasn’t because I was afraid to be alone. The now. I think that what we’re experiencing now There are a lot of things where people say,
reason I wrote this song is because the church is kind of the grandchild of what happened in “These people don’t have voices so we’re
today is just flipping to and fro on every wave the 60’s, which was kind of the beginning of marching for them!” And I look at it and go,
of doctrine. Church today has no idea who a post-modern philosophy. Now our kids are man, that’s a pretty hateful organization, I’m not
she is because we don’t believe in the Bible being raised in a post-modern society, where really sure that’s what that means. I don’t want
anymore, we think that the Bible is antiquated there is no objective truth. It’s your truth, and to get too much into it because then all of my
and we need to find new things that are more it’s my truth, and my experience equals my politics get into it and I don’t really love talking
inclusive for the world, and we think that the truth, things like that. So, I don’t know the about politics. But I do think that the church
reason nobody is coming to church is because answer. There are a lot of similarities. I think the has got to be influential on the world, and what
we’re not updating ourselves. I just believe the church needs to find where she is going to be I see happening right now is that the world is
reason people are not coming to church is at in terms of when do we become involved in being influential on the church. That’s true of
because we’re not preaching the greatness of politics, and when do we not get involved with the church today, and songwriters today with
the Gospel of Christ and the truth of the Word, politics. When we do see that, no matter who worship songs. When’s the last time we heard
the Bible. is in office, it isn’t going to give us salvation. a worship song about God’s holiness? Meaning
That’s what Christ does. So, what is the church that we are not holy, and that He is holy, and we
response to it? need to obey Him because He also can be an
I talk to so many people who say, “I just
don’t know what to believe because they’re
angry God. We don’t sing about those kinds of
saying this, but they’re saying that”. And I’m I think that the church at large has a responsibility things. Instead, what we sing about is, “He’s for
like, “If you would just anchor yourself to the to speak about justice. This is where I see a lot me, He’s with me, He’s for me, and I’m strong.”
unchanging Word of God and the unchanging of problems happening, and some of what you He is for you, but He’s also a jealous God, so
person of Christ, everything would be working asked me about when you were talking about let’s get our priorities straight, that’s how I feel.
out fine, and that would be your answer”. So, the song “Anchor”. A lot of Christian people the truth is that the reason I wrote the song was saying that what Jesus would do is He would [WM] I heard a pastor say that God no longer
out of an annoyance with the church today, help the marginalized, Jesus was into justice sits on a throne. He sits on a love seat.
but I can never really share that in Christian and He helped the poor and the marginalized.
interviews because people don’t relate to it,
[John] (laughs) I don’t even think we’re singing
they think it sounds mean and that I am just I guess what I’m getting at is this: I think that about God anymore. I think we’re singing about
being polarizing. The truth is that people are the church could really stand to have some us. I don’t even think they’re singing about the
falling all over themselves because they don’t teaching about stability. Let’s get some kind same God, because the God they’re singing
read the Bible and they don’t understand the of middle of the road stuff about where our about is just so gentle and so sweet and so
Word of God basically. religion and politics don’t have to necessarily okay with anything that you want to do or be. I
coincide all the time, and I think that in terms hear you but He’s the Lion and the Lamb.
[WM] 50 years ago, the situation was much of songwriters I do think we should sing about the same in the United States as it is now. justice, I do think we should sing about helping [WM] Your new song, “Save Me”, is particularly
The Vietnam War, racial oppression, rampant the poor and the marginalized, I do think we compelling. The lyrics cry out:
drug use, three assassinations, and a real need to stand up for those who don’t have questioning of political authority and cultural voices, and at the same time I don’t think that
“Peal back the skin exposed to you
values, were all tearing the country apart and Take pleasure in the pain
were backdrops of the Jesus Movement. “Jesus Please don’t stop it
Music” was a response to the singer/songwriter Tell me what I’m supposed to do
movement of the day, and to those unsettled It ain’t easy to open up this way
times mentioned. What should songwriters and I can’t help it, reaching for the light
aspiring artists in the church do in response to Reaching from inside, help me tonight
what’s happening in our society? I’m closer to the edge tonight
I’m standing on the edge
Save Me // Skillet
24
September 2019
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