Soon after becoming a teenager music became a combination of an inspiration and an addiction for me, and within the last few years I ran into a great band called Black Stone Cherry. They quickly became one of my favorite groups.
Of course, Jesus is even more important than music, no matter how loud and great the guitars are. 🙂
So, even more exciting than the fact that Black Stone Cherry is going to release another CD in 2014 was the news today (on Facebook) that Chris Robertson (lead vocals and guitar) joined the body of Christ at the end of 2013. With the permission of Black Stone Cherry to reprint them on Traditores.org, here are the picture and post:
We hope 2014 is going great for everyone so far!
We ended 2013 in a very cool way and we hope this photo will encourage anyone searching or in need of inner peace! As BSC, we’re not “crazy Bible thumpers”…don’t get us wrong, we love to have a good time and rock out and all that fun stuff..but, we do love some us some Jesus! Right before Christmas, Chris was baptized by Ben, with assistance from Kevin Estes and pastor Chad Lockhart at Highland Hills Community Church in Glasgow, KY! The whole band was there and it was an awesome thing! We realize how lucky we are to be living our dream in music, and we owe our gift to God!
This isn’t a “publicity stunt” nor is it a “political religious move”. This is simply a public display of what we are proud of and we hope that someone, even if just ONE person, is affected by this in a positive way..then that’s what it’s all about!
We love yall and can’t wait to get back on stage this year and yes…melt your face clean off your….face..:-)
“Ben” is Ben Wells, Black Stone Cherry’s rhythm guitarist and a fellow brother in Christ.
Welcome to the body of Christ Chris!
Praise God for the change He made in you.
Praise God for the free gift of salvation He offers all who will trust and follow Him.
Praise God for the unabashed testimony Black Stone Cherry has made for their Lord and Savior.
Oh, and praise God for such great news after a rather stressful first day back at work in 2014. This story was a huge blessing to me—I hope it is the same for you.
P.S. If you are interested in the embedded Facebook version of their post, here it is:
MARAVILLO, ME SORPRENDIÓ SABER DE CHRIS QUE HOY ESTA EN EL CUERPO DE CRISTO. AMEN
GRACIAS SEÑOR MI DIOS, POR QUE TAMBIÉN A MI ME FALTA ESTAR MAS CON MI SEÑOR JESUCRISTO
A DIOS GRACIAS
SALUDOS DESDE COLIMA MEXICO A CHRIS Y BEN
Y ABRASO
BENDICIONES
So would you say that BSC’s music is safe for Christian consumption, then? I really dug their first album, and thought the second was alright, but I stopped listening to them a little while after being saved. Not sure if some of their songs contained references to drugs and fornication, maybe? Your insight? I mean, they’re a great band, just want to make sure the messages are okay.
I’m of two minds Rob. “Safe” really depends on the impact, doesn’t it? It is not Christian music and even the first single off the new album (“Mary Jane”) almost definitely is a positive song about marijuana (not to mention its official video clearly isn’t “Christian”). However, I think we all have to decide for ourselves what a Christian filter on entertainment means. Some is obvious (e.g, we should not watch pornography), but we also have to be careful not to…in trying to avoid sin like the Pharisees…create “extra safe” rules of conduct not established by God.
Having said all this, I worry I am rationalizing so I can listen to music whose style I love, but whose words I often abhor. Thoughts?
P.S. Oh, and I do hope as Chris and others in the band get closer to God they realize their error. Whether or not it is wrong for me to listen to some of it, I do think it is wrong for Christians to create music encouraging our lauding sinful behavior.
You may enjoy this. Ben and Chris in the worship band at their church:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRKWA6q2y_s&w=512&rel=0
Thanks Will, greatly appreciated!