Is Evanescence Christian?

[Andy D]

I just wanted to say I was interested in this thread because my older brother who is a Christian not walking with God at the moment, keeps saying Evanesence used to be a Christian band. I watch their video clips and I see a strong gothic picture. I dont want to go into the Christian gothic debate but I believe there are many who say they are Christian, or who may be Christian (as some members of the band may be) but they are not living as one. I dont need to judge...their fruit will tell. I know myself I have struggled for many years to live as a Christian and I find secular music as with TV has been a stumbling block for me. For others maybe it isnt. I do know that many of the major secular bands are into satanic practices and I have plenty of research on that available to me (although prefer not to enter this debate hehe...as this isnt the place). I admit I enjoyed listening to Evanesance and yet I felt that it was not right. It goes down to our walk with the Lord. The Holy Spirit will convict us of things that are not right in our lives if we walk in the Spirit. We DONT NEED CHANGE in the Christian faith because God doesnt change...man changes. The great revivals over past centuries were to do with CHANGE of the heart...not other change..and were because of prayer and close relationships with God. I would be praying that Evanesence will make the right decisions and accept the gift Jesus offers them for those in the group who are not Christians. People are going to hell for eternity so it is more important to encourage one another and to show others Christ so they wont go to hell. Our testimony is the best tool for witnessing to our friends, that is, our testimony of what Christ has done for us.

Anyhow, I think it is up to people to decide what they listen to and do, but Christian brothers and sisters are also allowed to encourage each other to listen to Christian music because this is uplifting and gives glory to God rather than man. Hoping I dont get anyone all annoyed with anything I say. I just a struggling Christian like everyone else but I have made a committment to God. He has always been there for me

 

[J3sus Is My L0rd]

Lol, well I've got my own opinions and stuff, but I'm not gonna post them becuz this seems to be like a really HEATED debate (everyone just take a deep beath..... ZOIT! doesn't that feel better? ) hhehehehe ok anyway, quick question... what does Xian mean? LOL ok, I'ma n00b and I admit it.. but ya, just curious.

-Brandon

 

[Qyöt27]

what does Xian mean?

'Xian' is another way of writing 'Christian' because X is a common symbol used to represent Christ. It's the same reason Christmas is sometimes abbreviated to X-mas.

 

[asianangel]

I don't think it matters if music is secular or Christian...God created ALL music and God loves ALL music. BUT! God does not love all lyrics...so if the lyrics in your song are not in conformity to the nature of God...you're violating His will. This isn't about crossing every t and dotting every i....but secular music isn't 'evil' in general...

 

[Arielles]

Evanescence is not a Christian rock band. Originally, it was promoted in Christian stores, but the band made it clear that they did not want to be considered part of the Christian rock genre. A press release was released in April 2003 asking the band's music to be removed from Christian retail outlets.

Ben Moody, formaly part of the band and also the person who formed the band along with Amy Lee, was the one that created all the controversy. In a 2003 interview with Entertainment Weekly he said "We're actually high on the Christian charts, and I'm like what the f--k are we even doing there." This conflicted though with his earlier statement which he had said "The message we as a band want to convey more than anything is simple - that God is love."

In 2006 Amy Lee was asked if Evanescence was a Christian band and she said "Can we please skip the Christian thing? I'm so over it. It's the lamest thing. I fought that from the beginning. I never wanted to be associated with it. It was a Ben thing. It's over."

 

[ajchz]

Arielles, you're wrong, the whole band didn't say that they aren't christian.

Ben Moody was part of Evanescence a few time ago, and in one christian interview he say a lot of bad works, that was this thing start.

You should know that Evanescence isn't a Christian Band, but some of their members are.

Also some of their song/lyrics are dedicated to God like Tourniquet

My God, my tourniquet
Return to me salvation

 

[Arielles]

I'm not wrong.

Just because some of them are Christians, doesn't make them a Christian band. Justin Timberlake is a Christian... but would you say he is in a Christian band?

And your write, in the Tourniguet song they do mention God, but they also wrote that song when Ben Moody was in the band, and he had a very large influence over them.

But now they have stopped writing those types of songs and they aren't on their newer cds.

 

[Arielles]

Another point to think about is how many, MANY rappers mention god, or lord, or something along that line in their songs... in the same contex that Evanescence does in Tourniquet... and it's followed by words that I'm sure most Christian's would not approve of. Would you call them a Christian band? Because by your definition that you gave about Evanescence, they would also be a Christian band.

 

[MoreInSorrow]

actually, Tourniquet isn't an Evanescence song, it's a cover. just to clarify.....

 

[ajchz]

@Arielles: I agree with you, Evanescence isn't a Christian Band. Sometimes people (talking about Ben Moody) change of the way of think in some areas of their life, he was christian, you should now that, also David Hodges (Now vocalist of Trading Yesterday) was part of Evanescence. But the point here is that they aren't

@ MoreInSorrow: isn't an evanescence song but was re-edited by them, the lyrics of the original version is kinda different than the fallen cover:

Written by: A. Lee, B. Moody, D. Hodges, and R. Gray
Originally recorded as a demo and revamped as track #6 on Fallen. Rocky Gray is credited with writing the song for his band Soul Embraced (The original, titled “My Tourniquet,” was a track on an album called “For the Incomplete") and the rest of Evanescence reworked it for Fallen; Amy wrote a melody and a whole other second verse.
On Fallen this track is titled 'Tourniquet' but on 2002 Demos it's called 'My Tourniquet'.
On Fallen version of the song Amy screams “I want to die”. On demo versions it's a sample by Claire Danes from the Danes/DiCaprio movie version of Romeo & Juliet saying "I long to die".

Information taken from the Evanescence Reference

 

[Theogonia]

Seeing as the word God is never mentioned in their "thank you" section, I'd say no.

As if that actually mattered.

 

[Lasias]

there are a few different interviews that amy lee has said that it was NOT a christian band....lyric wise i'd say no..I am a fan of their fallen cd, but truth changes "fact". in one interview she said "it was ben thing" (refering to former band member ben moody ofcourse) So yeah...Evanescenes=NOT CHRISTIAN
(even if they claimed to be)

besides u don't know whos christian in hollywood right now... everyone claims they are. & it gives true christians a bad rep.

 

[ajchz]

besides u don't know whos christian in hollywood right now... everyone claims they are. & it gives true christians a bad rep.

I support this part of your post!

 

[DaughterofZion63]

According to plugged in magazine, Amy Lee asked an interviewer if "[they] could just skip the Christian thing... [she is] so sick of being labeled Christian."

Makes me sad... I like them a lot. I don't mind listening to bands who aren't specifically Christian, but to be irritated by the "label" of it is sad.

 

[Theogonia]

According to plugged in magazine, Amy Lee asked an interviewer if "[they] could just skip the Christian thing... [she is] so sick of being labeled Christian."

Makes me sad... I like them a lot. I don't mind listening to bands who aren't specifically Christian, but to be irritated by the "label" of it is sad.

If I was in a band that was labeled as a christian band, I'd be irritated too, offended even. That, to me, is like being slapped in the face. I want NOTHING to do with the label of "christian" music.

 

[MoreInSorrow]

it's amazing that this is still an issue to people.

 

[DaughterofZion63]

If I was in a band that was labeled as a christian band, I'd be irritated too, offended even. That, to me, is like being slapped in the face. I want NOTHING to do with the label of "christian" music.

Well, to each his own.