George Perdikis blogged recently on "The Friendly Atheist" website.  So who is George Perdikis?  It seems he was a founding member of the Newsboys, one of the most successful Christian rock bands of all time.  Based in New Zealand, the Newsboys have had a string of hits on the contemporary Christian music charts, including "Shine" and "Breakfast", both songs I have used in my juggling show in the past.  Perdikis's blog was entitled "I Co-Founded One of the Most Popular Christian Rock Bands Ever… and I’m Now An Atheist."  That'll grab your attention.

He starts his article by discussing the founding of the band.  He writes, "After being kicked out of Seaton High School in 1981, my parents sent me to Bethesda Christian School. I only lasted six months there."  As a teacher and former principal in Christian schools for 20 years, already the story is sounding familiar to me.  There is an attitude among parents - not all, of course, but many parents -that Christian schools exist to fix troubled and behavior problem kids.  This goes back a long time.  I remember a classmate in my public high school in 1978 telling his buddies, "My parents are threatening to send me to Rice (the local Catholic High School) if I don't stop getting high."  If I could go back in time, I'd tell Mr. and Mrs. Perdikis that Christian schools are not reform schools, and, unless your little Georgie wants to learn more about following Jesus, send your tuition money elsewhere.  Then I'd go to a certain Christian school in New Zealand to let the administration know that high school kids who don't want to be in a Christian school create a lose - lose situation.  Neither the school nor the child will benefit.

George continues his blog by explaining how the Newsboys were formed when he and a couple kids in the school got together for jam sessions.  He writes, "Peter, Sean, John, and I started out as a cover band playing parties, pubs, churches, youth groups, parks — anywhere someone would have us. As we grew in confidence, we began to add some original songs to our repertoire. The band evolved quickly. Within a few months I had given up my career in the Air Force and moved in with the Furler family to concentrate on music full time."  Then, his host family and fundamentalist Christians, the Furler's, squashed the band's success as a local bar band by insisting their son's band play only music with a "Christian theme".  The plot thickens.

In truth, George was not a disciple of Jesus nor did he ever desire to be.  But his band was successful.  In fact, they suddenly had more success with their religious music than when they were a bar band.  And George never believed a word they sang about.  If I had a time machine, I'd go back to the late 80's and explain to George that, while I don't agree with his worldview, a bigger problem is his living a lie.  When worldviews collide, as his inevitably would, it never ends well.  "Commit to what you believe without compromise, George.  And by the way, down the road, try to remember how you exploited religion for personal gain the next time you accuse Christians of being hypocrites."

Since I would have unlimited time - given the fact that I'd have a time machine - I'd take a few moments to pull all the boys in the band together.  I'd discuss with them the difference between Gospel music and music ministry.  "If you guys want to sing Gospel or Gospel rock as part of your repertoire, great, but don't profess to be in music ministry until you are all confident of, not only what you believe, but how much you're willing to give.  Not just George, all of you."  As examples, I'd point out that the biggest selling traditional Gospel album of all time is still Aretha Franklin's "Amazing Grace", and the only two acts to be in the rock, country and Gospel music halls of fame are Johnny Cash and Elvis.  Yet, with the exception of the few times the man in black joined Billy Graham at some rallies, none of these three acts could legitimately be called music ministries.  Music ministry implies something with a higher purpose than just jamming: evangelism, leading worship, teaching, etc.  "You guys are right out of high school," I'd say, "are you really ready for the incredible responsibility of accepting the role of minister."

If they insisted they were called to music ministry, another stop  I'd want to make would be a visit to local New Zealand churches, asking the leadership to encourage the Newsboys to become accountable to them.  Accountability is essential.  Could you imagine how different things would have turned out if Jim and Tammy Bakker had been held accountable for their deception, Mike Warneke for his lies, and Sandi Patti for her adultery?  Of course, they are extreme examples, and accountability doesn't mean micromanaging someone's every move.  But just like athletes have trainers because their bodies are always taking a pounding, or therapists have counselors of their own to help them with the burden of carrying burdens, so too, those who are pouring themselves out spiritually need spiritual support.  A pastor friend once said to me, while discussing the 1980's televangelist scandals, "God is more concerned for Jimmy Swaggert's soul than Jimmy Swaggert's ministry."

In addition, I'd stop by the Furler's house, too.  While I understand the desire to protect our kids from a world that is sometimes scary and often seems to oppose the values and lifestyles Christian parents try to teach their kids, I'd remind them that following Jesus is so much more than creating and following rules.  In fact, it's the opposite of creating and following rules.  Christian discipleship is a relationship, first with Christ himself (through the person of the Holy Spirit) and secondly, through those more mature believers God has put in our lives.  Instead of forbidding the band to play anything but religious music "As long as you live under our roof!" a better approach would be to ask, "Where, if anywhere does Jesus fit in with what you're doing?"  This is a lot messier than just making rules, and, as Christian parents, we might not like the answer, but this is the type of question that could lead to real dialogue; and perhaps spared George, who remember was living with them at the time, the unpleasant experience of living a spiritual  double life.

Back in 2015, George continues to write of his leaving the band in 1990.  While the Newsboys were definitely developing a following by then, they didn't score their first big hit until "I'm Not Ashamed" in 1992.  Furthermore, none of the current band members were part of the original group.  (Of course, this begs the question, if none of the original members of the group are still in the group, are they really the same group.  It's like going to a Beatles reunion concert only to find John has a southern accent, Paul is black, and Ringo is a woman,  but I digress.)  Even though 25 years has passed since Perdikis was in the Newsboys, and the band's entire line up changed, Perdikis has the nerve to  write," the Newsboys aren’t as holy as they profess. Instead of wearing a mask of “righteousness,” they should acknowledge that they are struggling as much as everyone else."  How dare he say this about people he doesn't even know.  I may be wrong, but it sounds to me like he's writing with the same mask of righteousness he accuses the Newsboys of wearing. 

My last trip in time would be to go back a few weeks to visit Hemant Mehta, the friendly atheist.  I'd point out that, while George Perdikis's blog title makes him sound like someone who, having once believed, became enlightened and forsook his religion for atheism, in reality, by Perdakis's own admission, there was never a real religious faith to begin with.  I'm sure Mehta would smile, shake my hand and apologize for being misleading.  After all, he's the friendly atheist. 

But, alas, time machines are few and far between.  I've not seen a single one available on Craig's List.  It's just as well, though, given my less than adequate mechanical skills; I'd inevitably breakdown in the 1980's and not be able to repair the thing.  Then I'd be stuck in the 80's again.  Think of that: the Duke's of Hazzard, Milli Vanilli, Andrew Dice Clay... once through the 80's was more than enough.  Instead, I'll travel through time like everyone else, moment by moment into the future.  As I do so, perhaps I'll have the chance to speak truth and hope into the lives of other young people, families, churches and ministries.  After all, as another atheist songwriter, Phil Ochs said:

"And I won't be laughing at the lies when I'm gone
And I can't question how or when or why when I'm gone
Can't live proud enough to die when I'm gone
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here"