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Need Something Heavier than Mo-Tab?

As an active temple recommend carrying, high priest, who teaches Sunbeams, I say to all my fellow Mormons:

 

You probably missed out on some of the best music ever made because someone told you that "heavy" music was bad for your spirit. That if it wasn't written by Janice Capp Perry, Lex De Azevado or appeared on some Mormon movie/ musical soundtrack, or worse it isn't sung by a Mormon popstar, it is going to damage your soul. And, that the only music that can be uplifting is the kind you can listen to on Sunday. (Yet most Mormons have no problem turning on the radio every day and listening to the crap that is on it.)

 

You were sadly misinformed.

 

Let me introduce you to SOME Christian Rock. Notice I said rock, not metal.  There is a big differnce.  Think rock like U2, Pearl Jam, Imagine Dragons, Train, or Rush.  Not metal like Metallica, Slayer or Korn. Also, I said SOME, not all of it.  Just like any genre, there are good bands and not so good ones.  I want to point out some bands that have some real roots in chirtianity, that are worth giving a try.

 

Stop it. I can hear you snickering.  You're saying 'why would I want to listen to rock songs about crosses, salvation, forgiveness and Jesus?'

 

That thinking right there is why you need to listen to it.  Because you missed the whole point! Not by a little, but by light years.

 

So instead of me trying to tell you why you are wrong, let me show you.  I am going to take you through some songs from a handful of bands to make a point.  To help you arrive at a place where you'll either get it, or you won't.  But if you do, then a whole new world of music will be opened up to you.  Then you can visit my posts in the blog to find out about more songs and bands.

 

First, listen and follow along with the lyrics...

Children 18:3 Come In

Lyrics

 

In my journey through the earth I found myself a winter night In the plains of northern somewhere, in a fog of snow and ice. I had just begun to wander ‘bout a place to rest my head. When by chance through the snowstorm, I did see a light ahead. Through the ice and snow, cabin door was opened. A white haired man, with a fiddle and a bow said: Come in, come in. Come in, come in. Well, I told him of my travels and I told him of my life. He just smiled at me and nodded, through the tales of blood and strife. When I asked him for his name, he said: "We've spoken oft' before. Don't worry ‘bout your troubles, son. Just remember what they're for." Come in, come in. Come in, come in. Are you empty? Are you broken? Are you lost and all alone? Unaccepted, suicidal, are you looking for a home? Heavy hearted, forgotten, have you got no place to go? Homosexual, unlovable, are you just a litte low? Come in, come in Come in

Knowing that these three siblings are devout in their faith, there is no question in my mind that they are talking about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

Isn't this what it basically says on the outside of our buildings?  When was the last time you invited someone to come in?

 

And they didn't sing about crosses, burning in hell, salvation or being born again. It was just good music and lyrics with a message.

And that is the first point.  Christian rock (not metal), is often not overtly about God, Jesus, or thumping the bible.  It is about music and lyrics that mean something and don't contain all the crap.  It is about positive messages and mistakes, family and trials, sin and redemption.

 

Think about almost any song you heard on the radio today.  What message did it have?  Did it make you wonder?  Did it provide a message that made you think about why you were here upon the earth? How did it make you feel?

 

Here is a song with a great message.

 

FireFlight For Those Who Wait

This was one of the first Christian Rock songs I ever listen to.  I immediately shared it with my 15 year old daughter.  It was a message I wanted her to hear.  It is a song every kid should hear.  It was also the first Christian Rock concert we ever went to.

 

Here is point number two.

 

Notice that this song was all about our Heavenly Father's plan.  Yet, it could be taken a number of ways. FireFlight was asked if this song was about abstinence.  Their answer was yes, and a lot of other things like self-control, working hard, and living knowing that there is a heaven.

 

Christian Rock provides messages in much the same way scriptures do.  It provides a message that can speak to you in different ways at different times.

 

This multiplicity of messages and how they connected with me is what drew me to Christian Rock in the first place...

This is for those who wait

Another day, another waiting game
A little different but it's still the same
I am here, but where's the one I'm longing for?
I'm having trouble feeling all alone
Will my heart ever find a home?
I want to hope but sometimes I just don't know
I know I'm not the only one

[Chorus:]
So we sing a lullaby to the lonely hearts tonight
Let it set your heart on fire, let it set you free
When you're fighting to believe
In a love that you can't see
Just know there is a purpose
For those who wait

I want to open up my eyes
I know that all I need is time
I'm growing stronger every single day
God, I'm going to lean into You now
Letting go of all my fear and doubt
I can't do this on my own so I'll give You control
I know I'm not the only one

[Chorus]

The pressure makes us stronger
The struggle makes us hunger
The hard lessons make the difference
The pressure makes us stronger
The struggle makes us hunger
The hard lessons make the difference
And the difference makes it worth it

So we sing a lullaby to the lonely hearts tonight
Let it set your heart on fire, let it set you free
When you're fighting to believe
In a love that you can't see
Just know there is a purpose
For those who wait...
(Set your heart on fire...)
This is for those who wait...

Sometimes you just need to rock out...  Let out all the pent up feelings...  You know you want to...

I make no excuses Flyleaf / Lacey Sturm is my favorite band.  I am unabashedly a Sturmtrooper.

 

I have fought demons in my head my entire life.  Not the fluffy, pray once and life is fine kind, but the kicking and screaming, dripping sweat, back me in the corner darkness kind. In a past life, I handled it poorly, but it wasn’t until I was long into adulthood when I realized that many Mormons are like everyone else and have their own demons.  They just don’t talk about it.  On Sunday the come to church put on a smile and hope nobody sees.

 

Instead of feeling welcome and accepted I often felt isolated and depressed. Flyleaf does something with their music that cuts right to the core to me, and puts it into perspective.  They hit it head-on, like a freight train.  They make you feel it. The music often drives the message. It touches exposed nerves... even for Mormons.

 

Then it gives you hope.  With one song they drive home the pain.  Then through another provide hope, acceptance, love and God.  That is, if you allow yourself to get that far.  YouTube Lacey Sturm’s testimony.  Then you’ll know why.

 

Why would a Mormon want to go through that?  Why not just listen to hymns?  Sometimes you just have get it all out.  Let me show you.

 

First, read along to and listen to the acoustic version.

Flyleaf So Sick

But the guy playing the guitar doesn't look...

  

Get over it.  Why do they have to look a "Certain way" to hear the music and message?

I'm So Sick

 

If you want more of this
We can push out, sell out, die out
So you'll shut up
And stay sleeping
With my screaming in your itching ears

I'm sick, infected with
Where I live
Let me live without this
Empty bliss, selfishness
I'm so sick
I'm so sick

Hear it, I'm screaming it
You're heeding to it now
Hear it, I'm screaming it
You tremble at this sound

You sink into my clothes
This invasion makes me feel
Worthless, hopeless, sick

I'm so sick, infected with
Where I live
Let me live without this
Empty bliss, selfishness
I'm so, I'm so sick

I'm so sick, infected with
Where I live
Let me live without this
Empty bliss, selfishness

Let me live, please
Let me live, live
Let them live
Let us live

 Now, let it out... All of it...

 

This version brings you into what a lot of people feel everywhere, even Mormons.  My daughter tells me this is what high school feels like. To me it is what my demons feel like. 

 

Pain screams, so does she.  Feel it. Embrace it. Let it go...

 

I was told once by an LDS therapist that Mormons have a hard time getting over things becuase they can't "embrace the horror." They think they know that EVERYTHING is meant for their benefit and that they will grow, survive, and find peace. But, then they paint on the smile, tell everyone that nothing is wrong, and keep up appearances like a good LDS soldier. Heaven forbid we ever talk about our demons or let people see behind the facade.

Anthropologically speaking, art has always been a showing of emotion.  Being able to portray an emotion is at the heart of any good song, whether it be a hymn or a gut wrenching explanation of pain or sickness.  Additionally, music has ALWAYS been a shared experience.  You gravitate to music that speaks to you on some level for a reason.  

 

If you feel it, the music has done its job.  The rest is up to you. You do something with it.  Either it eats you up, or helps you move forward.  The interesting thing about this song is that it is a cry for help.  How many people are out there crying for help and you don't see it because you don't want to "deal with it?"  The Savior didn't turn the sinner or depressed or possesed away.  In thier darkest hour he pulled them up.  But, he didn't do it without understanding the pain they felt.

Lacey Sturm You're Not Alone

There is always light after the darkness, Flyleaf and Lacey always bring you back to the light.  They always want you to know the other side. 

 

You're not alone.

 

I dare anyone tell say that this song isn't the Gospel as we know it and if it was written by an LDS singer it wouldn't be everyone's favorite.

Flyleaf  Arise

It is true, Flyleaf is heavy.  Half their songs are like the harder one above. And yes, she screams.  Get over it.  In an interview she shares that sometimes you have to scream to get people to listen. Even when the message is uplifting.

 

But the most important thing to her and to Flyleaf, was to share a positive message.  They had you feel what you feel and then helped you find some peace.  Often times, the song is about what a loving God, or your Father, would say to you.

 

Like this one.

You should have noticed by now that Christian Rock, at least the songs I have shown you so far, aren't bible thumping, crosses and born again conversion songs.  It is great music with uplifting messages.  That is where most Mormons have little understanding.  You don't have to sit in church, listening to hymns, or Saturday's Warrior to feel uplifted. Nonmembers feel the Spirit too.  The light of Christ can be shared in different forms than the ones you are used to. And in some ways, this reaches a whole lot more people.

 

 I don't think you could honestly say that you weren't touched in some way by the end of Arise. 

Christian Rock doesn't have to have heavy meaning with Gospel insights, although most of it does.  It could also just be great music.  The following three songs are by great Christian bands AND are just great music.

Amberlin
Unwinding Cable Car
Childrem 18:3
Don't Stop Moving
FM Static
Lost in You

It can also be just fun.  They seem to be able to have more fun without being crass and derogatory.  These are a little lighter songs.  There are other tongue in cheek songs that are more heavy.  You're not ready those ones yet.

Relient K
Mood Rings
Anberlin
Foreign Langauge
Children 18:3
Oh, Brovo

It can also be soft an poignant

Children 18:3
Always on the Run
Lacey Sturm
Faith
Anberlin
Stranger Ways

I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.

They can also get heavy, hard and rockin.

The lyrics are included + some tidbits

Children 18:3
All in Your Head
Flyleaf
Chasm
Anberlin
We are Destroyer

Imagine a rock band telling you to get up and jump around, but follow some rules...

 

lyrics

 

Don't blame us, It's just the time of the evening
The sun goes down, we all get the feeling
It's dark out but we got lights on
A circus attraction, we got action
So get out and run, let the windows down
Wherever you are, it ain't that far
And all that said just to set up the moment
You've got an appointment, lets see some movement

Come on! You're distracted and I expected something crazy
Come on! A little bit louder, a little bit harder

All of those bad things that they told you about rock and roll may be true
But not this evening

 

So cut the ribbon, light the match,pull the trigger, hit the ceiling
We came here tonight to hang with the kids and put on a show
With no bad dealing
Can I have your attention, your affection?
Stick to the policy, give us your energy

Come on! You're distracted and I expected something crazy
Come on! A little bit louder, a little bit harder
Come on, its all in your head
No excuses or bad misuses
Sing it again, sing it again
 

This is one of my daughter's favorite songs. Let me explain my daughter.  She may be small and shy on the outside, but she is a lion on the inside. She has struggled in her life with being small, shy and unknown.  But she is strong, smart, capable and wise beyond her years.

 

When she hears this song the head banger part of her erupts. "It makes me happy." She says. "I don't know why I just feel it."

 

This song is about is about Luke 16:19-26 and the parable of Lazarus and the rich man. Look it up. Great message.

 

In April 2016, My daughter went and saw Lacey Sturm's concert for her solo album.  Yes, it was an all-ages show, Yes, it was a school night, and yes it was in a bar.

 

After the show, my daughter and I were waiting in line to buy t-shirts and a poster. Suddenly, there was Lacey.  She was signing stuff for people and turned to my daughter and said, "Wow! You have this light about you.  You shine. You are so strong.  A lot of people think that being loud is strong, but it is people like you that have real strength.  I want you to know that God made you that way for a purpose."

 

Think back to what I said.  She was shy and quiet. Now think about what Lacey told her out of the blue.

 

My wonderful daughter will never forget the time when she stood in a bar, after a rock show and felt the spirit as someone who was in tune told her something she longed to hear.

 

There is also another story here, find the blog post "a bar, my daughter & screaming."

Think of the message of this song.

 

More relavent today than any song on the radio and kids and adults need to hear and understand the lyrics.

 

You don't get that from Katty Perry.

Something that needs
to be said

Flyleaf was once asked if they were a "Christian band?"

 

Their answer was essentially if a plumber is Christian does that make him a Christian Plumber?

 

Many of the bands I like are put out by Christain labels.  The bands aren't trying to scream out that they are Christian, but their faith permeates their work.

 

Isn't that the same as any devout person, no matter thier religion?  No matter what I do, I am a Mormon.  Does that make me a Mormon bussiness man?

 

I hope so.

 

 

Yep, a lot of them have tatoos, long hair and don't look like they are ready for Sacrement Meeting.  But, if that is what you took from this, you're not ready to open a whole new world that just might be something you would enjoy. You may be better off with a narrower scope of music. But, the next time you hear a crapy song, with degrading lyrics and a stupid message on the radio, remember I told you of a palce where you can find good music with great messages.

 

There are a lot of categories of Christain music  -  Rock / Pop / Metal / Rap/ Worship. This blog is NOT aboout all of them. I have a hard time with Christian Metal and I don't do rap.  Truth is, if I wanted worship music then I would turn to hymns, LDS "music" or Mo Tab.  But, when I want to "rock out,"  there is a safe place for me to go.  This site is about ten or so bands that fit into my preference. It is what I enjoy. I hope you enjoy it too.

 

So now, go explore the blog posts in the blog area on this site.  Find stuff you like.  Learn about the bands.  Broaden your view and most of all rock out and have fun. In the Blog area I will add posts every so often so check back in once in a while.

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