So intrigued that when Metallica band members heard about his upcoming sermon, they sent a film crew so they could see the sermon later.

Canadian pastor John Van Sloten knows how to rile up a congregation, the church in general, even the media. Simply invite Metallica to church. Preach on “The Lord of the Rings” and “Matrix” and “Crash.” Discuss Bach and a Van Gogh painting.

“When you talk about where God is at work outside the church — when you name God in culture — people are intrigued,” said Van Stolen, who recently was in Grand Rapids to attend several events at Calvin College.

So intrigued that when Metallica band members heard about his upcoming sermon, they sent a film crew so they could see the sermon later.

Van Sloten records his journey to better understanding of “a God who is speaking everywhere” in his first book, “The Day Metallica Came to Church” published by Square Inch, an imprint of Grand Rapids-based Faith Alive Christian Resources.

He is founding pastor of New Hope Church in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, a plant of the Christian Reformed Church. He’s been a pastor for 13 years.

John Calvin himself broaches the subject of finding truth in all creation, said Van Sloten. The father of the CRC wrote, “All truth is inspired by the Holy Spirit.”

Says Van Sloten in his book, “All truth — including biblical truth, mathematically formulaic truth aesthetically beautiful truth, athletically inspired truth, naturally scenic truth, psychologically wise truth, biologically evolving truth, and even righteously-indignant-high-decible-passionately-screaming-for-justice truth. Here I began to find a theological basis for preaching heavy metal.”

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