(OPINION) Skillet frontman John Cooper is opening up about his upbringing, his views on legalism within the church, and the surprising backlash to the band’s new Christmas release.
The longtime vocalist and bassist says his childhood in a deeply conservative Christian home shaped not only his spiritual foundation but also the challenges he faced when entering the world of rock music.
Cooper recalls that in his home, rock music of any kind was forbidden. His mother believed Christian rock was even more dangerous than secular rock, viewing it as a deceptive “wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
She encouraged devotion to God and Scripture, yet her strict interpretation left Cooper wrestling with fear-based teachings about music and creativity.
After her death when he was 15, he began seeking clarity on whether creativity itself could truly be sinful. Over time, he concluded that God’s creation—sound, art, and musical expression—should not be surrendered to fear or cultural taboos.
These themes unexpectedly resurfaced when Skillet released their first-ever Christmas song, a powerful rendition of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” The track begins softly but builds into the band’s signature hard-rock intensity.
According to Cooper, this was intentional: the heavy sound reflects the weight of humanity’s longing for deliverance, the ache of waiting for the Messiah, and the triumphant hope found in Christ’s coming.
The song quickly rose on multiple music charts, gaining traction across Christian, rock, and holiday categories. But despite its success, a wave of criticism emerged from some conservative Christian communities.
A handful of listeners accused the band of disrespecting a sacred hymn and argued that rock music is inherently incompatible with worship. A few even labeled the song “demonic.”
Cooper admits he was initially shocked, saying he hadn’t heard such accusations in nearly twenty years. But he also recognized the familiar tone of legalism — the same mindset he grew up around.
While he says he empathizes with believers who sincerely fear spiritual compromise, he disagrees with the idea that a musical style can be inherently evil. For Cooper, the heart and intention behind the art matter far more than the genre used to express it.
He argues that music is a gift from God, and Christians should not allow fear or tradition to determine what sounds are acceptable for worship.
The intensity in Skillet’s Christmas song is meant to communicate emotion, struggle, longing, and redemption — all central themes of the Advent season. In Cooper’s view, expressing the dramatic story of Jesus’ arrival with powerful rock music does not diminish the message but can amplify it.
Cooper says that remaining faithful often means accepting criticism, even from within the Christian community. His goal, he explains, is not to please everyone but to be obedient to God.
He believes Christians are called to take up their cross daily, stand firm in truth, and use their gifts boldly, no matter how unconventional those gifts may be.
Skillet’s journey with this Christmas release reflects a broader debate within the church: how to balance tradition with creativity, and how to allow different forms of artistic expression to glorify God.
For some Christians, hymns should remain untouched and stylistically traditional. For others, fresh interpretations — even loud, modern ones — can convey timeless truths in meaningful, authentic ways.
End Time Headlines is a ministry founded, owned, and operated by Ricky Scaparo, established in 2010 to equip believers and inform discerning individuals about the “Signs and Seasons” of the times in which we live. Ricky authors original articles and curates news from mainstream sources, carefully selecting topics, verifying information, and utilizing artificial intelligence tools to ensure content is both timely and accurate. Every piece is personally reviewed and edited by Ricky to align with the ministry’s mission of providing a prophetic perspective on current events.
