A Capuchin friar has become a heavy metal star. Now I have no problem with heavy metal as a style of music. I fully support Christian heavy metal and even have an album or two myself. But I support Christian heavy metal because it is evangelistic. This friar, by his own words, doesn't attempt to communicate the message of Christ at all. He says his goal is to get people to "live life to the full". Hmmm. I am reminded of a scroll on my icon of St. Isaac of Syria which says, "This life has been given to you for repentance, do not use it for vain pursuits." You say "live life to the full" to a bunch of metalheads, what are they going to think? Partying? Drinking? Drugs? Even if you take a more benign interpretation, it sounds like your goal is to enjoy the pleasures of this life, which I think is opposed to the Gospel. I don't picture St. Paul or any of the Apostles "living life to the full" in this sense. On the other hand, Jesus did say that he came that we might have life and "have it to the full." That's not quite "living to the full" but there is a sense one can live a spiritually fulfilled life. But in order to do that, one needs to be living in a deep relationship with Jesus Christ, and if he's not evangelizing these people, they aren't going to be able to live that kind of life.
Of course I haven't heard his lyrics so I have no idea what message he's actually sending so perhaps I shouldn't make too many assumptions. But for a priest to deliberately not speak of the Gospel in favor of "living life to the full" does not sound like something I can endorse.
(Thanks to Worm)
