Taken from chapter 16 of Jeff Godwins book What’s Wrong with Christian Rock?
Used with Permission
Links to Popular Excuses:
1.) They’re going to listen to Rock music anyway! At least this is a better alternative.
2.) We have to use C-Rock because this is the music kids relate to today.
3.) God created music, and everything God created is good, so Rock music must be good and godly, too.
4.) Music is the universal language all young people understand, so we’ll use Rock music to speak their language.
5.) “No young person is going to stay in a stuffy” church. You’ve got to have some excitement! We’ve got to give the kids what they want or we’ll lose them. Right?”
6.) No one can live under those kind of rules! That’s too hard and legalistic!
7.) I can’t serve a God out of fear. Jesus is about love, and this music shows kids that.
8.) There’s more important things in the church to worry about than music.
9.) Times have changed. It’s time we changed too. The old ways don’t work any more. We’ve got to update our approach and try something new. “Christian” Rock is the tool to better ministry.
10.) As long as kids are getting saved, nothing else matters. So butt out, buddy.
Every excuse in the book, no matter how ridiculous, has been given to show why C-Rock MUST be used to minister to youth and young adults. Let’s look at ten of the most popular excuses and match them against the Bible. You be the judge. If the excuse matches the Word, then accept it. If not…
1.) They’re going to listen to Rock music anyway! At least this is a better alternative.
The first part of that statement is a bold-faced lie. Not every new convert is as hard-hearted and rebellious as the CCM stars. Many young people are giving their hearts and lives completely to the Lord at salvation and have turned away from vile Rock filth. I’ve got a file drawer full of their precious letters. They recognize the difference between the holy and the profane, and are choosing holiness.
But what about the “better alternative?” Are you kidding? C-Rock looks the same, sounds the same and produces the same rotten fruit as its secular cousin: rebellion. It teaches kids how to love the New Age and hate authority. Some alternative.
2.) We have to use C-Rock because this is the music kids relate to today.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 tells Christians to SEPARATE from every ungodly work, not invite it home for dinner!
Here’s the heart of the problem – the “relating” hoax is really about friendship WITH sin, not coming out from among them and being separate. Instead of “touch NOT the unclean thing”, C- Rock says: “Touch it all you want to! We’ll use it as a bridge to get to something better! Who cares if God forbids it? What does He know, anyway?”
Another point to consider: If you as a pastor, parent, youth leader, or church have to use gimmicks like “Christian” Rock to “relate” to youth, where does this leave the ministry of the Holy Ghost? Matthew 7:6 says not to throw pearls before swine. Yet we’ve got it backwards!
We’ll dump Rock filth in the laps of God’s people and call it a blessing!
A Christian” Thrash singer once told me I’d probably get my teeth knocked out if I went into the ghetto to witness. He said I’d have no chance of getting anyone to listen to the Gospel looking like that. (I was dressed in a shirt and tie.)
This man didn’t know that two nights before, I was dressed the same way and shared the Gospel face-to-face with three lost Rock addicts. They understood the Gospel fine. Their hair, leather and studs didn’t bother me, and my shirt and tie didn’t bother them. It’s the GOSPEL that does the relating, not Rock music or any other ungodly trick. The Holy Spirit’s blessing is on God’s Word, (John 17:17) not on pagan noise.
Do you know what those three headbangers told me during our meeting? They said, “Yeah, but it’s O.K. for you CHRISTIANS to listen to Christian Rock, isn’t it?”
Something’s dead wrong in the way we’re “relating” to the lost, Brother and Sister. The WORLD is mocking and laughing at us! They see through such hypocrisy in a minute; why can’t WE? It’s because churches have made friends with their chains (2 Peter 2:19). They’ve been too busy listening to “the experts” instead of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13 & 1 John 2:27).
3.) God created music, and everything God created is good, so Rock music must be good and godly, too.
Christian author LaMar Boschman’s answer to this popular excuse is better than anything I could say. His reply is based on the scriptures found in Ezekiel 28:13 and Isaiah 14:11, which prove Lucifer’s musicianship:
“The day Lucifer fell, music fell. Music that once was used to worship Almighty God now became music of an earthly nature, it became the music of the world and began to appeal to our lower nature instead of appealing to God and our spiritual man (that part of us that has been born of God). Music then, became corrupted. That anointed and powerful ministry of music that Lucifer had in heaven is now corrupted. That ministry is cursed. It now has a false anointing… He still has that same powerful ministry to create worship but now it is corrupted, and Lucifer uses that ministry to get worship for himself because he craves it…” 1
4.) Music is the universal language all young people understand, so we’ll use Rock music to speak their language.
First of all, that’s supposed to be impossible, because the doctrine of CCM says all music is neutral! But if it IS a language, then what is that music SAYING? This ad from CCM magazine is a perfect example of guilt-trip propaganda:
“Ask any youth pastor or any parent of a teenager and they’ll tell you the same thing: Most of today’s praise and worship music simply does not reach today’s teenagers. We all know that music is the language of teens, and let’s face it: most of the praise and worship music available today is a foreign language to them. That’s why youth leaders are having such a difficult time getting their kids involved in their worship services. Says one youth director, ‘As hard as I try, my kids just sit back with their arms folded when we begin our praise times.’ In order to communicate effectively, you must speak the right language…” 2
Pastor and youth leader: if your young people are sitting on their hands during praise and worship time, the problem is in THEIR HEARTS, not the church’s music! If you feed your kids the Rock and Rap slop they demand, they’ll learn a new language alright – Satan’s.
You know what? Once you start playing that game, they NEVER WILL BE satisfied, no matter what you do! “Give ’em what they want at any cost.” Where’s that found in the Bible? If you’ve got a youth group that’s acting like poor, pampered little pouters, then demand their respect by refusing to cater to their rebellion.
In fairness to the kids, many youth won’t give up THEIR idolatry because the youth leaders won’t give up THEIRS! (Jeremiah 5:31). Incidentally, the kids aren’t supposed to run the church! God gave the man behind the pulpit that responsibility, and he is subject to Jesus Christ (Titus 1:7-2:1).
Churches in general demand very little (if anything) from their youth today. There’s plenty of busywork – plays, skits, pizza parties, roller rinks, bowling alleys and water parks. But where’s the hard, dedicated service? It’s gone the way of the all-night prayer vigil, the family altar and godly teens. Dead and buried.
The results are obvious – weak, spiritually flabby Christian youth with no roots. This eventually leads to a stiff-necked generation who proudly parade spiritual arrogance, all the while mistaking it for holiness. It’s the trap of the Pharisee mindset: “We’ve got it together. We know what we’re doing and NOTHING is going to change our mind.”
Praise God for the holy remnant. Not ALL churches are this way (Isaiah 1:9). If you feel alone in your stand against ‘Christian” Rock, be encouraged. The Lord Jesus is watching and your labor is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).
5.) “No young person is going to stay in a stuffy” church. You’ve got to have some excitement! We’ve got to give the kids what they want or we’ll lose them. Right?”
Wrong! If the only thing keeping the youth in your church is “Christian” Rock music, then let them go! If that’s the glue holding the youth group together, you don’t really have a youth group. To say that you must have Rock or the kids won’t come is to dishonor and demean the drawing power of the Holy Ghost (John 6:44, 12:32). This ad for CCM star Morgan Cryar’s music is a perfect case in point:
“Fuel On The Fire – A good pop/rock sound for the teen-age audience. The songs deal with youth issues and situations without being preachy.” 3
Without being “preachy.” To hear the CCM industry tell it, preaching the uncompromising Word of God is a fate worse than death. Someone might get turned off, and ruin their whole day. What does the Bible say?
“For the PREACHING of the cross is to them that perish I foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a PREACHER?” Romans 10:14
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; PREACH the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” 2 Timothy 4:1,2 (Emphasis author’s).
If your church is dead, dry or ‘stuffy,” then let some of the starch out! The Church should never be an organization; it’s an organism – a living, vibrant body of believers.
If your church is full of snoring pew bums, don’t think young people don’t know it. They can spot a phoney a mile away. Give those kids something scriptural worth respecting, and they will. Keep feeding them gimmicks like ‘Christian” Rock, and you’ll soon have contempt and rebellion coming out your ears (Proverbs 18:3).
SUBMISSION VS. REBELLION
The real battle is not about a musical generation gap, it’s about SUBMISSION vs. REBELLION. Submission is the hallmark of the Christian life. Without it, all you have is counterfeit spirituality. To resist the devil, you must first be submitted to God (James 4:7). Since C-Rock fans aren’t truly submitted, they’ll never be able to resist Satan, no matter how often they sing “To Hell With The Devil” (by Stryper).
The classic hymns so despised by youth today were all about SUBMISSION; that’s why carnal Christians want no part of them.
Songs like: “Washed In The Blood,” “Haven of Rest,” “Jesus Paid It All,” “To God Be The Glory,” “Lord, I’m Coming Home,” “Victory In Jesus,” “Have Thine Own Way, Lord,” “When I Survey The Wondrous Cross,” “Take My Life And Let It Be,” “I Surrender All,” “Jesus Is All The World To Me.” These are all songs of SUBMISSION.
Here’s a lyrical example from just one of them:
“Have thine own way, Lord/ Have thine own way/ Thou art the potter/ I am the clay/ Mold me and make me/ After thy will/ While I am waiting/ Yielded and still…”
Now read these C-Rock lyrics to see the difference between submission and rebellion:
ROCK THOSE BLUES AWAY – Bride
“I don’t need nobody to ease my aching mind. Don’t need nobody complaining all the time. I need to roll those blues, rock those blues away… Let me tell you honey, what I need. I need a smooth playing guitar in my hand. Listen to the rhythm of my band.”
Lots of godly submission in that one, isn’t there?
If none of this describes your church, then shout hallelujah to the Lord, and back your pastor 100%, because he’s standing strong against deception!
The 1990’s will see the most intense war for the souls of youth ever fought, and it’s getting hotter by the day. The carnal, C-Rock supporting Church has already cut deals with the antichrist system (whether they know it or not). And they will cut many more in the weeks and months to come. Is YOUR church one of them?
6.) No one can live under those kind of rules! That’s too hard and legalistic!
This is the most popular excuse in all of CCM. Submission to God cramps people’s style. Someone might actually have to give up their desires and change their lives to make them conform to God’s will. How harsh of God to ask us to obey Him.
Fortunately, Jesus was willing to obey the Father and give up the glory of Heaven to come to a filthy earth and die for our sins. Because of Christ’s obedience, we can have eternal life. Where would we be now if Jesus Christ had used excuse # 6? (We’d be in hell.)
2 Timothy 4:3 predicted a time when Christians will not endure sound doctrine (That time is here right now). Isaiah 30:8-14 says many of God’s people only want to hear “smooth things.” The CCM stars are fulfilling these scriptures! They’re trading sound doctrine for slick, carnal compromise by telling masses of believers that:
A. Music is neutral.
B. Jesus was a “cool dude” who would never want you to have a boring day, and
C. It’ll all work out in the end, as long as you “feel good” about what you’re doing.
This is rank apostasy of the worst sort, but plenty of duped Christians are eating it up like candy. Why? Because it’s just what they want to hear.
Legalism is defined like this: LAWS WITHOUT LOVE. Pursuing Biblical holiness isn’t legalism; it’s real freedom! Knowing the truth sets people free, according to John 8:31,32.
Here’s the truth, if you’ll receive it: C-Rock music and everything it represents is satanic because it blocks the path to self-denial, purity, holiness and total devotion to the Lord Jesus.
There’s only one foundation, and that’s Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:10-15). What we build on it is up to us. When that foundation gets cracked, weedy and full of garbage, it’s time to clear aside the spiritual stumbling blocks and haul off the trash (Jeremiah 1:4-10). That’s not legalism. It’s repentance in action.
7.) I can’t serve a God out of fear. Jesus is about love, and this music shows kids that.
There’s nothing wrong with a good holy fear of God. Those who truly love God WILL fear Him. The awesome, knee-shaking fear of God is a theme conspicuously absent from C-Rock music. (See Daniel 10:7-10, Isaiah 6:1-5, Ezekiel 1:28, 3:23, Hebrews 12:18-21, & Revelation 1:12-17). The C-Rock crowd is a perfect picture of what happens to people when there is no fear of God before their eyes.
Psalm 40:3 says our conversion will put a NEW song in our mouth that will cause those who hear it to FEAR! (Does C-Rock do that? They’re too busy dancing!)
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, (Psalm 111:10). Only by fearing God can we know what true godly love is. The fear of God is as Biblical as John 3:16.
8.) There’s more important things in the church to worry about than music.
Satan would love for you to believe that lie. If “Christian” Rock is in your church, you’ve already got deception, rebellion and soul pollution in the minds of your young people. Anything more important than that?
If church leadership will diligently look, they’ll see that MUSIC is a prime key to the spiritual health (or sickness) of any church. Preaching, teaching and the Great Commission are all major elements of the Body of Christ. And so is music.
Don’t ever sell it short.
9.) Times have changed. It’s time we changed too. The old ways don’t work any more. We’ve got to update our approach and try something new. “Christian” Rock is the tool to better ministry.
Those “old ways” you are tossing onto the garbage heap just so happen to be God’s ways. They’ve worked for thousands of years, and no matter what any C-Rock fan tells you, they still work today.
When holy servants of God pray and clearly preach the Gospel, the Holy Spirit still convicts hearts and draws lost sinners unto repentance. Souls are still being saved every day. Here’s how God sees it:
Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6:16
Do you dare to claim you’ve got a better plan for soulwinning than outlined in the Bible? If you do, I’d like to hear it., because that means you’re smarter than God.
10.) As long as kids are getting saved, nothing else matters. So butt out, buddy.
When you reach this point in any discussion about CCM and all its ungodliness, it’s time to stop., shake off the dust and move on. Any believer so bound will never understand the difference between the flesh and the spirit until God Himself makes it real to them.
They don’t understand that fleshly lusts war against the soul (1 Peter 2:11). They won’t accept the fact that flesh and spirit cannot peacefully co-exist (Galatians 5:16,17).
These are the people who go to dark “Christian” nightclubs and boogey all over the “Christian” dancefloor, while listening to “Christian” Rock. After all, the torture Jesus endured on the cross doesn’t mean we can’t have any fun. Right? God’s heart breaks over such foolishness:
“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” 2 Corinthians 11:3,4
The Church of Jesus Christ has ignored the obvious for far too long. Excuses can be made from now until judgment Day, but none of them will change one simple fact: there’s nothing Christian about “Christian” Rock. You can make a list of excuses a mile long, but that’s all they are – excuses.
My prayer is that you will see that God wants you to crucify your old flesh (Galatians 2:20) so Christ can live His life through you. I pray Jesus will change your affections form the inside out. Then you can learn to walk with God in ways you never thought possible.
It’s the only way out of bondage, and I pray you’ll take it.
FEEL FREE TO MAKE COPIES
If leadership in your church is pro-“Christian” Rock, feel free to photocopy this chapter as well as chapter 17 as a scriptural witness to them.
1. “The Rebirth of Music,” by LaMar Boschman, Revival Press, Bedford, Texas, p. 16
2. CCM magazine, February, 1990, p. 40
3. Media Update, November/December, 1986, p. 13
Jeff Godwin has several excellent books, videos and tapes on Rock Music. He has written The Devil’s Disciples, Dancing With Demons, What’s Wrong With Christian Rock? and Rock & Roll Religion. All are highly recommended.