There is no doubt that many Christians would seriously question whether or not secular "rock star" and "Christian" are mutually exclusive categories. No doubt this sentiment would be even more pronounced if one were to compare the categories- secular "rock star" and "Christian evangelist". And yet U2's famous front-man in shades, Bono- can legitimately be called both.
As a band U2 has reached stratospheric levels of popularity. Bono and band rank amongst the most famous rock bands in history- both in terms of record sales, and in unparalleled popular longevity; not to mention extreme fan loyalty. U2 has been willing to reinvent itself over and over again and has thus remained artistically compelling while continuing to churn our chart-topping singles. This same band that ruled the world in 1987 with "The Joshua Tree" is still at the top of the heap with this year's "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb".
By now it is well documented that when Bono and the boys first began belting out socially conscious anthems in the early 1980's that they were colored by Christian convictions. With success however came wrestling. This is perhaps best summarized in the band's monster single "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For". Even then though it was obvious that Bono et al were willing to wrestle 'out loud'; as it were. It is doubtful that artists from the "contemporary Christian music industry" feel the same artistic freedom to be so honest. But alas, that is another point for another article.
Moving on, in more recent albums it is evident to anyone who's listening that faith is back at the forefront of the band's consciousness. The last song on "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" is titled "Yahweh". This is a worship anthem unlike so many others. In it you hear an underlying trust in God's ultimately redemptive plan, but you also here the yearning in the "not yet" of the Kingdom. This element of honest lament is sadly lacking in contemporary Christian worship music. Ah, but again I digress.
What I mean to say is that in the midst of all this, Bono has emerged as a true evangelist. When I say "true evangelist" what I mean is, although he doesn't personally wear that title on his sleeve, he demonstrates his commitment to the Gospel by his passion for God and by his passion to see the Kingdom come on Planet Earth circa 2005. His personal crusade of sorts has been to see the West, and even more specifically the Western Church, take seriously the plight of Africans. Passion is infectious. And infectious passion for God and the gosepl of the Kingdom
is evangelism.
Bono's crusade is also much more than a politically correct pose or the naïve ramblings of a rich, middle-aged Irishman. Bono knows what he's talking about. In fact, since this issue first caught his attention in 1985's LiveAid concert campaign he has spent a great deal of time researching the issues- in all their tangled complexity. And then he responded with action; lobbying for debt forgiveness, African government accountability, and the broad dispersion of HIV fighting drugs for a country ravaged by the disease. Bono has said, specifically to the Evangelical face of the West, that the two issues the Church of our time will be most judged for are: blatant materialism and apathy towards the "modern day plague" going on in Africa. His point is very well taken.
But it seems to me that the key to Bono's approach is that he's "not trying". What I mean by that is- he's actually being natural. He is far from perfect. He himself admits that frequently. I recently read a quote where he said that "artists are just too selfish to be saints"- or something to that effect. And yet, young Christians and young non-Christians alike seem to love Bono's honesty, in the midst of his activity. Because Bono has spent so long outside of purely "Christianese" circles, I don't know that he ever "learned the language". Praise God for that. We who have been long immersed in it could learn much from the positive effects of such an honest approach to the World.
Bono the Evangelist. It is a funny title. One I'm sure that he himself would reject. And yet to me it seems to fit. An old mentor of mine used to preach the phrase "it's got to be function before form and not the other way around." Sadly, in Evangelical circles in particular- it is often the other way around. We take on a title and then think about how we might make it fit. Bono is a strikingly fresh example of what the opposite looks like. To put it most simply, he just seems to move "as the Spirit leads". What a simple plan. And yet the simple devotion of one man is (despite all educated, reservationist comments about the world being too big and too complex to fix aside) actually changing the world for good. And without any intention on Bono's part, people are noticing.
To me, above all else, Bono's story is one that demonstrates the fruit of integrity. Bono is not your typical Christian. Perhaps he is rough around the edges. By his own admission he is an "unfinished, work in progress". But undoubtedly his integrity is tied to his very messiness. And this is a lesson worthy of remembering. Honesty matters. Honesty changes things. And ultimately, honesty brings glory to God. Bring on the new-world evangelists.
