Lead singer of Skillet, John Cooper, discusses rising to fame, balancing family life with a music career, his views on wokeness, and the impact of Critical Race Theory. He shares insights on religious journey, managing band like a business, caution against public schools, and the infiltration of woke ideology in Christianity. Cooper also touches on personal struggles, book recommendations, and his charitable cause.
John Cooper warns against the dangers of merging utopian thinking with Christianity, emphasizing the flawed nature of a perfect society based on equality of outcomes.
Cooper shares his personal struggles, including the loss of his mother, highlighting the importance of deepening one's relationship with God during challenging times.
Skillet's journey from a small Christian band to a successful rock band underscores the significance of adapting to industry changes and approaching music as a business.
Cooper discusses the clash between the Christian worldview and the prevalent wimpy, weak, and woke ideology in today's culture, urging listeners to stand firm in their faith.
Cooper delves into the concept of utopia, cautioning against the belief that all societal issues can be solved through achieving a perfect society, stressing the sinful nature of humanity.
Deep dives
The Clash of Worldviews: Wimpy, Weak, and Woke
In this podcast episode, John Cooper discusses the clash between the Christian worldview and the wimpy, weak, and woke ideology that is prevalent in today's culture. He emphasizes the importance of standing up for what you believe and not compromising your values. Cooper shares his own experiences of navigating the music industry as a Christian artist and the challenges he faced when promoting a positive message in a world consumed by darkness and anger. He urges listeners to prioritize their faith and not be swayed by the pressures of the world.
The Power of Faith in Challenging Times
John Cooper reflects on the personal struggles he faced, including the loss of his mother, and the role that faith played in navigating those challenging times. He discusses the importance of deepening one's relationship with God and finding peace in knowing that God is close to the brokenhearted. Cooper shares his own journey of discovering that faith goes beyond simply acknowledging God's existence, but also developing a personal relationship with Jesus as a friend and source of strength. He encourages listeners to lean on their faith during difficult moments and find comfort in the presence of God.
Building Skillet: From Music to Business
John Cooper shares the story of Skillet's journey from being a small Christian band to becoming a successful rock band. He discusses the challenges of building a career in music and the transition from being purely focused on the art of music to recognizing the need to approach it as a business. Cooper highlights the importance of adapting to industry changes and seeking guidance from mentors and experts. He shares the strategies he implemented to grow Skillet's fan base and achieve success, including collaborating with other artists and taking risks. Cooper acknowledges the role that faith played in his perseverance and determination throughout this journey.
The Dangers of Utopian Thinking
In this podcast episode, John Cooper delves into the concept of utopia and its dangers. He challenges the notion that a perfect society can be achieved through equality of outcomes and highlights the flawed belief that all crimes and issues can be solved by meeting everyone's needs. Cooper emphasizes the inherent sinful nature of humanity and how it contradicts the idea of a utopian society. He cautions against merging utopian thinking with Christianity, as they are opposing worldviews. Cooper urges listeners to embrace timeless principles and reject the destructive ideology of utopia.
Pivotal Books
The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer, The Unshakable Kingdom and The Unchanging Person by E. Stanley Jones, Conflict Divisions by Thomas Sowell, and No Compromise by John L. Cooper
Pivot People
An unnamed pastor in college and Dr. Michael Brown
Pivot Quote
"Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness."
Legacy
John Cooper wants his legacy to embody the idea of "no compromise."
What He's Excited About
John Cooper is excited about the positive impact the church can have during difficult times and the release of the new Dune film.
Connect with John Cooper
Website: johnlcooper.com, Hawk and Hatchet beard products: hawkandhatchet.com, Instagram and Twitter: @johnlcooper, Podcast: Cooper Stuff Podcast, Music: Skillet Music, YouTube and Rumble: Cooper Stuff
John Cooper is the lead singer and founding member of Skillet, one of the best-selling Christian rock groups of all time. He’s also a podcaster and author whose latest book is called “Wimpy, Weak, and Woke: How Truth Can Save America from Utopian Destruction.”
John sits down with Brandon to talk about the band’s rise; raising a family while touring the world with his band; how he defines wokeness and why he feels compelled to speak out against it now; and his alternate vision for a brighter future.
He also talks about: - His personal religious journey in the wake of his mother passing away from cancer - Learning to treat his music career like a business - How he and his wife divide responsibilities and stay in their lanes - Why he warns Christian families not to send their kids to public school - The Marxist origins of Critical Race Theory (CRT) - The Black Lives Matter riots in his hometown of Kenosha, Wisconsin - Woke ideology infiltrating Chrstian church leadership - Why he believes more people than ever will be born again as Christians in 2024
John’s charitable cause (100% of ad revenue donated here) - Samaritan’s Purse, which provides disaster relief and humanitarian aid to people in physical need
Show Sponsor - Podcast Pointman, the podcast agency that produces this show. Watch the free masterclass, 5 Ways to Grow Your Show, here
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