Taken from chapter 1 of Jeff Godwins book What’s Wrong with Christian Rock?

Permission to reproduce this portion was granted by Jeff Godwin

Links to Topics:

INTRODUCTION
ANGER
CONFUSION
DENIAL
DELUSION
A HARDENED HEART AND SPIRIT

INTRODUCTION

In 1985, the Lord Jesus Christ put my wife and me into this ministry to expose Satan’s dirty work in popular music. Nearly six years, dozens of meetings and several thousand letters have gone by since then. The Lord Jesus has taught us many things, but one of His greatest lessons is found in the following scripture:

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits… A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:15,16,18-20

Those verses have a very simple meaning – FALSE PROPHETS ARE KNOWN BY THEIR ROTTEN FRUITS. Most “Christian” Rock defenders believe the “clean” lifestyles and glowing speeches of their C-Rock and CCM idols are C-Rock’s fruit. Not true! The C-Rock and CCM “fruit” is rebellion, and the fans are full of it! The rebellious lives of “Christian” Rock’s fans are the real fruit of these modern musical prophets. Is this fruit godly and good – or wicked and corrupt? The Word of God has much to say about this issue, and anyone who claims Jesus Christ as their personal Savior should have no problem accepting the Bible as the final authority. With that in mind, let’s take a walk through the “Christian” Rock orchard. In the years we’ve been involved in this ministry, my wife and I have had the privilege of meeting many hundreds of Christian teens and young adults at our Rock music seminars and other speaking engagements across the country. When the total hypocrisy behind “Christian” Rock is revealed to them, four reactions usually follow:

1.) ANGER
2.) CONFUSION
3.) DENIAL
4.) DELUSION

Here’s an in-depth examination of each one:

ANGER

When confronted with the truth about C-Rock’s ungodliness, the average fan fires back with all guns blazing:,

“What gives YOU the right to judge? What about all the good work these people do, feeding the hungry and helping the poor? They talk about teen suicide and staying pure until marriage. They’re anti-dope and pro-God. How DARE you put them down?”

These are all valid points. Let’s see how the Bible addresses them. 1.) “What gives YOU the right to judge another person’s ministry?” According to Leviticus 19:15, Matthew 7:1-5, & John 7:24, ANY Christian has the right to match anything against the Bible. If a ministry is truly of God, it will match up perfectly with the Bible. The problem comes when the things in question violate the Word of God. THAT’S when people get mad – when hypocrisy is unmasked and laid bare for all to see. James 1:20 says, “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” If you get MAD when I question your favorite music or star, this is powerful proof of Satan’s influence in your life (2 Peter 2:19). Idol worshipers get angry when their idols are pulled down (judges 6:25-30). 2.) “But what about all those “good” works done by “Christian” Rockers?” 2 Corinthians 3:1,2 proves the Apostle Paul could care less about letters of recommendation from anyone concerning his good works. The fact that CCM stars throw their weight behind good causes shouldn’t overly impress you. There are several reasons why: The Satan-worshipping secular music stars do the same thing! They’re up to their evil necks in Live Aids, Hear N’ Aids, Aid For Africa, Farm Aids, Earth Aid and Aid for AIDS. As long as they keep getting free publicity, those chumps will play Aid concerts till the cows come home. Does that make them Christians? Such activity is any Christian’s REASONABLE SERVICE (Romans 12:1-3). Pumped-up brownie points may look good on a Christian resume’ and boost record sales, but that doesn’t mean God is glorified. Even the BEST of these musicians’ good works doesn’t impress God (Isaiah 64:6).

CONFUSION

As his anger fades, the average CCM fan falls into confusion: “But my favorite CCM star wouldn’t do that, would they? How can they talk about Jesus, and still be doing the Devil’s work? Why would Satan tell people about JESUS? That would be a pretty stupid thing for him to do, wouldn’t it?” Consider the following quote to get your answer:

“If we continue on this path, respectable, industrious and honest, if we fulfill our duty faithfully, it is my conviction, the Lord God will continually help us in the future. He will not leave respectable people in the lurch indefinitely. He may test them, but in the end He lets His sun shine upon them and gives them His blessing.” 1

Guess who spoke this profound spiritual truth? Billy Graham? Martin Luther, perhaps? Could it have been John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards, or some other great Christian leader from the past? No! The author of those words was: Adolf Hitler! Talk is always cheap. It’s the FRUIT behind the words that really counts. Anyone who takes “Christian” Rock at its media-hyped face value has fallen into deep deception. if you believe everything you read and hear about “Christian” Rock, the simple truth is this: YOU DON’T KNOW YOUR ENEMY! (1 Peter 5:8, 2 Corinthians 2:11). Jesus Christ doesn’t need a commercial from the Devil, as Acts 16:16-18 shows so well:

“And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed of a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.”

That demon-possessed girl was well able to proclaim God’s truth. What does Satan gain from “Christian” Rock? The answer lies in one word – CONFUSION. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” James 3:16 God is not in the business of confusing His people (1 Corinthians 14:33). But Satan is (John. 8:44). Are you confused about “Christian” Rock? The only thing that will bring you out of it is the WHOLE Word of God (John 17:17), combined with the leading of the Holy Ghost (John 16:13). The Bible lays this out perfectly:

“Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:104,105

Confusion always breeds more confusion, and it isn’t long until C-Rock followers start making excuses like these: 1.) “Why don’t you just let God be God? He’ll work it all out in the end. When judgment day comes, we’ll know who was right and who was wrong.” People who use this half-baked reasoning are really admitting they simply don’t KNOW right from wrong! Here’s the good news – you don’t have to wait until Judgment Day to find out. The Bible will tell you right now. This is when C-Rock fans hit the roof and blow their tops. When God’s Word exposes this spiritual con game for what it is, those enslaved by it have only two choices. They can get right with God and come out of it – or get really mad and try to justify their sin. When anyone tries to justify evil, confusion is guaranteed to reign supreme. 2.) “I Know my own heart is right, and that’s all God cares about. As long as the heart’s right, everything else is O.K., right?” Really? Compare 1 Kings 11:38 and Exodus 15:26 to Deuteronomy 12:8 and Judges 17:6. You’ll find that we are to do what God’s Word says is right, not what we THINK is right in our own heart. The heart is desperately wicked and deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9,10). “Let your conscience be your guide?” That creed is a lying New Age smoke-screen for the universal rule of all satanism: “Do What Thou Wilt Shall Be The Whole of the Law”. 

DENIAL

The next step down the deception ladder for an angry, confused CCM addict is denial. Here are some of the most common excuses: 1.) “I pray for protection before I listen to the music or go to the concerts, so everything’s O.K.” Would it be OK to smoke some crack cocaine or visit a prostitute, as long as you prayed and asked God’s protection first? Of course not. The same goes for participating in Satan’s music. If something is of God, you don’t have to ask Him to protect you from it. If it’s not of God, why mess with it in the first place? Jesus set the record straight when he told Satan:

“Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” Luke 4:12

2.) “I can listen to anything I want,, and it doesn’t affect me.” That’s the problem: It HAS affected you – you just don’t know it! It’s the spirit of REBELLION making you say those very words. 3.) “I was once a sinner, and God is using me. Why can’t He do the same with the music?” Converted sinners get new hearts. They are “born-again” (John 3:3). They become “new creatures” (2 Cor. 5:17). They become children of God (1 John 5:13). Rock music always has and always will belong to Satan. God wants nothing to do with the devil’s filth. 4.) “I’m well-grounded in the Word, so Satan can’t deceive me.” 1 Corinthians 10:12 proves otherwise: “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”

DELUSION

One short step away from smug denial lies deep delusion. This next feeble excuse proves the C- Rock stars have trained their flock well to explain away sin: “I prayed about my music, and the Holy Spirit didn’t convict me that it was wrong so it must be OK”. If that’s your excuse, please read Ezekiel 14:1-5. Those verses speak loud and clear. Until we clean the idols out of our life, God will tell us JUST WHAT WE WANT TO HEAR! Is that fair? Of course it is. If you have the audacity to come to God demanding that He approve your sin, why shouldn’t He give you what you want? God doesn’t HAVE to convict us to forsake something that clearly violates His Holy Word. True Christians are supposed to know better. Why? Because they read their Bible! If God says it’s wrong, it’s wrong. (For scriptural proof that C-Rock is not of God, see chapter 17.) Here’s another possibility: Many a C-Rock fan has become so violent in their deluded defense of an ungodly, wicked mockery of Christian music they can’t HEAR the Holy Spirit’s voice anymore! A young Christian couple in Australia sent me a letter recently. They are former C-Rockers who have been led out of that delusion by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Boldly witnessing the truth about CCM bondage, they are heartbroken at the wall of smug arrogance surrounding them. Their pastor told them to repent on their knees for being “unbalanced.” They even witnessed to one of Australia’s major Christian outreach centers. Here’s how the organization replied:

“Firstly, to answer your letter, the Bible does not say anything directly about rock music – in fact anything it does say about music is positive – so to form a hard and fast doctrine on the subject is not Scripturally sound… Finally any doctrine or belief concerning rock music is entirely opinion, including mine. If you consider Christian rock sinful, it would be wrong for you to listen to it. I play and listen unto God, and draw closer to Him through it. I am not to judge you, nor you me. I will continue with it…”2

The Christian who wrote those words should be ashamed. HE’S the one who ought to repent on his knees! He’s using the same lame excuse to justify his sin as the SECULAR Rock stars. Read these comments by KISS singer Paul Stanley:

“It’s always interesting that people tend to interpret the Bible any way that they see fit in terms of how it applies to rock n’ roll… Everybody has to decide for themselves what works and what doesn’t work and what works for me. I’m certainly not in a position where I should be telling people to live their lives the way I live MY life, but likewise neither should you be doing it… I respect you for what you’re doing, and it’s unfortunate you don’t do the same for us. That’s too bad…”3

Something’s dead wrong when Christians use the same ungodly excuses as the perverts in KISS to justify their wickedness! This quote by a Christian bookstore owner in Texas shows why so many Christian youth are completely deluded about the music they listen to. He’s describing a new type of “Christian” Punk called “Thrash”:

“I regard this music, the lyrics, the dress, the performance, and lifestyle of the artists to be in a grey area which we will currently accept, but hopefully be constantly sensitive to the Spirit, whom we trust will keep us from even the slightest compromise, from that which is His highest will, desire, and pleasure.”4

What absolute hogwash! This kind of nonsense is typical of self-serving C-Rock deception. First: There AREN’T any grey areas in the Bible! From Genesis to Revelation, God lays everything out in blacks and whites: Blessings/Cursings, Life/ Death, Heaven/Hell, God/Satan, Christ/the world. Now make your choice. Why don’t these supporters of “Christian” trash come clean and admit the obvious. If it sells, they’ll sell it! Anti-Rock minister Dr. Hal Webb put it better than I ever could:

“When Christian music carries the beat, instrumentation, and exact sounds of the lost crowd, it results in confusion and shame… It is shameful to use musicians who in shallow songs daze instead of praise, who entertain instead of train… They transfer the worship owed to Christ to ‘concert hopping’, money-hungry entertainers who have never left, the world far enough behind to stop sounding like it…”5

The final stop for stiff-necked C-Rock defenders is found here:

A HARDENED HEART AND SPIRIT

The angry, confused, denying and deluded C- Rock fan will always hit one final button as a last resort in his effort to justify his sin: It’s called self-righteous pride:

“I’m a Christian. I get good grades. I don’t smoke. I don’t drink. My parents are proud of me – and not one Bible verse says ‘Christian’ Rock is wrong. I know what I’m doing and I don’t see anything wrong with it.”

Isaiah 64:6 says all our self-righteousness is a pile of dirty, stinking rags at God’s feet. Yet C- Rock defenders continually justify their sin by patting their own backs. Noses in the air, they demand a scripture that says: “THUS SAITH THE LORD; THOU SHALT NOT LISTEN TO ‘CHRISTIAN’ ROCK”. They overlook the fact the Bible also fails to specifically mention marijuana, cocaine, X-rated porno movies, and abortion as sins. Does that make them any less sinful? Biblical holiness from Genesis to Revelation is swept under the rug by this kind of rock-hard, rebellious heart. C-Rock brainwashing has completed its task. The victim’s rebellion is now set in concrete. Though living totally contrary to God’s Word, the deluded, confused and hard- hearted C-Rock victim prides himself in his “‘powerful” testimony for Jesus Christ. But facts don’t lie. The lives of hundreds of thousands of C-Rock fans are an ugly reflection of the face behind all “Christian” Rock. It’s called REBELLION!

 

1. Midnight Call, March, 1990, p.6

2. Letter on file

3. KISS EXPOSED – Live interview with the Peters Brothers, cassette tape, 1985, Truth About Rock, St. Paul, Minnesota.

4. CCM magazine, February, 1989, p. 21

5. Shame, a tract by Dr. Hal Webb, Conklin, New York, pp. 2,4,6

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.

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.

Taken from chapter 6 of Jeff Godwins book What’s Wrong with Christian Rock?

Used with Permission

“If the WORLD hate you, ye know it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the WORLD, the WORLD would love his own: but because ye are not of the WORLD, but I have chosen you out of the WORLD, therefore the WORLD HATETH YOU.” John 15:18,19

Based on this scripture, it’s perfectly reasonable to assume that Christians are supposed to be DIFFERENT from the rest of the world. Surely this applies to the multi-billion dollar Christian recording industry and the millions of fans supporting it.

If difference from the world is supposed to define Christian music, then the facts in this chapter present some problems.

C-Rock defenders are always saying the purpose of their music is to glorify God. Yet the quotes below prove they are more interested in being identified with the devil’s crowd than anything godly. Here are a few excerpts about some of the biggest names in CCM:

KIM BOYCE
“For starters, this sounds a lot like Madonna’s classy, infectious brand of dance/pop music…” 1

RANDY STONEHILL
“I’ m going back and doing a band-oriented album that stylistically is very close to the music that inspired me when I was 13 and 17 – and that’s the Byrds and the Rolling Stones … “2

RAGE OF ANGELS
“…the Connecticut/NYC band is musically likened to Motley Crue, but also combines the commercially acceptable vein of Bon Jovi …” 3

BARREN CROSS
“They have the sound and intensity of Iron Maiden. ” 4

IMPERIALS
“These boys share a clear savvy of pop/rock vocal chop uncommon in this biz…” 5

TEMPEST
“The Poison/White Lion fans will like this.” 6

PHILIP BAILEY
“… glides and bobs and grooves with all the style and zest you remember Philip for – in his early releases with Earth, Wind & Fire. 7

WHITE HEART
“It’s everything that’s right with 80’s arena rock with all of the inhibitions removed.” 8

AMY GRANT
“Lyrically, the only difference between Amy Grant love songs and, say, those of Olivia Newton-John, is that often Grant’s pronouns come with capital letters…” 9

DEGARMO & KEY
“In their concerts and through their music DeGarmo & Key offer rock theology. Their uncompromising musical style has been the righteous raised fist of solid rock ‘n’ roll…” 10

DANA KEY
“He describes himself as basically a blues guitarist, and it is the players from that genre that have always influenced him the most, citing B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix, and Billy Gibbons [ZZ Top] as his major mentors…” 11

CARMAN
“Stylistically, Carman has been compared to Elvis Presley, Jim Croce, Tom Jones, Ray Stevens and even at times, Andrae Crouch. He has been described as having an Elvis-like charisma … 12

BOB HARTMAN (Petra)
“Early influences were the ’70’s guitar heroes like Hendrix, Clapton, Page and Walsh, and more recently Eddie Van Halen, of course… ” 13

UNDERCOVER
“… It will take Christian rock one step further with a myriad of soundscapes that combine the Cult, Jim Morrison, and Alice Cooper…” 14

VENGEANCE RISING
“Loud, fast, heavy, thrashin’ speed metal with a heavy blues influence is what you’ll find on this new release from one of Christian music’s most credible bands.. .” 15

STRYPER
“And rock they do. Their ninety-minute stage show includes all the outward trappings of secular metal – the sass, style, and bombastic bone-jarring sonic barrage of such secular acts as Motley Crue, Ratt, Iron Maiden, or Judas Priest….”16

And that’s just scratching the surface. I have identical quotes on the following C-Rock/CCM stars: White Cross, Geoff Moore, Steven Curtis Chapman, Mad At The World, Mark Farner, Holy Soldier, U2, Russ Taff, Ed DeGarmo, Phil Keaggy, Shout, Margaret Becker, Petra, Steve Taylor, Mylon LeFevre, The Awakening, Idle Cure, Wayne Watson, Ruscha, Kenny Marks, Michael Peace, Dion, Michael W. Smith, The Choir, Billy Sprague, Benny Hester, and Rick Cua.

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

Very simple: There is no difference between secular and “Christian” Rock music. None at all. These quotes prove that today’s big CCM names learned their licks from the secular Rock & Roll monsters years ago, and are recycling that same demonic musical mess to anyone willing to listen.

The fans say, “But that’s just the MUSIC. The LYRICS are where the real difference is.” Alright. Let’s do a little experiment. Read the following song lyrics. One is secular. One is Christian. Which is which?

BURN IN HELL
“Take a good look in your heart/ Tell me, what do you see?/ It’s black and it’s dark/ Now is that how you want it to be?/ It’s up to you, what you do will decide your own fate/ Make your choice now, for tomorrow may be far too late/ And then you’ll burn in Hell/ Oh burn in Hell/ You’re gonna burn in Hell…”

SILENCE SCREAMS
“The folly in our passions/ The prisons of desire/ The foolishness of bigots/ Tinder for the fire/ In bitterness and exile/ As foolish as it seems/ In the coldest, darkest spirit/ Silence screams/ Silence screams/ The echoes roar/ Silence screams forevermore…”

Well, which one of these lyrics brings honor and glory to Jesus Christ? “Burn In Hell”, with its uncompromising message of fiery judgment against sin, came from TWISTED SISTER, one of the most sickening groups in secular Rock! .

Before the group broke up, former lead singer Dee Snider prided himself on his filthy mouth and transvestite appearance in pot-choked concert halls across the country. Though the message in that song was good, am I going to suggest that young people listen to a group of perverts like Twisted Sister? No way!

The second song, “Silence Screams” by popular C-Metal group REZ (Resurrection Band) was the “Christian” one.

It’s pretty sad when the heathen produce more scriptural lyrics than so-called Christian! So much for the, “It’s the LYRICS that are important” argument. Try finding spiritual guidance for your life in that morbid mess REZ calls Christian lyrics and you’ll be a long time looking.

Let’s look at another set of godly lyrics:

PARTY IN HEAVEN – Daniel Band
“There’s a party in Heaven/ The bread is unleaven/ The tree of life is growin’ fine/ It’s way past eleven/ My number is seven/ The lamb and I are drinkin’ new wine…

Hmmm. Party time in Heaven, huh? Staying up past curfew and slopping down a quart or two of cheap wine with Jesus. Maybe Heaven’s a swingin’ place after all. Now contrast those blasphemous lyrics to the famous Satan-anthem by AC-DC “Highway To Hell”:

“Don’t need a reason/ Don’t need a rhyme/ Ain’t nothin’ that I’d rather do/ Goin’ down/ Party time/ My friends are gonna be there too/ I’m on the highway to Hell…”

The message is the same in BOTH songs. No matter where you turn up on the other side, it’ll still be one big party, dude. Is it any wonder Christian youth are wallowing in ridiculous carnal compromise?

When supposedly “Christian” lyrics have the exact same message as those of the God-hating Satan- Rockers, something is drastically wrong. Even the most dedicated CCMer should be able to see the hypocrisy. What does it all prove? Simple! There is NO difference in “Christian” Rock!

BRIDE
C-Metal stars Bride don’t even try to hide their worship of raw Satan-Rock power. At the end of their song “Heroes,” (“Live To Die” album), the tortured screams of the damned wail into the blackness like the hordes of Hell let loose from the Pit.

There is also a demonic backmask hidden within those nightmarish cries. When reversed, what sounds like hundreds of whooshing, teeth-chattering voices spiral downward into a spinning mass of chaos. With shredded throats, their bellowing shrieks beg for help.” 19 Please don’t forget, all this is supposed to be “Christian.”

“Metal Might” is a song by Bride. Is it about Jesus or Satan? Your guess is as good as mine:

“The ones with the power/ They have control/ Their mere words will direct your soul/ My words of steel carry through the night/ Leaving behind the wake of Metal Might…”

Parents, if you’ve been wondering where all that rebellion in your kids has been coming from lately, check out this review of Bride’s “Live To Die” album, (from a CHRISTIAN music magazine!):

“This release is chock-full of straight-ahead, full-throttle grinding and pounding. It’s the type of sound your parents will hate.. .” 20

Bride outdid themselves on this next tune. How’d you like to have THESE guys play at your church next Sunday?:

HERE COMES THE BRIDE
“I’ve got the strings of fire/ Screaming guitars/ Energy that will explode/ Got the golden throat/ To put on the show/ The power I will unload/ Here comes the Bride/ Got feet of brass/ I’m first and last…”

Jesus the guitar slinger? If this little ditty is supposed to be about Revelation 19:11-16, Bride sure missed the boat. With a Heavenly twang on his open E power chord, Metal Messiah Jesus swoops down like a screaming jet to deliver all his hoppin’ Christian headbangers from the wimpy, washed-up Devil. Shazam! The sad thing is that multitudes of young believers are buying these lies lock, stock and barrel.

A letter from a Teen Challenge worker in Salinas, California hit the C-Rock nail right on the head:

“When my newly saved son-in-law went to a theme park on Christian Day there were “Christian groups” playing their “Christian tunes. The last performer rolled out on stage seated upon a throne, enveloped in smoke from a smoke machine. First he sat with a weird, sinister look, then leaping from the throne, flung himself all over the platform. After the performance Gary was so perplexed that he approached the man and said, ‘Can I ask you a question? What religion do you belong to?'” 21

Here’s more musical “holiness” in action. “Master of the Metal” by the Messiah Prophet Band:

“You hear a loud guitar/ You wonder what we are/ You say we’re all the same/ You see us dressed in black/ Preparing to attack/ You say it’s such a shame/ But do you really know/ The force behind our show/ Our one way ticket home/ We’re rockin’ for the rock/ And we will never stop/ And this you’ve got to know/ Jesus said upon this Rock my church will stand/… He’s the Master/ The Master of the metal…”

The Rock of Matthew 16:15-18 was Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Christ, NOT the Master of Heavy Metal music. That’s Satan’s title, as the last twenty years have proven. To answer the song’s question, YES, I do know the force behind your show. I only wish every Christian teen knew. That’s why this book was written.

BLOODGOOD
Most C-Rock fans refuse to believe their favorite bands are actually two-faced in what they say and do. Like gullible lambs led to a Hard-Rock slaughter, young believers eat up every golden word out of the group’s mouth without a second thought. In reality, Christian young people are being taken for a BIG ride. These comments by Bloodgood singer Les Carlsen at a live 1987 concert are a perfect example:

“Let’s not have any of us to put down our evangelist brothers on tv. We got nothin’ bad to say about ’em. Nothin’. Except that they’re brothers in Christ. If they don’t understand where we’re comin’ from, let God take care of ’em… 22

Match those silky words against this Bloodgood song to see typical C-Rock hypocrisy:

SHAKIN’ IT
“He’s a sinner though he’d never be found/ He got caught with his own pants down/ Can’t imagine how he must have felt/ He should’ve tightened-up his Bible belt…”

Speaking of double talk, here’s a letter sent to a Christian newspaper after one of our Missouri Rock music seminars. The excuses this poor, deluded girl uses are IDENTICAL to those put out by hot C-Rock fans everywhere. Remember this young lady considers herself a Christian:

“Who do you think you are, GOD? Well I do go to church and I do believe in God, but rock-n-roll has been around for a long time and will be around for an even longer time. No one can change that… You don’t submit yourself to God, you believe in Him and know that He is there for you and in return you do the best you can and stay out of trouble… Many rock stars are self- professed witches and dabble in the occult? Who cares?… Yes, I do listen to Stevie Nicks, Prince, Kiss, Cinderella and Cheap Trick. All of these I like and I will continue to listen to. I am able because I have all of my life and will do so for the rest of it, and continue to believe in God. Why should you care who or what they believe in? Who are you to judge them or their music?…” 23

This is how people turn out when they get their spiritual training from C-Rock stars instead of the Bible. Aren’t the fruits of the Holy Spirit abounding in this young lady?: love, joy, peace., longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance (Galatians 5:22-23).

Why is she so angry? Because her RELIGION, the religion of Rock & Roll, and the idols she worships were attacked.

Notice her statement, You don’t submit yourself to God.” She obviously got her theology from Rock stars, not the Word of God. The Bible says we either submit ourselves to God or the devil (I Kings 18:21.) There is no middle ground. She has made her choice, she just doesn’t realize it yet.

Once young fans are programmed, Satan’s mission is accomplished. CCM stars look and act like the world. Their music and lyrics are like the world. And CCM stars are promoted the same way the worldly crowd does it – through bucks and hype.

In every respect., the “Christian” music gods imitate the Hell-bound reprobates they idolized when they were younger. Is it any surprise that young CCM fans today are in worse spiritual shape than their parents? If you profess Christ, then hear what the Bible commands:

“Love not the WORLD, neither the things that are in the WORLD. If any man love the WORLD, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the WORLD, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the WORLD.” I John 2:15-16

There’s a word for the cheap, carnal counterfeits found throughout all “Christian” Rock.

It’s called Compromise – with a capital C.

FOOTNOTES

1. Gospel Music Today, April/May/June, 1987, p. 28
2. Ibid. p. 22
3. CCM magazine, January, 1989, p. 14
4. Media Update, September/October, 1989, p. 11
5. CCM magazine, April, 1987, p. 38
6. Media Update, September/October, 1989, p. 11
7. Gospel Music Today, July/August/September, 1987, p. 34
8. Gospel Music Today, July/August/September, 1989, p. 10
9. Christian Amy’s No Rock ‘n’ Roll Sinner, by Bruce Guthrie.
10. Oz magazine, 1987, Queensland, Australia, p. 14
11. CCM magazine, January, 1989, p. 30
12. Echoes, Vol, 2, 1986, p. 7
13. CCM magazine, January, 1989, p. 31
14. CCM magazine, February, 1990, p. 22
15. CCM magazine, April, 1990, p. 52
16. Youth!, January, 1987, p. 8
17. Circus, November 30, 1984, pp. 52,53. Photo by Mark Weiss.
18. CCM magazine, February, 1990. p. 15. No photo credit listed.
19. Satanic & Hidden Messages in Popular and Rock and Roll Music, by Michael M., 1989, Melbourne, Australia, Tape 6, Example 275
20. CCM magazine, September, 1988, p. 47
21. Christian Rock? Christian Rap?, by James A. Thomas, 1989, Salinas, California, p. 9
22. Metal Mardi Gras 1987 video, by Sanctuary, Redondo Beach, CA, a C. Cole production
23. Good News Journal, Summer, 1989, Columbia, Missouri.

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.