«Turning point in career»
John Cooper, front man of “Skillet”, was promised fame if he stopped talking about Jesus. Cooper: “That was a turning point in my career.”
John Cooper from “Skillet” is known as a hard rock front man who is not afraid to speak about Jesus even during secular appearances. But a decade ago he was at a crossroads in his career when he was promised more fame if he stopped talking so much about Christ.
That moment, he recently said, happened about ten years ago when “Skillet” rose to the rock charts. Cooper describes this moment in his new book “Awake and Alive to Truth” (the title harmonizes with “Awake and Alive”, one of the band’s most famous songs).
«You have everything …»
The discussion involved Cooper, an agent, a promoter, and another music businessman who was a “movers and shaker,” as Cooper writes in his book.
«We have toured with a few mainstream bands – very popular bands. We were the opening act. And we were just starting to gain a little popularity. This guy – in his defense, he was very nice – took me aside and said, ‘John, I want to tell you this because no one else is going to tell you. I think you could become the biggest band in the world. … You have the look, you have the sound, you have girls in your band … And you also sing about very spiritual things. ‘ And he went on to say, ‘People really want spiritual music, and you already have it, you’ve made it.’ “
“… but distance yourself from Christianity”
The conversation then turned to Cooper’s beliefs. The manager went on to say, “So it’s your time. But you have to distance yourself from Christianity. You have to stop talking so much about Jesus. … Do not give Christian interviews, do not take part in Christian music festivals. When people ask you what your songs are about, I’m not telling you to lie. Just don’t offer any information about Jesus. “
John Cooper recalls: “And then he said something else – and that impressed me. He said, ‘But John, think about the good you could do for your faith. If you were rich and famous, think about what you could do for Jesus if you stopped talking about Jesus. ‘”
The turning point
Cooper says this “was a turning point in my career. I went to the bus. I told my wife about the conversation. We prayed about it. And it was … almost instantly. I knew this offer was not from the Lord. ” But from its adversary. “He tried to silence me, and that had the opposite effect.”
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Date:
25.09.2021
Author: Michael Foust / Daniel Gerber
Those: CNS News / Translation: Livenet.ch
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