Megadeth bassist David Ellefson last fall became one of 100 students in the distance education program at the Concordia Seminary in Clayton, Missouri. Classes include “Lutheran Distinctions,” “Preaching I & II,” “Introduction to Worship” and “Scripture and Faith.”
During a brand new interview with Gordon Duncan of the Raleigh Evangelical Examiner, Ellefson was asked what some of his goals are surrounding a seminary education. “I’m enjoying the educational aspect of this,” he replied. “Learning what I can about the history of the church and Martin Luther‘s discoveries of both the Old Testament law and New Testament gospel of Christ. I think my generation just gave up on church…much the same way Martin Luther questioned the church of his day. I think we are all drawn to the word of God but not sure about the church of our youth as it was antiquated and seemed culturally irrelevant to us. So, my hope is that with a modern day discovery we can apply God’s word more universally to all of us, even us in rock and roll!”
Ellefson was also asked whether he and Megadeth mainman Dave Mustaine ever debate points of theology, and if so, how they handle any disagreements. “Dave and I never dispute scripture but rather we study it together,” Ellefson said. “Dave is actually very well versed and read on scripture, especially the Old Testament. I’ve learned quite a bit from him over the years. I think his understanding of Moses is superior to what mine used to be. I can’t say we disagree. It’s just that we each bring something different to our discussions. I think that is the beauty of scripture it is irrefutable if you really study it as it is written and don’t try to scramble it to fit your life. We are to fit it, not the other way around.”
On the topc of whether he desires to see his Christian faith more overtly evident in Megadeth lyrics, Ellefson said, “I don’t see Megadeth being a quote/unquote ‘Christian band,’ but rather a band that has Christians in it. We’ve used concepts and scripture in our songs for years. One example is in ‘Ashes In Your Mouth’ where we say, ‘Turning plowshares into swords.'”
Read more from the Raleigh Evangelical Examiner.
Megadeth is currently on tour, together with Motorhead, Volbeat and Lacuna Coil on their Gigantour 2012, tour dates are listed below.
Megadeth is among the nominees for the 54th annual Grammy Awards, which will be held on Sunday, February 12 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The band’s tenth Grammy nomination is for its new single, Public Enemy No. 1, off Megadeth‘s latest album, Th1rt3en, which came out on November 1.
Gigantour 2012 tour dates:
Thu 2/2 Quebec City, QC Colisee Pepsi Arena
Fri 2/3 Montreal, QC Bell Centre
Sun 2/5 Kingston, ON K-Rock Centre
Tue 2/7 Oshawa, ON General Motors Centre
Wed 2/8 Hamilton, ON Copps Coliseum
Thu 2/9 Auburn Hills, MI Palace of Auburn Hills
Fri 2/10 Chicago, IL Aragon Ballroom
Sun 2/12 Milwaukee, WI Eagles Ballroom
Tue 2/14 St. Paul, MN Myth
Thu 2/16 Saskatoon, SK Prairieland
Fri 2/17 Edmonton, AB Shaw Conference Centre
Sat 2/18 Calgary, AB Big 4 Building
Mon 2/20 Abbotsford, BC Abbotsford Ent & Sports Centre
Tue 2/21 Kent, WA Showare Center
Thu 2/23 San Jose, CA Events Center
Fri 2/24 Universal City, CA Gibson Amphitheatre
Sat 2/25 Phoenix, AZ Comerica Theatre
Sun 2/26 Albuquerque, NM Tingley Coliseum
Tue 2/28 Denver, CO The Fillmore Auditorium
Mar 01 Dallas, TX The Palladium
Mar 02 Houston, TX Verizon Wireless Theater
Mar 03 Austin, TX ACL Live at The Moody Theater
Related articles:
‘Megadeth’ Drummer Says People ‘Stealing Music’ Has Affected Every Facet Of The Industry [Oct.2011]
‘Megadeth’ Mainman ‘Feels Great’ Two Weeks After Surgery [Oct.2011
‘Megadeth’s’ ‘Black Swan’ Available For Streaming [Oct. 2011]
‘Megadeth’ ‘Public Enemy No. 1′ Video Released [nov. 2011]
‘Megadeth’s’ ‘David Ellefson’ Is Studying to Become a Pastor [Jan. 2012]
‘David Ellefson’ Of ‘Megadeth’ Backstage On Their ‘Gigantour 2012′ [Video] [Jan. 2012]