Greg Laurie Explores the Faith Journeys of Elvis and the Founders of Rock ‘N’ Roll
By Movieguide® Staff
Pastor Greg Laurie recently released an excerpt from his new book, “Lenon, Dylan, Alice and Jesus.”
Laurie previously discussed why he wrote the book and highlighted how the Gospel can transform the most rebellious hearts.
In an excerpt from Laurie’s book published on Denison Forum, the pastor of Harvest Christian Church highlights how faith played a role in the lives of the first rock artists the world heard.
“Sam Phillips, the owner of Sun Studios, was looking for a new sound. He found it in Memphis, Tennessee. Now he needed the right person to bring it to a larger audience. He knew he found what he was looking for when Elvis Aaron Presley walked into his office,” Laurie wrote.
“Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins were all church-going country boys from impoverished, hard-working families, many of whom had alcoholism and addiction in their blood,” he continued. “Sinning, guilt and unrelenting hardship made for a heavy bottle to nurse on. These four young men all came up that hard way, and the pressures they grew up with built until they exploded into a new sound.”
December 4, 1956, became famous for the group’s impromptu meeting and jam session and is now remembered as the “Million Dollar Quartet.”
But Laurie noted that their similarities were not solely musical.
“Presley, Cash, and Perkins all had conflicts between the warring elements of their personalities, between themselves and addiction, and the push and pull of fame,” Laurie writes.
“Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis—true pioneers of rock ’n roll—were all church-going country boys who believed in Jesus. The devil seduced their souls and didn’t let go for decades; however, they knew where to turn when the day was done.”
Movieguide® previously reported of Laurie’s book:
Laurie said that while the book’s focus is on rockstars and rock and roll, it does not glorify the music or the people.
“In this book, this is not glorifying rock music or rock musicians. This is a book that is exploring the lives of people that have basically experienced everything this world has to offer, and it found it empty.” he said. “It’s sort of a modern version of the story of Solomon, who had everything this world offers. Then he concludes it was all emptiness. It was like chasing the wind. It was like a bubble that bursts. When you’ve climbed to the top of the mountain, and you’ve been all that and a bag of chips, when you’ve been on a lunchbox or on a t-shirt, people have your poster hung in their room, you realize how empty all of that is.”
“Christ is the answer,” he continued. “Now God may bless you with success. God may bless you with fame. God may bless you with other things but don’t make that the sole purpose of living. Here’s what the Apostle Paul said: ‘to live is Christ.’ For some people, if they were honest, they would say to live is possessions. Their motto would be ‘he who dies with the most toys wins.’ Live for Christ. Put God first.”
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
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