Saturday 15 September 2012

Heavy Metal Band - Black Sabbath w/ a Christian message




Black Sabbath After Forever Lyrics

Songwriters: IOMMI, WARD, BUTLER, OSBORNE
Have you ever thought about your soul - can it be saved?
Or perhaps you think that when you're dead you just stay in your grave
Is God just a thought within your head or is He a part of you?
Is Christ just a name that you read in a book when you were in school?

When you think about death do you lose your breath
Or do you keep your cool?
Would you like to see the Pope on the end of a rope
Do you think he's a fool?
Well I have seen the truth, yes I've seen the light
And I've changed my ways
And I'll be prepared when you're lonely and scared
At the end of our days

Could it be you're afraid of what your friends might say
If they knew you believe in God above?
They should realize before they criticize
That God is the only way to love

Is your mind so small that you have to fall
In with the pack wherever they run
Will you still sneer when death is near
And say they may as well worship the sun?

I think it was true it was people like you that crucified Christ
I think it is sad the opinion you had was the only one voiced
Will you be so sure when your day is near, say you don't believe?
You had the chance but you turned it down, now you can't retrieve

Perhaps you'll think before you say that God is dead and gone
Open your eyes, just realize that he's the one
The only one who can save you now from all this sin and hate
Or will you still jeer at all you hear?
Yes! I think it's too late.
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/b/black+sabbath/after+forever_20019384.html ]

My comments:
I must confess that I was a Heavy Metal fan (and guitar player over 20 years ago) long before I was ever a true believer in Christ. And to this day, I still enjoy this type of music! There is a contingent of Christians (mostly the "liberal legalists") who would pharisitically point the finger at me and judge me as an "apostate." That is fine if they do, and I will not even bother to engage in any argument w/ them, other than to state my own position. Many of these "legalists" assume that ALL "rock music" or "heavy metal" must automatically be "sinful" music, and therefore, they judge it as "evil." Well, I disagree w/ any across-the-board blanket indictments of such music. I'll leave it at that, as my intent is not to focus only on this issue.

As for Ozzy Osbourne (vocalist) and the nice guitar riffing of Tony Iommi, and swirling bass lines of Butler, what can I say other than that I have always loved it! Many subsequent musicians have been strongly influenced by their playing styles, and many others have followed in their path. 

As for the song above - "After Forever" (written in 1971), the lyrics speak some truths of what it is to be a believer in Christ in this life. As for Osbourne's sincerity of what he wrote, only Ozzy (and God) know whether he believed what he wrote. The lyrics present a nice message nonetheless. Only God can judge the hearts of men. 
Use your own discernment as to whether heavy metal is a type of music that fits into your life or not. To those inclined, enjoy this song and its message!

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