Salvation (Along Came A Spider, 2008)

In my heart, in my soul
Some thing’s new, that’s very old
Like a pain that’s finally gone
I feel my heavy burden lifted

Any chance of salvation
Any chance for me
Any chance of salvation
Any chance of salvation
Any chance for me
Any chance of salvation for eternity

Salvation
Salvation
Salvation
Salvation

Released on July 29, 2008, Along Came A Spider is Alice Cooper’s 18th solo album. The LP, like many others, is a concept album. And Alice’s timeless character, Steven, has become a sociopathic serial killer. 

Much like the characters in “Silence of the Lambs” and “Red Dragon,” Steven believes he’s the manifestation of something wicked, foul, and grotesque. In this case, he’s “The Spider,” and the stage show (on tour) featured Alice, dressed as “The Spider,” being punished for his crimes.

“Evil should get punished. It should never win. And that, to me, is what’s most satisfying. I may love Darth Vader when I watch Star Wars, but I feel relief when he finally gets what’s coming to him.” – Alice Cooper

The album explains the inner workings of the character’s mind.  Tracks like “Vengeance is Mine,” “Catch Me If You Can,” and “Wrapped in Silk” show the torment of his sickness and the pain he endured from his past, now wreaking havoc on those in his presence. 

Surprisingly, the LP takes a pleasant turn at the end. “Salvation,” the last track on the album, brings Steven to an unexpected place. The song seems written as a dialogue between him and God.

With this being Good Friday and Sunday being the celebration of Jesus Christ’s Resurrection, we should look at this song. In many ways, it parallels the conversation between the thief and Christ as they both hung on their crosses. 

But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” – Luke 23:40-43

All the thief had to do was ask for and accept Christ’s invitation. Then, asking for Christ to remember him, Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

It is incredible that this man, a criminal, asks, and without hesitation, Jesus answers, “Sure, you’re in!” And the same applies to anyone that declares the same.

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” – Romans 10:9-10

A similar story leads us to, arguably, the greatest missionary in the Bible. In Acts 7:54-60, we find Stephen, one of seven leaders in the early church. At that moment, he’s in a pretty tough situation. 

He’s just called out everyone in the temple, blaming them for the death of Christ and for rejecting the Holy Spirit, which didn’t go over very well. So in return, he’s dragged out of the city and stoned to death. 

The verses do not name any of the parties involved except Saul, and while he did not directly participate in the murder of Stephen, he witnessed and supported it.

In fact, Saul launched a full-scale assault on Christianity and Christ’s followers after the death of Stephen. He vowed to destroy Christianity through the persecution of Christians and, if need be, their deaths.

In Acts 9, Saul went to the high priest seeking permission to travel abroad, capturing men and women who profess to follow Christ and imprisoning them as he traveled. 

Then, with their consent, he set out for Damascus – ready to end Christianity once and for all. However, on the road, he is supernaturally confronted.

Physically blinded by the encounter with Christ, he is given instructions by Him. Saul follows the instructions Christ gives him and is later healed. As a result of this interaction with the Lord, Saul is saved. 

Jesus met him on the road to destruction and brought him full circle to the path of “Salvation” (and recovery). Fortunately, the deeds he had done and was currently set off to do were not enough to keep Christ from calling, using, and freeing Saul from his sins. 

Saul’s conversion serves as a sign to all walks of life that Christ’s blood covers any that follow his command to place Him as Lord of their life. His conversion also turned the Book of Acts and the church’s history in a new direction.

Paul’s transformation not only proved that an enemy to the faith could become a leader – but also a newfound purpose to bring Christ to all who walk on the earth (Jew and Gentile alike). It’s truly astonishing how the redemptive power of our Lord works.

A modern-day story, one that better fits Alice’s concept album, is the story of Jeffrey Dahmer.  The heinous crimes this man committed while on this earth are well documented, yet many may not know that he accepted the invitation of salvation through Christ. And amazingly, he died as a brethren of the faith. 

Roy Ratcliff, the pastor that performed Dahmer’s baptism and met with him weekly, openly discussed his experiences with Dahmer in his book entitled “Dark Journey, Deep Grace: Jeffery Dahmer’s Story of Faith.”

Ratcliff offers thought-provoking insight into the power of salvation and the Blood of Christ. He also examines the pushback he received for meeting with Dahmer and the sincerity of Dahmer’s conversion. 

He was asked questions like:

– “Was and could Jeffrey Dahmer actually be saved?”
– “How could his sins be taken away?”
– “Did he repent of his sins?”

Ratcliff’s response to these questions is jaw-dropping. He replied with a question:

“Did these Christians believe the blood of Christ shed on the cross was somehow too weak, too thin, too anemic to cover the sins of Jeffrey Dahmer?”

Do we place similar restrictions on Christ’s blood concerning people in our own lives? People that have not committed the same atrocities as Dahmer, yet we deem them outside the scope of salvation (and the power of His precious blood).

It’s an eye-opening premise and brings full attention to the very heart and reason for the Good News – the reason we celebrate during this Holy Week.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” – John 3:16-18

No one is unworthy or left out in the cold. Christ was given to the world, yet the gift of salvation must be accepted.

Wrapping up this week’s post, these stories are full of hope and purpose, yet they may also be somewhat unsettling. 

It’s not easy to think about Christ’s Love covering such vile, heinous people or actions. It’s a struggle to forgive and forget the actions of a man like Dahmer or even a modern-day Saul. It would be easy to toss such individuals aside and let them rot. However, our Creator pursues us all the same (Luke 15:3-10).

As we walk with our Lord, let us pray that He continues to chip away at our hearts – allowing us to be more like Pastor Roy Ratcliff. Ratcliff, a man willing to see Jeffrey Dahmer not as an irreconcilable soul but as a damaged soul with the same need all of us have for “Salvation.”

May we remember that we have “all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), yet “by grace, (we) have been saved through faith. And this is not (our) own doing; it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8)

In conclusion, how incredible is this song? With so much of this album’s content being dark, sinister, and brutal to think about or digest, Alice wraps it up by contradicting such evil with its counterpart – the magnificence, beauty, grace, and Love of our Lord.

It’s a brilliant ending. One that should make us all reevaluate our significance to our Heavenly Father. Alice masterfully points out that none of us are too far gone as we continue to draw breath.

Stop and think about your own life. Did the Lord’s love meet you in a dark place where you never expected Him to embrace you? Are you stuck in such a place even now?

Any chance of salvation?
Any chance for me?
Any chance of salvation for eternity?
Any chance of salvation?
Someone died for me.
Washed in blood,
He cared enough to pity me

Pay attention to the lyrics of “Salvation.” There is a chance for all of us. A chance to live life everlasting in eternity.

Someone gave His life for us – Jesus Christ. Do you know Him? If not, it’s never too late to allow Him to remove your pain and the burdens you carry.

If you’ve wandered away, He’s calling for you to turn your eyes once again to Him. He’s been there waiting all along – waiting for you to embrace Him once again.

As we celebrate His Resurrection and the defeat of death, let us continue to seek Him and His Love in a world that so desperately needs “Salvation.” Amen.

That’s it for this week; take time to enjoy your friends and family this holiday weekend, and we’ll catch you next Friday.

Until then, Keep Walkin’ in Faith and Rockin’ with Alice!