Salty dogma: Bono gives an explicit confession of being saved by Grace, not Karma

WORLD ^ | August 6, 2005 | Gene Edward Veith

[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.

[The Iguana]

bump for later read.

[L,TOWM]

Hang in there and keep praying for more fruit (Galations Ch 5). I did'nt quit smoking until a year ago - God works on his own schedule - my filthy pie hole got (mostly) cleaned out years before my compulsion to smoke fell away.

It is a rare occurence for a filthy word to cross my lips.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Bono ping.

[L,TOWM]

back of the Judgement not for Bono's sake but because what you measure will be measured to you

Right out of Romans Chapter 2. Well said, sir.

[Rightly Biased]

Agreed on Salvation

So how does one square up Christianity and Liberal political beliefs?

I say they don't and you can't be a Christian and Support what the political liberals support, The core beliefs don't square up.

So which would one give up Christ or Core liberal beliefs of Abortion,Homosexual marriage etc?..

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

ping

[Skooz]

I think swearing must be like smoking -- when it's been a lifelong habit, it's hard to break.

Only once a year. When I do my taxes.

[pollyannaish]

Although I disagree with him politically, I believe his Christian faith is deeply rooted and very personal. He lives what he believes and I actually respect the guy.

Of all the celebrities that open their mouths about politics, I think this guy actually does homework and is trying to do what he believes in. He's not just shooting off at the mouth to be part of the "hipster" crowd.

I also believe that sometimes politics (not beliefs) can get in the way of bringing people to Christ and sharing one's faith. I try to be careful about that, but fail far too often. That said, I still think his approach to the third world is misguided. No matter how much money we send, they will not eat until their own governments quit actively working against their own citizens.

[loftyheights]

Bono knows the gospel! There seem to be lots of Christians who don't. They instead give there hearts to Jesus or make a commitment to God or some such thing. It sounds like Bono is confessing that what matters is not what we give or do(thankfully in his and my case) but what God gives and does for us. This is true religion! I might not like his politics but his religion is spot on!

[altura]

Exactly what I thought about (C.S. Lewis) when I first read it.

[justche]

Agreed! There's a book of letters of Francis Schaeffer, if I remember correctly there are several letters between Lewis and Schaeffer. It was great.

[Straight Vermonter]

He certainly feeds the poor, as Christ commands. Many here can criticize him for his politics, but God sees what he's doing and I'm sure He's pleased that Bono is following His command to feed the poor. I wonder how many of us even send a few bucks to help the poor. It's a command!

I don't believe anyone has criticized him for giving to the poor. The issue is more about him telling others to give money, not to the poor, but to the rapacious "leaders" of third world nations.

[elc]

I think swearing must be like smoking

Haven't read all the way through to see if someone brought this up yet, but swearing in Ireland is not as taboo as it is here. People here swear because they think its not allowed and it makes them cool (or they have a mouth of a sailor, like me). People in Ireland swear as a part of everyday conversation - at work, school, the pub, and I bet in Church. Most of my Irish friends cannot understand why we make such a big deal about it. So if people are making a big deal about Bono's swearing, that certainly isn't coming from the Irish people.

[Thaddeus]

Is it within the realm of possibility that they both (Lewis and Bono)read the scriptures and formed the same conclusions? "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Rom. 10:17

[nairBResal]

"He certainly feeds the poor, as Christ commands."

The poor like Mugabe.

[agrace]

ping

[Lost Highway]

40 Lyrics by U2

I waited patiently for the Lord
He inclined and heard my cry
He brought me up out of the pit
Out of the miry clay

I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song

How long to sing this song
How long to sing this song
How long...how long...how long...
How long...to sing this song

He set my feet upon a rock
And made my footsteps firm
Many will see
Many will see and fear

I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song

How long to sing this song
How long to sing this song
How long...how long...how long...
How long...to sing this song

I'm sure you know, but, just for the benefit of those that may not. The song 40 is based on Psalm 40 and was on the War album recorded in 1983.

[Romish_Papist]

Bono may be something of a Leftist, but I think he's a true believer, not a glory seeker. He's not doing it to make waves and gain popularity. He did make friends with CLinton, but he has done the same with GWB. I think he's actually sincerely trying to look past the blatantly political aspects of it all and actually trying to effect change regardless of whom he has to work with.

Again, I think as far as the causes he espouses, he's a true believer (unlike most unstable deranged Leftists with their misguided notions of "social justice" stemming from self-loathing). And though I may disagree with his politics, his aims are noble and I can certainly say I repsect him a great deal for his character. He puts his money where his mouth is. All in all, political disagreements aside, he's a good man.

Music-wise, blah. The first album was good, then they got all weird and artsy. :)

[elc]

Bono has always been a Christian. He says it was his Catholic upbringing that leads him to want to help the poor of the world. In his 20s, he and his bandmates became more vocal about their Christianity and people say that he was born again. He says that he is not a fan of that term because he never lost his faith.

I found this about U2:

Are U2 Christians?

In a word: yes.

Longer explanation: In the band's early years, it was no secret that Bono, Edge, and Larry were very active in their faith. For a time in the early 80s, the three joined a religious group called Shalom, and struggled for some time to reconcile their beliefs with the rock and roll lifestyle. Songs such as "Gloria", "40", and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" are very open in their religious and spiritual overtones. In more recent years, Bono has not worn his faith on his sleeve as openly as he did in past years. But to examine things such as Zoo TV, the Mirrorball Man, and MacPhisto, and to take the lyrics of songs such as "Wake Up, Dead Man" and others, and draw the conclusion that Bono (and U2) are no longer believers is to completely miss the point. These things were not U2 embracing the dark side, it was U2 exposing the dark side. As Bono often quoted, "Mock the devil and he will flee from thee." The message has not changed over the years ... but sometimes it's been a little harder to find.

If all that's not enough, various band members have said in recent interviews that they ARE still believers. Here's a quote from Bono during his appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, September 20, 2002:

I'm a believer, but religion is the thing when God, like Elvis, has left the building. But when God is in the house, you get something else. I'm happy in a Catholic cathedral or a tent show down in the South with gospel music.

Here's another quote from Bono, this time in response to a student who asked how Bono's faith informs his activism. It's from a Q&A session during DATA's "Heart of America" tour in late 2002:

"I'm not a very religious person. I'm a need to practice much more Christian. I'm uncomfortable in churches because the Christ I love and read about in the Gospels is often not in the churches. Remember, I come from Ireland and I've seen the damage of religious warfare. I am a believer. I don't wear the badge on the outside but it is on the inside."

And in December, 2002, Hot Press magazine asked Edge about his faith:

Yourself, Larry and Bono were all members of the Shalom Christian prayer group in the early days of U2. Are you still religious?

I still have a spiritual life, but I'm not really a fan of religion per se. You know, what I believe is very much what I ended up coming to. It's not a doctrine that is connected to any church or any religious group. It's very much my own personal thing.

Are you raising your kids as Catholics?

Em . . . technically yes, but again I'm not in favour of presenting something that I think is ultimately very personal in any kind of fundamental way. I think it's really up to everyone, when they reach a certain age, to figure it out for themselves. You know, they are Catholic in terms of their upbringing or whatever, but really they'll decide themselves what they wanna believe, when they get older.

Hopefully these quotes answer the question adequately.

[Romish_Papist]

I've been two weeks without a cigarette. NOT easy.