Monday, July 21, 2008

Metallica - Master Of Puppets

I thought this song was perfect to describe the life of performance based Christianity. If only we try a little harder, we will be closer to God and He will love us.

You know, those teachers of the Law who load heavy burdens on peoples backs but aren't willing to lift a finger to help them.

14 comments:

Joel Brueseke said...

Great song! I liked the song as it is... I grew up with it... But nowadays I also see the lyrics just as you do.

I'm glad the lyrics were put on this video. Those of us who are walking in freedom after having been in chains can most likely relate to a lot of it.

Mattityahu said...

Hey Joel,

This was really the first CD I ever bought and really listened to. Master of Puppets has always been a favorite song of mine, but when I became a Christian, for awhile, I dropped some of the heavier music and I still don't really listen to it all the time as I don't like to dwell on negative stuff, but I think the song has a great message.

Joel Brueseke said...

Yeah, same here. I know with all my talk of Metallica and Twisted Sister and such, people could think I'm some complete metal head or something. :) It used to be my thing, and in 1992 I smashed over 2000 records and tapes from my past, including the entire Metallica collection and Kiss collection. Sometimes I wish I wouldn't have done that, because I got rid of a lot of good stuff. Anyway, I've built up a small collection of some of the old stuff and I listen to it from time to time but I can't really listen to it for too long. The music gets me going, but after a while the lyrics really are quite a downer. Although like you say, the occasional song has a relevant message.

Joel Brueseke said...

Oops. I meant to say 200 records and tapes.

Aida said...

Glad you corrected that, Joel.

2000 records and tapes?!? I was REALLY starting to worry about you, Little Brother.

Joel Brueseke said...

Oh, did I say two hundred? I meant two million!

Only Look said...

Enough Metallica already. I fear talking about this anymore as I might inflame more passion and a post on megadeth may come inevitably or shortly:-)

Question: What if Metallica had played for King Saul instead of King David?

Oh boy...here I go again playing the legalist.

Grace upon grace,

Brian

P.S- I smashed some tapes and CDs as well. A couple of them I would like to have back but for most of them...good riddance.

Joel Brueseke said...

Brian,

I don't think you're playing the legalist. I just think that there's something in some of these songs that sometimes speaks to some of us, that doesn't also speak to you. And that's ok.

This is our way (one way of many) of expressing some of the thoughts that are on our hearts.

I've seen the same things that Matthew sees in this song, and I've even thought about posting the lyrics in the past because it really does sound like a lot of what goes on in many legalistic churches today.

Speaking of Metallica/King Saul/David... I can remember vividly one time when the Lord used a Metallica song to minister to my soul. I was brought to tears, and some heavy burdens were lifted. It's actually happened more than once, but I remember the one specific time above all the others.

You simply can't dictate to the Lord what He will use in our lives.

Aida said...

Hey, Joel. It happened again.

We were watching a video and I heard a very familiar song. The child in the movie was watching MTV and who should be on but Twisted Sister singing our theme song, We're Not Gonna Take It. I was disappointed that they only played a short excerpt from the song. Of course, if I want to hear the whole thing, I know where to go. LOL

Only Look said...

I am not saying that the truths of the Lord will not come out and that God cannot use it, but I am not necessarilly ready to go along with exhonerating it all brother. There was that metallica song that spoke to me as well. Truths have come out of demons and yes God does communicate in the most desperate of places by going into the catacombs of the maniac of Gedara when no one else is willing to go there. I have been brought to tears by way of Metallicas music as well as some of the seeming prophetic words of Bruce Springsteen and others. Its just that I am not ready to seem to be endorsing it. Maybe that is where we disagree and that is fine. I think we both can agree though that Gods voice first and foremost comes primarily through the word of God. We are people of the book and are to worship in Spirit and truth that are to be faithful Bereans even if the apostle Paul is preaching. Certainley Metallica should be examined if the Bereans were noble in examining Pauls words.

Samuel was channeled and spoke through the witch of Endors work. God made water come from the rock when Moses struck it anyway and God used Samson very mightily after he visited a prostitute. The soothsayer that followed the apostle Paul around spoke the truth and the way of salvation. There definately is a spirit world out there that fully understands the God of the Bible, but I still feel we need to keep our wits about us always and our emotions in check along the way.

My favorite guitarist and musician ,Rick Emmit from Triumph, was drawn to spiritual truths and inculcates them in his music as he was atracted to Church music. He gets deep and can be very deep with spiritual truths and very prophetic, but as he said in an interview while mentioning how he lusted after the woman that interviewed him...he likes to put his Rock God armor on from time to time even though he has mellowed out and enjoy the tingling sensations of lusting after the women that walked by who worshiped him.

Robert Plant was very prophetic as well. At one point in his career he claimed to be a golden god. I encourage you to be mindful of this at least. Music is very deeply spiritual and a good channeler of spirits.

Grace upon grace,

Brian

"It's whispered that soon, if we all call the tune, then the Piper will lead us to reason, and a new day will dawn for those who stand long and the forrest will echo with laughter." Led Zepplin, Stairway to Heaven

Joel Brueseke said...

Aida,

We oughtta start listing out our 'We're Not Gonna Take It' alerts. :) Wikipedia has an entry for the song, and it lists various references to the song in pop culture (including movies, commercials and political campaigns), as well as various artists who have covered the song... including Joan Jett, which I didn't know about!

Brian,

I appreciate the concern coming from your heart. It's my opinion... and I honestly mean a humble opinion... that you are making much, much more of this than what it really is. This is nothing more than a few friends sharing something that spoke to them, and having a conversation about it. We "get" where each other is coming from, and you can rest assured that we haven't strayed down some dark path.

Mattityahu said...

Hey guys,

The reason I posted the song wasn't to cause anyone to stumble. I just thought the lyrics spoke the words of the heart of someone who is trapped in trying to get God to love them by what they do, and it's never enough. There is always more to do.

"Taste me and you'll see, more is all you need. Dedicated to, how I'm killing you."

I think it is okay to be angry towards those things, but I also think it's easy to fall into the trap of dwelling on your anger so much that you get very bitter. So I think it can be therapeutic or even encouraging to someone who has just come out from under the performance based way of living. But I also think it doesn't do good to allow your anger towards legalism to turn into bitterness and resentment.

Christ purges things like that from our heart. We just need to allow Him to do so. But if someone doesn't enjoy listening to this, I completely understand. There are a lot of things I used to listen to (like Korn) that I can't stand anymore. I don't like dwelling on negativity, depression or hatred. The desire simply isn't there anymore.

Only Look said...

I agree Matthew. I hope you guys dont think I was angry at you all or anything. Just posting some things I still feel burdened about.
I was attempting to be tongue and cheek on the first comment.

It is great to see the testimonies of how God is calling us out from wherever we were, whether it is legalism or hedonism:-)

Grace upon grace,

Brian

Mattityahu said...

No, I understand brother. I know your heart to look out for your brothers and sisters. And I understand you're sensitive to certain types of music. I am too.

Like I said, there are a lot of things I used to listen to, that I've tried to listen to now that I just don't have a good feeling about. It's better for me not to listen to it if a am condemned by my conscience.