When John Cooper, the frontman of Christian rock band Skillet, first saw that some called the band’s new cover of the Christian hymn “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” “demonic,” he thought it was a joke.
“Truthfully, we haven’t had any pushback like that, probably in 20 years,” Cooper told media. “I don’t remember the last time anybody said Skillet was satanic.”
Though some conservative Christians condemned the rock group’s edgy, grunge sound when they first debuted in the 1990s, these days, Cooper’s critics are more likely to come from the left. sartén is known for appealing to both secular and Christian audiences, but that doesn’t hinder Cooper from sharing that he views abortion as “pure evil” and “baby murder” and se opone “the transgender theory being taught in schools.” In 2023, he detailed his convictions in a book called “Wimpy, Weak, and Woke,” which describes Marxism, postmodernism, social justice and critical race theory as “prevailing lies that are destroying America.”
This month, though, it wasn’t progressives taking Cooper to task — it was a handful of fellow conservative Christians.
“The problem with Skillet is that he uses demonic rhythms to praise God, period,” one Baptist pastor wrote on X in response to the band’s cover of the ancient Advent hymn. “American Christianity’s embrace of rock (and its various cousins) is a spiritual travesty.”
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An end-times Christian account also chimed in: “If the Devil sang hymns, and sometimes he does, this is what it would sound and look like.”
The concern was linked to a crescendo near the end of the band’s rendition of the song. While most of the hymn is a stripped-down piano-led arrangement, Cooper lets out a guttural yell at the song’s three-minute mark, leading into a full-rock sound with drums and electric guitar. While the critiques came from an outspoken few, the defense of Skillet was swift.
“I think I listened to the Skillet ‘Emmanuel’ song 30 times today,” wrote Calvinist Theologian and anti-woke activist Owen Strachan.
“The intensity is appropriate. In fact, it’s fantastic,” said former Christian musician turned apologist Alisa Childers. Allie Beth Stuckey, a conservative Christian commentator, wrote: “Love the good news of Christmas proclaimed across all genres!”
And it seems like the attention has had an impact. The song has earned the No. 1 spot across several Billboard charts, including “Christian Digital Song Sales,” “Holiday Digital Song Sales” and “Rock Digital Song Sales.” Media spoke with Cooper about the story behind the song, his response to critics and whether Christian music can ever be “too metal.” This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
How did Skillet decide on the arrangement for this song?
It was Korey’s brainchild (John Cooper and Korey Cooper are married and bandmates). She wanted to have this juxtaposition of the quietest part of Skillet that you’ve ever heard, and the loudest part of Skillet that you’ve ever heard. It’s communicating the rawness of our humanity. Things are still not perfect, people die, kids get cancer. We’re crying out, ‘Lord come quickly.’ But there’s also a second meaning. When you are considering the first Advent of Christ and what that would have meant for the Son of God to enter into his own creation, the Kingdom of God invading the earth, this is the most important thing that ever happened in history. And so there’s that invasion aspect. And then, what that would mean ultimately, in the Passion and the cross, the defeat of death, Christ upending the entire cosmological order, turning it upside down. How would you express that in music? I don’t know, but we tried.
The music video starts in a hospital room setting. What’s the significance of that?
Korey and the director decided on the treatment for the music video. The empty hospital bed hit me in a profound way. This is not why we did it, but on a personal level, my mom died when I was 15, and she was sick with cancer for about three years. She went into remission for a time, and then it came back strongly and brutally. It felt like an endless season of watching someone waste away, and it was terrible. It was during the holidays. She died in January. So every year, for 20 years after that, it would be a struggle every holiday. Death hit me at a young age, and I felt that the video was all about that longing. I can’t take any credit for it, but I love it.
Can you talk about the feedback you’ve gotten on this song?
Our fans were instantly beyond thrilled. I was a little taken aback — it was very exciting. Then, I’m guessing it wasn’t even that many people, but online, it felt like suddenly there was a big campaign of people that thought it was satanic, or that it was a desecration of something holy. I thought it was a joke at first. When I realized it wasn’t, I didn’t really care. I went to Bill Gothard seminars as a kid. Rock music was viewed as an evil thing in fundamentalist homes, and I grew up that way, and so I usually just feel bad for people like that. They don’t really make me mad. And I learned a long time ago that nothing you say and no amount of loving them is going to convince them.
But then I saw so much support for us, from all sorts of Christian theologians, from across denominations. I was really stunned. I do think things have changed from where they were 20 or 30 years ago. So many people didn’t understand Christian rock music, and now all these people support us. These are very traditional Christian people. I think the bigger story here is the amount of people who believe that it’s good to use art to share the gospel, and that it’s more about the intent than about the genre.
Has Skillet’s audience evolved in any significant ways over the last three decades?
When we first started, it was a mostly Christian audience. But if you come to a Skillet show now, I think that 70% of our audience probably would not self-identify as evangelical Christian. Now, there might be a lot of spiritual but not religious people, or progressive Christians, and others who are not religious at all. And Skillet has a younger audience than most rock bands and most Christian musicians and has held onto the older people that were with us. I love it, because I think that music should be bringing people together. We don’t care what you believe or where you come from, we want to share that message with people that aren’t Christians or that don’t go to church, or maybe they grew up in church and they’ve lost their faith.
What’s the draw for younger listeners?
One aspect might be that Skillet was one of the first hard rock bands in history to have girls in the band. There’s a whole generation of young girls growing up playing metal now, learning guitar, learning drums. And our material is always emotional and resonates, I think, with young people.
I think we’ve done a good job on social media being ourselves. I am very vocal about what I believe, and sometimes that makes people upset, but I think people also know that I’m an extremely inclusive person. I’m friends with everybody, and I don’t mind that they’re not Christians, and they don’t mind that I am. I think there’s something authentic about being able to say, I’m not apologetic about who I am at all. This is what I believe. But you don’t have to agree.
I do think there’s an element that’s very special about Skillet, because me and Korey are married. This coming year will be the 30-year anniversary for Skillet and 29-year anniversary for our marriage. We raised our kids on the road. Everybody knows we’re a family. It makes Skillet feel like it’s about more than music.
Do you think a band can ever be too heavy metal to be Christian?
I wouldn’t put boundaries on music like that. But there’s that famous saying that goes, I don’t know how to define it, but I’ll know it when I see it. Is it possible that I could hear something and just be like, whoa, that just doesn’t feel right to me? Maybe. I tend to think it’s not about the sound. I think it’s about an intent of the heart and the lyrics you are saying, what it’s being used for.
publicación de kathryn is a reporter for Religion News Service based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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26 Responses
“I thought it was a joke at first. When I realized it wasn’t, I didn’t really care…”
Not caring about how other brothers and sisters in Christ feel is your first mistake, and a very serious one:
Matthew 25:40:
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
1 Corinthians 8:13:
“Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.”
The Gospel message should not be cloaked in ANYTHING that gives the appearance of evil.
The song should point to Christ, not in the other direction. (Just my personal opinion here.)
I think it is beyond awful. I couldn’t tolerate more than 2 seconds of that scream, & yes it immediately made me remember the evil rock music I listened to before I became a Christian.
Yes indeed, beyond the 3 minute mark, it sounds angry and hostile. But who am I to judge, I am only 80 years old and one who does not understand the ways of the world today.
And, to be fair to YHWH and His only begotten Son Yahshua, His Word Who took on flesh and dwelt among us, this IS the greatest thing that ever happened to mankind: that He became One with us: AM ANU AL – and the great mystery revealed through the ages is that we are married to Him our Faithful Bridegroom for Eternity! THIS is why Sukkot, Tabernacles, is required for all of mankind – the Season, the Time, of His Birth and He is not mocked by man’s times and laws: Zechariah chapter 14. We are learning of His Way(s) – Yahshua haMashiach Who full-filled this Feast! O Come Let Us Adore Him.
I liked the song until the 3 minute mark…the rest is just not my cup of tea. I grew up listening to the soft rock groups out there and not heavy metal; so that is just not for me.
I know I’m just speaking into the void here, but coming from someone who has been doing this “angry demonic” music for nearly two decades now. I have personally seen a lot of fruit come from being in a ministry-based metal band. Baptisms, healings, people repenting and turning to the Lord… I’m not saying this doesn’t happen in other music genres. But at least when it comes to rock, you can always go back and find “questionable” origins for most styles of music. That doesn’t mean the style itself has to be “evil” or that it cannot be redeemed. Whether you like it or not, that’s a personal decision, but to write off a style of music just because it sounds “angry”… Since when was anger a sin? We are called not to SIN in our anger, but anger itself is not bad. Otherwise, we would have to say God has sinned due to his anger towards the nations, towards sin itself, etc., which I don’t think anyone here is willing to do.
All of that to say: I don’t like Skillet, but good for them. And anyone who isn’t allergic to heavy music should check out HolyName. Eastern Orthodox metal band, and a good number of songs don’t have screaming, just the downtuned guitars. “Meet Me Somewhere Quiet” and “Ritual” are good examples of this. “Creed” is another – literally the Apostle’s Creed in song form – although there is screaming, just a heads up.
Thanks for giving your perspective as someone who listens to and plays this genre of music. As I said in my comments below, music is simply a tool. Our personal music preferences don’t give us the right to pass judgment on someone else’s spiritual condition simply because they enjoy that genre of music.
To be fair, I definitely understand why people don’t like it. Anyone who enjoys metal and easily writes detractors off… I don’t think that’s fair. But yeah, I can legitimately say it was years of listening to Christian metal, even as a Mormon, that helped me leave the LDS faith. I have legitimately seen amazing things happen with and through these bands. But I’m not going to waste my time trying to convince anyone either if they’re not open to the conversation. I’ve said my piece.
The song and arrangement are beautiful. I lost my mom in November 2012, and the video is powerful.
It’s lazy thinking to use your personal musical preferences as a barometer for measuring another person’s spiritual condition, whether they’re the musician performing the music in question or someone who’s listening to it. Music is simply a tool, and the genre doesn’t determine its inherent value. If it’s not your preferred style of music, don’t listen to it. That doesn’t make it any less valuable as a medium for God’s vastly creative ability to minister to others outside your comfort zone. Your criticism says more about your limited understanding of how God reveals himself in the world to connect with the people he created, than it does about the worthiness of any specific music genre.
Very well said, Lyn. There is nothing in scripture that says “right” or “holy” music sounds is only of a certain genre. Unfortunately, I’ve seen this play out in congregations with debates over incorporating various music styles, and if “true” praise and worship contains contemporary Christian, traditional hymns, or gospel.
Scripture also tells us there is nothing new under the sun…some of us recall similar backlash to Amy Grant and Michael W Smith releasing music deemed “too secular”, declarations that heavy metal is Satanic, and that hip hop is “ruining” music.
I don’t like all types of music; and just like that, I can choose not to listen. I also know that the music I do like can speak into my soul and spirit like no other. So who am I to rob someone else of that experience just because I don’t like it? Whew, pride is something else.
It’s all noise and distraction from the music’s purpose.
John Cooper: I’m going to be MAGA, the people who originally invented cancel culture and demonizing everything from Disney to the Dixie Chicks 20 years ago are my friends now
John Cooper: Oh huh, weird, the people I made my friends are all actually terrible people whose support was always conditional on me agreeing with them
He had to self publish his book (According to Amazon) It must have been that bad no other Christian publisher would agree to publish it.
I remember being on a mission trip in the early 2000s and listening to Skillet’s “Collide” when a volunteer approached the kid who owned the CD, turned it off, and lectured the kid in front of everyone for listening to stuff that was “hellish, absolutely hellish.”
I guess some things never change.
Meanwhile, some of the most authentic expressions of faith I’ve heard since then haven’t been worship songs blasted from the front of the sanctuary but have been from the Christian metalcore/deathcore scene. Seems as though it’s a lot easier to be open and honest before God and others when you don’t have any expectations of keeping your walls whitewashed.
This is Hermeticism, and this video is saturated with it. The Hermetic concept of duality is exhibited by the darkness of the clothing that is worn by the band members, the dark church, and the darkness of the night, interspersed with short bursts of light throughout, but the video is mostly dark and they are paying homage to their god, the prince of the power of the air.
A candle will light up a dark room, but the reverse will never be true. I see darkness choking out the light in this video. You will go far in this world with Satan as your manager.
God is light, and in him is no darkness AT ALL
1Jn 1:5
I don’t usually question people’s responses to these articles (out loud) but I have to genuinely ask if you watched the video? On multiple occasions you see light piercing the darkness, while they sing a song about asking God to “Dispel the shadows of the night and turn our darkness into light.”
And to say “they are paying homage to their god, the prince and power of the air” is completely false and a pretty irresponsible declaration. If you don’t like their music – fine. No problem.
And Hermeticism (I admit, I had to look it up) is based on the writings of Hermes. It involves wisdom, alchemy, astrology, and magic, emphasizing universal interconnectedness, etc. What in the world does that have to do with a song about the Light of heaven, coming to be with us and to rule as the Prince of Peace?
Since the church has abdicated its duty to tell the sheep about our only adversary, which is Satan, I decided to study the subject and have been for 20 years or so. It is very deep because he has been at his deceptions since Babylon, but I will try and condense as much as I can.
The main tenet of Luciferianism is duality. Good vs evil, light vs dark, etc. Theosophy and the New Age work off of this principle. They say that we are the profane, and the Luciferians are here to show us the light. Google “As above, so below” and Zoroastrian duality. Also, a biblical word study on light/ darkness is pretty revealing.
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 2Cor 11:14
Your assertion that I have made a “completely false and a pretty irresponsible declaration” is not a statement from any knowledge on your part, but rather emotionalism. I don’t comment on subjects I know nothing about.
The video is mostly dark, with emerging light. It is Luciferian theology. I stand by my comment. Luciferians also call Satan god, so which god are they singing to? I posit that it is not Jesus. But now I ask you a question:
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 2 Cor 6:14 KJV
GOD IS LIGHT, AND IN HIM IS NO DARKNESS AT ALL. 1Jn 1:5 KJV
Which one (or both) of these verses don’t you understand?
And yes, I played the video twice. It has nothing to do with me not liking their music, at all.
I appreciate your response. I will grant you my jumping to the conclusion that you didn’t like the music. Whether you do or not, I shouldn’t have made that assumption. And I understand the concept of duality. I also have a clear understanding of both of those scriptures you referenced. How you can conclude that the members of Skillet follow satan, based on the visualization of light breaking through (and overcoming) darkness is beyond me. Followers of satan don’t sing about their longing for the coming of Jesus. And before you say it, no, this is not satan masquerading as an angel of light. The message of this video and the song itself are clear. Light expels the darkness and the true believer has a longing for Jesus to come, and dwell among us.
IMO Gary is confusing artistic liberties with theological interpretation. Most Christian videos use images such as darkness to represent despair, pain and grief and light to represent God, divine revelation hope and a renewed trust in God.
These are not meant to be equal forces but experiences by individuals in life.
Sadly there are those who read into things that are not there. Instead they stretch or hack off things so they fit nicely onto their procrustean beds.
I will comment on this later as I am very busy with the Holy Days. Yes, that also has been defiled- along with X-ng Christ out of Christmas.
Stay tuned…
Well, I stand corrected. Upon further investigation into Skillet, I learned that they aren’t Luciferian at all, that is too intellectual and giving them way too much credit. No, they are of the lowest caste of demonology. John 1&2 tell us that whatever is not of Christ, is antichrist. Black and white, you may say, with no grey in between. Since I have been admonished not to use Satan masquerading as light, I will say that this band, and especially John Cooper, are masquerading as Christians.
The Bible tells us that to be effeminate is to be unrighteous 1Cor 6:9.
So when I see Cooper wearing earrings, eye shadow, and eyeliner, what’s he selling to these kids, androgyny? Oh, maybe that’s just his edgy stage persona. Of Christ, or antichrist?
When I saw their live shows, I didn’t see anything glorifying Jesus at all. Portals opening and closing, hypnotic strobes, aggressive lions with piercing demonic eyes (not the majestic Lion of Judah we should all know) fire, and skull imagery. May as well be a course in Mind Kontrol 101. Of Christ, or antichrist?
During their shows I saw (what I assumed would be Christian) kids flashing the devil horns. And I thought, why would they be doing that? Then I kept my eye on Cooper, and sure enough, he was flashing the devil’s horns also. One show was in Germany and had 102 bands playing that day. I didn’t go through all of them, but as soon as I saw the overtly satanic band Slipknot, I knew something was wrong. Their video ‘Duality’ is really interesting. So why is a so-called Christian band sharing the stage with satanic bands? What communion hath light with darkness? 2 Cor 6:14 Of Christ, or antichrist?
Yes Gary, you’re correct. A quick glance at the group image accompanying this article reveals two members in variations of the Osiris pose along with the female in the maroon jacket who is doing yin and yang (fist represents the sun, while the hand over it is the moon), which can also symbolically represent “hiding the art.” How the woman who plays the guitar acquired so much hatred in her heart is a question that I have found myself pondering in many quiet moments ever since I first watched the video. I truly hope and pray she gets to experience the joy of meeting the Messiah and being transformed by Him from within.
CCM has gone though all kinds of evolutions since its birth in the late 1960s and early 70s and its development into an industry in the 1980s.
Even though it mimics secular styles to Christianize its methods it doesn’t always come across as acceptable to many Christians who cannot get out of their minds the association of the style with secular bands/singers it mimics as opposed to the listening to the message of the band.
But to date I can’t think of any one who has given up their faith after listening to CCM.
Skillet today, Stryper years ago.
I remember in the mid-80s (40 years ago!!!) when Stryper was criticized for everything: hair length, costuming, album cover designs, etc. Scrutinizing Christian music to find anything (subjectively) suspect is nothing new.
I remember those days well. Even though most CCM in the 80s was akin to light rock and easy listening Stryper pushed the envelope.
At that time the Satanic Panic was in full swing and many things that were not Satanic fell victim to being labeled as Satanic.
I remember when Pat Boone (Pat Boone of all people ) released an album in the 90s, wearing a leather jacket and dog collar covering Metal standards. Christian media and commentators went nuts, seriously suggesting he had lost his way and was possibly renouncing Christ. As believers, we are foolish for doing this. Our pews are literally burning beneath us with corruption from within and without the church and we get stuck debating stuff like this. Let’s get serious and unite against our true enemy.