hen I sat down to write this interview that would later be conducted with Mattie Montgomery (Frontman) of For Today I wrote the questions in such a way, hoping to get some meat on Breaker (the new record), the meaning behind it and some solid life wisdom from Mattie. What I got was more like a five course meal. There is an overflow happening in Mattie’s life that has not only spilled, all over, onto this interview but also onto For Today’s August 31st release. What excites me most about Mattie’s fire, his influence, his passion, is that he is just another guy. He is me and he is you in relationship with the Lord. He is not here because he is qualified, he is here because he is willing.
When I listen to your records, any of them and Breaker being no exception in the least, I am motivated. There is so much more than music going on here. What do you hope that listeners are taking away from your music?
Mattie Montgomery: A.W. Tozer once wrote, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us”. While writing the lyrics for this album, this was a resounding concept and point of hope for me: That the people listening to this album would think rightly about the God we serve.
What would you say is the next step for listeners to take who listen to Breaker and are on fire?
MM: Just start talking! People often tell me things like “You are such a great speaker”. They may not realize that I really wasn’t born a great speaker. One day, a few years ago, I just started grabbing people and saying “Hey, tell me what you think about Jesus”. It was during the conversations that sprung from that simple question that I gained the knowledge /tools/ weapons necessary to minister at the level we are on now.
Starting conversations like that will also allow you to meet and engage other believers that can offer you wisdom/advice/direction that you otherwise would have missed out on.
If you burn to see God known and exalted among the nations, just start talking–the Holy Spirit can and will work out the rest. I know it’s difficult. I know it’s awkward and uncomfortable. But, the King Jesus I know is absolutely worth it.
To bring readers up to speed, the album is titled Breaker and there are four songs throughout the album whose titles reflect that word. What can you tell us about the concept behind Breaker ?
MM: The “Breaker” concept can be basically summed up in this phrase: “What was once broken is now used to bring breakthrough.”
God, when planning to bring breakthrough in a person or area, tends to place a supernatural ability to break through strongholds on a person or group of people. This gift is characterized by a grace to undo lies, break chains of deception and, generally, usher in the atmosphere of heaven; even when no one else in the room expects it. This is called the “Breaker anointing”. But, before a person can operate under the breaker anointing, God will break that person. They will be broken to their pride, they will be broken to self, they will be broken to the things of this world, but, made whole by the Spirit of God, they are able to operate outside of brokenness to break the chains of oppression off of our generation.
Talk to us a bit about the story behind the poem that runs throughout the album.
MM: After receiving vision for the concept behind the album title, I called a friend of mine, Jose Palos, and shared my vision with him. I knew, at the point, that Jose was an incredibly gifted spoken-word artist, and I asked if he would be willing to write a poem based on the “Breaker” concept. He was really excited about the opportunity, and a few weeks later, he went into a studio in LA to record the poem. When we got the file in New Jersey and all sat down to listen to it, we were absolutely blown away.
The poem Jose wrote is so much more personal than anything people ever put on albums in our genre. It deals with everything from sexual abuse to suicide, from porn addiction to drug use. And, even while acknowledging the brokenness of the world we live in, the poem leads up to hope in Christ, and boldly declares that, through every moment in our life that we feel completely alone, through our brokenness, hopelessness and suffering, Jesus has been there with us, calling us away from the things of this world into glorious freedom.
When you sit down to write an album is there a process that you go through to get your mind prepared or is it just something that comes to you?
MM: I feel like that process is something I am constantly in, whether I am writing an album or not. Anything we write comes from a place of connectedness and intimacy with God. I once wrote, “The throne of God is the beginning and the end of all true spiritual authority”. And, if I ever hope to write lyrics with any real authority, they must be drawn from seeds planted in me by nearness to God–time in prayer, meditation and worship. So, to answer your question more directly: The process I go through to write an album is the process I am in as a lover of God, and my submission to that process is a natural by-product of having seen Him for who He is.
For Today has been established as one of the biggest names in the hardcore scene. Do you feel more and more pressure with each album?
MM: (Laughs) Well, first of all, thank you! I think that may be a little generous, but I appreciate it
anyway. Regarding the pressure we feel with each album: I think a better word would be “excitement”. It’s such a blessing for us to be able to put out music that will create an atmosphere of praise, and ignite a flame in the hearts of our generation. Scripture says that eternity is set in the hearts of man. The pressure comes in when we are charged with the task of writing eternal truth and relevance into our music in such a way that is speaks to and captures the heart of the listener. I believe that, because the hearts of man long to know God, if we write music that illustrates the character and nature of God, it will reach even the hardest hearts.
I’ve heard people refer to you as a prophet, or an anointed speaker. How do you respond to this?
MM: 1 Corinthians 14:1 says “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.” I think people tend to look at those who stand on a stage, hold a microphone and deliver an accurate, moving Word of God and assume that there is something different about them–that, those people must have figured something out that no one else knows. The truth is, no matter who you are, if you set yourself to receive the spiritual gifts that God has for you, you will begin to have your perspective transformed. You will start to look at people, situations and environments from a spiritual perspective rather than a physical one. As that transformation happens, you will be able to discern with wisdom the spiritual state of a person or a room, and, by extension, you will be able to see what the Lord is offering to challenge, encourage, or convict that person or group of people. The delivery of this revelation is called “prophecy”.
So, while it’s easy to look at someone in my position and use the words “prophet” or “anointed speaker”, I am simply walking in something that God has offered to all of us. Just as much as we need prophetic vocalists in metal core bands, we need prophetic Wal-Mart bag boys, we need prophetic students in our schools, we need prophetic taxi drivers and lawyers. I am not the standard, Jesus is. So, while I continue to walk out this thing God has set before me, I hope that I am simply paving the way for others to follow after me, toward the fullness of God through Christ.
You’ve definitely brought more fury with this new album (which I wasn’t sure was possible). Musically what was your inspiration for getting fiercer and heavier? I know For Today is purposeful in everything, so why get heavier instead of more mellow?
MM: After we decided that the new record would be called “Breaker”, it really set my mind on thinking just how furiously and intensely God loves us. It’s such an amazing concept to think that Jesus was tortured to death, walked into hell, overwhelmed hell, took the keys to hell and death and returned to life again; and all of this because of the intensity and completeness of His love for us!
I think that, as we were attempting to create an atmosphere for people to experience the King of Kings, the risen savior, the One who is called faithful and true; who, in righteousness, judges and makes war, it was just natural for us to put out a record marked with fury and aggression. Because, that is the only way to characterize the intensity of His jealous love for each of us.
Since it is still a month until the new record is released, is there anything you can tell fans right now that might help to hold them over? Extra info or a favorite song?
MM: I’m not sure. Asking me my favorite song is like asking a parent to choose their favorite child! (Laughs) I will say this: This album is, I believe, the most powerful, dominative project I have ever been a part of. I truly believe that God has poured His life-changing authority out over this album, and that there will be a tremendous amount of freedom for many people as a result of the Spirit’s involvement in this record.
2 Corinthians 3:17 says “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” And, we are expecting that God will, through this album, continue to be faithful to carry freedom with Him in every area, from any bondage, to all who seek it.
What would you say to someone that is doing the “Sunday church thing” or the “every now and again prayer and bible time?”
MM: Being committed to the concepts of fellowship, accountability and community, as well as
being disciplined in the private areas of your walk–your time in prayer, scripture study/meditation and worship is not only beneficial, it is VITAL in your walk with God. In fact, scripture says that, if you are not disciplined, you are not a child of God! (Hebrews 12:8) My encouragement to people who are only scratching the surface is this: The deeper you go with God, the more captivating He becomes. The more captivating He becomes, the deeper you want to go with Him. It’s a beautiful cycle, but God is waiting for you to initiate it. God offered Himself to you when He sent His son, Jesus to die for you. So now the ball is in your court. James 4:8 says “Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you”. In Jeremiah 29:13, God says “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with your whole heart.” God is waiting for people who will search Him out. And, as He finds willing and desperate seekers, He will pour His spirit into them in such a way that they will be completely captivated and enraptured by His majesty.
This is our destiny as Christians. To settle for anything less is to deny the full accomplishment of the Cross.
There are often certain truths that we either don’t realize or refuse to accept, what would you say is the most important truth for our generation to grasp a hold of?
MM: Jesus was not the end of a movement, He was the beginning. Romans 8:29 calls Him “the firstborn among many brothers”. John 1:12 says that Jesus gave us “the right to become Children of God”. We, as sons and daughters of the Almighty God are heirs to an inheritance of dominion, holiness, power and glory.
We settle, often, for simply being “good people”. We are non-confrontational, feel-good, buddy-Christians, in a world that is fed up with religious salesmen, and wants real, unadulterated Truth. Romans 8 says, “all creation groans in anticipation for the Sons of God to be revealed.” And, it says in that same passage that, as that happens, “creation itself will be delivered from it’s bondage to corruption into the glorious freedom of the children of God”. We, as a generation, must see this world as it really is, and know that cancer is the groaning of creation for the sons of God to be revealed, AIDS is the groaning of creation for the sons of God to be revealed, depression, suicide, addiction, the earthquake in Haiti and Hurricane Katrina–every product of the corrupt world in which we live is simply the groaning of creation for the sons of God to be revealed and to deliver it into glorious freedom.
However, many believers find themselves in a cycle of hesitation. What I mean by that is this: We wait until we have that “altar call” experience to run after God. Then, we wait until we move out of the house to run after God. After that, we wait until we graduate from seminary, or get married to run after God. And next, we wait until we have kids… We find ourselves in a perpetual state of waiting for something tremendous to happen, when the truth is, something tremendous happened over 2,000 years ago, when a man named Jesus of Nazareth said “I give you the keys to the kingdom…”. Since that day, all creation has been watching and waiting for a few people who are willing to live it out!
What advice can you offer bands who are coming up through the ranks now and wish to be stronger spiritually so they can reach as many people as For Today does?
MM: Don’t let our ministry be your standard. We have been blessed to see countless souls saved, we have seen healings, deliverances, signs, wonders and miracles. But, the world doesn’t need another For Today. The world needs Jesus. And our heart’s desire, as a band, is to see the people that pick up where we leave off to manifest the ministry of Jesus so powerfully that the world will see Him, and know His name long before they ever see or hear us.
What are For Today’s plans for the end of Summer and into Fall?
MM: The week the album comes out, we begin a full U.S. tour with Bleeding Through. After that, we are going to be heading out on our first European tour ever! We’re so excited about all of these opportunities. It should be a good fall.
