Stryper Interview

[ctoddb]

Interesting discussion about the Christian opponents to contemporary forms of music! I remember those days well, and I remember just feeling so frustrated at the well-intentioned ignorance of people like that.

I will say that I am a little shocked at some of the comments that have been made here about the members of Stryper personally, especially coming from (I assume) Christian Petra fans. I'm talking about the completely slanderous gossip that does not support God's Kindgom. Remember that Petra was also criticized for their brand of ministry back in the 70s, and yet here we are, fans of Petra, casting stones at another valid and extremely fruitful rock & roll ministry! To quote:

"Notice the odd moment when Oz Fox makes the "crack" about doing coke. The band gets this deer in the headlights look while Oz is wiping is nose. That's because they were doing coke, drinking and hitting the bunnies shop across the street from the recording studio. People in the industry knew that Stryper was a joke. Against The Law says it all."

Really? You're really putting that out there? Shame on you. While at least two of these accusations are wild and unsupported by any facts, even if they were true about something in Stryper's past, making such comments only further divides God's Kingdom and adds fuel to the fire when non-believers mock Christianity because of our apparent divisions.

Have you ever had a conversation with any of the band members? Do you even know what mature men of God they are today? I have had several long conversations with Oz. He is my friend. I don't just mean "Facebook friend," either. I have his phone number, and he has mine. I have eaten meals with him; he has been to my house; he has been to the school I am Principal at and has shared his powerful testimony and extremely talented guitar playing with my students. I know Oz Fox, and through him I have "casual" relationships with the other guys in the band. While they acknowledge they made some errors during the Against The Law (1990) period, including consuming alcohol (not a sin in and of itself but they did it in the spirit of rebellion, which was wrong), they never--to this day--say they abandoned their faith. They were rebelling--against people like these preachers and, dare I say, you--and that was wrong but I certainly understand their feelings at that time and I share their frustration that there are still people who believe Stryper was and is a "joke!"

Today they are going strong. They each have a powerful call from God to continue to reach the lost, and their hearts are on fire for the Lord!

I know there are many people out there who just "never liked Stryper" for whatever reason, and that's fine. But just because you don't understand a ministry or it doesn't fit with your understanding of what a ministry should be, that doesn't mean it's not from God. Many Christian artists feel the focus should be on lyrics, then music second. Stryper always felt the focus should be on their music in order to get the attention of the lost. Yes, that is in contrast with traditional models of church ministry. Whoop-te-do! Does that make it any less valid? I'd say it's been a pretty fruitful model for them and similar ministries who focus on reaching the lost. Look up Mark 9:38-41 and stop bad-mouthing Stryper for what they do and instead support them and any other ministry that serves the Lord!

You ought to publicly apologize for such recklessness. Stryper apologized to their fans a long time ago for their missteps that happened over 20 years ago. It's time to forgive and move on, people.

\rant. (Written in love)

[zak89]

Appreciate your sentiment, ctoddb, and I agree with you in principle, but let's keep it mellow. Some people are more blunt then others, and that's not always a bad thing. Obviously Stryper is a human band, they face temptations, and they can be forgiven like all of us. But it is worthwhile to point out that groups like Stryper (and Petra) are/were rightly or wrongly looked on as role models for young Christians - so they are bound to be held to a higher standard. John Schlitt expressed this sentiment well in a radio interview acerca "Unseen Power" (the one available from his website). I've always felt that a Christian band, especially one that attempts to reach the unsaved, should be primarily constituted of mature "battle-hardened" believers - people who can stand the overwhelming temptation that comes in the music industry. Unfortunately, what most often happens is brand new Christian musicians turn right around after being saved and want to spread the good news in the way they know best - zeal, but too little knowledge.

It doesn't help that most Christians who have the knowledge don't register well in the zeal department.

[brent]

Stryper themselves took their secular tunes and put the Christian lyrics to them after they were "converted". The guys did not want to be marketed as a Christian band, but a band that was comprised of Christians. I am fine with all of that. I think that is very effective if done with taste. However, Stryper did not. it was Stryper that drank, did drugs etc on the road with the secular bands. In fact, White Lion, Hurricane and others are on record stating that Stryper held their own with them, and they all had a good time. The roadies, engineers, studio engineers, runners and producers that worked with and around Stryper realized first hand what the guys were about. THEY tarnished their own testimonies and THEY shot any hope of leading people to the Lord. For me, it just made me sick. I went to the shows. I pushed them at the radio station. I bought the CDs, and tapes. When I realized what was going on, it all became wrong. It became a lie. It was just like realizing your friend was living a double life.

So, what is a Christian to say about that fruit? If you dug deep enough, and you were my age and bought the fanzines and music trades from that era, you would see pics of the band with beer cans in hand, etc. The guys basically said that they were normal guys, not super humans, and were making music. What an excuse to TRY living a holy life before the world. Holy people wouldn't play shows or take a picture with a cucumber stuck down inside the leather pants and put it on a poster. Come on Jesus, use this cuc, the girls will relate to you better. Whatever.

Now, I followed Michael's music and have liked Truth, didn't care for the second, but loved the third solo record. I HAVE met him and talked with him at a GMA week. I perceived him to be legit. I have not spoken with the others. All I have to go on is their actions now and their fruit as PEOPLE, not as a band. I have a REAL hard time that GOD needs Stryper. They do not remotely compare to a band that has had a good history of ministrial work. Stryper was a rock show with Christian content. Petra, DeGarmo and Key, Servant, etc were concerned about minstry, networked with churches, tried to follow up, etc. If you put Petra and Stryper side by side, they don't even give off the same spirit. Stryper has always fought the gimmick comments, Petra has always been justifying it's effectiveness in ministey and backed it up with FRUIT.

I have chased some rabbits here. It is not for me to judge if anyone is saved. I could care less if someone thinks God CALLED or ORDAINED Stryper. Just don't blindly lift them up as some kind of holy band when you don't know the half of it. This has been common knowledge and undisputed in the past. You have to look for it. Are the guys like that now? Probably not. But you know what? That doesn't matter to the people exposed to the past. THAT is what they know of Stryper. THAT is what they then know of Christians and Christian music. Tell them that Stryper isn't like that now. It will not matter. They will never listen to a word Stryper has to say now. Neither will I.

I am not casting a stone, because I am not perfect. I sin too. It is just hard for me to listen to their music now, knowing what I know. It's hard anyway because some of it is so cheesy.

[ctoddb]

Zak, I don't disagree at all with what you said, and I'm sure Stryper suffered from that (in fact, it's documented--they were an L.A.-based rock band first, then converted to Christianity at the leading of the Holy Spirit). But you missed my point entirely. I was defending a valid ministry that someone unfairly took a really nasty swipe at and called them a "joke." That really comes across as immature and ignorant, and I do not retract my sentiments. It's offensive and it should not be tolerated on a Christian band's message board.

[brent]

I was talking about them in the past. They were a joke. Throwing bibles at people and living like a rock star in almost every sense of the word are NOT ministry. That IS a JOKE.

This is not a Christian band's message board. It is a message board for the Petra fan community. When people start deciding what should and not be said, there won't be much getting posted because there will be too many differing viewpoints and opinions.

Personally, I think all Methodists should be banned .

[ctoddb]

Brent, I am a troller here so I have read and respect your opinions on many things, but you are flat-out wrong on this one. I realize this isn't Petra's message board--sorry, I should've been more clear. But it is a board made up of fans of a Christian band. I am probably wrong to assume that "everyone" who is a fan of Petra is Christian, but from your other posts I know you are, Brent. The Bible gives us clear direction on how we are to treat fellow believers, how we are to discern, and how we are to rebuke when appropriate. I am trying to follow those directives.

You should apologize for attacking a legitimate ministry, brothers in the Lord, in the public way that you did.

I don't want to get into my fan credentials too much, but I can tell you I am 40 years old and have been following Stryper (and Petra, and D&K, and many other "white metal" bands) and devouring all the media I could on them since I was 15. Sounds like we are near the same age and have similar stories, just different opinions on this. I can't believe you're going to quote worldly bands, who have every reason to tear Stryper down, instead of the band members themselves. I am aware of these quotes as well and know they are false (I've already explained how I know that--Well, I should say I "believe" they are false based on first-hand info I have; none of us were there to see if Stryper were getting drunk or snorting Coke, but the band has denied that and since they are brothers in the Lord, I am much more inclined to believe them over people who have not yet allowed the Holy Spirit to change them). "Living like rock stars"? Yes, I'm sure they struggled with that. What about the stories of a single Robert Sweet literally FLEEING women throwing themselves at him backstage? They were trying to live holy lives, and, like all of us, failed miserably. I can identify and forgive them, just as the Lord has (and just as He did with King David, right?). Fortunately, the members of Petra did not have the opportunity to contend with such temptations.

You should really re-think your position on this one, my friend, and keep your negative criticisms of fellow believers between you and them (Matthew 18). If they are still out of God's will, He will make it plain to all who truly follow Him. You are only tearing down a band of Christian brothers who are currently doing what God has called them to do. You can mock the Bibles routine (while many people around the world have come to know the salvation of the Lord by reading that Book they caught at a Stryper show), you can mock their style, but as I said before, you might only be mocking the One Who called them.

Again, this was written in love.

[brent]

You only believe believers? Really. How far do you take that?

Jimmy Swaggart said he was innocent.
Jim Bakker said he was innocent.
Benny Hinn said he was innocent.
Robert Tilton said he was innocent.
Richard Roberts said he was innocent.

On average, how many rock bands slam other rock bands for doing what they do themselves? Not many. Actually, there is a competition and bands are respected for their craziness. They only point out something out that is a lie, sham, etc.

Again, I think they are probably legit now. Heck, they have all been through the fire.

[ctoddb]

You only believe believers? Really. How far do you take that?

LOL, I said I was "much more inclined" to believe fellow believers over non-believers. I think that's reasonable. Of course there are always exceptions, as you so aptly pointed out (and man, you sure do know everyone's business)!

(Offers hand for handshake)

[rexreed]

Once again I am not on the "either or" fence. There is "no doubt" a few skeleton in Petra's closet too. I like both bands and am happy as a clam to hear new albums from both. Right now I feel like the music coming from Stryper sounds better than Petra, although there is next to no Christian content in the current Stryper album.

[Shell]

EVERYONE has some sort of skeleton in their closet no matter who they are, and if they deny it they're either lying through their teeth, aren't human or are living in a cave.

Admittedly some people might have a few more skeletons or skeletons that are a little uglier...But that's a topic for another thread.

If that wasn't the case Jesus wouldn't have had to die for us.

[ctoddb]

Wow...talk about timely! Stryper just posted this note on their Facebook page and I thought I'd share it:

"There are still those who have been questioning if Stryper is still a Christian band and if we are still Christians.

If I need to respond to such an absurd question then I guess it is what it is. Despite what we sound like, look like, sing like, play like, walk like, eat like, smell like and anything else that comes to mind, we believe that Jesus died for our sins and that through Him and Him alone we are saved. We believe in The Word of God and we do our best to live according to it's words. We put our trust and faith in Him and Him alone. If that's not good enough for certain people then it never will be. It's good enough for God and quite frankly, that's all we care about. We could care less about what some judgmental, fanatical, over the top people say about our hearts (which by the way they know nothing about). We shake our heads in astonishment when we are asked questions like this. It's hard to believe, even after almost 28 years of ministry and millions of people who's lives have been changed by the power of Christ through the music and message of Stryper."

Amen and amen!

[brent]

I know that you were directing this at me, which is fine. Let it be known that I did not judge their hearts or question their salvation now. I said that I spoke with Mike at GMA. What I questioned was their testimony displayed by their actions viewed by the bands, road crews, recording engineers, etc when they were on top and in the public eye. We are what we do.

[gman]

I maintain that Against the Law, as good as it was, was a clear indication that they had moved to a different place spiritually. Perhaps not where they should have been. That has happened to lots of artists. It has happened to all of us. We are walking the straight and narrow, one thing leads to another and we find ourselves on a detour.
What does their new album say? Well, I think they had one more album to fulfill on their record deal, and they also saw an opportunity to pull in more old school fans going forward.
I can't speak to their spiritual condition. I know Michael was going to a decent church and was involved there.
It does say something positive that they brought back Tim Gaines and seem to have put all the past stuff to rest.

[ctoddb]

I know that you were directing this at me, which is fine. Let it be known that I did not judge their hearts or question their salvation now. I said that I spoke with Mike at GMA. What I questioned was their testimony displayed by their actions viewed by the bands, road crews, recording engineers, etc when they were on top and in the public eye. We are what we do.

Well, I definitely wasn't trying to goad or pick on you. There's peace between us (at least as far as I'm concerned) and I accept your currently stated position on Stryper 2011. I just had seen this on Facebook and thought, "Wow, this is totally relevant to the discussion we were having at the Petra Zone!" So I thought I'd add it.

[Preacherman777]

I for one am very much bothered by what they are doing now. We know for a fact that they went astray for a while during the ATL period, but I do believe they got back on track. None the less, for whatever reason, they are now choosing, with their new album "The Covering", to glorify secular bands that have been very offensive to the ways of God. They are saying it will reach new people and they are saying the influence of these bands is what made them what they are musically and so they want to pay tribute to them, but as Christians shouldn't they be far more concerned with who made them what they are spiritually and wanting to pay tribute to Him?

IMO the album also sets a bad example. It grants approval to these bands and encourages people to keep listening to them. If a major Christian band will cover them, there can't be anything wrong with them. It helps people feel justified in filling their heads full of garbage that is offensive to the ways of God. Stryper does it, we can too.

It's a careless thing to do that may very well cause many to stumble. You'd never see a band like Petra do something like this because they are not willing to compromise good with evil and they understand that people look to them as examples of Christ. There are some liberties that should not be taken just because we can. Even if you feel it's fine for you to listen to these bands, it's another matter to put it out there for those who look up to you. It's flat out irresponsible.