Skillet frontman John Cooper says woke culture is at "war" with Christianity and that believers need the courage of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to stand up and oppose it.
Cooper, a Christian who is the lead vocalist for the Grammy-nominated rock band, told the audience at Family Research Council's Pray Vote Stand Summit on Friday that he has been inspired by heroes of the Bible and church history – like Corrie ten Boom and Dietrich Bonhoeffer – who took a stand for what's right.
The Christian community today, he said, needs men and women of courage to defend the truth.
"Wokeness is everywhere. You cannot escape wokeness," he said. "You can't escape wokeness in the church; you can't escape wokeness in worship music; you can't separate wokeness from pastors these days. It is everywhere. And ... there's a real war happening against Christianity in woke culture.
"And it's time that us Christians – people like myself, and like you and in all of our various giftings – it's time that we take the fight against wokeness. ... With everything we have, we have to take a stand against it. It is wrecking the church."
FRC's Joseph Backholm introduced Cooper and noted the contrast between the Skillet singer and the handful of former Christian musicians who have left the faith.
"Thank the Lord Jesus Christ that we are not talking about my deconstruction," Cooper said, adding that he believes too many churches "got away from teaching the foundational truth of the Word of God."
Cooper then referenced heroes of the faith who have inspired him.
"When I was growing up, we had this great film – Chariots of Fire. Eric Liddell, absolutely unwilling to run on Sundays, right? That's his conviction," Cooper said. "He's ready to give up his career and his dreams for that conviction. I read about Corrie ten Boom, who was willing to give up her life. She's hiding Jews in the upstairs as the Nazis are coming around. She's willing to give up her life for that. And, of course, her dad and sister did give up their lives for that. You read about Dietrich Bonhoeffer.”
Cooper discussed the Old Testament men Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who refused to bow down to Nebuchadnezzar's idol despite threats of death.
Christians, Cooper said, are living in a "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego moment."
"This is the time. We may not be able to see or touch that 90-foot tall, 90-foot wide idol, but it is here nonetheless," he said. "It is in the form of the humanist utopians – the elites that are trying to force us into their own version of utopia by the power state. It is coming from the censoring of speech. It is coming from the censoring of our religious liberties. The time has actually come right now for us not to bow the knee," he said. "... And if we do not speak up for truth and freedom, then we won't be able to speak up for truth or freedom."
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Ethan Miller/Staff
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
