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Frank Viola | Beyond Evangelical
Official Blog of Author & Speaker Frank Viola. Digging below the surface and moving beyond the shallows in today's Christianity.
Bono on Jesus: Is the Lead Singer of U2 the New C.S. Lewis?
God’s Favorite Place – 2012 Conference Message Part III
Fan of Bono for a long time…fan of his music…and happy to know that he publicly confesses Christ. Can we get over the language issue…Jesus himself used some pretty powerful & emotional language in his time that wouldn’t have passed the test of etiquette. Some of us Christians are ministering to some folks who have pretty rough backgrounds, and we can’t be overly sensitive about “verbage.” I think maybe some of us need to be more realistic about how ugly, profain and base our sin really is…maybe there is no better word…transgression, sin, starts becoming so mild…when you picture the sins…from the little white lie to the gruesome and vile acts that repulse most of us… “sh_ _” isn’t even strong enough…let’s get REAL
Robyn you said, “…sin, starts becoming so mild…” Isn’t this why we need to guard our mouths? As we minister to non-Christians we must do so as ambassadors for the purest most holy King of kings. We are His adopted sons; like Father like son. Now that’s REAL. :))
Thank you for your comment on verbage. Some time ago in Australia, we had a great American speaker engaging a large crowd of Christians. In his presentation he was talking about poverty and poor people groups around the globe. He also mentioned the word ‘sh-t’ in his speech. He followed up by saying, ‘perhaps one of the saddest things here tonight is that you people are more concerned about the fact that I said ‘sh-t’ than the poverty issues people are facing.
Nice! It is a great wakeup call for many of us.
“I have three things I’d like to say today. First, while you were sleeping last night, 30,000 kids died of starvation or diseases related to malnutrition. Second, most of you don’t give a shit. What’s worse is that you’re more upset with the fact that I said shit than the fact that 30,000 kids died last night.” – Tony Campolo
One of my favorite quotes. 🙂
Was C.S.Lewis even the first person to state the Lunatic, Liar or Lord argument?
The new c.s. lewis? He practically quotes lewis verbatim about Jesus the Messiah, not just a prophet. But Bono’s understanding of love, and that God is love, is priceless. To love the way Jesus loves is counter-intuitive, and the hardest thing we’ll ever attempt to do. It is impossible without the Holy Spirit. Bono understands the problem of legalism – discipline in place of discipleship, human leaders in the place of the Holy Spirit…. Amen. This is a great article. Thanks, Frank.
Who the heck is C.S.LEWIS?
“Who is C.S.Lewis?” That’s like a journalist saying :”Who was Shakespeare?”
Bert wasn’t being serious. He was attempting his hand at humor.
I love that Bono loves Jesus.
In Essentials Unity, In Non-Essentials Liberty, In All Things Charity. Augustine
I have loved U2 since they came onto the scene. I think Bono is a statesman for Christ, despite some unfortunate wording which should be overlooked (forgiven) by fellow believers. There are many non Christians who might read what he says and listen to him!
As Bono himself has said, it doesn’t matter what he believes about Jesus, what matters is that Jesus is believable.
Why do we Christians always dissect into minute pieces what Bono says to determine whether or not he is really Christian? For me, what matters is that I am Christian and following Jesus the best I can.
Religionless Christianity was very troubling to Detrick Bonheoffer. So much so that he chose to discuss only with his most trusted friends. Praise God. He has delivered us from just exactly what happens every time man decides to use God!
Religion knows little about the Lord Jesus Christ. So sad.
No Bono is not CS Lewis any more than I am brother Bonheoffer but I do pray that we are all in the Body of Christ.
In complete agreement.
I have always liked U2. Take a couple of minutes to read this. Praise God!
My favorite singer of all time. He certainly read his C.S. Lewis books! One of his alter-egos – from the infamous ZooTv tour – is named ‘Mr. Macphisto’, that character was inspired by ‘The Screwtape Letters’ written by Lewis.
For those who like the “Elvis has left the building” analogy, I really disagree. God has not “left” us; too many have escourted Him out and locked the door behind Him!
Yes & yes again!
What a beautiful, insightful illustration of Christ. Obviously, Bono, despite all his s-t, has a heart for this Messiah and a true revelation.
Keen responses! Many people much like the pharisees would like to silence those like Bono. But as Jesus said “the rocks(stars) themselves would cry out!” and I believe it is because they speak the same things that caused Jesus to weep over Jerusalem in the next verse. I am interested in reading Bono and don’t need to compare him with anyone as the Spirit speaks through Him I hope to hear HIM.
Have to agree with Chuck . Seems to have a grasp of the biblical Christ but is he in relationship with him ? I’ve heard a lot of ‘celebs’ claiming Christ a few weeks later the’re on record supporting gay marriage . Reducing the cross of Christ to some kind of poo magnet regardless of lifestyle is not biblical Christianity.
You are kidding, Dave, right? “a grasp of the biblical” blah, blah, blah. Really? Wow.
loved this article…Bono has been given a platform and an audience that he can reach unique to him. I love how God puts the right person in the right place for the right purpose. As far as his verbage…come on people…God isn’t nearly as offended…if at all…by “sh_ _” and alot of other words, as much as we are. Look up the origin of that word…it’s really just an acronym used in shipping from long ago…call it what it is.
Hi Frank,
Well I’m gonna just agree with the others. Bono has done a faithful re-contextualization that is fresh. Unlike those who water everything down it has real teeth and Truth, good-humor and while we are certain to disagree, the language thing is just a device that says “look, I have to poop like everyone else”. The whole danger in our age is from Religion, which Bono really nails. It’s killing every chance we have across the board (Left, Right, Hip, Seeker etc…) to just talk openly in a lot of cases.
Bono is Bono! I love his transparency and his authenticity. I don’t mind that he cusses. If one has visited Ireland then you will know the rawness that is the culture. My only surprize is he doesn’t cuss more. I love that he is a volce in this generation and for the last 20+ years. That he considers himself a “closet theologian” and that he gets the sacrifice of Christ for love sake. I think Christians want to make him into some kind of poster boy when in fact he is a singular, sold out to love Christ follower that openly talks about it and shares his views and beliefs… isn’t that what we are all called to do”.
A fellow Irish – Christ follower who just happens to love U2!
Gillian McShane-Shields….I loved what you said and couldn’t agree with you more….thanks!! To God be the Glory!!! another Christ follower!!!
Amen bro!
Let’s pull over a second, Bono has been moved by The Spirit many times I believe but really if you listen to him most of what he says is derivative. He lost me when he came out with the headband that contained a Cross, Star of David and the Islamic Crescent during U2 shows, complete with the symbolism behind him on the giant screen and asked why, since all 3 claim the same roots, we can’t get along, as if all 3 were from the same God. Remember there’s always good cheese in a rat trap. I do like the Elvis has left the building analogy!
I saw the concert where he did that ‘coexist’ thing, it was a plead for religious violence to end and nothing more.
🙂 We’re a funny lot. Why can’t C. S. Lewis just be C. S. Lewis, and Bono just be Bono— each with their own personalities, their own giftings, their own audiences, their own struggles, flaws, and victories, etc? Bono is no Lewis, and Lewis is no Bono. What if we let each one just be himself, and appreciate what we can from each of them in context— unafraid to toss aside anything that may not fully line up with God’s purity, while embracing anything that does. And so, no— Bono isn’t the next C. S. Lewis. And why should he be? How could he possibly be? He’ll be Bono. They’re different from each other in some definite ways. And I think that’s entirely appropriate.
I LOVE what he is saying! His use of Karma is perfect for our day, for this time, for this generation. We followers of Jesus aren’t used to this term, but the lost ARE! I believe that Bono has captured the perfect words to reach the lost in our day.
As a former Catholic, I can say that I absolutely knew that I was destined for Hell, because I just couldn’t be good; what I was sowing, I KNEW that I would REAP. After God saved me however, I was astounded, astonished, to know that what I had sown would NOT come upon me. I broke God’s Law, yet Jesus paid for my crimes! Grace overcame Karma!
I wouldn’t necessarily have used the word Karma in my testimony before having read Bono’s comments, because it’s outside my personal experience. But now I will add the word Karma to my witnessing tool bag. I absolutely will use this word if it fits a particular situation to reach the lost. This word does beautifully describe “What-you-sow is what-you-reap.” The good news is that what we sowed Jesus reaped.
What is missing from Bono is familiar “Christianeze.” He uses “secular” kind of terms yet he’s obviously reading his Bible, and is agreement with God’s words. I love the freshness. It bubbles like new wine.
Bono cusses. I’m not in favor of this. Bono doesn’t understand that as an adopted son of the Father, cussing is beneath him. Although I reject the cussing, I do not discount what Bono says; God used a donkey to speak to Balaam, and so God can use anything for His purposes and His glory.
Amen Pat!
I was very pleased when I read this. Even posted it on my blog.
In my simple mind I just think he was comparing the Old and New Testament when he talked about the difference between karma and grace. I think because we are still in the fallen world the concept of karma is still active but we have the option of grace.
Just my take.
Hmm, I would tend to think rather that Bono has read C.S. Lewis, and his answers have been thusly affected.
The title of this post introduces the Bono-Lewis comparison but to me that’s “small potatoes”. While C.S. Lewis wrote well, and while his writings have become classic, he wrote for his time. Similarly, the excerpts above seem to be written for our time.
The real issue here that a pop icon known by almost anyone is coming out and publicly proclaiming a Gospel of Grace. Many people today look at Bono with admiration due to his philanthropist efforts. I believe this excerpt gives the public the backdrop for all those efforts.
The Karma mention is kind of funny because not only is that principle found in the Bible, but many Christians subscribe to it. Without saying that it’s right or wrong, I do appreciate Bono’s distinction between Karma and Grace, because most people (including Christians) attempt to live good lives to be blessed by God in a “I scratch your back you scratch mine” type of arrangement, but Grace says otherwise, and the underlying implication of Grace and the Cross is that we need it to be given to us because we can’t earn it ourselves.
I’m curious as to whether the rest of the book is as engaging as this. I’ll add it to my reading list right after I finish The Untold Story of the New Testament and From Eternity to Here.
Thanks for your relevant and timely blog, Frank!
I’m guessing the CS Lewis comparison comes from this line: “So what you’re left with is: either Christ was who He said He was the Messiah or a complete nutcase. I mean, we’re talking nutcase on the level of Charles Manson.” Compare to C.S. Lewis who wrote, “Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse.”
Much to his credit I think Bono has a theology that is easily relatable. There’s evidence that this is more than just pop Theology and that there are things in there that he has really wrestled with. As for his thoughts about Karma I think they hold water. It’s not that far a stretch from Newton’s third law. Again most people can relate to the idea that we reap what we sow and he uses that universal concept to draw an important and valuable distinction about the concept of grace.
What CS Lewis did as well or better than most was to take high level theological concepts and make it relatable and engaging. So in that respect I think the comparison holds up. I think it’s easy to dismiss Bono, but he captures some pretty big concepts here in this small excerpt in a very believable and engaging way.
I really enjoyed the text, especially these phrases:
“It’s not our own good works que get us through the gates of heaven.”
and this comparison is very bold:
“we’re talking nutcase on the level of Charles Manson”
And finally, ends with the revelation that makes all the difference against any truth in any religion or dogma:
“When I look at the Cross of Christ, what I see up there is all my s-and everybody else’s”
With the vision of the Cross, a single vision or contemplation would be enough to understand the grace and we can finally rest.
I really want to rest because I got tired of trying and trying, my flesh is very strong.
Yes he has some interesting things to say — some good things — but no one who had read CS Lewis remotely seriously (even his children’s books) would consider saying Bono was his heir.
I think Bono speaking about Christ is impacting a lost world in many ways. He has the bona fides with a whole generation of young people that Christianity has a hard time reaching. Remember what Jesus said in Mark 9:39. The only comment I could make about what Bono had to say was Christianity is not only about the individual and his relationship with the Father but, I believe, much more about the corporate experience we enjoy as the bride of Christ.
Great excerpt, genuine faith, inspired by C.S.Lewis, but not the next C.S.Lewis. Bono is a great artist but he isn’t a Cambridge/ Oxford don; anyway we don’t need another Lewis, Bono’s testimony will reach people Lewis never will. I love the idea of grace being the cure for karma – that will speak to a lot of people – I think he wrote a song about it.
The next C.S. Lewis? That’s akin to the claims that the author of The Shack was the next John Bunyan. Not. However, we don’t necessarily need a “next” C.S. Lewis because he made quite an impact on the world already. This short excerpt from Bono’s work has piqued my interest. I’m not keen on his idea that karma is at the center of the universe. Perhaps that was a bad choice of words and he meant something different but I think I get what he’s attempting to say.
I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts, Mr. Viola.
I’ll be sharing my thoughts on the podcast this coming week. Hope you subscribe. You can do so in iTunes.
I guess I’d have to read the whole thing, but initially I have two thoughts: Karma? I think that’s just a bit off base. And I’d hesitate to call him the next CS Lewis just yet. But he did have a few good thoughts. I liked the one of “God, like Elvis, has left the building” regarding religion.
Bono is using the word “karma” to describe that the world of consequences to actions. Galatians 6 states, “Do not be deceived, God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” If he sows to the flesh, from the flesh he will reap death. If he sows to the Spirit, he will reap eternal life. He is not saying this world of consequences doesn’t exist. He’s saying that Grace interrupts it so that we don’t get what we deserve. We enter a whole new realm.
John…you are right on…a lost person does not view their consequences as handed to them from GOD…they view it as a natural result in a random existence…so Karma is exactly the right word to use from the perception of someone outside Christ…it isn’t until you are in Christ that you realize GOD’s soveriengty in it all.
“Some have been so impacted by his answers that they are calling him the new C.S. Lewis.”
Really? Good conversation, yes. But the next C.S. Lewis he is not. Still, great conversation and worthy of note.
As others have already said, Bono is his own unique contemporary voice as C.S. Lewis was unique to his generation. Rather an apples/oranges thing, I think. On another note Frank, I look forward to the great debate of “Open 2013” I’m thinking it might be something like this, “It should be a terrific match up, folks! Frankie V coming out of his corner determined that the win is already in the sovereign cards in his favor, while a humble but wiley Gregie B enjoys all the possible choices of the take down he’s been granted!”