Korn’s Brian Welch Not Bitter Against Those Who Criticize Him: ‘I Was Like Them’
By Movieguide® Contributor
Korn lead singer Brian Welch recently opened up about how he responds to religious people who attack him for rejoining the secular band.
He jokingly said he wants to “choke” them but then quickly explained his true feelings.
“But I would never choke them,” he said. “I just remember that they’re wounded souls and there’s something that’s not healed—there’s pride that hasn’t been humbled.”
Welch added, “I don’t want to carry around any bitterness.”
Welch helped found Korn in 1993, but after living the rock and roll lifestyle, he left the band in 2005 when he found faith in Jesus. After getting sober, he returned to the band in 2013.
“I know the music’s crazy, but mainly the lyrics are about pain,” Welch said previously. “And they’re coming from a real and raw place. People need hope. There’s addictions like crazy in that world. There’s depression. It’s been a lot of suicide stories happening. What better place [for me] to be, having the meaning of life that I carry? You know, I know the answer for the meaning of life.”
“I followed God right back into Korn, and He’s there and I’m not separated from them or the fans any longer,” he added.
However, he realizes that some don’t understand how he could be part of the heavy metal world and serve Christ.
“I scripturally show them how Jesus dealt with them too, and he had a harsh word for them,” Welch explained. “It’s really kind of scary what position they’re in. It seems to me they’re worse off than, you know, drug addicts or prostitutes because they’re claiming to represent God and they are really misrepresenting God.”
“I pity them,” he said before adding, “if you think you’re doing good and God’s proud of you, but they’re acting exactly like the people that Jesus” described in Matthew 23.
Instead of bitterness, Welch feels sadness for them, revealing that he once was like those religious people.
“I was like them for a year [or so]. I felt all this love for a year,” Welch revealed. “And then when I was dealing with my stuff, I was trying to tell people ‘You can’t do this!’”
He explained that to become a Christian, a person does not need to become a “religious weirdo” focused on rules and regulations. Rather, Christ calls us to love others in the way God intended.
“I don’t have to conform,” Welch explained. “I could be me and who God made me to be and be proud of myself and love myself and share my faith journey.”
Movieguide® previously reported on Welch’s faith:
To commemorate his “spiritual birthday,” Korn’s lead guitarist Brian “Head” Welch posted a picture of his baptism in the Jordan river from 2005.
“Happy spiritual birthday to me,” Welch captioned the post with a picture of his baptism on Instagram.“People thought it was a practical joke, but what happened on the inside of me was no joke at all and it is just as powerful and secure today – 19 years later!”
The Grammy-winning artist has been vocal about his faith and how God had helped him overcome drug addiction and depression since his conversion, and his recent post was a reminder of how his baptism “symbolized that death to self.”
“New life will never be birthed until a death happens; a laying down of one’s pride and egotistical state of mind,” Welch’s post continued.
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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.
