Skillet’s John Cooper answers the questions YOU posted.

1. freakofnature asks: Do you listen to secular music and why?

John Cooper: 1 Corinthians 6:12 says, “All things are permissible for me, but not all things are beneficial...” I take this to heart with music. Just because a band is not sold in a Christian bookstore does not mean it's evil. Take bands like U2 or The Fray, who are not considered “Christian bands,” but who reportedly have Christians in the band. However, how is a listener supposed to discern what  is uplifting to his spirit and what is not, when it comes to secular music? This is one of the reasons , when I was growing up, why I chose not to listen to secular music. I was determined to live for Jesus in the strongest way I knew how. Listening to dark, sexual, angry or depressing music really affected my spirit, and I did not have the discernment or will power to turn it off! So I simply NEVER listened to it. Now that I am older, I can better distinguish what music is OK for me. So yes, I sometimes listen to secular music. (Some of our fans have heard a rumor that I like Celine Dion… I cannot confirm or deny this accusation!) Just because music is “secular” and not “Christian” does not make it evil. You have to learn to judge that with your own conscience.

2. Rhardin15 asks: Has your drummer, Jen, adapted well to the band?

John: Our new drummer, Jen, is working out fantastic! She is an absolute joy to be with. Furthermore, we are sure that God placed her with us. There were some amazing things that occurred in the process of her joining the band. For instance, I thought she was 21-years-old. That seemed a little too young to me, and I did not want the responsibility of having such a young person under my care (I was 21 when Skillet starting going on the road and released our first record, and I was a crazy idiot!). After the audition with her I was really impressed and mentioned that 21 was pretty young. She corrected me and informed me that she was actually 17 and turning 18 in two weeks! Whoa…

3. punkinpie27407 asks: What is your songwriting strategy, and how do you get ideas for your songs?

John: I write my songs based on two things:  1.) what I’m feeling at the time [and] 2.) what my faith in God, and of course, the Bible [are] teaching me. A simple example: The song "Rebirthing" was written from feeling that I am at a place in my life where I am changing. God was speaking to me about starting over and fresh in a few areas of my life. I will take [a] feeling and want to write a song about it. But first, I must make sure that the feeling lines up with the Bible.

4. inthedark asks: I watch all the podcasts, and they always make me laugh, but what is your favorite moment in Skillet history?