It has happened most of my Metal life, being judged for the lyrical contents and the graphic art from shirts/albums most of my favorite Metal bands have by those who do not listen to extreme Metal. It comes with the territory and I understand it if one isn't a Metal head. And yes, it still happens, even though I do not wear the same shirts as I once did in my youth that I would deem more extreme than the ones I own today.  

The thing that cracks me up about us Metal heads and the lyrical content and the extreme aspect of the music tho, is that it contradicts who we are as people. Think about it. How many of us, or even people that we know, have actually lived out a Cannibal Corpse song/lyric? Butchered a baby at birth? I guarantee most abortion doctors are not even Metal heads, ya know? Or taking it one step further, unless one was a part of the Norwegian Black Metal circle, how many of us whom listen to Black Metal have ever burned down a church or killed someone due to listening to this style of music? Well, although some of us might have been dumb as kids and burned inverted crosses into our arms due to one of our favorite singers doing it (Glen Benton), for the most part one of the most common traits, or psyche traits most Metal heads have that I have learned with time from those whom I have met is that most of us have all been abused in one form or another (sexually/physically/verbally) by those we trusted most ("family"). This may not be true for everyone, but numbers do not lie, and I think that is why some of us have gravitated towards this extreme style of music in life; the rage inside.  

We are angry inside due to what has or may have happened to us as kids that no one should ever have to go through. We've been let down time and time and again by people we were supposed to trust with our lives, but ended up hurting us in the end (family/spouses/girlfriends/boyfriends). "Helping" mold us into somewhat bitter people inside, or "closed off from the world" because most of the people in this world pretty much suck and we know it. Most Metal heads can see past all the B.S. in other words, but deep down inside we are all a bunch of fun and loving group of people, ready to help anyone in need and pretty much a bunch of nerds and geeks, ha, ha, ha, ha!! Well, I am any way....  

But I've seen it over and over again at shows and at festivals, Metal heads helping one another, or just being cool with the people who work at these fests. I will never forget the conversation I had with one of the lady's who has worked and has been a part of the Hog Ranch at Cave in Rock in Illinois for a while now where Insane Clown Posse used to have their gatherings, and where Full Terror Assault Open Air Metal Festival now calls their home. I can not recall what started the conversation, but she started telling me how different the crowds were from one another. That the ICP group were just a bunch of jerks, treating people like crap, including the people who worked there. And then once again, right before F.T.A. made its debut at the ranch, that everyone who worked there and that the towns people were worried that a bunch of "satanic" Metal heads were coming into town and that there were going to be issues such as the ones they had with the ICP group, but worse. But guess what? Nothing bad happened. Why? Because once again, we may listen to extreme music with some of the most absurd lyrics in some cases (but not all!), but deep down inside we know "what's up!" and we know how to treat one another. As a great wise man once said from the 90's; "Be excellent to each other!" Sometimes, even the most simple of minds can produce the most thoughtful of wisdom!  

Now comes the part where I discuss the title to this story and where I am sure, once again, opinions will vary. For the most part, unless one has read past articles or some of the interviews I have conducted with the bands, most of you may not be aware that I am a believer and follower of Jesus Christ. Yes, I am a Christian whom goes to church and tries really hard to live according to Christ's teachings, but whom also listens to secular music, Heavy Metal music at that, loves to mosh, and apparently this doesn't please most humans.  

On one side I have Metal heads whom thought I was "cool" and bands who really appreciated me taking pictures of their band for free, but then once some of these fine folks checked out my articles or interviews and saw what I believed in, ended up blocking me or unfriending me on fb due to my faith in Christ or "political views." Was I not showing love for my art in photography and in Metal by taking pictures of your band for free? Am I not helping you promote your band in my zine/site for the love of Metal even if I do not agree with what you preach in your lyrics? My point? Did I ever once say to you what I believed in in person or try and "shove" my beliefs "down your throat?" No. Why? Because that isn't me. It happened to me growing up and I hated it. I believe in things happening naturally as they did at this past F.T.A. III with two certain individuals whom found out what I believed in at the fest. It was a really cool discussion with them both and I really appreciated them not judging me or criticizing me for my faith as some of my close non Christian Metal head friends are known to do (still). So why the hate yo!?  

And on the other side I have believers in Christ whom say I'm not a "true Christian" for listening to a particular style of music. It's a good thing that God judges our hearts and our faith and not a style of music we are choosing to listen to, huh? Silly humans......  

I have been publishing and writing for The Outcast since 1996 and did Before Dawn with my buddy Tim from Michigan before that, and wrote for a Christian zine a friend of mine did before that. My point? Even though when I first started writing for any of these magazines I was not a Christian, I am a writer. I am a writer whom loves words and I share what I feel God, my heart, and my soul wants me to say on paper/screen. I share my stories on my zines site "Finding Mikey" - "Sex, Drugs, Booze, and Metal...Man!" - "I Love You So Now We Can Have Sex." - "In My Eyes of Death." etc. within my articles and interviews with love and truth. I share these things, these stories, this truth, because I have experienced something in life that I denounced for a few years and it blew my mind that that one particular experience (Read "Finding Mikey" if you are interested in reading my life changing experience) changed my heart, mind and soul, and as He has taught us to do, we are supposed to share His message. But I also know why most of you are the way you are and why you think the way that you do. You do not know me, but if you go read all of my past articles, you will see I am no different than any of you, my Metal brothers and sisters!! We have all questioned this belief system due to "X" reasons, but most of all, we have all experienced PAIN!! But I ask, why do you hate Christianity so much?  

So why do you hate Christianity? And please be honest with yourself. Do you hate it merely because your favorite bands preach hatred for it without really having any "real" reasons other than accepting their favorite bands using Satanism as a gimmick as well? Just because some people claim Heavy Metal music is Satanic (Christians and non-Christians alike), doesn't mean that it is unless of course that is what they are preaching in their lyrics, ya know? ANY style of music can be Satanic if that is what they preach about, and I am not just talking about using the word Satan, either. I'm talking about all Satanic in nature lyrical content that glorifies murder, rape, lust, and evil in general etc. Do you hate it because of the crusades and all the innocent lives taken over time? People using the name of God (and some still do) in order to get what they want because their hearts are full of lust, hate, and greed? "Buddhism is generally seen as among the religious traditions least associated with violence, but in the history of Buddhism there have been acts of violence directed, promoted, or inspired by Buddhists. But Buddhism forbids all forms of violence, even in extreme cases of self defense." Can we say; "Turn the other cheek?"  

When one looks at history of religious violence in all of the worlds religions, what is the number one thing that they all had in common? Well, besides most of these people whom caused these evil atrocities having an evil heart? They were all politically driven!! Don't believe me? Look it up. Another reason why I have never liked politics. It seems like politics was always first in all religious atrocities, so in all reality, let's get real, politics started all this hate and division way before religion ever did, but unfortunately now at times they walk hand in hand (religion and politics). So I say again, please do not blame Christianity or ones faith on an evil persons actions. Clearly they are not true believers.  

How many televangelists or churches have been accused of stealing from people only to find out they were not really people of God? Leap of Faith with Steve Martin comes to mind, but without the happy ending. Again, guess what? Not Christianity!  

Do you hate Christianity because so many sick and perverted people have hid their sickness within this faith? I was raped by 4 Catholics, one of the reasons I hated God and Christianity at one point in time. How could someone claiming to be a man or woman of God hurt a child in ways that should have never have happened? But as I began to let the hate and rage inside go, how could I blame God for giving us all free will and some choosing to use this free will in order to hurt others? Ultimately, why would I, or anyone for that matter, blame God for others actions (including the crusades)? Guess what? Not Christianity!  

Do you dislike the Catholic Church and religion in general as much as I do because of what humanity has done in the name of their religion? Who crucified Christ? The religious and the politicians!! Christ was always disgusted how the religious people in that time period (The Pharisees and the chief priests) were pushing people away from God because of their legalistic religious views and man made doctrines.  

Meaning, instead of having love, teaching love and worrying about the matters of the heart and spirit, they were only focusing on their religion and trying to "out do" one another with their fancy garments and legalistic mindsets saying one had to do this, and this, and this, and this in order to please God and be saved, which is a lie. There isn't anything one has to do in order to be saved except believe and put ones faith in Christ, nothing more. Any religion that claims you have to get baptized at birth (or in general), speak in tongues, wear certain kinds of clothes, can not cut ones hair, or HAVE TO DO this or that in order to be saved is a flat out religious and man made lie. Yes, He does commands us to get baptized in His name and be born again after one becomes a believer, but one will not be rejected by Christ (or go to Hell) if one did not do this act of love (baptism) on our part before we die. The evidence?  

"The first story is found in Luke chapter 16 and it is the account of the rich man and the beggar Lazarus.  

"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried" (Luke 16:22). Notice that there was no rite of baptism that was necessary to open Abraham's bosom for this beggar. This is of course before Jesus' death and resurrection, but baptism was a rite practiced by the Jews long before Jesus came to earth. In fact, the baptism of John the Baptist was for the Jews and was not for salvation, but for repentance. Since this was a story told by Jesus, if it had been necessary for the beggar to be baptized to get in to the place of rest, would not Jesus have added that information in the story? The rite of baptism in the New Testament was to identify the believer and to set them apart as a part of the "way" of Christ, NOT salvation.  

One particular religion claims that the "evidence" of being saved or being with the spirit is speaking in tongues, but as the evidence is clear, once again, it's all about love on Christ's part and acceptance and repentance on ours. It baffles me how so many religious people forget the simplicity of John 3:16 (The crucifixion). Christ, at that moment did not say to the criminal; "Oh sorry, but you weren't (enter religion) so the kingdom of Heaven isn't yours." He did not say; "You were not baptized, to Hell with you!" He did not say; "You did not speak in tongues, you are not one of mine!" No, he was compassionate, merciful, and full of love, not worrying about any religious man made doctrine or religious preference, something so many religions still do not get or understand unfortunately, pushing people away because of all of the "rules" they put with salvation due to their man made religion and it is so sad. After Jesus and the other 2 on the cross had their words with one another, Jesus said to him; "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:40-43). Notice that Jesus once again did not say you will be with me after you are baptized, speak in tongues, etc. Rather there was affirmation of the thought "absent in the body and present with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8). Baptism is a rite of identification and not salvation and therefore is not a requirement for entrance into heaven and the evidence once again is the criminal next to him. This man recognized that he was where he was because of his own actions and repents and asks for grace. The grace of the cross is what instantly transformed a reviling sinner into one with the attitude of confession and saving faith. That FAITH (key word) is what saves and gives the sinner entrance into eternal life (the death and resurrection), not gifts of the spirit, not baptism, not religion, not works, not idols, not Mary, not angels, not saints, not priests, NOT ANYTHING but His grace and His final sacrifice!  

As the now deceased Billy Graham said it best: "I am not going to Heaven because I have preached to great crowds or read the Bible many times. I'm going to Heaven just like the thief on the cross who said in that last moment: "Lord, remember me."  

The thing so many religious people tend to forget is the number one commandment Christ taught; LOVE. He even said; "If I speak in the tongues of men and angels but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love, I gain nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2). It seems to me like a few religions focus more on the gifts of the spirit in their belief system as their "evidence" as salvation, instead of (John 3:16) the giver who died for us.  

In closing, it sucks that there are so many things on this earth that separates us in general as a species, and not just with religion and politics. It sucks that I get judged (still) from humans on both sides for listening to a particular style of music (Heavy Metal music) and for being a follower of Christ. The thing that I finally learned on my own growing up and through study is that Christianity is NOT what I expected it to be or what I was taught in a Catholic home/church. Jesus Christ was not whom I expected him to be until I started reading the Bible on my own and his Spirit started revealing things to me, not only about my self and what I needed to let go of, but about who He really was (not religion or religious dogma). Yes, some things may need to be interpreted or taught by an elder of the church, but for the most part, I feel everything is pretty much self explanatory. Again, if you want to talk to me about Christ or anything that I have said, send me a message or call, but please, no haters!!  

His, yours, Peace, Love - Mexican Metal Mike