Crowd shot masthead ApologetiX Logo Keith Haynie plays bassBill Hubauer plays lead guitarJ. Jackson sings leadJimmy Vegas Tanner plays drums

What's the story behind Doves in Snakes' Clothing?

Doves in snakes' clothing are kind of the opposite of wolves in sheep's clothing (Sorry, Mylon Lefevre already released an album called Sheep in Wolves Clothing in 1985).

But our title actually refers to another Bible verse, Matthew 10:16, where Jesus tells His disciples, "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."

You can be innocent without being naive. And you can have a soft heart and still have a sharp mind. They make for an effective combination when sharing the Gospel … like biblical words and secular music.

Doves play positive roles in the stories of Noah's ark and Jesus' baptism, but snakes aren't usually looked upon favorably in the Bible (see Genesis 3:1, Revelation 20:2, and other places in between). However, a bronze snake was literally looked upon favorably in Numbers 21:8-9.

If you remember the story, the Israelites were grumbling against God, so He sent venomous snakes among them. When the people asked for mercy, the Lord said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live."

Referring to that, Jesus said: "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him" (John 3:14-15).

He said more about that later, and the Bible clearly draws a parallel between the snake on the pole and the Savior on the cross: "'And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.' He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die" (John 12:32-33).

Although meek as a dove (Matthew 11:29) and knowing no sin himself (2 Corinthians 5:21), Jesus came in the likeness of sinful flesh to be our sin offering (Romans 8:3), crushing the serpent's head (Genesis 3:15).

If God can use a bronze snake to heal people who were bitten by snakes, why can't He use regenerated rock and roll (so often associated with serpentine sources) to heal people who are snake-bitten by sin?

Both the opening and the closing songs on this CD were originally done by artists who've featured snakes on their album covers. One of the other tracks spoofs an artist who is infamous for an incident involving a dove.

This boys in this band got their early exposure to real rock and roll while listening to Pittsburgh's premier rock station, WDVE. Every song spoofed on the new CD was played on WDVE back in the day — and probably still is -- even though they span a quarter century, from 1964-89.

WDVE's call letters were chosen in 1971 to look like the word "dove," an image of peace in a war-weary era. We want our parodies to proclaim the message of the Prince of Peace in a world-weary era.