Stryper frontman Michael Sweet recently reflected on the four-decade career of his band, stating that the challenges of being an openly Christian rock group have shifted significantly over time. In a new interview on the “Talkin’ Bout Rock” podcast, Sweet explained that while the 80s challenge was confusion over their image, the modern challenge is open “persecution” of their message.
When asked by host Rob Edwards if it’s harder now, Sweet replied: “I think it’s different. There are challenges now that are different from the challenges then.” He explained, “So back in the ’80s… It was difficult for people to take the lyrics and look at the image and listen to the sound and combine the three. People were, like, ‘Wait a minute. This can’t be Christian music.’ Now it’s more about just the message itself.”
Sweet elaborated on that modern challenge, stating that the Christian message itself is now the primary target, even leading to confrontations at their concerts.
“The Christian message, from my experience, is a message that is persecuted to no get-out, man,” he said. “I hear it and I read it in e-mails, I hear it from people, I see it at our shows, those people that come to just speak out against the faith and Christianity. I don’t get it. It’s bizarre.”
The frontman also expressed frustration with what he perceives as a public double standard regarding religion.
“It seems to me like certain religions are off limits — you can’t say anything bad about certain religions because if you do, you’re a bad person,” Sweet argued. “But yet it seems like you could say anything you want about Christianity. I don’t know. Maybe I’m wrong… This is from my personal experience.”
Sweet concluded that this negativity, while disheartening, ultimately fuels his drive. “And it kind of bums me out, but at the same time, it also drives me to do more,” he said. “That’s the way I’m built… You get knocked down, get back up. Keep going.”
This echoes comments Sweet made last year, where he stated the band has “been mocked from the very beginning” and that “if we sang about girls or Satan, we would have been the cool kids… But we’re not, because we sing about Jesus.”
Formed 42 years ago, Stryper drew its name directly from the Bible, referencing Isaiah 53:5, which reads: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” The band’s extensive discography includes popular albums like To Hell With The Devil, No More Hell To Pay, God Damn Evil, and their most recent release, When We Were Kings.
