Much has been said about Ozzy Osbourne since his passing. Longtime fans of Ozzy know quite a bit about the very popular heavy metal artist. So I write today to clear up a few things.
Like myself, Ozzy Osbourne was a member of the Church of England [known by the Episcopal Church in the United States], commonly referred to as Anglican, throughout his life. He affirmed his faith in multiple interviews, stating he was a “practicing member of the Church of England” and that he prayed before every concert.
His religious upbringing was rooted in the Anglican tradition, as he was christened in the Church of England, attended Sunday school, and even briefly considered the priesthood as a boy.
Despite his “Prince of Darkness” stage persona and controversial lyrics, Osbourne consistently maintained that his beliefs were not satanic, describing himself as a Christian with a personal, non-traditional understanding of God.
- Unlike what is being reported in the mainstream news, Ozzy was not recently saved.
- Ozzy did bite the head off a live bat, except it was dead when it was thrown on stage. The bat was thrown onto the stage in 1982 by 17-year-old Mark Neal, who later stated he had smuggled a dead bat into the venue, though Osbourne and others reported it was alive when bitten. Ozzy has also said in interviews that he originally thought the bat was rubber.
- No, Ozzy is not a Satanist.
- The song Suicide Solution is not about how to kill oneself, just the opposite, suicide is NOT the solution.
- Did Ozzy struggled with sins of the flesh. Yes, just like every single Christian past, present and future.
[VIDEO] Ozzy in concert, Tampa, FL 1989: Longtime Christian Ozzy Osbourne prayed and made the sign of the cross before every show. It is difficult to find video of this ritual however, the following video from a concert in Tampa, FL in 1989 was located and is published on youtube. Long after the fame and fortune, Ozzy took time to praise the Lord. Video has been edited to include only the relevant part. The full video can be found on youtube.
Anglican sign of the Cross:
Making the sign of the Cross is a feature of worship throughout Christendom, although its form varies from East to West. It can be made over other people and objects, or self-administered. In the Anglican Church, it is usually made with the right hand. You begin by:
1. touching the forehead,
2. bringing the hand down to the “heart”,
3. touching the left shoulder and then bringing the hand across the chest to the right shoulder. In one fluid action you will trace the sign of the Cross upon yourself.
The Cross as ‘Prayer’
Very often when we make the sign of the Cross, we do it to accompany another prayer. For example, we make the sign of the Cross when we say the words, “In the name of the Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit” In this case, the three points of the Cross may remind us of the Trinity. Making the sign of the Cross is nothing less than worshiping with our bodies, for what is more fitting for the body than movement and gesture? When we use words to pray, we are using only one form of language. The body has its own language also, in which making the sign of the Cross is an eloquent expression. One small gesture can speak volumes of words.
Here is some good insight from a really good man, Pat Boone…
