Bono professes faith in Jesus Christ...

World Magazine ^

[mhuye]

Salty dogma

Bono gives an explicit confession of being saved by Grace, not Karma | by Gene Edward Veith

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.

[Windsong]

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."

And he mentions Muhammed in the same paragraph. Coincidence?

[minus_273]

nah i mean they are an insiginificant people who are of little importance and will be in the dustbin of history

[nicmarlo]

As I said earlier, the Holy Spirit attempts to have men understand His way, and pattern themselves after Himself, not man's ways or man's wisdom, which falls short. Christ would have us pattern ourselves, all, to His ways and His ideals. His ways and ideals are not schizophrenic; a house divided against itself cannot stand.

[AlGone2001]

MATTHEW 7

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.</p>

[RaceBannon]

Languages begam by God at Babel

[RaceBannon]

Prove that Amazing Grace came from an African melody.

[LucyJo]

I never am able to understand why some people think that is somehow condemning someone to hell.

[nicmarlo]

Nor do I; I can only surmise the truth pricks insecurities or guilt, which, of course, is also not the intent.

[LucyJo]

"That's a particularly conservative failing: The belief that only only conservatives can love God."

Anyone can love God. But, "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them,he it is that loveth me" (John 14:21)

[bray]

Praise Jesus, the Savior of the world.

Pray for W and Our Troops

[connectthedots]

If Bono is a relatively new Christian, his language is understandable. One does not go from being a non-Christian to a mature Christian in just a short time period. if he is a relatively new Christian, I would cut him a lot of slack. Time will tell.

[luvie]

As a famous man once said: "Trust...but verify"

[LucyJo]

Jesus said that we would know them by their fruits. There is a big difference between judging someone to heaven or hell, which is God's place, and being a "fruit inspector"! ;)

[LucyJo]

"I hope he would understand true meaning of our Lord on Holy Cross."

Amen. That should be our hope for everyone!

[raybbr]

AMAZING GRACE

“I was blind but now I see!” John 9:25

---

John Newton (1725-1807)

Words:John New­ton, Ol­ney Hymns (Lon­don: W. Ol­i­ver, 1779). Ex­cept­ion: the last stan­za is by an un­known au­thor; it ap­peared as ear­ly as 1829 in the Bap­tist Song­ster, by R. Win­chell (We­thers­field, Con­nec­ti­cut), as the last stan­za of the song “Je­ru­sa­lem My Hap­py Home.” Music: “New Bri­tain,” in Vir­gin­ia Har­mo­ny, by James P. Car­rell and Da­vid S. Clay­ton (Win­ches­ter, Vir­gin­ia: 1831) (MI­DI, score). This is prob­ab­ly the most pop­u­lar hymn in the Eng­lish lan­guage—a tel­e­vi­sion doc­u­ment­ary was ev­en made about it. Per­haps it is be­cause its words so well de­scribe the au­thor: John New­ton was a slave trad­er be­fore com­ing to Christ. It was sung at the funeral of American president Ronald Reagan.

---

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, Who called me here below,
Shall be forever mine.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.

[Sisku Hanne]

check your mail.

[Senator Goldwater]

The news here isn't Bono's spirituality, which is well-documented, but rather they atheism of a media member.

Which isn't really news, come to think of it.

[RaceBannon]

And he wrote it after returning to England, correct?

Years after being a slave trader?

Is there a link explaining it came from an African melody?

[LucyJo]

Thanks for the post. I love that hymn. Just wondering how many folks sang it as they read it like I did. :)