I was sat playing my bass earlier today and I suddenly remembered I hadn't posted a blog for a good few months, to be honest I felt pretty awful. I had promised myself that I would post regularly and it just didn't happen, primarily because I have been fairly busy. I've got a few thoughts that will be spread across a few posts in the coming days but for now I want to discuss the last few days just briefly...
We are finished for the term here at Moorlands (I still have an essay to write, but that is a subject for another post!) and it went out with quite a bang: the Moorlands Variety Show! Involving Bhangra dancing, a rather disturbing video created by myself and a very good friend of mine Chris, some great music and to top it all off a marriage proposal (congratulations to James and J!!). However, the following morning I cleared off, skipping out on the final chapel of the year and the end of term breakfast, to Chesterfield to meet Mark Broomhead and his wife Sarah, founders of The Order of the Black Sheep (OBS). I will be on a placement with them for five weeks from early January and I am very much looking forward to getting involved up there with the amazing work they're doing.
One of my greatest 'smile moments' this term must have been the first meeting of the Moorlands Metal Cell. We are a small group of people, all from different backgrounds but all of us have a love for various kinds of metal. After I got back home from Nordicfest I found myself with a huge burden for the folk in college who had been alone for most of their church lives in their love for the extreme end of music. I have struggled in the past, perhaps under the radar, with opening up and being honest with people about how much I love extreme music. There seems to be a culture of almost apologising for liking it, I suppose I need to get over it but it is rather difficult.
'So what sort of music are you into?'
'Well, um, I like heavy music... But I also like lots of other things like Justin Timberlake!!!!'
Why not just say, 'I like extreme metal.' then have the other person pull a weird face, question your sanity and edge slowly away? I think like many Christian metallers I have this inherent desire to be accepted by the church and don't get me wrong it is better than it was 10 or 20 years ago, but there still seems to be a shying away from this 'black sheep' culture. We seem to be the ones who are just too far gone, we are the ones who will laugh off the jokes about our 'Satan music' or the 'Satan worshipping festivals' and who totally find them hilarious. How would a standard, evangelical Bible College Christian feel if I started knocking 'worship music'? I've tried it, it does not go down well.
Sometimes I wish people could listen to and acknowledge the power that comes with metal, you have this strange sort of dichotomy now: wishy washy, ambiguous 'worship music' which is as dull as dull can be VS powerful, declarative, unashamed metal of all genres which sounds like it speaks. I used to think it was my calling to turn every Christian into a metalhead but it just will never work, people are too safe within the confines of their bubble and if anything tries to burst it, well, decry it as 'noise'. I've talked about this before, I don't care if someone dislikes it just don't try to tell me I should also dislike it.
Metallers seem to be one of the most misaligned groups in the Church today, they are often left to their own devices, it is assumed that they will just band together and be a little clique. Now, while it is important to encourage each other with mutual passions, it is just as important to accept them into the body. I've experienced this to some degree with my current church (more about them in a later post!!) but there is still this weird sort of, 'leave him to his own devices, he'll work himself out!' vibe. When metal is such a part of me that I find it hard to have a conversation without working it in (heck, whenever I preach I end up quoting a song!) why can that not be accepted just as much as musicals, Switchfoot, sports, dancing or film? Why should it always be questioned/mocked/joked about?
Why is it that metallers tend to be the quiet ones who sit at the back of church? I'll tell you, it's often because they simply don't feel welcome. No matter whether or not you would accept them or not experience has often shown that they just cannot broach the subject of metal, it has shown them that people will judge them based on what they see (it still happens), not what they experience.
Anyway, this post has become a fairly lengthy ramble about something it wasn't meant to be about so I will go to sleep now. I will be posting probably daily for the next couple of weeks with thoughts, poems etc.
Goodnight friends, and don't take this as a pity post, take it as a truth post.
For now, I leave you with love (and one of my favourite songs at the moment!),
The_Rambler
Oh Sleeper - The New Breed
Interesting little rant there Ben, I see you point and I wish that more people could be confident in the music they listen to especially if it glorifies God. Your placement looks awesome too, I checked out the website when I read the name. P.s. don't think that my dancing went unquestioned/mocked & joked. and I know my friend Ruth feels the same about her involvement in sport. So you're not alone out there, Christians can be rather frustrating people! Love You Man, and great blog as per usual!! xx
ReplyDeleteAye! Apologies if it appeared selfish, I've seen some of the flak you've had, often these rant moments are so horribly introspective...! Praying for your block placement mate, love you more!!
ReplyDeletex
Great blog mate. Came just at the right time as well; I saw (well watched the first minute before getting incredibly frustrated and turning it off) a youtube video from a pastor saying there is no thing as Christian Rock (let alone metal) as it's from the devil, and he went to a Christian rock gig and demons ran at him (apparently). I get so annoyed at closed mind people who will rip Sleeping Giant to pieces, but at the end of the day these guys are seeing people come to Christ through their ministry. Christians love to knock other people's ministries down because they don't agree with it, despite the fruit it is producing. But on the other hand I think the Church is becoming more accepting of alternative cultures, or maybe that's just my personal observation because I don't look like I listen to metal and so can get away with it. I am very blessed to have a Pastor who is very open to the idea of people being able to worship God in their own personal way, whether that it through metal, dance, rap or painting. At the end of the day that's what it is; worship.
ReplyDeletePeace and blessings.
Love you man. xx
I would concur with you on the joy that it is to have accepting pastors (a lot of the congregation also are pretty nice! =]). On the whole the church is getting better with it, I think that metalheads in the church need to put themselves forward within local church, demonstrate to people (as I try to) that we are more lovely, kind and accepting than many of the 'normal' looking Christians!! =P
ReplyDeleteLove ya bro xx