Zach Brown is an amazing musician who delves into a lot of different genres on his albums and in concert. I love his music and have heard him interviewed; he seems like a good guy. Recently, though, Mr. Brown has been accused of cavorting with Satan during his concerts at the Las Vegas Sphere – imagery that included skulls and unusual and dark symbols. The leader of the Church of Satan, his unholiness (that’s hilarious) Rev. Jared Mammon (dude has a sense of humor), jumped to Zach’s defense, telling people to stop demonizing rock musicians for not using only Christian themes. “He sold his soul to the Devil!” some of his fans cried. Other’s pointed fingers, saying, “Now, at least, we know who you worship.” What a mess! I wonder if he and his bandmates have 666 tattooed on their bodies somewhere.
I have never been a big fan of evil – in fact, I think it is a very bad thing – but I am also unsure how the Prince of Darkness is manifested in the world. I have known people I believe are evil, but most of them claimed to follow Jesus. I have seen a lot of behavior – legal and otherwise – that I think crosses into the evil category, and a lot of good people doing bad things that end up producing far more that is wrong and hurtful than is good. But – is the Devil really at work in the musical performances of good old boys like Zach Brown? It wouldn’t be precedent setting – Ozzie Osborne sang lyrics that were demonic and lyrics that were more Christian than most Christian bands. Rush put a big old Pentagram on the covers of some of their albums. Supertramp sang that “the devil is my savior.” Are these people minions of Lucifer, being provocative, or just trying to make money?
I don’t know. I have to admit that I am far more worried about the bad things being done to oppressed people around the world than I am about the possibility of some yahoos spilling goat’s blood on an altar in the woods. I’m far more concerned about priests and preachers and politicians destroying people’s lives than I am about a few skulls showing up on a video screen. I don’t think the devil is a real being, but I do believe that evil exists, and that it comes, mostly, out of greed and desire for power. God created imperfection, but I think people turn it into evil. I would rather deal with the devils we know than worry about the weird, creative musings of some overpaid musicians. They aren’t hurting anyone, as far as I can see. But the others I mention? You bet they are.
Prayer – Holy God, whisper sanity into the ears of those who make foolish accusations. And whisper a warning to those who cause pain and suffering. Amen.
Today’s art is a compilation of the band Rush’s album covers.