U2 Bono: Karma, Grace and Jesus Christ

U2’s music has been around for years - since 1976 to be exact. Their front man, Bono is one of the world’s most famous rock stars. His face is recognized by young and old alike from all walks of life. Those who despise the Irish band’s rock music still recognize the face behind the blue fly-shades. He’s the musician who meets with Presidents, popes and prime ministers securing their support to help the disadvantaged in the world.

His mother died when he was 14 and he describes his relationship with his father as a rocky one. After his mother’s death he developed an interest in music and by Grade 12, U2 had its genesis. His musical pursuits and the success of his band have taken him to the pinnacle of fame and success. But when Bono spoke with the French music journalist Michka Assayas he had more to talk about than himself. He had Jesus Christ on his mind. The excerpts below are taken from the interview story covered by Christianity Today.

Karma makes sense to Bono: “What you put out comes back to you: and eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, or in physics – every action is met by an equal or an opposite one. It’s clear to me that Karma is at the very heart of the universe. I’m absolutely sure of it.” But he goes on to say: “And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that “as you reap, so you will sow” stuff. Grace defies reason and logic. Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I’ve done a lot of stupid stuff.”

Assayas wanted some examples of the stupid stuff. Bono said that stuff was between him and God but he knew he’d be in big trouble apart from grace. He said he wasn’t depending on his own religiosity but the fact that “Jesus took my sins onto the Cross. Assayas said: “The Son of God who takes away the sins of the world. I wish I could believe in that.”

Bono told the journalist that it was a mind-blowing concept that the God who created the universe would seek out a real relationship with people. He said: “The thing that keeps me on my knees is the difference between Grace and Karma.” Later he added: “With Christ we have access in a one-to-one relationship. “ A vertical relationship with the Holy, awesome God of the Old Testament was made possible by looking horizontally ‘across’ at a Jesus on earth. “The combination is what makes the Cross,” Bono said.

The rock icon told Assayas: “I love the idea of the Sacrificial Lamb. The point of the death of Christ is that Christ took on the sins of the world, so that what we put out did not come back to us and that our sinful nature does not reap the obvious death. That’s the point. It should keep us humbled…It’s not our own good works that get us through the gates of Heaven. “ Bono went on to say that when he looks at the cross of Christ he sees all his sins there and that Jesus took all the punishment for those sins.

Well, you have just read about Bono. Maybe you aren’t a U2 fan. I don’t know what you think about Bono. But I would love to know what you think of Christ. What does Christ mean to you? What does Grace mean to you? Does the Cross of Christ have a special place in your thinking? Have you ever discovered the link between your sins and the Cross?

Bono was right: your good works will not get you through the gates of Heaven. Ephesians 2:8,9 states that clearly. Friend, you need Christ. He is available to you today. Will you accept Him as your Saviour and Lord?

http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/interviews/2005/bono-0805.html