Get in the Pit and Try to Love Someone
The Redemption Story of Kid Rock
Last night’s performance by Kid Rock has caused a stir on Christian social media. It’s not that hard of a feat. We get stirred up very easily.
Here’s the issue causing the tension. TPUSA billed their half-time show as a family friendly alternative. Kid Rock opened his set with a throwback performance of “Bawitdaba”. Anyone familiar with the song’s lyrics understands why people may take issue with it being aired at a “family friendly” event. Then again, it’s Kid Rock. Did anyone seriously think he was going to come out singing kumbaya and Chris Tomlin songs? The wisdom of including that song at the event can be debated. No problem. But throwing out the beauty of what happened throughout the set is a mistake.
For those getting bent out of shape about the performance, I have a prescription for you. Take one Philippians 1:15-18 and chill. You’ll feel better in the morning. None of us can determine Kid Rock’s heart. But we can admire the message that was clearly and artistically conveyed. And us Christians would greatly benefit if we would pay attention. Let’s take it in steps.
Step 1: The Old Man
Kid Rock comes out and begins the song proudly shouting his “name”. Then he performs his old song. This is only speculation, but I found the performance of “Bawitdaba” a little odd. He didn’t seem really into it. He barely sang any of the verse, seeming selective of which parts he wanted to put the mic up for. And he appeared kind of uncomfortable, like he was getting through it to make the point, but his heart wasn’t in it like it used to be. I think that was all part of the point. He has publicly professed his faith in Jesus Christ in the last few years. Singing that song would be like reliving his old life before salvation. It’s an uncomfortable song to listen to for people with the Holy Spirit. It seemed to be an uncomfortable song for him to sing. However, just like it is necessary to occasionally bring to mind who we were before Christ, it was necessary for him to briefly revisit his old self. You cannot tell the story of redemption without acknowledging what you were redeemed from.
Step 2: The Transition
The song ended abruptly in a weird place. You would expect to revisit the chorus one more time. Kid Rock ended the song shouting the last line of the verse, “So get in the pit and try to love someone.” We will revisit that line later. After that abrupt ending, and in the midst of the chaotic intensity, there appears a calming instrumental melody. It’s almost as if the peace of that melody interrupts the chaos and stops it in its tracks. It was a jarring experience. If you were watching, you found yourself transported very unexpectedly to a place of peace and rest. Something has changed. It has changed all of a sudden. And it has calmed the raging waters of what was just happening. It was an artistic expression of the moment Jesus speaks the words, “Peace be still,” into the chaos of the lost person’s life. And it was beautiful.
Step 3: The New Man
After the melody is over, the host announces the next artist. It is announced as if this is a new person taking the stage. “Ladies and gentleman, please welcome our brother, Robert Ritchie.” For anyone not familiar with Kid Rock’s real name, it appeared to be a new person. This man was calmer, more at peace. He barely even seemed like the same guy. He is no longer going by his false name. Now he is wearing his new name. It is the name God gave him. It is the name he has kept hidden under a false identity for years. He is a new man with a new name after being interrupted by the peace Christ brought into his life. And he does not hide it. He ends the song with his own added words, “There’s a book that’s sitting in your house somewhere that could use some dusting off. There’s a man who died for all our sins hanging from the cross. You can give your life to Jesus and he’ll give you a second chance…till you can’t.” This whole set was a demonstration of the second chance Jesus gave to Robert Ritchie, and an extension of that gospel offer to everyone listening. It was more powerful than most of the sermons I have heard.
Get in the Pit and Try to Love Someone
We want our churches to be overflowing with Robert Ritchies, but we need to remember they will come to us at first as Kid Rock’s. Where did the gospel interruption happen? In the middle of unanswered questions, topless dancers, crackheads, meth, crooked cops, shots of Jack, etc. He was in “the pit.” He was in the places that make the snooty church type’s skin crawl. He was the kind you don’t associate with because you would be embarrassed if your pastor saw you hanging with him. You want to bring the gospel to the lost? You want to fill your church with Robert Ritchie redemption stories? You will find them in the pit. It is where you were found. You don’t have to participate in the things that go on in that world. But you can’t shun it either. You are not going to find them at the church potluck or the outreach program. You are going to have to venture out into the dark. But we are the light of the world. Lights were meant to shine into the darkness, not hide from it. Are you ready to see lives changed and people made new? Then “get in the pit and try to love someone.”