SATURDAY MATINEE MUSIC VIDEO “Rebellion Comes On”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRla4IIngvM

#dream #war #heaven #synthpop #cslewis #fantasyfiction #charleswilliams #warinheaven #johnlennon #davidbowie #newmusik #tonymansfield #ultravox #johnnyjblair #singersongwriter #singeratlarge #sanfrancisco #Casio #jacopastorius #christianrock #progrock #artrock

On a December hike a few years ago I accidentally took a photo I feel should be been named "The centuries hottest Christian Rock album cover!" 😂

@outdoor @nature @photography @photography@lemmy.world @Nature@lemmy.world @hiking@lemmy.world @hiking
@music

#MusicMemes #Music #Memes
#Christian #Rock #ChristianRock
#FridayFrolic #Friday #Frolic
#ThursdayTrek #Thursday #Trek
#OC
#NaturePhotography #Nature #Photography #Photo
#November #Southern #Finland #Archipelago #Åland #Eckerö
#Hiking #InMy #Winter #Wonderland

O Come, O Come On…

Most of you know me well enough to understand my deep-seated desire for worship to be God-centric, un-performative, and theologically sound (see my “Is worship too believer-centric?” posts). So I was intrigued when, in recent days, Skillet released their first ever Christmas song. I listened to Skillet a great deal back in my teens and loved their music. I, though I no longer listen to their music due to changing tastes, maintain a high level of respect for Skillet as musicians.

Imagine my surprise when this new recording of theirs became the center of some criticism. My initial thought was “It’s ‘O Come, O Come, Immanuel.’ What on Earth could anyone have against it?” Then, I remembered who performed it and the genre of music it falls under; Skillet is a Christian rock band, some would even call it a Christian metal band. Accordingly, the rendition they put together of “O Come, O Come Immanuel” is a hard rock/metal rendition. The majority of the song is rendered as classically interpreted by many: soft, quiet, melodious. Then, at the tail end of the recording, about the three-minute mark, there is a decidedly “heavy metal moment” in which Skillet reminds us who is performing… It was a jarring transition to be sure, but for those who understand the medium they’re participating in, it was not wholly unexpected.

ChurchLeaders.com did an interview with Skillet in wake of the criticisms leveled against them. They told ChurchLeaders “that the message of the song … is rooted in hope despite the evil in the world and that Christ has come, Christ is present, and Christians are called to shine light, speak truth, and love even their enemies.” In spite of this, many people have taken to social media to decry them as satanists and devil-worshipers. ChurchLeaders shared some snippets that I will share as well, for your benefit:

“If the Bible is true, music like this will be banned during the Millennium. This does NOT give glory to God at all. If the Devil sang hymns, and sometimes he does, this is what it would sound and look like. Watching with sound off really drives this point home.”

– @Now The End Begins (NTEB)

ChurchLeaders shared two other snippets without attribution:

“Another critic wrote, ‘So demonic,’ and cited Matthew 7:21-23. Another said, ‘Can’t imagine Jesus standing in their midst and doing anything but driving them out with a whip and overturning it all.'”

I have one opinion in that regard: Foolishness and slander.

Especially the account that quoted Matthew 7. For context, that is the scripture that reads: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Skillet has been instrumental in leading many to Christ over the past 30 years. Their music has reached people in places where traditional evangelists could not hope to reach. They have proclaimed the Gospel, the redemptive nature of Christ, and the hope thereof to masses that would never be caught dead in mass. To proclaim judgment unilaterally against a fellow believer that they fall into the camp of those crying “Lord, Lord” … is both obtuse and caviling.

Alisa Childers, a fellow musician, stated that the rendition “… begins reverently and melodically beautiful. This honors the original beauty of the song that expresses a tension and longing for the coming Messiah.” However, she goes on to state that the “drop” (I know this isn’t the proper term in the music industry. Forgive my ignorance in this regard.) also draws upon the deep longing for the return of the Savior.

The imagery of the official music video makes this clear in my mind. There are two images that really draw upon this: the lead singer sitting at the bedside of an empty hospital bed gripping the bedrail and the various band members coalescing in a church seemingly in prayer. In the first instance, it is natural and human to long for the return of the Savior in light of personal loss. In the wake of deep, personal loss, it is human for the one experiencing the loss to yearn to be reunited with their loved one on streets of gold. In fact, “O Come, O Come Immanuel” says “O come, O Key of David, come and open wide our heavenly home. Make safe for us the heavenward road and bar the way to death’s abode.” As for the second image, the whole of the song can be seen as a prayer, of sorts. Every stanza begins by addressing Immanuel and then making the entreaty known.

The drop comes at the three-minute mark when a bright light flashes and the heavier portion begins. To me, this is emblematic of the singer being taken up into heaven, like one of the prophets of old, and getting to experience a greater measure of His glory, perfection, and power. Then, at the close of the song, they revert back to the quiet and melodious singing “O come, O come Immanuel.” The ending refrain reminds me of Revelation 22:20: “He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon!’ Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” In my mind, the singer is brought back to Earth with the cry of their heart being that of John the Revelator: “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!”

However, and this is the thought I will leave you with, for those who are decrying Skillet as being demonic, satan worship, etc., etc. I don’t see it that way. Yes, heavy metal is more heavily dominated by secular artists, but I tend to see Skillet and other Christian rock/metal bands as exemplifying what we learned at the Brownsville Revival: “I went to the enemy’s camp and
I took back what he stole from me.” They have a Joseph anointing and are operating as such. As it says in Genesis 50:20: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” God has brought Skillet to the place they are so that some might be saved. We should rejoice in that instead of criticizing and judging others for their ministry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiErbpZHfbk

#belief #believer #bible #christianMetal #christianRock #christianity #church #faith #god #jesus #johnCooper #skillet #westernChristianity #worship

Friday Oct 24th Drag Queen Flamy Grant will be performing at Niles Discovery Church in Fremont California. Tickets are $23 online (nilesdiscoverychurch.ticketspice.com/flamy-grant-in-concert) or $25 at the door.

"Award-winning and Billboard-charting artist Flamy Grant
is a shame-slaying, hip-swaying, singing-songwriting drag
queen from Asheville, North Carolina. Her 2022 debut record,
Bible Belt Baby, reached the #1 spot on the iTunes Christian
Chart"

#concert #live #DragQueen #CountryRock #christianRock #SanFranciscoBayArea #EastBay #LGBTQ

💪🎸 “Strong Till the Finish” – an 80’s hard rock Christian anthem for men facing life’s battles. Finish the race with faith! #ChristianRock #FaithStrong #StrongTillTheFinish

https://bdking71.wordpress.com/2025/09/11/strong-till-the-finish/