The “Unpopular” rocker concluded with words from one of his favorite Christian rock bands. “In the words of Petra, who blazed a trail for us: ‘Don’t wanna be a man-pleaser, I wanna be a God-pleaser.’”
‘The Intensity Is Appropriate’—Alisa Childers Defends Skillet
Author and podcast host Alisa Childers, who was part of the CCM band ZOEgirl, defended Skillet against those saying their rendition sounds “demonic.”
“So, I didn’t have defending Skillet to Christian X on my bingo card for today. But here we are,” Childers wrote. “I would recommend that before you criticize this rendition, listen to the whole song. It begins reverently and melodically beautiful. This honors the original beauty of the song that expresses a tension and longing for the coming Messiah.”
“Then, Skillet goes hard,” Childers continued. “This represents a longing that still exists and is intensified…now for the return of Christ in a world that has lost its ever loving mind. It’s the same tension. The same longing. The intensity is appropriate.”
“In fact, it’s fantastic. (And as a singer, I appreciate the otherworldly vocals of Jen Ledger that take it over the top),” Childers added. “One more thing. Everybody whines about the lack of quality Christian art. These are four phenomenal musicians and performers who have created something that is provoking deep thought and reflection. That’s art.”
Author and Pastor James White, who was the director at Alpha and Omega Ministries for over 42 years and is the band’s official theologian, lent his voice to the discussion. “Let me add my voice. I ate dinner with John and Korey in their kitchen a few months ago,” he said. “We talked church and challenges and hard things in life.”
“My wife and I have fellowshipped with them and Jen in their home when they were still in Wisconsin,” White shared. “I have spent HOURS in the Skillet bus before concerts, talking theology. They are the real thing. Ignore Engel [a critic of the song]. He lives for clicks by saying outrageous, stupid things for which he will answer someday.”
Of course a band that looks like this desecrates a traditional and ancient Christmas song like O Come O Come Emmanuel. pic.twitter.com/yP1DtrkTEJ
— C.Jay Engel 🌲 (@contramordor) November 16, 2025
Christian commentator and author Virgil Walker said, “Life is too short for performative outrage. Skillet releases a new song and suddenly everyone with a platform feels obligated to drop a ‘hot take,’ as if the world is waiting for their commentary. It’s exhausting.”
“[John Cooper] has been in the trenches—preaching truth, defending the faith, raising a family, and pushing back against cultural madness,” Walker said. “He’s earned the right to create bold art without a committee of self-appointed critics dissecting every note.”
Author and journalist Megan Basham posted, “You know why this rocks? Because unlike so many of the deconstructed contemporary Christian music artists who merely wear the faith of their fathers as a skin suit while they profane the name of Christ through their praise of evil acts and ideologies, I know John and [the band] mean every word they’re singing here.”
Theologian and director of One Gospel, Owen Strachan, said in a social media post that he listened to Skillet’s “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” at least 30 times “today.”
So many others came to the defense of Skillet. “Lots of legalistic nonsense in the comments. You don’t like the style, fine, don’t listen,” one person said. Another posted, “Heaven’s gonna rock! 
.”
