The Jesus I Know 10-Day DevotionalChikamu

Taking Jesus to the Metal Mainstream: A Conversation with Brian Welch

Kathie Lee

People are always stunned to learn that I am very good friends with the dreadlocked, full-body-tattooed, lead guitarist of the heavy metal band Korn. I just laugh and answer, “Why wouldn’t I be?” Brian “Head” Welch is the sweetest and most tenderhearted man. This is Brian’s story with Jesus.

Brian

I created a documentary called Loud Krazy Love because I felt like this generation needs real, raw, authentic. I was so sick of living a lie, a depressed, empty, lonely life. I was just like the blind guy in the Bible, who was like, “I don’t know anything about anything, but I was blind and now I can see because of this guy.” That was what happened to me. I was a loser, an addict, and now I’m fixed.

Kathie Lee

Well, a beautiful baby girl came into your life. Your life had become so muddied, so dirty and impure—and all of a sudden, you were holding this perfect creature. Tell me about that moment.

Brian

Well, there’s nothing like being able to hold a miracle you create. So just seeing her come into the world was like a healing balm into my soul. Realizing there’s this great big God who loves me and you more than we love our kids. It all comes from Him and flows through us. This is what it took for God to get me to wake up. 

When I left the band Korn, there was a mixture of reactions, but most people thought I had just done one too many lines. When I met Christ, it was like, "You’re never gonna be the same. You’re gonna be the best dad." And I was cursed with positive thoughts. It was amazing.

Kathie Lee

Then you gave up everything because you thought that’s what Jesus wanted you to do. I love that people encouraged you to go back to the world you came out of and to see that as your true mission field.

Brian

We just share Christ’s love with the people we’re called to be in relationship with. Christ’s love is coming out of me to my followers. It’s amazing to see what He is doing. When I grew up, I didn’t see too much about God in the mainstream. But God is moving in a new way in our generation. It’s like we are saying to people, “Look, we’re different, but we have the same heart.” Jesus called some of the religious people “whitewashed tombs” because they looked good on the outside but didn’t have the heart inside.

Kathie Lee

What I saw as I was watching your movie was that you started to love somebody else more than you loved yourself. Unconditional love, like God’s love for us. It’s mind-blowing like no drug can be.

Brian

You get instantly addicted once you get your eyes open to that. It’s not blind faith. It’s like an interaction—relationship-based, heart-to-heart, spirit-to-spirit. Really amazing.

I think people are given gifts in this world. Art and music are great gifts to carry, but you need to realize your identity first. If you find out who you are in God, and God is in you, then you’ll save yourself so much heartache, crashing and burning. I’m thankful for everything God has done in my life.

Respond

Why is it important to share Jesus with the new generation?

How are the dark and difficult parts of your life important in helping you understand God’s unconditional love?

What does it mean to find your identity in God? 

Prayer

Lord, I want to be an authentic, raw messenger of hope to those in my realm of influence. Help me to clearly see myself as Your child—valued, loved, and ready to represent you—as I step out and use the gifts You’ve given me to show the difference faith in You makes. Amen.