The Today Show Interview with Alice & Sheryl Cooper (December 2019)

As we begin some new fundraising efforts for Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock, it seems like the perfect time for us to revisit Alice and Sheryl’s appearance on “The Today Show,” which aired on December 17, 2019. The interview, entitled “Alice Cooper Opens Up About His Journey To Finding Faith,” is only about 5 minutes long but is packed full of insight and discovery. The folks at “The Today Show” did a marvelous job of allowing the couple to share their testimony without watering it down for mainstream media. While the segment is about Faith, we were honestly a bit shocked that the editors left in so much discussion about Christ. In recent years, mainstream programming has become more hushed about things relating to Christ and God’s Word. But Praise God for small miracles! In this case, His Name and the power of His Grace were revealed and shared with the masses. It was beautiful to watch.

NOTE: This interview was aired nearly 3-4 months before COVID-19 would become the narrative, shutting down The Rock Teen Center and other endeavors. Multiple fundraisers and other events vital to the operation and costs of The Teen Center had to be canceled (with future ones in jeopardy as well). 

Amazingly enough, many topics were covered in such a short interview. Issues such as Alice’s past, his sobriety, he and Sheryl’s marriage, salvation, teen suicide, and the Metal genre of music were all discussed by the Coopers. It’s quite challenging to make 5 minutes count in such a dynamic fashion – but “with God, ALL Things are Possible” (Matthew 19:26). There were several talking points in the discussion, but let’s focus on the following: 1) Family, Friends, and the Church, 2) Religion & Faith, and 3) A Sponsor vs. A Savior.

Family, Friends, and the Church.

The experiences, emotions, and memories we harbor in our minds are fascinating devices. The good, bad, and ugly of our history shape and form who we become. Alice often notes that he and his wife are Pastor’s Kids (PKs). He fondly recalls his time spent at church and with like-minded friends growing up. It’s evident throughout his life and career that those times spent with family, friends, and the church are and have always been a part of him.

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”  – Proverbs 22:6

What better examples of this verse than that of both Alice and Sheryl Cooper? They became products of their upbringing. Those seeds planted in their hearts, as young children and teens, developed into a mature full-blown understanding of God and His Word. Alice’s story is such a remarkable display of God’s Grace and significantly parallels that of the prodigal son found in Luke 15:11-32.

“I was the prodigal son, I grew up in the church, went as far away as you can go and was reeled back in.” – Alice Cooper

There are prodigal moments found in all of our lives – reckless decisions and actions that go against what we know is morally right. But in those moments, we must ask the question, “what are we going to do with these less than stellar things we’ve done?” Do we continue to head down the path to our own demise? Or do we start to correct the course (using the road map He’s given found in His Word)?

When we look at the lives of the individuals observed within the Bible, we see many examples of deeply flawed individuals, yet God used them to pave the way for His Greatness. What’s most interesting is that the Word DOES NOT leave out their shortcomings and mistakes. In fact, God uses those limitations to His Glory. Stop and think about how many times you’ve either used or heard this excuse, “God can’t utilize me, I’ve done too many bad things in my life to be valuable or saved.” If that statement was true, no human alive would be worth using. “It’s in our weakness that He is strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

One last point about this. Maybe some of us weren’t raised in a Christian home or know much about the Christian faith. That’s completely acceptable – it’s not a prerequisite. The truth is, we are all orphans in this world. Even Christ was adopted by His earthly father, Joseph. *Stop and give that one some thought.*

“For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him.” – Colossians 1:16

We shouldn’t spend time dwelling on who we are or have been because of family, upbringing, or circumstance. We should instead focus on where He’s taking us and who He wants us to be in Him.  We must learn to focus, pray and meditate on what it is He has created us to be. Then stand in faith as He polishes the rougher edges of our character and uses our prodigal moments to His Glory.

Religion and Faith.

The words religion and faith are often used interchangeably. However, this can be misleading. Religion is defined as a particular system of faith and worship. Faith is defined as complete trust or confidence in someone or something. They are two very different things. It’s logical to confuse them as being the same….but it’s vitally important that we understand there is a significant difference between them.

Religion is a man-made construct, a system created by mankind in an attempt to illustrate (and sometimes control) our understanding of God. Religion often places constraints on both God and man – claiming that their interaction must be handled in a precise manner or carried out in a particular way. This process often leads people astray, having them focus more on the method instead of a relationship with Him.

Consider this simple analogy, kids often try to tell each other how to communicate, listen to, and love their parents. In much the same way, denominations sometimes believe other denominations are incorrect in their forms of worship and expression. This often leads one denomination and its members to go so far as to consider other Christian denominations as false paths to God – even though Christ is the cornerstone of both groups. Honestly, religion can often be a nasty business. Wars are waged, lines are drawn, and people are sometimes deeply intolerant of one another based on fundamental religious doctrine, as well as less significant practices or traditions found within denominations of the same religion. However, faith is an entirely different matter.

“In Him and through faith in Him, we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” – Ephesians 3:12

Faith, by comparison, is complete trust and confidence in someone or something. In the case of Alice and Sheryl Cooper, as well as those in the Christian faith, complete trust and confidence are placed in Jesus Christ. You’ll notice in this interview, they both point to Jesus Christ and refer to Him as their inspiration and salvation (not to a specific church or denomination).

That’s the difference. Knowing who God is and what His promises are with full trust and confidence in His Word and Salvation through Christ. In a nutshell, it is not important how you worship, but who you worship. The Christian faith is made up of a vast number of people that know and worship Christ differently. Much like the walks of Paul, Peter, Barnabas, Luke, John, James, and other noted men and women in the Bible, we are all unique. The common denominator is our relationship with Christ through His Spirit.  The only requirement is faith through relationship with Him. A relationship grounded in His Word.

A Sponsor vs. A Savior.

A common talking point in many interviews and discussions with Alice is his sobriety. It’s often noted that he never went through Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), nor was he successfully cured through any sort of medical treatment. Instead, he was healed from his addiction. He stopped cold turkey. No withdrawals. He was miraculously healed of his affliction. As he and Sheryl often state, “He did not have a sponsor. He has a Savior.” A sponsor is someone that provides support for someone or something while a savior is someone that rescues or liberates someone or something. Much like religion and faith, there’s a significant difference between the two.

A sponsor, according to AA, is someone that does everything they can within their knowledge and personal boundaries to help their sponsee get and stay sober using the tools of AA. The sponsor leads by example through their own sobriety and personal history, teaching their sponsee about the benefits of living a sober life. They become a personal coach of sorts – guiding, mentoring, and providing consistent encouragement and life skills to help the sponsee learn to navigate life without alcohol.

Although we are looking at this through the scope of AA, all sponsors in life carry such attributes. They are individuals that offer advice, direction, and assistance when it is needed most. Teachers, pastors, friends, and family are good examples of our sponsors in life. They are blessings, but they cannot fulfill the role of a savior. A savior is something more. Something altogether different.

“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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” – John 3:16-17

A savior intercedes on behalf of another person. If needed, a savior is willing to lay down their life to save another. Christ is the personification of salvation. Through the acceptance of Him and His sacrifice on the cross, we gain a new identity. When Alice states, “he doesn’t have a sponsor, he has a Savior,” he’s not only referring to his deliverance from alcohol but also from eternal damnation – Alice is no longer the man he was, Christ now dwells within Him (Galatians 2:20). He is identified as a Child of God, Forgiven, and Righteous because of His faith in Christ (Romans 3:22).

In conclusion, it seems fitting that during a pandemic and with so much uncertainty, we take some time to revisit this interview. The conversation is a stripped-down narrative with Alice and Sheryl Cooper. No makeup, no props, no show. Just an honest discussion with them about who they are, what they believe, and why it’s the prominent part of their life.

This narrative has touched on those elements revealed in that discussion – Alice’s upbringing and return to his roots, the difference between religion and faith, and the need for a Savior instead of a sponsor. This interview is the perfect reminder as to why “Fridays with Alice” exists.

To explore what it is that makes life worth living – where we find true meaning and purpose. As we all go about our lives, we should pay close attention to family and friends around us. We must do our best to ask questions along the way…why are some people happier than others? Why do some people seem more content or fulfilled than others? Is religion the answer…or is it something more? Faith in our redeemer? Where do you find your identity? Can God only move and be worshipped through select forms of expression and music?

Those are questions we must answer for ourselves with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. However, we see music as a conduit between us and our Creator.

That’s it for this week, catch you next Friday!

Keep Walkin’ in Faith and Rockin’ with Alice!