AP

约翰尼·卡什的興衰與救贖

我最近看到一部關於美國著名鄉村歌手約翰尼·卡什的精彩紀錄片。值得慶幸同時也有點令人驚訝的是，它目前在 SBS 視頻流點播中，因此可以免費觀看。標題是“約翰尼·卡什：一個偶像的救贖”，可以在這裡找到連結。

我之所以說“令人驚訝”，是因為這部紀錄片由福音派牧師格雷格·勞理 (Greg Laurie) 製作與出品。格雷格在片中毫不迴避卡什的精神皈依及隨後為耶穌所做的見證。這也再適宜不過，因為格雷格·勞裡最近還出版了約翰尼·卡什的同名傳記。

《一個偶像的救贖》的製作價值非凡，這或許也是SBS這樣的機構願意播出的原因之一。音樂藝術家和公眾人物如蒂姆·麥格勞 (Tim McGraw)、富蘭克林·格雷厄姆 (Franklin Graham)、謝麗爾·克勞 (Sheryl Crowe) 和愛麗絲·庫珀 (Alice Cooper)等都做出了諸多貢獻。卡什的妹妹喬安妮也為其家族信仰貢獻了諸多見解。

卡什成長於一個基督教家庭，深受其母基督教信仰的影響。他的弟弟傑克十五歲時在一場鋸木廠事故中不幸身亡的悲劇也對其信仰影響巨大。獲得名譽和財富之後，卡什離開了基督信仰，因此導致他亂交、對處方藥成癮以及後來婚姻破裂。

顯然卡什生活混亂，充滿性、毒品和搖滾樂，最終一切在他身邊轟然崩塌。但正如紀錄片所揭示，當他跌入谷底時，主仁慈地把他帶回到自己身邊。卡什的餘生一直尋求任何可能的方式宣講基督——無論以音樂、電影還是演講。

卡什也是葛理翰 (Billy Graham) 的親密朋友，並在數不勝數的福音佈道會上演唱。至今仍有很多人說明卡什對他們的影響。看到卡什用他的音樂天賦為基督作見證真是令人無比振奮。

大多數人至少聽過幾首卡什的歌，例如，《火圈》 (Ring of Fire)、《惡靈騎士》(Ghost Riders in the Sky) 和《一往無前》(Walk the Line)。在他去世以後，他的福音音樂益發受到歡迎和追捧。如果你有時間，值得聽聽他的歌曲《救贖》(Redemption) 、 《神的降罰終會臨到》(God’s Gonna Cut You Down) 、 《那個男人來了》(The Man Comes Around) ，尤其是《傷害》(Hurt) 。

卡什遠不算完美，他穿黑色衣服的原因之一——他以「黑衣人」聞名——就是想始終認同他與生俱來的破碎感。

卡什的福音音樂向我們見證了神的救贖之愛。耶穌基督便是將我們從罪惡中救贖出來並透過信仰使我們稱義的那一位。正如使徒保羅在提摩太前書 1:15-16 所說：

有句話千真萬確、完全可信，就是「基督耶穌降世，為要拯救罪人。」在罪人中我是個罪魁， 但我依然蒙了憐憫，因為耶穌基督要在我這個罪魁身上彰顯祂無限的忍耐，使我做那些要信靠祂並得到永生之人的榜樣。

——馬克·鮑威爾

The Rise, Fall and Redemption of Johnny Cash

I recently came across an excellent documentary on the famous American Country singer, Johnny Cash. Thankfully, and somewhat surprisingly, it’s currently on SBS on Demand and therefore can be viewed for free. The title is “Johnny Cash: Redemption of an Idol”, the link to which can be found here.

The reason I say ‘surprisingly’ is because it’s produced and largely presented by evangelical pastor Greg Laurie and he doesn’t shy away from Cash’s spiritual conversion or subsequent witness to Jesus. This is more than appropriate though, since Greg Laurie has recently published a biography on Johnny Cash with the same title.

The production values of Redemption of an Idol are excellent and it is probably one of the reasons why an organisation like SBS was willing to host it. There are also numerous contributions from such varied musical artists and public figures such as Tim McGraw,  Franklin Graham, Sheryl Crowe and Alice Cooper. Cash’s sister, Joanne also makes a number of excellent contributions and insights into the family’s faith.

Growing up in a Christian family, Cash was strongly influenced by the Christian faith of his mother and especially his brother Jack who died tragically in a saw milling accident at the age of fifteen. After finding fame and fortune, Cash walked away from Christ and it resulted in promiscuity, addiction to prescription drugs and the subsequent breakdown of his marriage.

Cash obviously led a tumultuous life of sex, drugs and rock and roll which ultimately all came crashing down around him. But as the documentary shows, when he hit rock bottom the LORD graciously brought him back to Himself. And he spent the rest of his life seeking to proclaim Christ in whatever way he could – whether that be music, movies or speaking.

Cash was also close friends with Billy Graham and sang at numerous evangelistic crusades. And there are still many people around today who testify to the impact Cash had on them . It is wonderfully encouraging to see how Cash used his musical talents to bear witness to Christ

Most people have at least heard a couple of his songs such as Ring of Fire, Ghost Riders in the Sky and Walk the Line. But since his death it is his Gospel music which is becoming more and more popular and appreciated. If you have the time, it’s worth listening to his songs Redemption, God’s Gonna Cut You Down, The Man Comes Around and especially Hurt.

Cash was in no way perfect, and one of the reasons why he wore black—he became known as The Man in Black—was because he wanted to always identify with the brokenness of where he had come from.

What Cash’s Gospel music testifies to, is the redeeming love of God, that Jesus Christ is the One who redeems us from our sin and justifies us through faith. As the apostle Paul says in 1 Timothy 1:15-16:

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.

– Mark Powell, Chinese translation by Sonia Liang