Alice Cooper on Being a Christian
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Fri, August 28, 2009
- Viewed 94
- (12) comments so far
How does Alice Cooper view his stage performa compared to his Christian faith? You're about to find out:
In a recent interview, Alice (can I call you Alice?) said this:
“As a Christian, I don't declare myself as a 'Christian rock star.' I'm a rock performer who's a Christian. Alice Cooper is the guy who wants to entertain the audience - it happens that he's a Christian. Alice (the character I play on stage) began life as a villain and he remains one. There's a villain and a hero in every Shakespeare play... Alice is no more dangerous than a villain in a cartoon or a Disney film. We have fun with him. He snarls and wears make up. He's punished for his crime and he comes back on the stage in white top and tails. We put on a good show. I've always put limits on Alice because I believe there's a certain amount of Alice that's a gentleman. He'd slit your throat, but he'd never swear at you. And there's always a punchline; he may kill you, but he'll slip on a banana peel. I get right-wing Christians down on me and I always ask them the question: 'If I was doing Macbeth, would it be OK?' And they always say that's Shakespeare so of course. I say that's about four times more violent than anything I do on stage."
OK... Alice makes a point. Can Christians play bad characters?
What do you think?
Comments
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Peter Hamm on Fri, August 28, 2009
Go, Alice!
Shawn Wilson on Fri, August 28, 2009
I love a good bad guy!! Can Christians play bad characters? Why not? I get so tired of Christians limiting themselves to weak kneed wimps who sit around a wait for Jesus to come back.
We need people in the entertainment industry to be Christ to them. Can a Christian actor play a villiain? I don’t see why not. Why are we always telling each other what we can’t do when Christ freed us for the sake of freedom? Case and point: Tyler Perry’s Madea character. Madea is a great example of what a character played by a Christian can do. I love the fact that Tyler Perry pulls no punches in his movies. Maybe if Christians became a little more relevant to the entertainment culture we would win them to Christ.
Faye on Fri, August 28, 2009
Doesn’t any actor (pro or not) who plays Lucifer or Judas in a church play play a bad guy? Do we go outside the church to find the guy to play them?
How do we win the world if we’re never seen or heard by them?
Christopher G Fontenot on Fri, August 28, 2009
If someone were to look at the life of Alice Cooper since his “conversion”, would they see a life reflecting the light of Jesus Christ or a life that is dominated by the world? I work in an industry that is no where near being the bastione of Christianity but no one can look at my life since my salvation and say that I am not a Christian. Have I fallen into sin…yes. Is my life dominated by it…no. A life surrendered to Christ as Lord and one spent sharing the love of Christ in deeds and telling of the Gospel is the only thing that matters. Will God see that kind of commitment from Alice Cooper?
Rick on Sat, August 29, 2009
The operative word is “play”, and one can certainly play a role without destroying his witness - we hope. But there is always a danger to the performer of being seduced by the promise of greater reward for just one more compromise. Of course, that danger is real for all of us, not just the performer.
Dan Smith on Sun, August 30, 2009
Such an awesome post! I’m so grateful for it. Yes, a Christian can play a bad guy. And if people are against that, then at least give me a powerful, destroyer for a Christian actor. Jesus didn’t back down from a fight…why does all of our Christian dramatics?
Jan on Mon, August 31, 2009
Actually, I have played the bad girl and honestly it was fun. But it wasn’t me and I didn’t do anything that I wouldn’t invite my grandmother to come see
Go Alice!
Q. on Mon, August 31, 2009
Christopher G Fontenot asks a good question and I Love that you can definitely see how God works in Alice Cooper’s life… I don’t know him personally but from observing him since the early 90’s I have seen many things in him that speak to God’s work in his life. He’s been happily married to the same person since 1976. I’ve heard his wife speak and her words and testimony about her relationship with her husband was huge. There aren’t a lot of rockstars that kick alcoholism, have 25+ year marriages in which they’ve never cheated on each other, have a wife that speaks so highly of her husband, and serve so regulary in benefits and charity gigs and have children that (to my knowledge) have great reputations… You can definitely see a life reflecting the light of Jesus Christ…and praise God for it.
Tom on Mon, August 31, 2009
Alice Cooper is one of my guilty pleasures. I am from the same home town and High School as Alice, I really love his persona, and his late night rock show on the radio. That said, I am a Pastor of a conservative Southern Baptist Church, and I and my wife have raised more than 35 foster kids in our lives. We listen to Christian rock and classic rock too. However my real passion is acting in our local Home School Acting Troop. Just last year I played Haman in a dramatization of The Book of Ester from the Bible. I was Good at it too. I got boo�d and hisse�d something terrible. However my kids love the way I put myself into it. Can you be such an eclectic person and still be a conservative Southern Baptist pastor? Yep!
Dave Kinney on Fri, September 04, 2009
Can a Christian play a bad character? It is possible, and in certain venues it is appropriate. I was a teenager when Alice Cooper was one of the top Rock attractions. No one knew then that he was the son of a Christian minister. Because of the market he worked in, his on stage personna was always protected, off stage as well as on stage. The influence of his bad boy character was a powerful force for many countless teens who were already in the rebellious stage of life. How many were influenced to go to far? How many were influenced to make decisions that would forever change their lives? We’ve seen so many people become obsessed with Rock stars…and I’m not suggesting at all that we return to being strict thought police.
Alice Cooper’s defense, comparing himself to Shakespere’s MacBeth is almost convincing. Within the context of a play, you usually have some kind of balance, right verses wrong, good verses evil, all choices have consequences. The marketing industry of rock groups and rock stars often presents only one side…rebellion, evil, anger, frustration, inappropriate excesses. Can a Christian play a bad character? Yes, when it is within some context that offers balance. I am glad that this talented man is a believer. Only God knows if the seeds he’s sown in his life will produce fruit to the glory of God. “To whom much is given, much will be required.”
jac1962 on Sun, September 13, 2009
Only one question - I wonder what church he regularly attends and serves at.
Tabatha on Thu, September 17, 2009
An actor can play a bad guy, but at the same time should not compromise his/her beliefs or cause others to stumble because of their performance. Just because you are “acting” doesn’t give you the green light to curse, do sex scenes, etc. Sin is sin. The Bible doesn’t make exceptions for actors. I’m sure that on judgement day if you say, “But I was only “acting” like I was having sex” that excuse won’t fly. The Bible is very clear on these things.
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