Watch Bob Dylan Pour His Soul Into His Christian Song 'Saved'

Legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan’s storied career boasts an impressive library. But one part of his story is often overlooked that certainly should not be. In the 1970s, Bob Dylan infamously converted to Christianity from Judaism and recorded three gospel records.

In the 1960s, John Lennon asked which would meet its demise first, Christianity or Rock N Roll.

He famously said The Beatles were more popular than Jesus.

But, in 1978 the joke was on Lennon. The Beatles had long broken up and Bob Dylan was a Born Again Christian recording faith music.

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Today in music: A Satisfied Mind by Bob Dylan from the 1980 album Saved. Released 40 years ago today, it was the singer’s 20th studio album and the second of his Christian Trilogy. Dylan was in the midst of a multi-year period in which he became a born-again Christian, during which he produced three albums of largely gospel music and refused to play his secular songs. Saved was recorded over a four-day period in February 1980. It was a minor hit, going to No.3 in the UK but only reaching No.24 in the US. Dylan revisited his interest in Christianity one last time with the 1981 album Shot of Love before abandoning it entirely and returning to secular music with 1983’s Infidels. #music #ASatisfiedmind #BobDylan #Saved #Rock #Rocknroll #gospel #1980s #80s #1980smusic #80smusic #TheFreewheelinBobDylan #thetimestheyareachangin #bringingitallbackhome #highway61revisited #BlondeonBlonde #johnwesleyharding #Nashvilleskyline #newmorning #bloodonthetracks #desire #slowtraingcoming #Shotoflove #infidents #worldgonewrong #Moderntimes #roughandrowdyways

A post shared by Andrew Potts (@andrewpottsy) on Jun 23, 2020 at 1:01am PDT

Born Robert Allen Zimmerman And Raised Jewish

Bob Dylan was born Robert Allen Zimmerman and was raised Jewish. The singer-songwriter even had a Bar Mitzvah.

But, in the late 1970s he immersed himself in Christianity and recorded a trilogy of Christian albums, Slow Train Coming, Saved, and Shot of Love.

Dylan even won a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for “Gotta Serve Somebody.”

In a 1980 letter to a friend, Dylan emphasized his strong faith.

He wrote, “We are up in Toronto singing and playing for about 3,000 people a night in a downtown theatre – The Spirit of the Lord is calling people here in their beautiful and clean city but they are more interested in lining up for Apocalypse Now than to be baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost.”

This song by #Christian Bob Dylan was instrumental in my decision to come to the Lord! #GodIsHope pic.twitter.com/Fz25WdbU1Y

— John Sykes (@tcottruth) June 10, 2016

Bob Dylan’s Trilogy of Christian Gospel Music

When touring in 1979 and 1980, he would not even play his secular music. That is how important his new Christian faith was to him.

The religious shift in Dylan’s music didn’t sit with some fans or fellow performers.

John Lennon recorded “Serve Yourself” as an anti-religion counter to Dylan’s Grammy winning song.

After that time, Dylan returned to recording secular music. There has been much chatter about his faith. People wonder if he is still a Christian.

Now, Bob Dylan participates in Jewish religious events, including Yom Kippur services.

The singer has been publicly private about his religious beliefs in recent years.

It’s very possible that he has found his own way to accept both his heritage and his newer religion.

However, Al Kasha, a Messianic Jew who helped lead Dylan to Christ believes the musician still follows the teachings of the New Testament.

When asked if Dylan is still a Christian, he had a straightforward response.

“The answer is yes,” Kasha said. “And I think the world doesn’t like to see someone like him being a believer because he’ll bring other people to the Lord, which he’s done.”

You can see Bob Dylan perform “Saved” live below.

As you can tell, it is definitely a gospel song and one he believed in.