There is a lot of truth throughout the song "Slow Suicide" by former Creed frontman Scott Stapp. He relates his story to each of us right from the opening lyrics: "I'm not evil, no matter what you think of me, I'm just human, there's a part of you that's just like me."

Throughout this great album, Proof of Life, Stapp challenges listeners to give up vices that have trapped you in the past, and lay them at the feet of Jesus. The Bible tells us that "you were washed, you were sanctified; you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." I had the great opportunity to interview Scott about his great new song "Slow Suicide."

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

Growing up in the church, we've heard Romans 6:23: "The wages of sin is death." That's the first half of that Scripture, and we start with that. Really, I didn't understand that in a real world context. Unfortunately I went out and lived it, and made choices. I decided to drink, and I decided to try drugs to seek fulfillment, happiness, joy, peace and everything else outside of what I knew I wasn't supposed to do. I was choosing to live a lifestyle that was opposed to Scripture.

The point is that for years I was slowly killing myself. Drugs and alcohol want to kill you instantly, but they're patient and will take their time. The same is true of toxic relationships. I had to start off this story by declaring the most obvious of truths: that I had been torturing and poisoning myself in an attempt to snuff out my soul.

"So many ways I choose to suffer, living a lie," the lyrics say. "So many ways I chose to die." Many people get in the mindset of "that's not going to happen to me" and "it will just be this one time." I've really learned, especially in hindsight and looking back with clarity that was how the devil tricked me, and how he tricks all of us. He convinces us it is OK to try just a couple of drinks, or drugs, and that it is human nature.

As I got more comfortable with the separation from God that my choices caused that that Scripture began to really make sense and became a reality in my life. All of that, the relationships that aren't supposed to happen and the people I'm not supposed to be around, the drugs, the alcohol, was slowing killing me physically and spiritually.

Which Bible passage connects to the song?

Romans 6:23 (The Voice): "The payoff for a life of sin is death, but God is offering us a free gift—eternal life through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, the Liberating King."

What is the takeaway message for listeners?

I should have been dead and I was near dead on more than one occasion, on a physical level. I was also absolutely spiritually dead. Now, when I hear that entire Scripture, I understand the reality of what it means. I was warned, but I didn't listen. With that real life experience, it has revolutionized my thoughts and the impact that the Word of God has on my life. I know that I know that I know. Not just that one explanation, but other things that have happened on my journey. It is the Truth. It is the absolute Truth and everything in it is Truth.

I've made a lot of messes in my life but I've learned God can take a mess and turn it into a message. Another thing I love about that Scripture is that the second half says that the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Now do I really understand that Scripture. My Father in Heaven was trying to be a loving Father and give me guidance and instruction that was real life and Fatherly wisdom. Not to keep me from having fun or enjoying life. Not to cause a restless and anxious spirit in me because I'm desperate to see what's on the other side. No, it was to preserve my peace, and to preserve my happiness and my joy, and the love I had in my life.

That Scripture means so much to me at this point. I had become complacent with the gift of Jesus. I had turned my back on God, but God never turned His back on me. When I decided to turn around and run to my Father again, everything made powerful and dynamic sense in my life.

That's what this song is representing, my coming to the place of realizing what I had done. I thought I was living life, and from the outside that's what people thought. I was on the red carpet and playing big arenas and had cars, and success and awards. That was not living at all. To come to that place with true perspective of what life is all about, I realized that I can't let another day or moment go by without accepting the grace and love of Jesus Christ in my life.

I want to be an obedient child, not because of my fear of going to hell, but because I've learned a profound and hard lesson that almost killed me. I have a whole new respect for that warning that God gave me. That's what I'm telling my children now. In the chorus, I sing "I can't let this life pass me by in a blink of an eye it ends." I don't want to let another day go by without living in the love and grace of Jesus Christ. Instead of wanting to serve Him out of fear, I want to serve Him out of my deep admiration, passion and respect for Him. This is the Truth! Whatever gets us there is part of our story.

An amazing thing Christ does is that He takes our messes and turns them into messages. He teaches us that it wasn't all in vain and we can be used for His glory. That helps grace be reignited every day and one of my purposes is to share these messages with others. It's amazing that the mess I had made of my life is now my reason for living.

Lyrics:
I'm not evil
No matter what you think of me
I'm just human
There's a part of you that's just like me

I have fallen
I have broken every piece
Heard heaven calling
I could only reach this from my knees
and now I believe

I can't let this life pass me by
In a blink of an eye it ends
I can't let my tomorrows decide
What I am in this life
It's like committing slow suicide

It's no secret
I can't pretend, I can't forget
What I've done
Every day I live with the consequences
I let it beat me, let it kick me, let it throw me to the floor
Those days are over
I'm moving forward
It can't hurt me
and now I believe

So many days I chose to suffer, living a lie
So many ways I chose to die
Oh, had to feel less than nothing
Shame and suffering
To see with my own eyes
I wasn't living
I was committing
Committing slow suicide
Committing slow suicide

And now I believe

Committing slow suicide
Committing slow suicide

This song is one of my favorite rock anthems of the year. I love the emotional vocals and strong messages of the songs on this album, especially this song, "New Day Coming," "Only One" and "Dying to Live." I can't get enough of the musical style of this album and it fits in perfectly with rock bands like Shinedown, We As Human, RED and Creed, naturally.

I wasn't saved in my early 20s when I mostly listened to hard rock bands like Pearl Jam and Nirvana and enjoyed songs that didn't include edifying words. Instead, those bands made songs with messages filled with promiscuity and self-fulfillment.

I can personally assure those who don't know Jesus that those things will never fulfill or satisfy you. I love how Scott Stapp doesn't compromise his Christ-filled messages while still belting out relevant rock songs. Even if you don't normally listen to hard rock, you really must check out this amazing song and I guarantee you'll be pulled in by the music and Scott's passionate vocals.

As Christians, we don't always have common ground with non-believers who pursue worldly interests and destructive desires. This song and new album is all about standing up for what you believe, how to be a spark with conviction, to live unashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to know that only in dying to yourself, can you truly find the gift of eternal life in Jesus. The core of our faith as Christians is found in John 14:6. Jesus is the only way. All roads don't lead to Heaven, despite what a secular culture tries to tell us. We all need to be bold as followers of Jesus and express our worship and dedication to Him. Eternity hangs in the balance.

The cost of discipleship is to make Jesus the Lord of our lives. This song is a great reminder of that biblical Truth. This song is about finding a posture of submission and to cry out to Jesus: "Heard heaven calling, I could only reach this from my knees, and now I believe." Amen to that!

(You can listen to the song here.)