Growing up in the 1980's was great. I think every person will say that the time period they grew up in was the most wonderful time. We tend to look back at our formative years with a whiff of nostalgia - focusing on all the good and perhaps overlooking the bad moments. Nothing wrong with that - it is better to focus on the good times rather than wallowing in unhappy moments. So, for each of us thinking back on our past can bring back good memories.
And, there were pretty good memories back in the 1980's. We saw the beginnings of MTV (they actually played music videos back then, and not whatever they are showing now). We spent our days from sun-up till sundown being outside and having fun. Our curfew was nightfall (or more appropriately our parents yelling for us from the porch). People also looked out for each other and their kids in our neighborhoods. I sometimes got in trouble because one of our neighbors saw us doing something dumb and our parents took them at their word. I remember a great sense of community. Also, my generation helped to contribute to the hole in the ozone layer thanks to the excessive hair spray use. Seriously, look at some of the high school photos and see hair that defied gravity. We're still paying the price thirty years later.
The main thing I took out of growing up in the 1980's was the resurgence of hard rock and heavy metal music. I started listening in my teens and am still a fan to this day (my wife wonders why). It started with the first Metallica album I bought thanks to the Columbia House Music Club. Back in the day, you could join by buying twelve cassette tapes (kids, look that up on Wikipedia) for one penny. A friend of mine recommended the album Master of Puppets and said I would only be out a penny if I didn't like it. So, I took his advice.
Let me say that Master of Puppets is a masterpiece of music. It was a new style of music that I had never experienced before. From there, I purchased every Metallica album I could get. Other bands that I got into at that point were Iron Maiden, Anthrax, Ozzy Osbourne, Megadeth, Motley Crue, and Judas Priest. I also got into classic hard rock bands like Van Halen, Kiss, Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath. I loved the heavy powerful drum beats coupled with the high-speed virtuosity guitar playing along with the gritty lyrics. It was music I connected with and still to this day, connect with. It was a way to channel aggression and be a part of something larger.
Most people look down on heavy metal music for a variety of reasons. They don't like the musical style, it was outside the mainstream, the imagery, or the people who listened to it. Kids with long-hair, wearing ripped jeans, jean jackets, black t-shirts and looking like they hadn't showered in weeks. Guilty. I look back at my high-school photos and see the shoulder-length hair I had and my first thought is "what happened to all that hair".
OK. I'm back from crying over my lost hair.
Heavy metal listeners tended to be the most loyal of listeners. Growing up you felt like you didn't fit in, you were strange, or things in life weren't going to improve. Yet, you met people who looked like you, felt the same as you, and liked the same music. You didn't feel alone out there in the world. It gave you a sense of belonging that you felt like you were missing. There was also a pride of liking something that other people didn't "get". Through friends, I would listen to other groups like Pantera and Rammstein. You felt you were welcome in this group despite your "flaws".
The same way with the church. Where we are all a part of something much bigger than ourselves. It should be a place where all are welcome despite our flaws. Every single person is a broken sinful person and no one has a right to tell another they don't belong (unless you're just there causing trouble). A church that has standards (outside of the Bible) keeping people out is wrong. We operate outside what the mainstream deems "important" and "cool" but we welcome all. That's what we are called to do. Jesus reached out to people who were on the fringes of society (look at the disciples and the people He ministered to). We are to do the same as well. You also have to admit, the music is better than heavy metal (I'll concede that point). Maybe that's why I identify with my current church and heavy metal.
I know some people in the church have issues with heavy metal music and there are some valid arguments. But, overall I enjoy all the heavy music I listen to. I would recommend listening to Metallica's "Master of Puppets", "Ride the Lightning", and their Black Album. Other recommendations are Iron Maiden's "Number of the Beast" and "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son". One day, I will speak in a blog how Master of Puppets is an allegory for when we follow other things besides God. Go out and get a few of these albums and listen. Heavy metal is still the best music out there, although I think the current stuff is unintelligible to listen to. There I go, showing my age again.
And, there were pretty good memories back in the 1980's. We saw the beginnings of MTV (they actually played music videos back then, and not whatever they are showing now). We spent our days from sun-up till sundown being outside and having fun. Our curfew was nightfall (or more appropriately our parents yelling for us from the porch). People also looked out for each other and their kids in our neighborhoods. I sometimes got in trouble because one of our neighbors saw us doing something dumb and our parents took them at their word. I remember a great sense of community. Also, my generation helped to contribute to the hole in the ozone layer thanks to the excessive hair spray use. Seriously, look at some of the high school photos and see hair that defied gravity. We're still paying the price thirty years later.
The main thing I took out of growing up in the 1980's was the resurgence of hard rock and heavy metal music. I started listening in my teens and am still a fan to this day (my wife wonders why). It started with the first Metallica album I bought thanks to the Columbia House Music Club. Back in the day, you could join by buying twelve cassette tapes (kids, look that up on Wikipedia) for one penny. A friend of mine recommended the album Master of Puppets and said I would only be out a penny if I didn't like it. So, I took his advice.
Let me say that Master of Puppets is a masterpiece of music. It was a new style of music that I had never experienced before. From there, I purchased every Metallica album I could get. Other bands that I got into at that point were Iron Maiden, Anthrax, Ozzy Osbourne, Megadeth, Motley Crue, and Judas Priest. I also got into classic hard rock bands like Van Halen, Kiss, Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath. I loved the heavy powerful drum beats coupled with the high-speed virtuosity guitar playing along with the gritty lyrics. It was music I connected with and still to this day, connect with. It was a way to channel aggression and be a part of something larger.
Most people look down on heavy metal music for a variety of reasons. They don't like the musical style, it was outside the mainstream, the imagery, or the people who listened to it. Kids with long-hair, wearing ripped jeans, jean jackets, black t-shirts and looking like they hadn't showered in weeks. Guilty. I look back at my high-school photos and see the shoulder-length hair I had and my first thought is "what happened to all that hair".
OK. I'm back from crying over my lost hair.
Heavy metal listeners tended to be the most loyal of listeners. Growing up you felt like you didn't fit in, you were strange, or things in life weren't going to improve. Yet, you met people who looked like you, felt the same as you, and liked the same music. You didn't feel alone out there in the world. It gave you a sense of belonging that you felt like you were missing. There was also a pride of liking something that other people didn't "get". Through friends, I would listen to other groups like Pantera and Rammstein. You felt you were welcome in this group despite your "flaws".
The same way with the church. Where we are all a part of something much bigger than ourselves. It should be a place where all are welcome despite our flaws. Every single person is a broken sinful person and no one has a right to tell another they don't belong (unless you're just there causing trouble). A church that has standards (outside of the Bible) keeping people out is wrong. We operate outside what the mainstream deems "important" and "cool" but we welcome all. That's what we are called to do. Jesus reached out to people who were on the fringes of society (look at the disciples and the people He ministered to). We are to do the same as well. You also have to admit, the music is better than heavy metal (I'll concede that point). Maybe that's why I identify with my current church and heavy metal.
I know some people in the church have issues with heavy metal music and there are some valid arguments. But, overall I enjoy all the heavy music I listen to. I would recommend listening to Metallica's "Master of Puppets", "Ride the Lightning", and their Black Album. Other recommendations are Iron Maiden's "Number of the Beast" and "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son". One day, I will speak in a blog how Master of Puppets is an allegory for when we follow other things besides God. Go out and get a few of these albums and listen. Heavy metal is still the best music out there, although I think the current stuff is unintelligible to listen to. There I go, showing my age again.
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