Bono Fatigue
I caught this the other day:http://www.bonofatigue.com
This site is really quite funny. I still don't believe it's not trumped up - the comments are just too much! Really put its finger on the Bono phenominon and its effect musically, politically, religiously, and socially.
Bono... I went to such a church that celebrated Bono during his G8 summit days, especially before this when he first went on a church tour to promote such admirable and needed causes as 3rd world debt forgiveness and helping the poor.
I have been thinking about posting about Bono for awhile and here it goes...
Pro-Bono
- God can indeed use unlikely people to say unexpected things
- Genuine social concern is godly, ever hear of the beatitudes?
- Rock stars usually are not concerned with social welfare
- God seems to enjoy using rock stars and others who are offensive to religious types
- It takes a rock star to make many materialistic Americans concerned about poverty
- The guy can write darn good rock & roll, much of it from an agreeable worldview
Anti-Bono
- God can indeed use unlikely donkeys to say unexpected things
- Suffers from acute potty-mouth during live performances
- You never get bad press when you talk about helping the poor
- Buys into a philosophy which equates societal disapproval of "alternative" sexual behavior with historical oppression based on poverty, race, and creed.
- Occasionally propogates such beliefs from cultural bully pulpit to an adoring media
- Who wouldn't want to have a rock star's influence and use it for the common good?
- Enjoys immunity from a sympathetic press corps while Pat Robertson, Franklin Graham & others are demonized due to a less politically correct message despite good works for the poor.
- Money given in sincerity can alas be hoarded, misspent, or used by corrupt groups for their own purposes or for objectionable agendas that "help" via abortion, etc...
My conclusion:
It is pretty obvious to me that many of my anti-Bono rationales are laced with various degrees of jealousy and perhaps religious pride (gasp!). He seems to have been granted free license by his circumstance and by the press, while more right-wing type figureheads are vilified.
For now, I'm going to pray for his potty-mouth and thank God that he's trying to help people. I am stoked that he is trying to make a difference other than writing songs glorifying lust, greed, and violence, and step back for awhile, wait, and see.
As for judgments concerning the character and motives of Bono, I'm officially neutral. How about you?
Vote Pro-Bono or Anti-Bono in comments.
posted by Nathan @ 4:32 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
Let's just say, I think the things Nate has listed have some merit. I think it foolish to condemn people completely for all that they do, since as Nate mentioned there are good things Bono is doing for the poor. However we know from the Bible that a man's heart inform his actions and speech, that Jesus Christ is Lord and that it is God who judges the heart. Therefore, I wouldn't look up to Bono for his godly character or for his strong faith in Jesus. I would however say that I don't know whether Bono is a Christian - or even that someone like Pat Robertson is a Christian. When you read passages like Matthew 7:21-23 even the people that look Christian God may call "workers of iniquity". It's for God to judge. So it's important that we all make our calling and election sure. And I sincerely pray that if Mr. Bono doesn't know Christ, that he would soon.
...I like your writing style.
As for the Bono vote... If he can add "Proclaims Jesus is the way, truth and life" to his Pro-Bono list then the choice would be obvious. Not only would he be inviting people into the reality of eternity with Christ and to part take in the great commission but the boldness to do so in his position of influence would be admirable and encouraging.
John 4:13 - Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."
Praying Bono will have a revelation of Jesus and eternity.
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