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Re: Pushing too many boundaries

Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2018 3:44 pm
by executioner
Mountain Man wrote:
Mon Feb 26, 2018 8:50 am
Well, they don't wear spandex any more. I just started listening to some of their recent albums, and I have to say, I'm pleased that they've abandoned the glam-rock cheese and have started making music with some real grit to it.
I agree that their latest 2 albums are their best overall offerings.

Re: Pushing too many boundaries

Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2018 2:13 pm
by blayze5150
In all seriousness, though, I've taken it all in, and I get the point of view of the band and their supporters. I just don't agree. When you represent Christ, you have a bigger responsibility than just selling music with a controversial tag line. I agree Stryper needs to get people talking, but they need to get people talking about the right things. Your average listener is not going to look into the theology behind the title, they're going to see the title and think Stryper is slapping God in the face. My opinion is my opinion, and everybody has one. This is just over the top.

Re: Pushing too many boundaries

Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2018 2:29 pm
by Mountain Man
executioner wrote:
Mon Feb 26, 2018 3:44 pm
Mountain Man wrote:
Mon Feb 26, 2018 8:50 am
Well, they don't wear spandex any more. I just started listening to some of their recent albums, and I have to say, I'm pleased that they've abandoned the glam-rock cheese and have started making music with some real grit to it.
I agree that their latest 2 albums are their best overall offerings.
Possibly. Although I listened to Murder By Pride recently, and the title track is some serious "kick your teeth in" rock-n-roll.

Re: Pushing too many boundaries

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2018 2:18 pm
by curt
blayze5150 wrote:
Fri Mar 02, 2018 2:13 pm
In all seriousness, though, I've taken it all in, and I get the point of view of the band and their supporters. I just don't agree. When you represent Christ, you have a bigger responsibility than just selling music with a controversial tag line. I agree Stryper needs to get people talking, but they need to get people talking about the right things. Your average listener is not going to look into the theology behind the title, they're going to see the title and think Stryper is slapping God in the face. My opinion is my opinion, and everybody has one. This is just over the top.
Like I wrote they are doing it on purpose. These guys love to be controversial and then, when people like you react with some good points, they like to be able to say that they are "against the law", doing things their own way, don't belong in a box or whatever. It is their history and some find it interesting. I take as much interest in it as I take in their spandex dresses.

Re: Pushing too many boundaries

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2018 4:32 pm
by brent
http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/michae ... e-sinning/

Mike said on Facebook that he was misquoted.

Re: Pushing too many boundaries

Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2018 1:30 pm
by curt
I still think the article is a rahter good example of how the drama queens create a lot of noise by being controversial and then blaming people for finding them controversial. I don't think it is that difficult to see.

Re: Pushing too many boundaries

Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2018 12:30 pm
by Mountain Man
blayze5150 wrote:
Fri Mar 02, 2018 2:13 pm
Your average listener is not going to look into the theology behind the title, they're going to see the title and think Stryper is slapping God in the face.
Maybe. Maybe not. People having been making similar arguments against Christian rock in general for decades, but a lot of people have been led to salvation through it.

I'm reminded of a friend of mine who used to run a Christian music store back in the 80's. One day, an unsaved kid walked in and thought he was being funny when he asked for the heavy metal section. My friend pointed to the shelf featuring Stryper in all their big-hair spandex-attired glory, and the kid said, "No way!" and immediately bought an album, thinking it would be good for a laugh. He came back a week later as a new Christian to buy some more albums to give to his friends. Meanwhile, preachers across the country were railing against the evils of Christian rock.

Re: Pushing too many boundaries

Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2018 12:36 pm
by curt
I would be careful in this case if the aim is to conclude that without Stryper in all their big-hair spandex-attired glory this guy would not have been saved.

Re: Pushing too many boundaries

Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2018 1:41 pm
by blayze5150
Mountain Man wrote:
Mon Mar 05, 2018 12:30 pm
blayze5150 wrote:
Fri Mar 02, 2018 2:13 pm
Your average listener is not going to look into the theology behind the title, they're going to see the title and think Stryper is slapping God in the face.
Maybe. Maybe not. People having been making similar arguments against Christian rock in general for decades, but a lot of people have been led to salvation through it.

I'm reminded of a friend of mine who used to run a Christian music store back in the 80's. One day, an unsaved kid walked in and thought he was being funny when he asked for the heavy metal section. My friend pointed to the shelf featuring Stryper in all their big-hair spandex-attired glory, and the kid said, "No way!" and immediately bought an album, thinking it would be good for a laugh. He came back a week later as a new Christian to buy some more albums to give to his friends. Meanwhile, preachers across the country were railing against the evils of Christian rock.
I will always defend Christian rock, and have defended Stryper in about everything they've done up till now. I remember in the late 80s my great uncle was a pastor of a very conservative Independent Baptist Church. I was in Junior High and always wore Christian themes shirts or Christian band shirts. I had a THWTD shirt on one night, and he raked me over the coals for it.He pointed at Robert's picture and said, "That young man would have to cut his hair to come to my church." I asked him how many people he led to Christ that year, and he said a number like, idk, maybe 20. I told him they led hundreds to the Lord, and he stopped talking to me. What you said may make me reevaluate my position. Still a bit soured by that title, though. It wouldn't bother me so much if I didn't believe so much in what they do.

Re: Pushing too many boundaries

Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2018 1:58 pm
by Shell
curt wrote:
Mon Mar 05, 2018 12:36 pm
I would be careful in this case if the aim is to conclude that without Stryper in all their big-hair spandex-attired glory this guy would not have been saved.
I'll let Mountain Man clarify if he wants to, but I don't think he's trying to say the guy wouldn't or couldn't have been saved without Stryper. God does the saving. I think the point is he could relate to Stryper's music and that influenced his decision to accept Jesus as Savior. God can and does use less than perfect people to bring the Gospel to others. If that wasn't the case we'd all be in trouble. I think we can all think of someone who has influenced us in our Christian walk. We all mess up. You just don't hear about it in the media in the majority of cases. And musical style is a matter of preference.

There is a place to point out if something is wrong or going against the Bible, but there's a way to do so without condemning the individual. Not being in alignment with the Bible catches up with you sooner or later. Most of us don't know these folks personally, and you can only get a limited take on the big picture by what you hear about in the media, even if there is truth to it. And no, I'm not denying the possibility these guys enjoy controversy. I'm saying we shouldn't assume we know the whole story.

Re: Pushing too many boundaries

Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2018 2:15 pm
by blayze5150
As my worship leader (an avid fisherman) says about God's motto, "You catch 'em, I'll clean 'em."

Re: Pushing too many boundaries

Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2018 7:29 pm
by Mountain Man
curt wrote:
Mon Mar 05, 2018 12:36 pm
I would be careful in this case if the aim is to conclude that without Stryper in all their big-hair spandex-attired glory this guy would not have been saved.
Of course that's not what I'm saying. I'm also not saying that God can't use something to reach someone just because it might make me personally uncomfortable.

Re: Pushing too many boundaries

Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2018 6:46 am
by blayze5150
Big hair and spandex was the style at the time. Almost every band looked like that.... KISS, Bon Jovi, Warrant, Aerosmith, Motley Crue... countless others. Stryper seems to get the most crap over it (well, with Poison, anyway). That was just the time. The music was solid. Soldiers Under Command was absolutely amazing. THWTD was equally solid. IGWT was a bit mellowed, but still better than IDK, like Trixter or Ratt. Against the Law was as good if not better than the others. Looks aside, Stryper rocks as a band.

Re: Pushing too many boundaries

Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2018 8:51 am
by Mountain Man
I think it's safe to say that Stryper was probably the only Christian band at the time who could have landed gigs appearing alongside top secular metal acts like Anthrax and Motley Crue. Even Resurrection Band was a little too clean-cut for that kind of work. The members of Stryper may not have had the best intentions or the best testimony, but I'm reminded of the Apostle Paul who said, "In every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and for that I rejoice."

Re: Pushing too many boundaries

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2018 9:56 am
by Mountain Man
New single: