Revelation 4:11
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Posted on 07/29/2005 5:11:57 AM PDT by rhema
Is Bono, the lead singer and songwriter for the rock group U2, a Christian? He says he is and writes about Christianity in his lyrics. Yet many people question whether Bono is "really" a Christian, due to his notoriously bad language, liberal politics, and rock star antics (though he has been faithfully married for 23 years). But in a new book of interviews, Bono in Conversation by Michka Assayas, Bono, though using some salty language, makes an explicit confession of faith.
The interviewer, Mr. Assayas, begins by asking Bono, Doesn't he think "appalling things" happen when people become religious? Bono counters, "It's a mind-blowing concept that the God who created the Universe might be looking for company, a real relationship with people, but the thing that keeps me on my knees is the difference between Grace and Karma."
The interviewer asks, What's that? "At the center of all religions is the idea of Karma. You know, what you put out comes back to you: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, or in physics—in physical laws—every action is met by an equal or an opposite one," explains Bono. "And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that. . . . Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I've done a lot of stupid stuff."
The interviewer asks, Like what? "That's between me and God. But I'd be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge," says Bono. "It doesn't excuse my mistakes, but I'm holding out for Grace. I'm holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don't have to depend on my own religiosity."
Then the interviewer marvels, "The Son of God who takes away the sins of the world. I wish I could believe in that."
"The point of the death of Christ is that Christ took on the sins of the world, so that what we put out did not come back to us, and that our sinful nature does not reap the obvious death," replies Bono. "It's not our own good works that get us through the gates of Heaven."
The interviewer marvels some more: "That's a great idea, no denying it. Such great hope is wonderful, even though it's close to lunacy, in my view. Christ has His rank among the world's great thinkers. But Son of God, isn't that farfetched?"
Bono comes back, "Look, the secular response to the Christ story always goes like this: He was a great prophet, obviously a very interesting guy, had a lot to say along the lines of other great prophets, be they Elijah, Muhammad, Buddha, or Confucius. But actually Christ doesn't allow you that. He doesn't let you off that hook. Christ says, No. I'm not saying I'm a teacher, don't call me teacher. I'm not saying I'm a prophet. I'm saying: 'I'm the Messiah.' I'm saying: 'I am God incarnate.' . . . So what you're left with is either Christ was who He said He was—the Messiah—or a complete nutcase. . . . The idea that the entire course of civilization for over half of the globe could have its fate changed and turned upside-down by a nutcase, for me that's farfetched."
What is most interesting in this exchange is the reaction of the interviewer, to whom Bono is, in effect, witnessing. This hip rock journalist starts by scorning what he thinks is Christianity. But it is as if he had never heard of grace, the atonement, the deity of Christ, the gospel. And he probably hadn't. But when he hears what Christianity is actually all about, he is amazed.
I'm going to have to fly that from my tagline for a while. That's good.
Can a Christian be a political-liberal?
I'm not sure where he is on those issues, but I suspect it is fairly close to where I am (and I am no liberal):
Abortion and sodomy are both sins. As I understand scripture, though, ALL sin is equally repugnant to God. So visitors to a sodomite bath house and the abortuary are condemmed in God's sight, but so is the man looking at a woman he is not married to with lust or the woman envying her neighbor's home.
Christ died for the abortionist, homo, adulterer, and coveter just the same as he died for a lying, thieving druggie like me. That is what I tell my lost family which includes people that have had abortions, adulterers, sodomites, all manner of sinners.
There is a time and place for preaching "You're gonna burn for that" and a time and a place for saying "God loves you". The best evangelists speak those two truths equally and appropriately.
I am not a good evangelist. I suspect that "liberal" christians are less comfortable with condemming and emphasize God's forgiveness. A lot of times, me included, other Christians are outraged over those that engage in, facilitate, and encourage others to sin. But the Holy Spirit through Paul let us know in Romans Ch.1 that this is part of human depravity too, so we should not be surprised. Our reaction is to try and prevent, deter, and stop sin. The reaction of others might be to reach out and not condemn. Which one is right? Probably both in equal measure and at the proper time. As another poster mentioned, many christians that work with extensively with the poor are often liberals.
NO he hasnt done his homework.... He is that man. He has been for decades. Those on this site have judged his actions as if they were the scribes and pharisees. I would like to see how many others have used their talents ( I am talking talents in the parable sense) as well as Bono. Others have mocked his every motive. Those that are actually Christians everyday not just on sunday mornging know that what you just read is from someone with authentic faith not Bill Clinton the Bible is a prop faith.
I would reccomend we back of the Judgement not for Bono's sake but because what you measure will be measured to you.
Revelation 4:11
See my profile for info
Well said and thanks for the response. I will just watch and see and not condem cause thats not my duty.
RB
Of course, the Bible also says that there is nothing new under the sun. That means that *none* of us really have an original thought. I guess that makes us all useful idiots, huh?
BTTT
Thanks, wall. I'll have to read the whole lot when I get back from vacation.
http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1450114/10172001/doobie_brothers.jhtml
You sound like a bigger U2 fan than me!
I didn't relalize that moral/religious differences almost broke up the band. I still love them and would be disappointed to see them go, although I didn't think Vertigo was their best work. I think the Joshua Tree is the best album, ever (see my profile ;-) but War has a special place in my heart, as listening to that album is how I became a fan.
I, too, don't agree with Bono on everything, but he is genuine, and as you correctly point out, unlike other celebrities, he gets educated on the issues he cares about!
Too bad Bono didn't punch this guys lights out.
Excellent!!
U got that right.
I read the part about his notoriously bad language and thought, "Who among us Christians has never cursed other idiots on the road, cutting us off in traffic or running us off the road while yapping on a cell phone?" I'm a Christian and NOT proud of some of the words that have flown out of my mouth!
Anyone who is a "perfect Christian" doesn't need Christ.
It is VERY hard to break!
I'm a Christian female who curses like a sailor when angered and that habit is a thorn in my side that I've prayed desperately for years for God to remove! I'm not proud of it!
Good for him!
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