For The Antidote radio program I asked Kevin Young of Disciple what his intentions were regarding the song. He text back: "In Disciple, we always try to write songs that point to Jesus in an evangelistic way, but we also try to maintain the freedom to write about any topic whatsoever. So “Game On” definitely fell outside of the evangelistic realm. The song came about when Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who was a member of Al-Qaeda and a major voice of jihad against American soldiers, was killed in the middle of 2006. When the news reported his death I wasn’t sure how to feel about it. Should I be happy? Should I be sad? As a Christian, I believe that Jesus is calling me to be a peacemaker, and not to defend myself, and definitely to not support violence. So I basically just started having a conversation with God about when is it ok for a Christian to fight. I looked to example of Jesus… he never fought back, he turned the other cheek, and even offered forgiveness to His tormentors. But this same Jesus in 2 Thessalonians 1:4-9 defends the weak and those who have been persecuted with righteous justice. So the song “Game On" really formed out of this conversation….. and I’m still having this conversation with God as I strive to be more like him. I don’t claim that the theology of “Game On” correct or incorrect, but it’s how I walked away from my conversation with God on that day in 2006….. that I will not defend myself. But that I do have a mandate to protect and defend my wife, my children, the weak, and even my country. For me, that’s the best way to get my thoughts out…. write a song about it. And that’s the story of “Game On.”
For The Antidote radio program I asked Kevin Young of Disciple what his intentions were regarding the song. He text back: "In Disciple, we always try to write songs that point to Jesus in an evangelistic way, but we also try to maintain the freedom to write about any topic whatsoever. So “Game On” definitely fell outside of the evangelistic realm. The song came about when Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who was a member of Al-Qaeda and a major voice of jihad against American soldiers, was killed in the middle of 2006. When the news reported his death I wasn’t sure how to feel about it. Should I be happy? Should I be sad? As a Christian, I believe that Jesus is calling me to be a peacemaker, and not to defend myself, and definitely to not support violence. So I basically just started having a conversation with God about when is it ok for a Christian to fight. I looked to example of Jesus… he never fought back, he turned the other cheek, and even offered forgiveness to His tormentors. But this same Jesus in 2 Thessalonians 1:4-9 defends the weak and those who have been persecuted with righteous justice. So the song “Game On" really formed out of this conversation….. and I’m still having this conversation with God as I strive to be more like him. I don’t claim that the theology of “Game On” correct or incorrect, but it’s how I walked away from my conversation with God on that day in 2006….. that I will not defend myself. But that I do have a mandate to protect and defend my wife, my children, the weak, and even my country. For me, that’s the best way to get my thoughts out…. write a song about it. And that’s the story of “Game On.”