I first learned of Matthew Paul Turner when I read The Christian Culture Survival Guide, a satirical look at the wonderful world of American Christianity. I laughed, I cried . . . Actually, I just laughed. A lot. I knew then that Matthew Paul Turner wasn't going away. Today, Matthew has written or contributed to over a dozen books on subjects as varied as politics, sex, pop culture, and finances. His most recent book is a memoir entitled, Hear No Evil: My Story of Innocence, Music, and the Holy Ghost. Weaving music and humor with uncommon wisdom, Matthew's book taught me about grace, God, and fear. I decided to take a moment and chat with Matthew about some of the finer and funnier points in Hear No Evil.
Q: In this book, you said you once dreamed of becoming the Michael Jackson of Christian music. What exactly do you mean?
A: Well, at the time, I believed it meant "Pop singer with mass appeal." The music Michael Jackson makes you feel something, makes you have an emotional response, and so, I wanted people to experience that through the music I created.
Q: As a follow-up to the last question, have you ever undergone facial plastic surgery for cosmetic purposes? If not, what would be th first thing you'd fix or augment?
A: Not unless you count forced sanctification. I'd get pec implants. I've always had a bird chest.
Q: One of the best stories in this book retells when you attended your first "forbidden" concert. Can you recount that experience?
A: It was the "Make Your Praise Glorious" Tour starring Sandi Patty with a 10-piece band, background singers, and 12,000 adoring fans. For me, in 1988, it was a heavenly experience.
Q: You admit to being an Amy Grant fan. (I admire your courage.) Are you a pre-Baby,Baby or post-Baby,Baby fan? What about Amy Grant revs you up?
A: Sort of. I loved Amy's music, or at least, the songs that I had heard. But since I wasn't allowed to listen to Amy until I turned 18, it was hard being her fan. Amy is a beautiful person. Her music inspires people, and for me, brought a lot of hope into my life. And you know, her music has never excluded anybody. And I think that's pretty amazing.
Q: You often write about being raised in a fundamentalist Baptist tradition and moving more toward a position of "grace and freedom." (It's something we have in common and draws me to your writing.) Where do you think fundamentalist Christianity "gets it wrong" and why did you feel like you had to escape?
A: At my old church, Jesus was like a prison guard. In my opinion, fundamentalist Christianity gets it wrong in many areas:
1) Often being "right" trumps everything. It's not about being good or faithful or hopeful, it's about being right.
2) Often they don't know what to do with sinners. At my church, you made out fine until you screwed up or disagreed with those who believed they were right.
3) Often they skip from Jesus's birth to his death and resurrection without reading and applying his teachings.
To me, that seems like something anybody would not only want to escape, but should escape.
Check out Hear No Evil
Browse Matthew's blog, Jesus Needs New PR.
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