Doug Van Pelt interviewed Robert Sweet of STRYPER to talk about the controversial change of direction.

"You can't do it. It's not possible, because everybody thinks something different. We get letters all the time. Some of the stuff people say is just crazy. They just expect so much stuff out of you. It's stuff you've never been and you never will be. You can't do it. You just have to be yourself."

Do you understand where a lot of 'em are coming from?

"Sometimes I can. Some of them I just think are crazy. I'm not saying that we don't care about them or that they're not good people, but some of the ideas they have are really crazy. It's not normal."

I feel like I've got a pretty good balance on expecting things for public figures, the way I relate to a lot of people, as far as a spiritual leader or just a normal Christian goes is: They are not perfect, but it's easy for our human nature to expect them to live up to a standard, like not getting in fights, not getting drunk, not swearing on TV, etc.

"Well yeah, sure. You know, all that's pretty much common sense stuff. One attitude I've had is: 'I have enough in my life to take care of.' Who am I to expect the impossible out of some body? Especially when they're probably much busier than myself...and going through things I don't even know about. That's why some of the stuff people write in and expect out of Stryper is crazy."

That's Biblical. Jesus said, 'Take the log out of your own eye before you try to remove the speck out of anyone else's. '

"It's true. What we should do is encourage each other and build each other up. We shouldn't be putting each other down...ESPECIALLY publicly. I mean, it's one thing to go to someone and have a conversation with them, but it's another thing to get on TV after you've never talked to these people and just crucify them. It's wrong. Very wrong."

If you died today, what would you say to Christ?

"I would just say, 'Lord, let me say this to you: I don't know if everything I've done is right. I know that I've probably missed the mark on a lot of things, but just please, you know, just please forget about that and just bring me home; because I've been lookin' forward to it. I'm not perfect, but You are; so please accept me."'

How can the readers of this article pray for you?

"I'd just have them pray that the right things happen for the band and the doors that should be opened are opened. It's tough for us. We need all the support, prayer-wise, we can get - that's for sure."

A friend wanted me to ask you this question...Don't be offended by it. But, if you want to be offended by it, go ahead. Do you love God?

"That doesn't offend me. How could I not...and do all this? To me, that's not even a logical question. It's so hard, year after year to be rejected because you mention the Name of Christ. Let's face it, success isn't about rejection. I'm not saying we haven't had a success, but we've had a lot of rejection - and it's always been because of the Name of Christ. So, how in the world could someone not love God and do that? I think it says somewhere in the Bible that the only way a man says, 'Christ is Lord' is by the Holy Spirit."