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 physicsin physical lawsevery 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 wasthe Messiahor 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.
Thanks for posting.
Bono is anything but a new believer.
"I think swearing must be like smoking -- when it's been a lifelong habit, it's hard to break."
Yep. Mostly when I'm seething mad.
bttt
He was an Irish Catholic before fame smacked him in the head...
Wow!
"And God gave his only begotten son so that no man should perish, but that all should have everlasting life"
"Grace, my good man, Grace!"
You think Hitler and the ruthless Nazi concentration camp doctor Dr. Josef Mengele got ever lasting life?
The only language I detest and won't tolerate either from myself or from others is the taking of the Lord's name in vain. As for the "salty" language others have mentioned, I figure that Jesus made disciples of working men - fishermen, especially - and I can't imagine that there wasn't an occasional cuss word among them.
As to the comments about how Bono has drawn directly from C.S. Lewis, well, the great thing about Lewis' work is that he has made great truths simple, understandable and able to be passed on to others who may or may not have extensive intellect. When I've used these same explanations, I make it a point to ask if the person I'm talking to likes to read. If they do I refer them to "Mere Christianity"; if not, I just share the ideas. I'm sure Lewis doesn't care whether he's given credit - and, yes, I know he's passed on, but he's part of the "communion of saints", and present tense is perfectly appropriate.
I saw a Behind the Music episode on them and Bono, Larry Mullen, and The Edge have been born-again Christians since their late teens or early twenties. The only non-Christian in the group is Adam Clayton. I believe he is an atheist.
I love U2. I've been listening to them since I was 16 (I'm now 37). This should not come as a surprise to anyone remotely familiar with their music. There are lot of references to God, grace, and faith in their lyrics, most of which are penned by Bono.
Bono takes a lot of thrashing on FR for his liberal politics. I think it's unwarranted. To me he seems apolitical, making nice with the Clintons as well as Bush. He cares deeply about alleviating poverty. I daresay Christ does as well. You may disagree with his tactics in reaching that end, but Bono is a good egg.
Godwin's law. You lose. Thanks for playing.
Not sure but I had read about the Christianity of U2 a few years after they had recordings out. This was in the mid 1980s so it definitely predated that.
bump
I'm surprised - it got to 40 before the first Pharisee cast the first stone. I'd have taken the under at 25...
IIRC, he was giving testimony at CBGBs during shows in the '70s.
LOVE RESCUE ME (by Bono and Bob Dylan)
Love rescue me
Come forth and speak to me
Raise me up and don't let me fall
No man is my enemy
My own hands imprison me
Love rescue me
Many strangers have I met
On the road to my regret
Many lost who seek to find themselves in me
They ask me to reveal
The very thoughts they would conceal
Love rescue me
And the sun in the sky
Makes a shadow of you and I
Stretching out as the sun sinks in the sea
I'm here without a name
In the palace of my shame
Said, love rescue me
In the cold mirror of a glass
I see my reflection pass
See the dark shades of what I used to be
See the purple of her eyes
The scarlet of my lies
Love rescue me
Yea, though I walk
In the valley of shadow
Yea, I will fear no evil
I have cursed thy rod and staff
They no longer comfort me
Love rescue me
Sha la la...sha la la la
Sha la la la...ha la la...
Sha la la la...sha la la la
Sha la la la...sha la la
Sha la la la...sha la la la
Sha la la...
I said love, love rescue me
I said love
Climb up the mountains, said love
I said love, oh my love
On the hill of the son
I'm on the eve of a storm
And my word you must believe in
Oh, I said love, rescue me
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah...
Yeah I'm here without a name
In the palace of my shame
I said love rescue me
I've conquered my past
The future is here at last
I stand at the entrance
To a new world I can see
The ruins to the right of me
Will soon have lost sight of me
Love rescue me
Excellent apologetics work by Mr. Bono.
I've heard other interviews with him where he describes himself as generically Christian. As a Catholic, I find this a bit sad, although understandable, considering his living through "the troubles."
I have always been a fan for years. As a Catholic, I think Bono expresses a very well thought out expression of faith that is articulated perfectly. While Bono works politically in ways that we may call liberal, I have always felt his goals were sincere. Compassionate people who give their lives working for the poor have never been in the same league as the secular liberal who seeks nothing but power for the sake of power. Good for Bono and I would thank him for standing up for his beliefs in the face of open ridicule and ignorance.
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