“Rejoice my son, your brother was lost and now he’s been
found." ~ Luke 15:32
Both his dad and grandfather were
pastors; evangelists for over 100 years combined. Young Vince did missionary work with them on Arizona’s
Apache reservation. The only way his
Christian upbringing could’ve been more complete was if he’d married the
daughter of a Baptist minister – which he did in 1976.
Once the poster boy of Christian morality, Vince Furnier
(aka Alice Cooper) shocked the world in the 1970s with am outrageous stage show
that featured baby doll mutilation, boa constrictors, and Cooper's dark,
androgynous make up. ‘Shock Rock’ as it
was eventually labeled, celebrated moral decay.
Cooper’s band set the standard for countless heavy metal and punk bands
such as Ozzie Osborn and Marilyn Manson.
That all changed when his wife Sheryl threatened to leave
him because of his decadent ways. They
attended a church with a “hellfire” pastor.
Cooper claims Divine intervention broke his drinking habit. “I guess you can call it a miracle. It’s the only way I can explain it.” He
shocked the rock world again by quietly embracing Christianity – “more out of
the fear of God, than the love of God. “I didn’t want to go to hell.”
Now he sees his faith in Christ as “an ongoing journey; something
you just progress in. You learn. You study the Bible. You pray!” Further he admitted, “I’m a rock
singer - nothing more than that. I’m not
a philosopher. I’m low on the totem pole
of educated Christians. So, don’t look
for answers from me.”
Cooper’s revelation was more a return to faith than a
coming to faith. “I was convinced
all my life that there was just one God.
And there’s always been a Devil too,” he said. And he has this advice for his critics: “I
was one thing then, and now I’m something new. Don’t judge Alice by what he used to be. Praise God for what I am now.”
“I’m the modern day Prodigal Son,” said Cooper. “I messed up and then God started reeling me
back in. He chips away at your life all
the time to try to make you more like Him,” said Cooper. “That’s what a Christian is, a person that’s constantly
being molded and shaped.
That’s exactly what that visionary pastor advised him years
before. He said “God doesn't make
mistakes! God put you in an uncommon
situation with a purpose. Now let your
lifestyle be a better example.”
That’s not the counsel Vince had expected.
Dear Lord, of all the things I want for my
child, salvation is the greatest, yet it feels the most elusive. Embrace my child with Your wisdom and love. I
pray that (s)he is becoming tender toward You and receptive to Your Word. Amen
