Petra Looks Back at 33 Years of Christian Rock Ministry

The following is an excerpt from an interview Petra gave to Christianity Today looking back at 33 years of history of a trend-setting band that with others like Stryper opened up the floodgates for modern Christian rock music.

How did the Christian music community respond to you in the early days?

Bob Hartman: For the longest time, we felt like outsiders. When we first started going to GMAs, it was really dominated by Southern gospel. Contemporary Christian music was coming in with Sandi Patty, Larnelle Harris and Evie. Our style was looked at as being a real offshoot that they didn't want to spend too much time with. We felt sort of on the outside until later on when things began to change.

I think it was a real turning point for us when we won the Dove for "Group of the Year." That was the first time a rock group ever won and kind of announced rock's arrival—Christian rock anyway—because at that point there were contemporary styles, but rock was still sort of outside.

How do you account for Petra's longevity in an era of artist disposability?

Hartman: It used to be that Christian artists had longevity, but recently there are so many artists being put forward that they have a much shorter shelf life, and that's a little bit disturbing to me. That hearkens to what secular music does, which is throw darts at a board and see what sticks.

Back in the day when we started, it was really about ministry. There were record companies that actually cared if you had a ministry or not—that you were bringing something to people spiritually that was going to last. I'm not saying nobody in Christian music is like that right now, but even if there are, they're overruled by other things. It's much more about fashion than it used to be.

Your lyrics have always been blatantly spiritual. Why?

John Schlitt: The whole reason Petra became a band was for ministry. If you start watering down ministry, then you've watered down your whole purpose and foundation. I still believe that verse about not being lukewarm in your faith because he'll spit you out of his mouth. Man, I don't want to be spit out of God's mouth! I want to be absolutely on fire and be criticized for it, rather than be lukewarm and have nobody know what you're talking about.

Hartman: I never thought I'd ever be criticized by Christians for being too upfront with the message! Our struggle when we started was the world saying that. They'd say, "We're not going to play them on our radio station because they're too upfront with their message."

What have been some of the most meaningful highlights over the years?

Schlitt: I think the tour with Josh McDowell was our peak, which covered the last part of On Fire, all of the first Petra Praise and part of Beyond Belief. That tour lasted forever [1988-90] because people kept hearing and wanting more. It was very anointed and we saw aisles packed full of people coming forward [for salvation]. As a Christian artist, to be able to join forces with Josh McDowell was a very unique, total honor.

What advice do you have to the new crop of rockers who are picking up where you left off?

Schlitt: We've had a chance to play with a lot of new bands. They've got great attitudes, good Christian walks and that desire to go forward. When I meet bands like that, I say "Guys, you've been chosen to be the leaders of your generation. Now you have two directions you could go—you can either have the guts to go for it and be that leading example of Christ, or you could wimp out and go the easy way and get gobbled up in the meantime. But God's given you a chance to go forward and be a leader in the name of Jesus Christ. Go for it, do it, be excited and don't be afraid."

I want to encourage them because they don't get encouraged through the world. The world's constantly saying "compromise," but my gosh, we should be the leaders and the world should be following us! Why do you want to follow your way right into the pit?

Go here to read the full interview from Christianity Today.