Leadership Summit [Bono]

In this session, they rolled a video tape of an interview that Hybels did with Bono a couple of weeks ago in Ireland.

Of all that has happened to Bono in the last year, he suggested that waking up with a melody in his head is the greatest gift. The other reason he gets out of bed in the morning is the service–the opportunity he has to offer help through the One campaign.

Bono protects August for his family. The “right to be ridiculous” is something he holds dear in his family. They’re going to be vacationing in France. Yet, he was grateful to speak to church leaders through the Summit experience via video.

Bono said he’s never had a problem with Christ, but Christians have been difficult for him. Christians seem strange to him. They can be very judgmental. They tend to judge people by surface problems. They have been the preoccupation of the church. Grace turned this view of the universe upside down. It’s hard for us to grasp grace. Bono said I’m much more interested in grace because “I’m depending on it.” Bono said, “I grew very suspicious of Christians, but I was determined to learn more about the life of Christ.”

The interview then shifted to Bono’s music. He said, “I want my music to do something positive, but I want to be honest and own up to my earthly confusions.” He explained that he can’t start with a lie, being the person he wants to be rather than who he actually is–it won’t ring true to people. He said he sees that a lot in gospel music. He suggested he’s more of a blues guy. He wants to embrace the truth in his music–even if it’s not perfect.

Bono said Jesus was either a nut case or who he said he was. He said he was amazed by Jesus being born into poverty.

Hybels asked, “Why did you go to Africa?” Bono explained he was part of the first Live Aid in 1985. He talked about how that experience marked him. Bono was asking the question, “How can this be? In a world of plenty, how could people be left to starve to death?” That’s not the way the world has to be. He couldn’t put that experience out of his head. “We will never forget this.” At some point, he knew he would be called upon to revisit the questions that experience raised in his life. Eventually he became involved in the Jubilee Movement in the late 90s.

Bono said, “I am not Mother Teresa, but I have a head for the world’s poor. I am strategic.” (Bono is also a simply strategic guy!) Bono acknowledged that God has given him a voice to raise these issues and move people to action.

Hybels asked, “Why do you think church leaders have been late to the party on this?” Bono said the church has been historically behind the curve. He cited civil rights as another example. He said the church is afraid of politics. “We’re not talking about politics in a partisan way here,” he explained, “We’re working with both the right and the left.”

Bono said Christ won’t let the Church walk away from the Aids emergency. He cited a poll that found at one point that only 6% of evangelicals were concerned about the Aids epidemic. Bono said I used to hate the Church. Now the Church has awakened. He said he now has respect for the Church.

Bono said, “Love thy neighbor is not advice. It’s a command.” In a global community, the poor and the disadvantaged in Africa are our neighbors. He quoted Matthew 25:45: “Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.”

Our purpose is to bring Heaven to Earth. The world is not a happy place for most people living on it.

Bono concluded with this challenge for church leaders. “Bill has convinced me of the importance of the Church in building the infrastructure for facing some of the biggest problems of the world.” He said, “If you’re in U.S. or Europe, make people aware of the One campaign.” He went on to say, “Let’s walk together. Let’s put on the marching boots if needed. Let’s stand up for the least of these.”

Bono wrapped with this statement: “This isn’t a duty. It’s an opportunity and an adventure.”