From Darkness to Redemption: A Conversation with Jarrod Butler of Suffer Not The Witch

by Jimmy Lamar Sorells Interviews, Uncategorized

Suffer Not The Witch is more than a one-man extreme metal project. For Jarrod Butler, it’s a ministry born from personal experience. Having spent years in the death and black metal scene, Butler now uses his music to share the Gospel with the same community he once called home. We spoke with Jarrod about his testimony, his music, and why he intentionally takes Christ into some of the darkest corners of the metal world.

From the Occult to Christ

Jimmy Lamar Sorrells: Tell us about “Witch’s Den.”

Jarrod Butler: “Witch’s Den” is my personal testimony in song form.

The strongest line in that song that really summarizes what it’s about is:

“I went from the witch’s den to born again.”

Having a background early on in black metal, I got heavily into witchcraft, all kinds of different forms. I got into Satanism from the black metal scene. I have an obsessive personality, so I got really heavily into it.

I was seventeen when I was saved.

The strange part of my testimony is that even after I was saved, I kept playing extreme metal. I toured Europe with death metal bands and sang about gore and fornication. I joined black metal bands and didn’t care what the lyrics said because I was being intentionally ignorant.

I thought, “I’m saved. It doesn’t matter what I sing about because I don’t believe it.”

That wasn’t true.

I found out the hard way.

Eventually it caused me to walk completely away from the metal scene for at least a decade.

When I came back, I gave everything musically to Christ. That’s what brought me back into metal.

Originally it was through America Inc., but Suffer Not The Witch became one hundred percent dedicated to Christ, using my testimony as a ministry weapon.

The Meaning Behind the Name

Jay Goodwin: Tell us about the name.

Jarrod Butler: It comes from Exodus 22:18.

The obvious meaning grabs your attention. Being black metal, you’re not subtle.

But there’s another meaning.

“Crucify and Deny” is about denying your flesh. Crucifying your old man.

My old man is a witch.

So anytime that old man tries to rear his head, I’m to suffer not that witch to live.

I’m to crucify him.

Kill him.

Be gone.

That’s what it means for me, and that’s the conversation I can have with members of the occult when they come to talk to me.

Taking the Gospel to Black Metal Shows

Jimmy Lamar Sorrells: You’re intentionally playing secular black metal shows?

Jarrod Butler: Absolutely.

I intentionally play at the darkest black metal shows I can because I want to minister to the community I was saved from.

I know how to talk to them.

I know about it.

I equate it to escaping a collapsed mine and taking the light. Because I know the way out, I can go back in with the light and show everybody else the way out too.

A Life Changed

Jimmy Lamar Sorrells: Have you seen lives changed already?

Jarrod Butler: Yes.

The bass player from that satanic band wanted to talk afterward.

We started texting back and forth.

He had all the hard questions you would expect.

Then he disappeared.

Later I found out he started coming to every Suffer Not The Witch show.

Today he and his mother have both given their lives to Christ.

Praise God.

A Warning and an Invitation

Jimmy Lamar Sorrells: What would you say to someone involved in witchcraft, Satanism, or Masonry?

Jarrod Butler: The reason people fall for witchcraft is because it works.

People don’t like hearing that, but it’s true.

The question is, at what cost?

What is happening to your soul?

All the things you’re looking for…

You know you haven’t found them.

You’re still empty.

The only answer you’re going to find is Christ.

If you’re willing to dig into witchcraft…

If you’re willing to memorize everything you do as a Mason…

You have it in you to dig gloriously into the Word of God.

Everything you’re searching for is there.

The world makes complete sense when you have Scripture in front of you.

Supporting the Ministry

Jimmy Lamar Sorrells: What can the Christian metal community do to support the ministry?

Jarrod Butler: Buy merch. Buy music on Bandcamp. Come to shows.

But more than anything…

Tell people about it.

Share it.

You’re not just creating fans of the music.

You’re helping this ministry spread the Gospel.