“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21

“Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.” Romans 12:9b

Recently when I turned on the news I heard that Beatle George Harrison had died on November 30 at age 58 of cancer. The report went on to say that Harrison was surrounded by old friends from the Hare Krishna movement. In fact, Guada Chandra Das of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness stated that Harrison died to the sound of Hindu “chanting and praying.” His body was then cremated, his widow and 23-year-old son carried the ashes to India and sprinkled them in the Ganges river in Varnasi and Allahabad, India. They were accompanied by two Hare Krishna devotees who performed Hindu rites as the ashes were scattered on Tuesday, December 4th. Harrison left millions of dollars to the Hindu, Hare Krishna Foundation and was responsible for popularizing the false religion of Hinduism to multitudes of people in the West.

For the next 48 hours radio and television news special reports and newspapers lauded the wonderful contributions George and the Beatles had made to the music world and society. While I certainly agree that the Beatles have left a legacy, I disagree concerning the nature of that legacy. It is an unholy and detrimental legacy, as I will demonstrate shortly.

However, before we look into that matter, I want to share with you my personal observations about what I perceive to be the three major contributing factors that have brought about the degeneration of the foundational biblical norms and values of our society within my lifetime.

• First, there is Hugh Hefner, his magazine and immoral philosophy.

There are several verses that should frame our thinking before we consider our first point Matthew 5:28 “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Job 31:1 “I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?” 1 Corinthians 6:18 “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.”

Hugh Hefner was born in 1926 and has a genius IQ of 152. The problem is that he “used his smarts” for evil and not for good. On December of 1953 the first issue of Playboy hit the street featuring the now-famous calendar photo of Marilyn Monroe. He brought pornography “out of the closet” so to speak, and made it more readily available. His magazine and the “Playboy Philosophy,” is nothing more than barnyard morality. This purveyor of smut, more than any other man in my lifetime, paved way for the introduction of hardcore pornography in our culture, and has had a major role in the undermining the sexual morals of American men and women. I believe Isaiah 3:9 applies – “The show of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.”

• The Womans Liberation Movement

There are several verses that should frame our thinking before we consider this second point Titus 2:4-5 “That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” Ephesians 5:23-24 “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.”

The second major contributing factor that have brought about the degeneration of the foundational biblical norms and values of our society within my lifetime is the womans liberation movement. The modern American movement was founded when in 1953 by a book called The Second Sex by French feminist writer Simone De Beauvoir, was published in the United States. The more radical wing of the feminist movement adopted the phrase “women’s liberation” which was first used in this book. The philosophies and practices of the womans liberation movement are undermining and destroying our homes and families.

That brings me to the focal point of todays message

• Thirdly, the Beatles and Their Music

Some may wonder why I would even bother to address the issue of the Beatles. My friend David Cloud said, ” The Beatles are the most popular and influential rock band of all times.” And hes right. There are others who are not Fundamentalists that concur with this. Sid Bernstein said, “only Hitler ever duplicated [the Beatles’] power over crowdswhen the Beatles talk-about drugs, the war in Vietnam, religion-millions listen, and this is the new situation in the pop music world” (Time, Sid Bernstein, Sept. 22, 1967, p. 60).

John Lennon created a furor in 1966 when he claimed, “We’re more popular than Jesus now.” He went on to say, “Christianity will go, it will vanish and shrink. I needn’t argue about that. I’m right and will be proved right.” (Newsweek, March 21, 1966).

When I read the above quotes, Ephesians 5:8-11 comes to mind; “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”

Christians should neither support, nor pattern themselves after people or groups who heralded the demise of Christianity and claimed to be “more popular than Jesus” and as we will see, those described as “missionaries of the acid (drug) society,” the “super drug culture prophets.” It would be reasonable to think that professing Christians would take that stand, wouldnt it? However, sadly, that is not the case! Worldly Christians look at the Beatles as their heroes. These perverse men (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Richard Starkey a.k.a. Ringo Star) and their music are the role models for many musicians, even so called “Christian” musician are Beatles fans. The group called Jars of Clay (pictured above) names the Beatles and Jimmy Hendrix as their inspiration and the lead guitarist is described as a “Beatles fanatic.” DC Talk opens its “Jesus Freak” concerts with the Beatles song Help. Phil Keaggy plays “homage to the Beatles” on one of his albums and Caemdons Call often performs Beatles songs.

I remind you of Colossians 2:8 “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Perhaps thats why my mother was not at all impressed with the Beatles. She sat right there with me, as I watched the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 when the Beatles sang “I want to Hold Your Hand.” Right from the word “go”, she did not like the Beatles. She did not like their floppy mop hair or their music. She was of the opinion that the Beatles and their music taught the kids rebellion and she was right! By April of that same year “Beatlemania” was attacking America.

• > Rebellion Against God

The Beatles rebellion against the God of the Bible goes way back for most of them! One example is the fact that John Lennon was taken to Sunday School by his Aunt Mimi. He even sang in the choir. But, by age 11, John was permanently barred from Sunday services in his aunt’s Anglican church because he “repeatedly improvised obscene and impious lyrics to the hymns.” (Rock Lives; p. 114). He did things even cruder and viler than that, such as urinate on members of the “clergy” from second floor windows and display homemade dummies of Christ in lewd poses. In his 1965 book published by Simon & Schuster, John Lennon blasphemed the Father, Son and Holy Spirit by calling them “Fahter, Sock and Micky Most.” In 1964 Paul McCartney stated, “We probably seem to be anti-religious none of us believes in God.”

Does the Bible say anything about those who do not believe in God? YES! It says they are fools. Psalms 14:1 “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” That description pretty well describes the character and accomplishments of the Beatles “corrupt” and having “done abominable works.” The words of their own press officer Derek Taylor, affirm the application of Psalms 14 to the Beatles: “They’re [the Beatles] completely anti-Christ. I mean, I am anti-Christ as well, but they’re so anti-Christ they shock me which isn’t an easy thing” (Saturday Evening Post, August 8-15, 1964, p. 25).

One last illustration to prove the point. George Harrison financed Monty Python’s vile and blasphemous mockery of Christ in the movie “Life of Brian.” Even Newsweek magazine described the movie as “irreverent.” Time magazine called it an “intense assault on religion” (Time, Sept. 17, 1979, p. 101).

Later the Beatles lead the way for many Americans into pagan religion with visits to Guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. The Beatles soon split with the Maharishi. One reason was his suggestion that they turn over 25 percent of their income to his work. Another reason was they caught the Guru eating meat, which was not allowed to his disciples, and engaging in acts of immorality with female disciples. Lennon later composed a song about the Maharishi titled “Sexy Sadie.” George Harrison alone remains a follower of Hinduism. In 1971 George Harrison released his pagan hymn “My Sweet Lord” praising the Hindu god Krishna which ends with the Hare Krishna chant.

Our culture is reprobate when it lauds groups like the Beatles. And what of Christians who look to them and their music for inspiration? Are they not reprobate? They are building on the wrong foundation!

• Drug Culture Prophets

Testifying before the House Select Committee on Crime, popular family enter-tainer Art Linkletter, who lost a child to drug abuse, referred to the Beatles as the “leading missionaries of the acid society” (Crime in America- Illicit and Dangerous Drugs, October 1969).

Media researcher Brian Key observed: “The Beatles became the super drug culture prophets of all time” (Key, Media Sexploitation, 1976, p. 136).

The student newspaper for the University of Wisconsin noted that the Beatles have “proselytized the use of drugs so subtly that words and conceptions once only common to drug users are found in sentences of teeny-boppers and statesmen alike” (Daily Cardinal, Dec. 3, 1968, p. 5, cited by David Noebel, The Legacy of John Lennon, p. 63). The Beatles were heavily into the drug scene. They began taking drugs during their earliest band days before they became popular. In fact, many of the Beatles songs were about drugs. These include “Strawberry Fields Forever,” “Day Tripper,” “Yellow Submarine,” “Help,” “Rubber Soul,” “Cold Turkey,” “Glass Onion,” “I Am the Walrus,” and “Penny Lane.” (All of these were admitted to be drug songs by the Beatles.)

John Lennon admitted that he began taking LSD in 1964 and that “it went on for years. I must have had a thousand trips. I used to just eat it all the time” (Rolling Stone, Jan. 7, 1971, p. 39; cited by Jann Wenner, Lennon Remembers, p. 76). John Lennon read Timothy Leary’s book The Psychedelic Experience in 1966, after Paul McCartney took him to the Indica, a hip New Age bookshop in London. Lennon wrote “Tomorrow Never Knows” after taking LSD, and he wrote the songs “:Come Together” and “Give Peace a Chance” for Leary.

Their 1967 Sgt. Pepper’s album heralded the drug revolution in America (“Approbation on Drug Usage in Rock and Roll Music,” U.N. Bulletin on Narcotics, Oct.-Dec. 1969, p. 35; David Noebel, The Legacy of John Lennon, pp. 56,58). Time magazine reported that Sgt. Pepper’s was “drenched in drugs” (Time, Sept. 22, 1967, p. 62). The album “galvanized the acid subculture and gave LSD an international platform” (Waiting for the Man, p. 145). BBC removed the Beatles’ song “A Day in the Life” from the air because of its drug implications. On the Sgt. Pepper album Ringo Starr sang, “I get high with a little help from my friends.” The members of the Beatles later openly admitted that the album was “a drug album” (Flowers in the Dustbin, p.253). Sgt. Pepper’s was hugely influential, one of the best-selling albums of rock history. The London Times’ theater critic Kenneth Tynan observed that the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper album was “a decisive moment in the history of Western civilization.”

Lennon admitted to the Rolling Stone interviewer that there were “a lot of obvious LSD things in the music.” Lennon said, “God isn’t in a pill, but LSD explained the mystery of life. It was a religious experience.” In an interview with Playboy in 1981, Lennon said the Beatles smoked marijuana at breakfast and were so stoned that they were “just all glazed eyes.” In 1969, Lennon said: “If people can’t face up to the fact of other people being naked or smoking pot . then we’re never going to get anywhere” (Penthouse, Oct. 1969, p. 29, cited in The Legacy of John Lennon, p. 66). Paul McCartney told Life magazine that he was “deeply committed to the possibilities of LSD as a universal cure-all.” He went on to say, “After I took it, it opened my eyes. We only use one-tenth of our brain. Just think what all we could accomplish if we could only tap that hidden part. It would mean a whole new world. If politicians ould use LSD, there would be no more war, poverty or famine” (Life, June 6, 1967, p. 105).

Just as Hugh Hefner brought pornography out of the closet and popularized it, so the Beatles brought illegal drugs out of the closet and popularized them! That is their legacy! And their end? Revelation 21:8 “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” The Beatles are sorcerers in the truest sense of the word. The word sorcerers is a translation of the Greek word pharmakeus, (far-mak-yoos’; 5332) and refers to anyone who uses and or deals in illicit drugs. The Beatles definitely fit that mold.

• Miscellaneous Perversions, Debauchery, Occult Involvement & More

Time will just not allow me to address the many other problems with the Beatles, so I will just mention a few other things in passing. Lennon’s 21st birthday party was “a huge drunken noisy orgy” (The Beatles, p. 177). Lennon and Yoko Ono lived together for a year while he was still married to Cynthia and Ono was still married to an American filmmaker. When Cynthia returned from a vacation in Greece, she found Ono living with her husband in her own home. Ono was still married to another man when she announced that she was expecting a baby by Lennon. The mocking Two Virgins album cover featured the nude photos of Lennon and Ono on the front and back. John Lennon and Yoko Ono were heavily involved in the occult. John purchased entire sections of occult literature in bookstores (Hellhounds on Their Trail; p. 181). The Beatles advocated

Communism and the overthrow of authority in songs such as “Revolution No. 9,” “Working Class Hero,” Back in the USSR,” “Power to the People,” “Sometime in New York City,” “Give Peace a Chance,” “Bloody Sunday” (which called British police “Anglo pigs”), “Attica State” (“now’s the time for revolution”), “Angela” (which glorified communist Angela Davis), and “Piggies.” Lennon performed at anti-America rallies and called upon America to leave Vietnam to the communists. He said: “I really thought that love would save us. But now I’m wearing a Chairman Mao badge, that’s where it’s at. I’m just beginning to think he’s doing a good job” (Lennon, cited by Wenner, Lennon Remembers, p. 86). All of them were heavily into immorality. Perhaps Ringo Star put it best: “We got drunk a lot. You couldn’t help it. We had a lot of girls. We soon realized that they were easy to get” (TV Guide, July 29, 1978, p. 21). McCartney said: “We didn’t all get into music for a job! We got into it to avoid a job, in truth-and get lots of girls.”

I think that David Noebel summarized the influence of the Beatles the best. While he was specifically talking about John Lennon, it does apply to the entire group the way I see it. He said on “the present rock ‘n’ roll scene, Lennon’s legacy, is one giant, multi-media portrait of degradation-a sleazy world of immorality, venereal disease, anarchy, nihilism, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, death, Satanism, perversion, and orgies” (The Legacy of John Lennon, by David Noebel, 1982, p. 15).

The Beatles are NOT great hero, role models that should be emulated, but rather shunned as I inciters of rebellion and corrupters of our culture.

I proffer Psalm 1 in conclusion

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”

In our church hymnal on page 263 is a song titled “For Those Tears I Died” by Marsha Stevens. Our song leader got up as is his pattern and instructed the congregation to turn to it and sing. I interrupted and explained that we would not be singing that song because the author is and has been a practicing lesbian. Our song leader had genuinely forgotten the conversation we had had some time previously indicating that we should not sing that song. Actually there are three good reasons NOT to sing the song. First, it is theologically unsound. Second, Ms. Stevens was called by Christian Century “The Mother of Contemporary Christian Music.” And last, but not least, she is a committed lesbian. In this brief report I will deal only with the “lesbian” issue.

Marsha Stevens “came out of the closet” a number of years back and is proud to be a Lesbian, “Christian,” Evangelist. Here is whats posted on her web page located at — http://www.balmministries.com

“In 1979, after seven years of wedlock, she divorced. She had fallen in love with a woman.” Marsha says, “When I came out as a born again lesbian, I didnt anticipate that people would come unglued the way they did. Once the church found out, people came over and told me to take the Jesus Is Lord sign off my door.”

Why would they say that? Because the Bible makes it clear that such behavior is vial affection and against His design. We read in Romans 1:26 “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature.”

Ms. Stevens claims to be a Christian. In fact, she has started a business called BALM Recording which stands for Born Again Lesbian Music. This is an arm of the Southwest District of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (a group of homosexual activist organizations and “churches.”). Through that organization she has produced six solo albums and a concert video. Her releases are regularly recorded in the “Gay Music Guide” and in fact her last two releases were rated by that organization as “among the top 20” best records.

The biggest lie that Marsha is telling is that God does not care if you are a homosexual! You can be a homosexual and a Christian! She says on her web site, “I found out that I didnt need to come out to God”

Im not sure where she found that out, but it certainly was NOT in the Bible. The Bible says those who are born-again leave that behavior behind. In fact, anyone who continues in a lifestyle of sexual perversion “shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” We read in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” The word “effeminate” refers to an individual who allows himself or herself to be sexually abused contrary to Gods design. The phrase “abusers of themselves with mankind” is one word in the Greek, meaning a sodomite. Marsha has NOT repented of her perversion and in fact continues to practice it. Its her lifestyle! This is the picture of Marsha Stevens and her sodomite “partner” Susan McKeag, which is posted on her web page.

In fact, I do not believe that Marsha was ever genuinely saved. I say that because of her “salvation” testimony posted on her web site. “In 1969, Marsha Stevens was a troubled adolescent when she had her first conscious encounter with Christ while participating in a Bible study group. In the vision this encounter evoked, she saw herself walking with Jesus near a deep blue river and this experience both changed and saved her life.”

Is that how someone gets saved? Does a vision of “walking with Jesus near a deep blue river” meet the Bibles standard of repenting of you sins, faith in the finished work of Christ on the Cross an His bodily resurrection? I think not.

In conclusion my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, I cannot, in good conscience allow, “For Those Tears I Died” (or any other songs) by Marsha Stevens to be sung or played in the church, in my car or in my home. To do so would offend our Holy Triune God.

Topics:

INTRODUCTION
GOD SAYS IN HIS WORD:
HISTORY OF ROCK AND ROLL
RELIGIOUS ROCK: A BRIEF HISTORY
LOSS OF DISCERNMENT
FRUIT OF RELIGIOUS ROCK
THE PURPOSE OF MUSIC
A PROFANE DENIAL
JUDGMENT IS COMING ON RELIGIOUS ROCK AND ROLL
BY THEIR OWN WORDS (They condemn themselves)
RELIGIOUS ROCK AND ROLL
CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION

In the world of biology, we are given the example of a frog that when placed into boiling water, will immediately jump out. However, if that same frog is put into a bowl of cool water which is slowly heated by a bunsen burner, the frog will eventually boil to death.

Religious rock and roll is like the frog and the water. The term “rock and roll” means fornication. It is a street name for sexual immorality. It has wrecked the lives of many teenagers through suicide, drug abuse, immorality, perversion, satanism, etc. Sadly, we live in a day where many Christians and church leaders are allowing this demonic music into their churches, claiming that the music is holy and sanctified because the lyrics are changed to include some ‘religious’ words. Where is the discernment in the church? Are Christians losing their ability to discern the difference between good and evil? The fact that this demonic music even made it into the church is proof of the moral and spiritual decline affecting the church today. We are being invaded by hard rock, acid rock, punk rock, new wave, and heavy metal music under the guise of religious rock and roll.

GOD SAYS IN HIS WORD:

“O that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!” (Deut 5:29).

“Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light” (Eph 5:6-8).

“But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb 3:13).

Satan was created a beautiful musical creature: “…every precious stone was thy covering,…the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created” (Ezek 28:13). Since music was built into his very nature are we foolish enough to assume that he will not use it to deceive and enslave?

We are told by the religious rockers that we must look and sound like the world in order to reach the youth of this generation. They say, many young people will not listen to the gospel or come to church so we must meet them on some common ground. That common ground is rock and roll. In other words, they are saying that preaching of the Word of God is no longer sufficient for both young and old. If this is true, then we should open bars in order to reach the multitudes of drinkers. We should open porno-shops in order to reach those who engage in smut. Shouldn’t we go to their level so we can bring them to the Lord Jesus Christ? So what if we do evil if the end result is good? What’s a little compromise with God’s standards of holiness and separation if it results in souls being saved?… This type of reasoning is one of the doctrines of demons that Christians are accepting. Does it not make sense that the same Bible that has worked successfully to this time, will continue to work for both the young and the old? How many Christians love God’s people enough to say, “no more! Throw this satanic filth out of the church and back into hell where it belongs”? Do you realize that just 10 years ago this evil music would not have even remotely been considered as a suitable method to sing and praise God. That type of music would have been immediately thrown out of the churches. What we are witnessing today is the spiritual and moral degeneration that is affecting Christians to the degree that many no longer have any discernment between good and evil.

HISTORY OF ROCK AND ROLL

This is a brief section on the history of rock and roll. If you are a Christian and you don’t realize that secular rock is evil and demonic then you better get your spiritual eyes examined because you have big problems. One distressing problem about the religious rock scene is that many involved also listen to secular rock and roll. At some of the concerts put on by the religious rockers they sometime “warm” up their audiences by playing secular rock and roll songs.

As you read the history of rock and roll, observe how Satan brought in his rock music in the 1950’s and slowly degenerated it to it’s present level of baseness. Watch how Satan slowly turned up his bunsen burner until his music developed to it’s present low. The following information was taken from a chart from Freedom Village U.S.A. called History of rock and roll, Major influence chart.

• Early Rock: Mid 50’s – Early 60’s

Message: Seemingly harmless music and lyrics promoted “good times”. Also promoted dancing the new dance fads. “Teen Idols” were worshiped by teenage girls and being “cool” was in for boys. The stage was being set for rebellion by the “greaser” image. Music: Blend of “Big Band” with its powerful physical dance influence and “rhythm and blues”, based on African rhythm patterns. Tempos and rhythm patterns were smooth and “catchy”. Melodies created a very whimsical “Happy Days” atmosphere.

Main Performers: Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Bill Haley and The Comets, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Platters, Four Seasons, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, and James Brown.

• British Invasion, Motown Music, Folk Music: Early 60’s – Late 60’s

Message: Introduction to stronger rebellion theme which was to be the thread through all future rock music. It promoted free sex, drugs, and rebellion, presenting them as harmless fun. Also introduced false religions (TM). Folk groups promoted anti-establishment attitudes and appearances.

Music: British influence hardened the American music by taking out the swing beat and putting in a more frenzied pace tempo. Motown added to the driving, repetitious rhythms with its “soul music”. Main Performers: Beatles, Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, The Temptations, Bob Dylan, Peter, Paul and Mary, Supremes, Simon and Garfunkle, Shirelles, Four Tops, and the Mama’s and Papa’s.

• Acid or Hard Rock: Late 60’s – Early 70’s

Message: Huge rock concerts promoted free sex, open drug and alcohol abuse, and a total do-your-own-thing attitude. Lyrics preached rebellion, no morals, and no responsibilities. Drugs became synonymous with rock music. Stage violence begins. Sharper focus on false religions.

Music: Developed more repetition and a hypnotic effect. More rhythm, more volume, and more violence became the dominant force of songs. Groups actually destroyed equipment on stage. Early beginning of “cross-dressing” and use of make-up by men.

Main Performers: Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Doors, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zepplin, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Joan Baez, Grateful Dead, and Chicago.

• Heavy Metal: Early 70’s – Late 70’s

Message: Sex, no morality, and drug abuse. Lyrics openly promote rebellion, violence, and homosexuality. Satanic messages are hidden or camouflaged by backwards masking. Also, open sex begins to occur on the dance floors of discos.

Music: Beat and volume increase, driving rhythms captivate listeners. Beat or pulse of music hypnotizes listeners as they are fed evil lyrics. Performers openly admit sexual perversion and act it out on stage, contributing to the moral decay and debasing of society.

Main Performers: Kiss, Rod Stewart, Bee Gees, The Who, Led Zepplin, Elton John, Alice Cooper, Village People, Stevie Wonder, Black Sabbath, Rolling Stones, Eagles, Jethro Tull, and Deep Purple.

• Theatrical Satan Rock: Late 70’s – Present

Message: Violence supreme. Satan is no longer hiding his motives. Lyrics openly denounce Christianity presenting the devil as the answer. Violence, sex, rebellion, and drugs are not only promoted, but are acted out on stage. Lyrics even promote suicide. MTV brings Satan’s messages into homes through rock videos.

Music: Violent, loud, abrasive. It has become a combination of Disco, Hard Rock, and 50’s music. Synthesized music creates a “robot-like” sound, simulating the controlling power of rock music. Rock music has evolved into the single most powerful tool by which Satan communicates his evil messages to our youth.

Main Performers: Kiss, Eagles, Iron Maiden, Cindi Lauper, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Van Halen, AC/DC, The Grateful Dead, Michael Jackson, W.A.S.P., Prince, Boy George, and Alice Cooper.

To the Christian, God says in His Word: “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Eph. 5:11). The Lord Jesus said in Matt 7:18,20 “A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit….Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” The question this verse brings to mind is: What kind of fruit does rock and roll produce? There is definite fruit to rock and roll and all of it is evil. This demonic music has been the major tool and vehicle through which Satan popularized suicide, drug abuse, immorality, perversions (bestiality etc.), blasphemy against God and sacred things, homosexuality, occultism, and satanism. Now God has said to Christians not to have any fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. Rock and roll is an unfruitful work of darkness and Christians have no business trying to imitate those who are on the broad road to destruction. Christians also have no business listening to secular rock as it is all an abomination to God.

God also says in His Word: “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 lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (1 John 2:15- 16). “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance. But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Pet 1:14-16). “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor 7:1). Finally, how can satanic Christians be holy as we are commanded when an earring is hung in the ear, sexual clothes are worn, and a rebellious nightclub atmosphere is created by those who claim to worship God?

RELIGIOUS ROCK: A BRIEF HISTORY

“Ye have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment” (Malachi 2:17). “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Rom 12:2). “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matt 24:12).

The same spirit of rock and roll which includes: the spirit of rebellion, the spirit of immorality and perversion, and the spirit of death is now being brought into the churches under the guise of religious rock and roll.

Remembering the example of the frog, the water, and the bunsen burner: the devil first turned on his bunsen burner when he introduced “Christian” contemporary music into the church. Within this scope of music there were many areas of “grey” as the church lightly began to assimiliate the style and sound of the devil’s rock and roll music. The bunsen burner continued to burn and the water slowly heated up. Next, Satan slowly introduced hard rock and roll into the churches. Once this religious rock and roll gained acceptance the devil turned up the flame on his bunsen burner. He then brought in religious heavy metal, religious acid rock, religious new wave, and religious punk rock. Again since Satan did it slowly, he was able to gain acceptance for his demonic music. Today the water is boiling and many in the church have accepted his deception. Pastors and church leaders, who ought to know better, bring this filth into their churches believing the deception that God can use this evil for His glory.

LOSS OF DISCERNMENT

One definite cause for the lack of discernment is the television set. The technology of television itself is not evil. However, TV programs are energized by either God or Satan. Most of the programs on television present morals, lifestyles, and attitudes that are contrary and opposed to the Word of God. Television is now glorifying evil, murder, violence, occultism, immorality, and perversion while at the same time Christianity and godly standards are mocked and belittled. Today millions of unbelievers sit in front of their TV sets laughing and mocking at what once was considered sacred. The tragedy of all this is that Christians are blinded and hardened as they spend hours sitting at home parked in front of their TV’s getting ministered to by the devil. While Christians sit and watch shows that deep down they know God would not approve of, they slowly go further from God and closer to the world.

The children are not spared either as most of the Saturday morning cartoons have evil, occultic story lines. Along with TV, other factors contributing to the loss of discernment are: little or no daily prayer life and irregular, inconsistent Bible reading. God warns in His Word: “Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?” (Jer 7:8-10).

Christians have not been delivered from sin and hell in order to partake of abominations. God wants His people to live holy, separated lives in this evil world. The cry through the land is for revival, but how can it come when Christians are in love with their TV’s and rock music? All this is at the expense of Bible reading, prayer, holiness, and separation from evil.

FRUIT OF RELIGIOUS ROCK

This is a partial list of the evil fruit of religious rock and roll music. It is by no means exhaustive.

CONFORMITY: There is a definite pressure to conform to this world rather than to separate oneself from its godless influence. Religious rock is a cheap imitation of secular rock and roll. These religious rockers, like the secular, play their music at the same ear-splitting level and give off the same nightclub bar-room atmosphere with all the coloured lights, smoke pots, and special effects. Little do these religious rockers realize, but as they identify and imitate the secular rock scene they are indirectly giving approval to that type of morality and lifestyle. As a result they are a path of destruction for others. Note: The reason rock and roll is played so loud is because at high decibel levels a person’s conscience and inihibitions are numbed. That individual can be more easily programmed to accept Satan’s standards instead of God’s.

What does God have to say about all this compromise and fellowship with evil? In 2 Cor. 6:14-17 God says: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” After reading this it can be seen that coming out and being separate from evil is not the cheap imitation and monkey-see-monkey-do that the religious rock scene portrays. Again, where is the discernment between good and evil within the church?

SECULAR ROCK AND ROLL: One definite fruit of religious rock is that it leads it’s followers back to involvement with secular rock. Many Christian young people listen to secular rock radio stations and own secular rock albums in addition to their collection of religious rock and roll. As already pointed out, at religious rock concerts some of the bands play secular rock songs to “warm” up the audience. This exposes Christian young people to all forms of demonic filth and will certainly influence them in a negative way. The danger is that religious rock will lead people away from God, holiness, and a separated lifestyle just as surely as secular rock will lead them to the devil. God says plainly in James 4:4 “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God”.

• Why would a Christian listen to secular rock & roll?

Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the hearts of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil” (Eccl 8:11)….or, maybe they don’t really love the Lord Jesus….or, maybe they are not really born again but merely profess to be a Christian.

The Bible says that Satan was created a beautiful musical creature (Ezek 28:13). Since music was built into his very nature are we foolish enough to assume that he will not use it to deceive and enslave?

Rock comes in a package — it is a package deal! The listener doesn’t just get the music alone. Over time one or more of the following evil fruits will be manifest in the life of the listener:

-Rebellion -Suicide -Homosexuality -Violence -Immoraliy -Blasphemy -Drugs & Alcohol -Occult -Worldliness

The music influences (in a negative, unbiblical way) a persons’: morals, values, and philosophy of life. How does the music do this? The music mesmerizes the listener while Satan puts his ungodly lyrics, morals, and standards into the persons’ mind either directly or by backward masking.

• There are no neutral secular rock and roll groups

There is no rock group totally neutral and suitable for Christian listening. Why? Every rock group either directly or indirectly has songs with lyrics that according to God’s standards encourage one or more of the following: rebellion, immorality, drug use, drinking, occultism, suicide, violence, and blasphemy. Name one rock group that does not encourage any form of evil according to God’s standards! It cannot be done.

Does rock music produce: Godliness and purity, a hunger and a thirst for Christ, a broken and contrite heart, conviction for sin, or a Christ honouring atmosphere? …No, No, No it does not. If rock doesn’t do any of these things, but rather does the opposite, then why would any Christian listen to this music???

The following is a quote by David Wilkerson from his book: SET THE TRUMPET TO THY MOUTH. He is talking about the problem of Religious rock, but it also applies to Christians who partake of secular rock. “Only the despisers of the Lord Jesus could embrace what He hates. Only the rebellious could purchase one of their records. Only those with a divided heart could go to one of their concerts or view one of their video cassettes. Their video cassettes are demonic and blasphemous. The spirit of mixture and confusion it was born in will slowly possess you and lead you blindly to the altars of Baal. Sneer if you choose, but you have been warned” (page 113,114).

BLIND DEFENSE: Some religious rockers get very angry when they hear someone speak against their demonic music they love so dearly. If only they would defend, love, and serve the Lord Jesus Christ as much as their godless music. God says: “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light” (Eph 5:8). “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Eph 5:15,16).

REBELLION: Many involved in the religious rock scene refuse to listen to correction and rebuke from scripture. They harden their necks and set their mind not to give up their demonic music. It doesn’t seem to concern them that this music is vomit on the table of the Lord and is an abomination to Him.

“Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words:…He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings…” (John 14:23-24).

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” (2 Cor 6:17). Christians are a peculiar people and God wants them to live godly, separated, and holy lives in this evil world. “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;” (Titus 2:12).

THE PURPOSE OF MUSIC

Why do the religious rock and rollers not only desire to look and sound like the world but also desire to be accepted by the world? They want to play on MTV and get their songs high on the secular and gospel charts. The Lord Jesus Christ said in John 15:19,20 “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. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. It they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you;…”. We also read in 2 Tim 3:12 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution”. The previous verses state that Christians will not be loved and accepted by the world because the world in general rejects the Lord Jesus Christ. “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather that light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).

In light of the Word of God does it not follow to reason that true godly music that worships and exalts the Lord Jesus Christ will be rejected by the world? Music that calls people to repentance, holiness, separation, and total commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ will not be popular in the eyes of a Christ-rejecting world.

Now what is the purpose of music? Music has two purposes: 1) to worship and glorify God; 2) To edify and build up Christians. The Word of God says: “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph 5:19). “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col 3:16).

Music is not necessary to win the lost but it is a form of worship and praise to God. In fact, sacred Gospel music is not for the world and it has never been meant for the world. It is for the child of God to worship and praise God. God has not ordained music to win the lost; he has ordained preaching. “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (1 Cor 1:21). The purpose of sacred gospel music is not to draw the unsaved to the Lord Jesus Christ. Sacred music may at times draw the unsaved, but that is not its purpose. Its purpose is to worship and praise God and not to be used as a tool to win the unsaved. The unsaved are drawn to God by the preaching of the Word.

Since music is a form of worship it is corrupted when mixed with carnality. The worship of God must be carried out with holiness and purity. Linking worship to the demonic, sexual, rebellious style of rock and roll is nothing less than blasphemy. God’s demands of righteousness and holiness have never been diminished. Just as it was an abomination to offer to the Lord a blemished lamb for sacrifice, so today it is an abomination to offer to God carnal, worldly, sexual, demonic music as a praise offering.

A PROFANE DENIAL

“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate” (Titus 1:16).

The religious rockers make many professions about the Lord Jesus Christ but as soon as the music starts, a transformation occurs as they are taken over by the spirit of Elvis Presley. The Lord Jesus warned in Matt 7:21-23 “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity”. It can be seen by this verse that there is more to being a Christian than just speaking the name of Jesus. The Lord Jesus said to those who worked iniquity to depart because He didn’t know them.

In the religious rock scene we have many who freely profess the name of Jesus but in works they deny Him. They go on stage and speak about the Lord Jesus Christ but they play music associated with rebellion, sexual immorality, perversion, and nihilism. They wear demonic sexual clothing such as: sado- masochistic studded jackets and pants, effeminate men with earrings, long hair, makeup, and tight sexual clothing. All this adds up to a denial of their words by their actions.

When people are communicating there is a verbal part and a non-verbal part. In order for the message to be clearly understood both the verbal and the non- verbal must be in agreement. If there is a contradiction between the verbal and the non-verbal, people will believe the non-verbal before the verbal. These religious rockers verbally make their profession; “They profess that they know God;”. Non-verbally the religious rockers give off a different message of rebellion, compromise, and sexuality; “but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate” (Titus 1:16). When they claim to be preaching the Lord Jesus Christ, they really are not. What they are actually doing is taking the name of the Lord in vain. They profane the name of the Lord when they link it up with something that is not consistant with His nature.

JUDGMENT IS COMING ON RELIGIOUS ROCK AND ROLL

This is a warning to anyone involved with Satan’s religious rock and roll.

• You are playing demonic music that is an abomination to God.
• You are harming yourself as well as God’s blood-bought children.

The Lord Jesus warns: “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matt 18:6).

• If you truly love the Lord Jesus you will forsake this evil music.
• If you do not, God’s judgment will surely come into your life.
    
• Judgment is coming for the rebellious

God has always judged sin and rebellion in the past, and He is going to do it again. Do you want God’s judgment in your life? “But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord God” (Ezek 11:21). “But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die” (Ezek 18:24). The Bible warns: “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that friend of the world is the the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a enemy of God” (James 4:4). It’s your choice; obey or rebel.

“O Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return” (Jer 5:3).

“Now will I shortly pour out my fury upon thee, and accomplish mine anger upon thee: and I will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense thee for all thine abominations. And mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: I will recompense thee according to thy ways and thine abominations that are in the midst of thee; and ye shall know that I am the Lord that smiteth” (Ezek 7:8,9).

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20).

“For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the Lord will answer him by myself: And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the Lord” (Ezek 14:7,8).

• A WARNING TO PASTORS

“…It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves” (Matt 21:13).

This verse has real meaning today in light of religious rock. God’s temple was not intended to become a den of thieves. This verse says: “ye have made it”, refering to the fact that it was the religious leaders that allowed the temple to go from a house of prayer to a den of thieves.

Today church leaders and pastors have an awesome responsibility and they will give an account as to how they pastored a church under their charge. If the pastor allows foolishness and evil to come in, it will affect God’s blood- bought people in a negative way by causing worldliness, carnality, and backsliding. On the other hand, if they keep out evil and concentrate on building up God’s people with the Word of God, the church will grow and mature. “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28).

The tragedy of the religious rock scene is that this demonic music would never have made it into the churches if the pastors and church leaders had obeyed God and closed the door to this evil.

The following is a warning for any pastor or church leader who takes his job lightly and is not committed to building up and protecting God’s church:

“Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean,…” (Ezek 22:26).

“And ye have not kept the charge of mine holy things: but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves…Yet they shall be ministers in my sanctuary, having charge at the gates of the house, and ministering to the house: they shall slay the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister unto them. Because they ministered unto them before their idols, and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity; therefore have I lifted up mine hand against them, saith the Lord God, and they shall bear their iniquity. And they shall not come near unto me, to do the office of a priest unto me, nor to come near to any of my holy things, in the most holy place: but they shall bear their shame, and their abominations which they have committed” (Ezek 44:8,11-13).

• DANGEROUS REASONING…

ARGUMENT #1 Christian rock can’t be wrong. Look at all the people who go forward at the concerts. Look at how popular God has made these bands.

ANSWER: So-called results do not mean God is behind it. The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 7:15,21-23 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves….Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity”.

The Lord Jesus also said that many will be deceived by false prophets and false Christs. “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold….for there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” Matthew 24:11,12,24.

*** (Note * An altar call at a religious rock concert can be likened to a wolf giving altar calls to chickens!!!)

ARGUMENT #2 But Jesus went out and mingled with sinners.

ANSWER: The Lord Jesus never went into a den of iniquity nor did He copy the ways of the ungodly. The Bible says: “For such a high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;” Hebrews 7:26. “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” John 17:14.

ARGUMENT #3 We have to use Rock Music because this is the only way the youth of this generation can be reached.

ANSWER: The Bible answers this directly in 2 Corinthians 6:14-17 “Be ye not unequally yolked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty”. Also, “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (1 Cor 1:21). the ungodly and use them for “soulwinning”, but rather

The Word of God does not say we are to go out and borrow the evil ways of we are commanded to come out and separate ourselves from evil. The Word of God states further in James 4:4 “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God”.

…….. WARNING ……..

“Christian Rock” is destructive to the Church as it leads God’s people into sensuality and compromise. If you sincerely love The Lord Jesus Christ and you are involved with this music, then obey the Lord and forsake this unclean thing.

We now have: Christian Rock, Christian New Wave, Christian Heavy Metal, Christian Punk. What are these rebels going to advocate next? Christian drug use, Christian Witchcraft, Christian Pornography???

“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate” Titus 1:16.

“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….For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” 2 Corinthians 11:3,4,13-15.

“For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ….Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities….Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever” Jude 4,8,11-13.

BY THEIR OWN WORDS (They condemn themselves)

“Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth” (Prov. 6:2).

AMY GRANT

“I want to play hardball in this business. I want to be on the same level professionally with performers in all areas of music. I love to hear Billy Joel, Kenny Loggins, and the Doobie Brothers. Why not? I aim to bridge the gap between Christian and pop.” (Time Mar/85)

” Grant’s also pragmatic about her career. Regarding her album covers and publicity photos, which portray her as a sexy, attractive young woman. The Christian pop star says,’ I’m trying to look sexy to sell a record. But what is sexy? To me it’s never been taking my shirt off or sticking my tongue out. I feel that a Christian young woman in the eighties is very sexual’…..’When he {Prince} started humping the stage, I got a little embarrassed’, says the twenty-four-year-old Grant, sitting in the bright sunlight near the swimming pool at her Universal City hotel. ‘I quit looking. When he thrust his crotch up into the florescent shower,’she continues in her Southern drawl, ‘I thought if someone wants to do this at home, fine. If I want to do this at home, fine. I don’t want to watch Prince doing it. I didn’t get off watching him create the illusion of masturbating'” (Rolling Stone – June 1985)

STRYPER

“The hair is long and the screams are loud’n’clear. The clothes are tight, earrings dangling from their ears. No matter how we look, we’ll always praise His name. And, if you believe, you’ve got to do the same.” (Stryper from Loud’n’Clear)

“If you had to guess their name, you might think of the Devil’s Disciples or the Beelzebubs. Or perhaps the Killer Bees, which is what the four young men on stage look like in their tight leather-and spandex costumes crisscrossed with garish black and yellow stripes. Piles of makeup, spikey hair, and enough dangling chains to tie up half the elephants in Africa complete the picture of the up-to-date heavy metal rock group. Even the music, the sound of a swarm of angry insects electronically amplified several thousand times, fits the image.” (Time Mar/85)

REZ BAND

“A new album, Between Heaven’N’Hell (their eighth), recently hit the streets, and with it, Rez begins its campaign aimed at winning over the secular mainstream rock audience….Rez has made a number of other moves designed to facilitate their transition to the secular market. They’ve pacted with a New York-based management/marketing firm on a four-month trial basis. They have signed with the venerable Diversified Management Agency (DMA) out of Detroit who will be handling concert bookings. (Other heavy DMA clients include the Scorpions, Quiet Riot, and Autograph.)…In order to do that, Rez is all too aware, they’re going to have to ‘play by certain rules,’ as Herrin puts it. They’ve already stopped the practice of altar calls in concert, and they’re toning down overt references to the Lord. In general, they want to present themselves, first and foremost, as a rock band.” (Contempory Christian Magazine – April 1986).

MICHAEL W. SMITH

“The people coming into the concerts are ready to rock. They come out and want to have a good time. Some people need to get out there and preach to them. Ask them for a decision at the end, but that’s not my calling. The kids I see are just ready to kick it out and have fun.” (CCM June 1986)

STEVE TAYLOR

“I appeared on the Dove Awards last year and I still feel uncomfortable about it. I really don’t belong there because I’m not really part of that Gospel mainstream. Sure, I’m a Christian and that influences the way I write songs but that’s just being honest, everybody pushes a point of view.” (CCM Feb 1986).

LEON PATILLO

“I’m going to make a stand. I’m going to do something different. I’m going to let the world stand up and say, ‘Wow, man, did you see that guy?’ And it’s going to be a perfect setup. As soon as they’ve got their mouths open or their hearts open and they’re going ‘Wow’, I’m gonna throw Jesus right down their throats.” (CCM Oct. 1985).

MYLON LeFEVRE

“Our music is rock and roll. We don’t even tell anybody it’s contemporary Christian music…We are a rock’n’roll band. We sound like one, we look like one, and at the end of the night we smell like one….Its a rock’n’roll show that is a ministry. You can’t separate the two. Rock’n’roll is what I do. I put on a good show. I entertain those people, I have a good time with them…….One of the things Mylon may be referring to is a new album due out soon from CBS. He and the band are going by the name, Look Up. ‘It’s a Christian album, but you really have to know the Word to know it. CBS ain’t gonna know it. Every song on there – every note on there – is played by born- again, Spirit-filled Christians. We had a good time making the record. It’s an anointed record and it’s got a good message, but it’s very shallow. We really avoided certain words and phrases, you know. It’s just about themes.” (CCM Mar 1986)

STRYKEN

“‘A lot of intelligent guys out there are real headbangers. They love metal, but they’ve had enough. They’re tired of hearing every sleazy metal band from Anaheim to Zimbabwe brag about how much they drink, drug, and screw.’ Not exactly churchy language, but then Stryken professes to be a band not for the pulpit but for the streets” (CCM Mar 1987)

RELIGIOUS ROCK AND ROLL

There is a style of music which has been invading the Church of Jesus Christ which is godless, immoral, and which leads Christians into rebellion and compromise with the world. That style of music is “Christian” Rock an Roll. The term Rock & Roll was given to name a form of music in the 1950’s. The style of music was evil from its beginning and it was appropriately given the name Rock & Roll. This name was given by the world and it stands for the practice of fornication by teenagers in the back seat of a car.

The primary axiom of music evaluation is that there is no such thing as amoral music. Music is either good or evil. God says we are responsible for everything we say, do, or think. The Bible says: “…That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment” (Matt. 12:36). “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Cor 5:10).

The adherents of “Christian” Rock claim that their music is necessary in order to win the lost to Christ. However, they overlook the fact that God has ordained preaching to win the lost and not music. The Bible says: “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (1 Cor 1:21).

• Music has two purposes:

1. (To worship and glorify God.
2. To edify and build up Christians.

“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph 5:19). “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col 3:16).

Music is not necessary to win the lost but it is a form of worship and praise to God. Since music is a form of worship it is corrupted when mixed with carnality. The worship of God must be carried out with purity. The world can take clean music and make it unclean, but Christians cannot take unclean music and make it clean. (See Haggai 2:12-13)

We are commanded not to touch the unclean thing. This also applies to the music we listen to. The Bible says: “Be ye not unequally yolked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said I will dwell in them, and walk in them and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty”.

The Word of God does not say we are to go out and borrow the evil ways of the ungodly and use them for “soulwinning”, but rather we are commanded to come out and separate ourselves from evil. The Word of God states further in James 4:4 ” Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God”.

There are some people who say that “Christian” Rock can’t be wrong because of all the people who go forward at the concerts. They also mention that these bands are popular because God is blessing them. However; so called results do not mean that God is behind it. The end does not justify the means (That is the basis of humanism). The Lord Jesus said that many will be deceived by false prophets and false Christs. “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold….for there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect” (Matt 24:11,12,24).

There may be sincere conversions at these concerts because God will always honour His Word no matter under what circumstances it is given. However, it is one thing to be saved, and another to grow and develop into a victorious Christian. The Lord Jesus warned in (Matt 7:15,21-23). “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves….Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity”.

Another argument is that Jesus went out and mingled with sinners. However, the Lord Jesus never went into a den of iniquity nor did He copy the ways of the ungodly. “For such a high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;” (Heb 7:26). “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:14).

• Do we take drugs to win addicts to Christ?
• Do we use foul language to witness to those who curse?
• Do we steal to identify with robbers?
• Do we draw lewd pictures to present Christ to the pornographer?
• Do we use carnal music to gain a hearing with the world?

The absurdity of the above methods is obvious. Therefore, we hope you can see how wrong it is to use carnal, worldly music to present a holy message to a Christless world.

“…Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good” (Rom 12:9).

“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate” (Titus 1:16).

“Christian” Rock is destructive to the Church as it leads God’s people into sensuality, compromise, and worldliness. If you sincerely love the Lord Jesus Christ and you are involved with this godless music, then why won’t you obey the Lord and forsake this unclean thing???

What kind of hold does religious rock have on people when they refuse to give up their demonic music? How can a person profess that he loves God and at the same time embrace such evil? How low must religious rock sink before God’s people wake up from their slumber?

“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….For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” (2 Cor 11:3,4,13-15).

“For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ….Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities….Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear; clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever” (Jude 4,8,11-13).

CONCLUSION

“For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things” (Phil 3:18,19).

“Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Rom 3:13-18).

• When music has any of the following characteristics beware; you are in danger of the demonic:

1. Deliberate Sensuality: This includes sexual clothing, erotic movements, flirtatious come-on’s designed to sexually tease, and breathy voice designed to arouse an audience.
2. Clothes that are not in line with Biblical modesty: This includes sexual, revealing clothes that suggest an unholy lifestyle.
3. Unedifying speech: This includes stories, jokes, or lyrics which have double meanings or have sexual overtones.
4. Extremely loud music: Thunderous decibel levels that impair hearing and drown out lyrics .

This booklet closes on a note of sadness. We mourn over the tragedy of the loss of discernment among the body of Christ. We have shown how this evil music has gradually infiltrated the church with the blessing of those in authority, until many congregations no longer know the difference between the sacred and the profane. We have shown throughout the history of secular rock and roll the decline and destruction of values of decency and morality in society. Will the church partake of this same downward slide? Will the church abandon its role of salt and light and put on the same garments of darkness and sensuality that the world wraps itself in? The unsaved are desperately hoping to see something different in Christianity. When a Christian lowers his standards and walks arm in arm with the lost down the same broad road, the unsaved can only laugh and sneer at the hypocrisy of it all. The fact that millions are perishing in hell should cause us to examine our walk and methods of evangelism. We have nothing but love in our hearts toward those who sincerely want to reach a lost generation for the Lord Jesus Christ. However, when Christians seek to be conformed to this evil world rather than to God’s standards of righteousness and holiness, it is a cause of deep concern. Consequently, we have endeavoured through this study to offer a brotherly reproof to those whom we feel have been misled. We ask only that the reader prayerfully consider the scriptures, the information, and the arguments in the text. Our prayer is that God would lead you out of the mud and filth of this world into a deeper walk with Himself through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(Copy and distribute this tract as needed)

By Alan Yusko and Ed Prior

THE SEED SOWERS

P.O. Box 2513

Stn. F, Scarborough, Ont. M1W 3P2  Canada.

Computers for Christ #22

Topics:

Introduction
Three Common “Strange Fire” Offerings
Research Supports the Connection of the Strong Beat with Paganism
Rock Music is “Strange Fire”
The Result
Notes

Introduction

TEXT: Leviticus 10:1-3 & 10

“And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace. And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;”

Why did God consume (398 – burn up) these two priests in this awesome manifestation of judgment? Two reasons are given for God’s judgment.

1. Their Actions Were Outside Of God’s Mandates:

   Leviticus 10:1 “And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.”

   Nadab and Abihu decided to follow their own inclinations and fancies instead of following the revealed will of God in their worship. Proverbs 14:12 & 16:25 ring true. “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” These two priests had a real “Raiders of The Lost Ark” experience. I don’t think there was any question in the minds of the Israelites that day regarding whether God approved of offering “strange fire before the LORD,” do you? So, what does that tell us? When it comes to worshipping and serving Him, God does NOT allow us to improvise! He expects us to live within the bounds of His divine mandates!
    

2. This passage of scripture reveals a second reason for God’s judgment:

   They Failed To Differentiate Between Holy and Unholy
   Leviticus 10:10 “And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;”

Few American Christians are aware of, or understand God’s demand for Holiness. Why? For one reason grace has been magnified beyond biblical proportions. We live in a time when Christians sanction sin. But, even in America, holiness is not an option!

Leviticus 11:45 says “For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:16 brings the same message to us saying, “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” Simply stated, God expects believers to practice Holiness. That means putting a difference between what is holy and what is unholy. There is to be a clear line of demarcation between what is holy and what is not. There is to be a separation between godliness and worldliness. But there is a BIG PROBLEM! It is apparent that the generation of Nadab and Abihu is not yet extinct, as it were. In our culture the line of demarcation between Holy and Unholy is being erased. This fact hit me like a ton of bricks when I picked up a newsletter from Last Trumpet Ministries. I scanned through the first page and then my eyes locked on this sentence — “In the city of Massillon, Ohio, there is a place called the Christian Nude Dancing Club, where strippers are required to attend church and dance to the Madonna song Like A Prayer.” The generation of Nadab and Abihu is not yet extinct! That’s strange fire! Where is the separation between holy and unholy? To connect Christianity and Nude dancing, strippers and church, Madonna and prayer is an abomination to almighty God. Our culture is being defiled and losing the blessing of God because it no longer differentiates between holy and unholy (right and wrong).

The problem of strange fire is not just a cultural problem. Christian organizations and Christian churches of our day, even many of those that assert they are fundamental, are following their own inclinations and fancies as Nadab and Ahihu did instead of following the revealed will of God. You don’t have to be a private investigator to see that personal tastes, peer group preferences, and political correctness are being substituted for or added to the revealed will of God! When compromisers are questioned, they put their spin on their “strange fire” to justify their actions! After all, because God does not ZAP them immediately they somehow assume that He approves. But Gangrene sets in and eats away at the life of that Church or Christian organization until God writes ICHABOD (which means the Glory Of God Is Departed) over them. They may still have a form of Godliness, but the power of God is missing! I remind you that there is no eternal security of churches and Christian organizations that offer strange fire before the Lord.

Allow me to illustrate by pointing you to the “main line” denominations. Where is the glory and power of God? It is gone. So, what are they doing about the loss? Some are re-imagining God as Sophia, Gnostic goddess of wisdom. Certainly she can empower them!? Hardly. 1 Corinthians 3:19 “For the wisdom (4678 – sophia) of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.”

The problem is not just with in the “main line” denominations. The fact is, that many Bible believing, Baptist churches and organizations are filling their censers with “strange fire” and offering it before the Lord.

Three Common “Strange Fire” Offerings

1. Unbiblical Music — “Rock”
2. Unbiblical Compromise — Syncretism
3. Unbiblical Doctrine — Psychology

This message will focus on “Christian” Rock Music.

The Incorporation of Rock Music Into Christianity IS a “strange fire” offering to the Lord.

When Rock Music first came onto the scene Bible believing churches recognized it for what it was…the music of sex and rebellion. No Christian ministry praised Elvis’ gyrating pelvis. Even Rock Stars called a spade a spade. For example, in 1969, Life magazine quoted Rock star Jimi Hendrix: “through music, you can hypnotize people…and when you get them at their weakest point, you can preach into the subconscious minds what we want to say.” Rocker Hendrix knew what he was talking about. He continued, “Definitely I’m trying to change the world.” Music has an awesome power to mold the thinking of the masses and particularly the youth and rock musicians know it. Crosby of Crosby, Stills & Nash made that plain enough when he bragged, “I figured that the only thing to do was steal their kids. I still think it’s the only thing to do…I’m not talking about kidnapping…but about changing young people’s value system.”1

Can music change someone’s value system? Is that possible? Allow Lenoard Bernstein to answer. “Music is something terribly special…it doesn’t have to pass through the censor of the brain before it can reach the heart…an F-sharp doesn’t have to be considered in the mind; it is a direct hit, and therefore, all the more powerful.”2

Now, I want you to note, we are talking about music, not words to music. Music has power, either for good or evil! Let me explain. Godly music has strong melody. “The part of music to which the spirit responds is the melody.”3 Ephesians 5:18-19 shows that the most prominent part of music should be melody. “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;”

1 Samuel 16:23 shows the powerful affect for good music can have. “And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.”

That brings us to harmony. “The part of music to which your mind responds is the harmony. Harmony is the intellectual part of music.”4 Harmony is to be secondary but not primary.

Then there is the rhythm. “Rhythm is the pulse of the music.”5

Too much (or erratic) pulse ———– Body is sick
Too much  (or erratic) rhythm ——– Music is sick

No pulse ————————————- Body is dead
No rhythm ———————————– Music is dead

Pulse under control ———————- Body is well
Rhythm under control ——————- Music is well

“The sexuality of music is usually referred to in terms of rhythm it is the beat that commands a directly physical response”6 Music with the heavy, hard beat got the name “Rock and Roll” when a disc jockey coined the term from sex in the back seat of a car. “The rock beat is Satan’s sound of lawlessness. The rock beat is musical perversion. Every knowledgeable musician knows that the term ‘rock’ really means a shameful act of lust”7 But that is not the only problem! The beat of rock is nothing new. Pagan, animistic tribes had the “rock beat” long before it came to America. They use the driving beat to get “high” and bring them into an altered state of consciousness. “Traditional drumming and dancing techniques are designed to achieve the Shamanic State of Consciousness.”8 You see, the beat “is a vehicle for demon infestation.”9

Perhaps you are wondering, “can you really support that quote?” My answer is yes. In have a video interview with a missionary that does just that! I offer this transcript of the interview with Iver Greenslade — A.B.W.E. (Association of Baptist For World Evangelism) Missionary

“When we first came up here (from the mission field) and heard the Rock Music, when it first came out, my wife and I looked at each other and said this is something we have been hearing all along. This is nothing new to us. It sounds just like the jungle music.

“I remember one furlough going back and we took some tapes out.. Our children had slipped one of these contemporary Christian music tapes, Christian Rock. Shall we put it in quotation marks? Really there is no such thing as “Christian” Rock. Rock is rock and it is connected to Spiritism.

“When our children played that tape, suddenly the brethren wanted to know why we were playing the music of the demons. They recognized it right away.

“All of this contemporary Christian music as they call it, the people who are in Animism recognize it right away as their demonism music. You will find that this [rock] music and Animism is the same in the Amazon Jungle as it is in North America. It is all related to Spiritism.”

Research Supports the Connection of the Strong Beat with Paganism

Last year, while doing research on the subject I met with a Christian journalist. He shared some documented information with me that nearly knocked my socks off. Jeremiah 7:31-32 speaks of a place called Tophet. I discovered that “tophet” comes from the Hebrew root that means “to drum.” As you will recall in I Kings 11 1-8 Solomon turned to pagan idolatry in his later years. His 700 wives and 300 concubines “turned away his heart after other gods.” Solomon built his pagan wives a garden, originally called The Garden Of The King at the place where the Kedron Brook and the Brook of Hinnom met. It became known as The Garden of Tohpet or which means, The Garden of The Drum. It was there that Solomons wives sacrificed to their goddess Asthoreth and the demon god Moloch. There Israel burned their children alive in sacrifice to his idol. Now, Dr. Don Nelson did first hand research in Israel and discovered it was called the Garden of The Drum (Tophet) because the people were brought to a drug like trance through the driving beat of the drum and then they sacrificed their children.

Are you skeptical? Read this quote, “Since fast rhythm releases into the bloodstream chemicals which excite the organism, such music can literally be said to give a ‘kick.’ When a young person is used to listening to fast rock music for a number of hours per day, such kicks literally become a form of addiction, and a sense of emptiness is experienced if for some reason music cannot be listened to for a prolonged period of time.”10

Rock Music is “Strange Fire”

How did demonic music get into get into Bible believing churches and organizations? Between June 12-17, 1972 more than 75,000 high school and college students met in Dallas, Texas for EXPLO 72. During the day they attended classes on evangelism and Bible study. In the evening they gathered at the Cotton Bowl to hear messages by famous preachers and for “Christian” Rock Concerts. The festival closed on Saturday with an eight-hour Jesus Rock Concert. Explo was the “first major trans-denominational endorsement of the rock beat as an acceptable Christian music form.”11 That was a tragic sin! They had taken “strange fire” from the pagan altar and offered it to God. “I seriously doubt if EXPLO realizes that they have clothed the demonic spirit of this Satanic force in the holy and Blood-stained garments of the sinless Son of God.” Those young people filled their censers at EXPLO and took the “strange fire” of “Christian” rock music back to their churches, colleges and other Christian organizations. Today, church after church has accepted that strange fire and incorporated it into their worship services and ministries.

The Result

So what’s the result of failing to discern between that which is Holy and unholy. Tragically it is the loss of the blessing and power of God. 2 Timothy 3:5 calls it “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:” What is the believers response to be when this is the case? “…from such turn away.” Any church or Christian ministry, college or organization that endorse or promotes the “strange fire” of “Christian” rock music should be confronted in Christian love with the purpose of restoration. If they refuse to reject the strange fire the believer is to “…turn away.” The phrase means turn away from, avoid, shun. One of the excuses I always get is, “but the music draws such a big crowd and we can reach more people that way.” God does not honor “strange fire.”

Notes

1. Rolling Stone, Vol 1, p.410
2. Kathrine Ames, ” An Affair to Remember,” Newsweek, October 29, 1990, p. 79
3. Garlock & Woetzael, Music in the Balance, p. 57
4. ibid. p. 58
5. ibid. p. 59
6. Leonard J. Seidel, God’s New Song, p. 69-70
7. Donald E. Nelson, Explo ’72 Biblically Examined, p. 27
8. Hunt & McMahon, America The Sorcerers New Apprentice; Harvest House; p. 253
9. ibid. p. 28
10. David Tame, The Secret Power of Music, p. 139
11. Nelson, Explo ’72 Biblically Examined, p. 10

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.

Unmasking the Awful Truth About “Christian” Rock Music

Topics:

A TRUE STORY
A SAD COMMENTARY
WHAT’S WRONG WITH “CHRISTIAN” ROCK?
CARNAL SENSUALITY AND SATANISM
“I WANNA BE KNOWN IN HELL!”
SATAN’S STAMP OF APPROVAL
A DEADLY MIXTURE
A PERSONAL TESTIMONY
TONGUES OF CONFUSION: PROFANITY AND VULGARITY AMONG “CHRISTIAN” ROCKERS
THE DARKNESS OF CHRISTIAN ALBUM COVERS
JESUS DISREGARDED
GODLY CHRISTIAN MEN SCORNED
DISCERNING RIGHT FROM WRONG
PUT JESUS IN MUSIC
A SHAME AND A SHOCK
IT IS IN THE BIBLE!
GODLY MUSIC vs “CHRISTIAN’ ROCK”
ABSTAIN FROM ALL APPEARANCES OF EVIL
ROCK MUSIC IS A “NASTY BUSINESS”
WHAT YOU CAN DO

A TRUE STORY
(Used by permission of Texe Marrs)

The concert hall was filled with excited teenagers and young people, anxiously milling about and cracking jokes. Then the hall lights went dim and laser lights began to flash on stage. A bizarrely dressed group of rock musicians went into action, heavy metal guitars blasting out a vicious beat. Eerie green smoke was released and quickly enveloped the stage.

The audience went wild. Young girls screamed and tore at their hair, while the boys rocked their hips rapidly to and fro, moving to the staccato-like sounds of the band.

Suddenly, an older and wiser man, who had come to observe, bolted out of his seat and commenced to shout, “Ichabod, Ichabod (the glory is gone)! Look, there are demons coming up from the smoke!” The man’s name: David Wilkerson, highly respected Christian evangelist and author of the best-selling book, THE CROSS AND THE SWITCHBLADE.

The crowd didn’t seem to notice. They were partying and no “stodgy old fundamentalist Christian evangelist” was going to spoil their good time. Their favorite Christian rock group, Mylon LeFevre and Broken Heart, was on stage pounding away and they were in ecstasy.

David Wilkerson, shocked and dismayed, left the concert hall, tears in his eyes and a burden on his heart. God had revealed to him the awful truth about “Christian” rock. But how would this truth get out because, through rock music, Satan has already conquered many churches which were once thought to be bastions of Christian example. Many pastors, youth leaders and other church officials are too frightened to oppose the rock invasion, too afraid to make waves. Some are so delighted to see young people “involved” in “Christianity” through rock music they haven’t stopped to analyze just what is actually going on.

A SAD COMMENTARY

What a sad commentary on today’s last days church that Christian music has deteriorated so much that ungodly heavy metal rock bands labeled “Christian” are invited into local churches. Moreover, their degenerate records, tapes, compact discs, and rock magazines are being sold in the millions to teenagers through secular and Christian bookstores!

Friends, there is no such thing as “Christian” rock. This is a lie of the devil. We are not to transform ourselves to the world, for the Bible says that as God’s people we “are at enmity with the world.” There is no “Christian” whiskey, no “Christian” pornography, no “Christian” adultery, and no “Christian” rock.

WHAT’S WRONG WITH “CHRISTIAN” ROCK?

What’s wrong with rock music being brought into the church? Plenty! Let’s just take a look at some hard and indisputable facts about the currently best known “Christian” rock stars and music.

Stryper: In Which “god” Do They Trust?

The #1 “Christian” rock group is Stryper. Take a look at the reverse side of their million seller album, To Hell with the Devil. Notice the Satanic symbols. There is the upside-down crescent moon which to occultists is the sign of the witchcraft goddess, Diana. You’ll also discover the tiny splotch of black blood.

Not convinced? Then examine the cover of this decadent group’s latest album, In God We Trust. The question is, in which god does Stryper trust? Stryper’s records are produced by Enigma Music Company (Enigma means “mystery”) which also produces secular Satanic rock albums. The cover of one of Enigma’s current top secular albums, titled Poison, features a young man with demonic looking paint on his face. Vilely, he unleashes a nine inch long bloody red tongue that sticks straight out of his mouth.

Stryper was a secular heavy metal rock band before they and their record company decided to make money off the gullible and deceived Christian community. The members of Stryper were then called Roxx Regime by heavy metal fans. Their present costumes consist of black leather garb with yellow accents. One of the members of Stryper sometimes has a large round button or disc protruding from his fly, evidently to signify and bring attention to his private parts. The group is unisex. All have long, feminine-looking hair, in disregard of the Bible’s admonition against it, and all wear heavy feminine makeup and rouge.

Stryper’s atrocious behavior is not unusual on the tumultuous “Christian” rock scene. At a concert in Los Angeles, the popular group Petra played to a packed audience. A young Bible student who attended told me that after the concert the Holy Spirit convicted him and he began to cry out and sob in repentance. “I’ll never go to another Christian rock concert—never!” He promised God, “Lord, I know you don’t want me to straddle the fence—you want me far away from the fence on your side of it.”

Tragically, to confuse and deceive young people, Stryper actually distributes tiny Bibles at its concerts. But God is not mocked. Jesus prophesied that at the Last Day, before His throne will come those who will boast of the many things they had done in His name. Then those who have attempted to use God for commercial gain and for vain glory will hear Jesus pronounce this momentous and shattering judgment: “Depart from me ye workers of iniquity. I never knew you.”

CARNAL SENSUALITY AND SATANISM

Such groups as Stryper, whose leader arrogantly brags that his group emits “positive energy,” and Petra, are just two gospel rock bands being sold as “Christian” to our youth. There’s also Mercy Seat, whose lead gospel singer wears a revealing leather miniskirt and projects carnal sensuality; Rez, which features a mother goddess type woman with serpentlike stringy hair standing on a Satanic circle on one of their albums; and Daniel Band, whose logo is a Luciferic bolt of lightning inside a Satanic circle. There’s also the offensive thrasher group, Vengeance, whose lead song is “Human Sacrifice”; and Tempest, whose newest album pictures a Satanic 6-pointed star (the hexagram) and lightning bolt on its jacket cover and features such unholy lyrics as these: “When you hear our music being played/Do you like the sound of my scream?”

“I WANNA BE KNOWN IN HELL!”

I could go on and on about the horrors of “Christian” rock. For example, how about the group Seriah, which screeches out the words, “I wanna be known in hell/feared, hated, respected….” Consider White Cross, which admittedly uses backmasking in its productions; Allies, whose album entitled “Virtues” favorably depicts on its cover a red Soviet-type flag composed of a Satanic triangle within a circle; and Saint, whose producer, Morada, is a New Age-oriented recording company with a pyramid logo. Saint offers our young people such tunes as “Legions of the Dead,” “Abyss,” and “Vicars of Fate.”

There’s also Bloodgood, whose vocal singer, Les Carlsen, parades around the stage wearing an imposing black costume with red feathers and red gloves. Bloodgood aggressively belts out such amplified tunes as “Eat the Flesh,” “Vagrant People,” “Alone in Suicide,” and “Self-Destruction.” Its record company, Frontline, uses for its logo two Satanic triangles colored aqua, the color of the Age of Aquarius, the astrological water bearer. The cover of Bloodgood’s “Detonation” album depicts a monstrous, fiery sphinx-like image with a volcano-like eruption spewing from its head and a guitar in its distorted hands.

SATAN’S STAMP OF APPROVAL

Recently my investigation into “Christian” rock turned up remarkable evidence. A 19-year-old now in a state prison for murder was the subject of part of this investigation. This youth had first become involved with rock music and the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy game. Graduating to blatant Satanism, he drank animal and human blood at Satanic rituals. Eventually, he was convicted of murder-of sacrificing both of his parents to Satan!

I further uncovered the startling fact that, from his prison cell, this young man was communicating with young girls who had written to him because they saw him on television and “thought he was handsome.” He masterfully instructed two young girls to participate in a local teen Satanism group and to read Anton LaVey’s THE SATANIC BIBLE.

So what does this have to do with “Christian” rock? Simply this: the convict made it clear to his youthful new prospects that there was only one rule they must obey regarding music: They could listen only to “Christian” rock!!

A DEADLY MIXTURE

Mixing the perverted world with the Church is one of the most unholy things one could possibly do. A type of music that began with the hip-gyrations of Elvis Presley, whose wasted life ended in a drugged state, has finally made its way into the hallowed confines of the Church where God’s people ostensibly meet to worship God. “Christian Rock” is a plague in our midst. God help the evangelist, pastor, deacon, or other church leader responsible for bringing this abomination before God’s people and offering it up as a sacrifice to the Lord. Surely, the blood of our youth will be on the hands of those who, by so doing, aid Satan.

Rock music cannot be redeemed, sanctified, and made useful for the Church. Its roots are evil, its father is the devil himself. Rock’s rhythm and beat induce rebellion and anger in the breasts of young people. Satan is adept at making surface and temporary changes in a youth’s life so that parents will believe the lie that “Christian” rock is different from other rock music.

Don’t fall for this lie. The ultimate result is that the young person (or the adult!) who listens often to “Christian” rock will eventually turn bad. Rock is rock. Period. The whole purpose of church music is to honor the name of Jesus Christ. Rock cannot possibly do so, for it honors its author, the devil, alone.

Satan has found a magnificently effective method to bring new souls into his foul kingdom. Take your basic Satanic rock band, dress it up with a few “Christian” ornaments, and embellish it with rhythm, sound and fury. This is a recipe for disaster…and for death.

A PERSONAL TESTIMONY

Not too long ago, I came across this insightful letter published in the “letters to the editor” page of The Denver Post (August 14, 1988) newspaper, and tears welled up in my eyes. I honestly believe the inspired words of this letter writer perfectly capsulize the awful truth about today’s “Christian” rock music.

I attended the August 9 program of the week-long, annual Christian music extravaganza called “Praise in the Rockies” in Estes Park.

From the perspective of a senior citizen who considers himself to be a mature, “spirit-filled” Christian, the scene in the auditorium of the YMCA Campground was as close to Babylon as I want to get.

The artificially produced smoke, the flashing lights and gyrating accompanists created an atmosphere like unto many nightclubs I have frequented in the past. The music, supposedly “Christian,” so glorified the performer and masked the Savior that I could only say, “God have mercy on them.”

Many in the audience were parents with small or teenage children. I wondered what they thought as they heard and saw that which they had tried to protect them from in their homes.

What I observed there, in that beautiful setting in the Colorado Rockies, maybe is best described as Christian entertainment at its best and Christianity at its worst.

Fellow believers, if that is Christianity, we are in big trouble. The Scriptures admonish us to be not conformed to the world system, but to be transformed.

Jesus told His listeners, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

A personal observation during my 31 years as a born-again Christian: Quite often, if a sinner is “saved” through music, he will seek to be fed by music. If he is saved by hearing the unadulterated Word of God, he will be satisfied to be fed by that Word.

TONGUES OF CONFUSION: PROFANITY AND VULGARITY AMONG “CHRISTIAN” ROCKERS

As one earnestly studies the many magazines devoted to “Christian” rock and its cousin “Christian” contemporary music (CCM), one fact above all stands out. These who are the biggest names in the field seem to have a Jekyll and Hyde nature to their personalities. On the one hand, they frequently refer to “Jesus” and “God” in their interviews, evidently because they know their comments will be printed for all to see. On the other hand, their songs rarely mention Jesus Christ and His Gospel. Instead, their rock lyrics overwhelmingly refer to Satan, to hell, to demons, and to fire, death, destruction, and chaos. Meanwhile, the lyrics of the CCM crowd go out of their way to avoid speaking aloud the name of Jesus. Pronouns such as “he” and “she” predominate.

Another fact that stands out is that while rock and CCM entertainers proclaim Jesus and Christianity, for the most part their lifestyles and language do not bear witness that they are born again Christians. Vulgarity and profanity among these young men and women is commonplace. The tongue is a revealer of character, and it is their unbridled, ungodly tongue that exposes the separation of these entertainers from Christ.

One group that is widely known for its filthiness is The Call. In one issue of Harvest Rock Syndicate, a “Christian” rock magazine sold in some Christian and Bible bookstores, the interviewed leader of The Call spouted filthy cuss words as if they were normal to Christians. Incredibly, in that same interview, this same individual insisted he and the other members of the group were true-blue Christians. To prove it, he said they had printed up and signed The Apostles Creed and sent a copy to every Christian radio station in America.

Given the above facts, it should come as no surprise to us that Michael Been, the singer/songwriter of The Call and self-professed follower of Christ, played a featured supporting role as the Apostle John in the horribly blasphemous movie, The Last Temptation of Christ.

Nearly every Christian fundamentalist leader in America opposed this movie, from James Dobson and Marlin Maddoux to D. James Kennedy, Hal Lindsey, and Ted Baehr. But Michael Been, leader of a “Christian” rock group, enthusiastically played the role of John in The Last Temptation of Christ!

Been is not alone among rockers and CCM’ers in his defiance of the real Jesus Christ. Chris Willman, a contributing editor of CCM magazine, the top publication in this poisonous music field, not only admitted he went to see the movie, but actually praised and applauded the movie. According to Willman, though the movie does not agree with “orthodox theology,” it still has great value:

We caught the film at a preview screening at Universal and felt that…its the first thing that has forced the average American Joe to think about who Jesus really was and is… (CCM, Sep. 88, p.14).

Since the movie in question portrays Jesus as a fornicator and as more man than deity, Willman’s comments in CCM take on bizarre dimensions. Willman not only endorsed the movie but he spitefully took a stab at Bible-believing fundamentalists in the process, snidely remarking that The Last Temptation of Christ is “the movie fundamentalists love to hate.”

When exposed for their vulgarity, “Christian” rock and CCM stars and their record companies swiftly go into action to control the damage. After Steve Camp let out a filthy curse word during an interview, his ministry covered up by sending out an “apology” to anyone who wrote and complained. Soon the furor died down.

Amy Grant, the premier superstar and reigning queen of the rock and CCM world, also is given to profanity and even crude sexual language. “That’s the way she is,” goes the official explanation of her record company, “she’s very frank.”

Jesus was frank, too, but he never used vulgarity and profanity.

THE DARKNESS OF CHRISTIAN ALBUM COVERS

In an issue of my newsletter, Flashpoint, we discussed the satanic foundations of New Age music. We also briefly showed how the New Age and the occult have made inroads into so-called “Christian” rock music. A graphic example given was Steve Taylor’s newest album, I PREDICT 1990, the cover of which unmistakably resembles an occultic Tarot card, the type used by some Gypsy fortune tellers and others for divination.

Recently, Mr. Taylor phoned me and violently objected. He insisted that his album cover is not of a Tarot card design. Instead, he claimed that he got the idea for his album cover while on a trip to Europe. There, in a museum, he came across an old, turn-of-the-century Viennese art poster. The cover for I PREDICT 1990, says Steve, is based on this old Viennese art poster.

JESUS DISREGARDED

I related to Mr. Taylor that I had searched the lyrics of every song in his album and that, regrettably, I could find no reference to Jesus and the Cross.

“Why do you not confess Jesus in your music?” I implored. “Why do you not witness to our youth that Jesus loved them so much He suffered on the cross for them?” His response was, unfortunately, lacking. Taylor responded hotly, “Is it necessary to tell young people about Jesus in every album?”

My immediate answer was “Yes! In every album. Indeed, in every song!”

GODLY CHRISTIAN MEN SCORNED

I then asked Mr. Taylor why he had used the cover of the album to ridicule and make fun of a noted evangelist and prophecy teacher. Steve Taylor’s answer was that he didn’t believe in a book that this evangelist had written a few years ago on Bible prophecy. Did you read the book? I asked. “Well, no,” Taylor admitted, he had never read the book.

The attitude of Taylor is familiar in “Christian” rock circles. Christian rock stars frequently attack, mock and ridicule such conservative teachers and evangelists as Dave Wilkerson, Bill Gothard, and Bob Jones. In one magazine interview, Steve Taylor even suggested that Christians who believed like Wilkerson were so intolerant and rigid their minds weren’t “subject to being opened.”

Evangelist Dave Wilkerson (author of THE CROSS AND THE SWITCHBLADE) has done much work for the Lord, and I simply can not understand why Taylor and his friends in “Christian” rock and “Christian” contemporary music so despise him. The only reason I can think of is the fact that Brother Wilkerson has preached on the perversions of rock music.

DISCERNING RIGHT FROM WRONG

From our telephone conversation, Steve Taylor seemed to me to be a sincere but deceived person. I can even believe him when he says he did not know that his album cover resembles an occultic Tarot card. Moreover, I cannot and will not judge his salvation. That is God’s business and I hope and pray that Steve Taylor knows or will come to know the Lord as his personal Savior.

But the Bible does tell us we can judge fruits. And it tells us to make righteous judgments and not to cast our pearls before swine (see Matthew 7). We can know the difference between right and wrong, good and evil, acts.

First, I would remind Mr. Taylor that many young people look to him and his music for Christian example. Therefore, why is he too ashamed or unwilling to confess Jesus before men in his songs? Furthermore, if we are to believe him, he chose an old Viennese art poster for an album cover not realizing its occultic nature. Why choose something so totally unrelated to the things of God? What kind of spirit suggested this to him?

Moreover, why does Mr. Taylor unjustly delight in publicly ridiculing and mocking men of God like Dave Wilkerson and others? Taylor and his friends call this “biting satire.” I call it cruelty and a sin before God (see James 3 and 1 Peter 3:16).

PUT JESUS IN MUSIC

I would plead with rock music entertainers and their fans not only to abstain from evil and all appearances of evil, but also, if they truly love God, to put Jesus and the Gospel in their songs. The early Christian church should be our example. In Acts 5:42 we read: “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”

Today, many “Christian” music stars often say they don’t want to offend the unsaved by mentioning Jesus, His Word, and His sacrifice. What a tragedy! Do they not understand that, in so doing, their lukewarm messages have no power and become carnal and unholy?

Do they not know that Paul boldly announced “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (Romans 1:16)? Are they not aware that God has given Jesus an exalted name of honor and glory?: “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every name” (Phil. 2:9).

Discerning Christians are not fooled by “Christian” entertainers who fail or refuse to bring a message of Jesus and the Cross and His wonderful love to their audience. These people are frauds and fakes. They are simply secular entertainers who rip off and lead into darkness the uncommitted and the unaware. There is no such thing as “Christian” music without Christ!

A SHAME AND A SHOCK

However, Steve Taylor is not the only rock or contemporary music star being deceived and now unknowingly going about deceiving others. His behavior is mild compared to some entertainers. Just examine the actual photos of some “Christian” rock stars found at the back of this report. If you have been fed the lie that today’s “Christian” rock and contemporary music is holy or that it is just harmless, clean fun, these photos will be eye-openers.

Fellow Christians, we need to get on our knees before our God and pray that He will forgive us for ever allowing this incredible, outrageous perversion to go on right in our very midst. Today, it is totally out of control. I take responsibility for my own prior failure to fully investigate the horrors of this “new” music.

But friends, now I know the depravities of many of the people who perform this music and the utter sinfulness and abhorrent evil of their music.

Some of these rock and contemporary stars curse; many preach and promote violence and disrespect for parents and church leaders; others use occult symbols in performances and on album covers. Most are fans of secular rock; they admit they enjoy listening to Satanic rock groups. Many dress in demonic leather costumes and unashamedly show off their body parts while prancing about the stage.

The photos I’ve included in this report amply demonstrate the crude perversity, rebellious behavior, vile appearance and occultic leanings of most “Christian” rock groups.

IT IS IN THE BIBLE!

The promoters of carnal and unholy “Christian” rock will tell you that their music is “God’s music.” When confronted with the awful facts, they’ll almost always resort to angrily growling: “Show me in the Bible where Christian rock music is wrong!”

That’s a challenge I love to accept. First, we should note that the Bible does not specifically mention and list cocaine, marijuana, child sexual abuse, hard core pornography, X-rated movies, wife battering, wife swapping, physical torture, abortion, and a host of other criminal and immoral acts. It is nevertheless ridiculous for us to assert that these acts are permissible for Christians. God has written the law on our hearts and the Holy Spirit within will surely be grieved if we participate in such evil doings.

However, the Bible does specifically warn against Satanic music. For example, Scripture tells us that Satan, who inspired Cain to slay Abel, also inspired his descendent, Jubal, to invent musical compositions and instruments: “And his brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.” (Genesis 4:21).

In the wilderness, as Moses and Joshua came down from the mountains, how did they know that something was terribly wrong in the camp below? The answer is that they heard a strange sound, a noise. That noise was the singing of pagan songs and the instrumental accompaniment:

“And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp. And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear.” (Exodus 32:17-18)

It was in tune with this music of Lucifer that the Children of Israel were drinking, dancing, and engaging in frenzied sexual orgies before the golden calf. Now today, in the 1990s, our children, too, are found drinking, dancing, and engaging in sensual acts before their idols: “Christian” rock stars, as the heavy beat of the music draws them feverishly into the devil’s web.

Solomon, the Bible records, called the devil’s music “the song of fools” (Eccles. 7:5). Amos prophesied that in the end time, “the songs of the temple shall be howlings in that day, saith the Lord God.”

Howlings! What an accurate picture of the distorted hollers, blood curdling screams, shouting, and deafening screeching and hissing of today’s “Christian” rock bands. (Screaming is a universal sign of demon possession.)

GODLY MUSIC vs “CHRISTIAN’ ROCK”

Holy spiritual music is far different. Paul advised the early Christians to meet, “speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19). Now compare this with devilish songs by the Christian rock group One Bad Pig, such as that group’s “Take a Flying Leap” and “Smash the Guitar.” The Christian rock group The Warning gives us the tune entitled “Cut the Crap;” the group Rez sings “Bootleg;” Bride screams out such songs as “Show no Mercy,” “A Virgin in the Midst of Whores,” and “Monkey See, Monkey Do;” the group Trouble belts out tunes such as “The Skull,” “Drown the Devil in the Urinal,” and “Kick the Devil in the Head;” White Heart screeches the lyrics to “No Taboo;” and Crumbacher contributes the song “Reckless Boys and Bad, Bad Girls.”

No, my friends, this is a cruel thing we are seeing. The Bible warns us of this type of foul music. And if a person can enjoy such demonic music while professing to be Christian, that person is either a liar or is deceived. The Holy Spirit inside simply will not allow this of true believers.

ABSTAIN FROM ALL APPEARANCES OF EVIL

The Bible provides much sound advice and instruction that those involved in Christian rock should heed. In I Thess. 5:22, we are commanded to “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” Then why do most of the members of top Christian rock bands proudly boast that their own “heros” are those who lead secular, heavy metal Satanic rock bands? Why do many Christian rock groups play regularly in night clubs, encouraging youth to drink and dance? Why do some Christian rock groups and entertainers such as Steve Taylor, Stryper, and others go on the road with and record songs with unholy secular rock stars such as King Diamond, Hurricane and others?

Why do the members of Christian rock groups often wear occult emblems? Why do they dress in chains, leather, metal studs, and spandex, the same as do the gay sadomasochists in San Francisco?

These filthy dreamers don’t run away from sin and degradation—they willingly hurdle right toward it, embrace it, and wallow in the mire. And their wicked goal is to seduce every other Christian young person to do likewise.

Kids are not finding Jesus through these groups. They’re being initiated into the devil’s corps. It is not through music that we came to know Jesus as Lord. This is true even of worthy praise music—which rock is not! Instead I Cor. 1:18 tells us that it is the preaching of the cross that saves. However, to them that perish, the preaching of the cross is “foolishness.”

Yes, friends, the Christian testimony and the preaching of the Word of God yields results while the hellish sounds of rock bring confusion and chaos. It also brings conformity with the world; but Paul taught:

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)

ROCK MUSIC IS A “NASTY BUSINESS”

That rock music has no place in the Christian church is even recognized by the worst of heavy metal Satanic rockers. These secular rock stars find it laughable that some Christians are so stupid and gullible. Lita Ford, known as hard rock’s “bad girl” put it this way:

“Listen, rock ‘n’ roll ain’t church. It’s a nasty business. You gotta be nasty too. If you’re goody, goody, you can’t sing or play it. Kids don’t pay to see nice. They want aggression, they want anger—and some sleaze, too. They want rebels.” (Los Angeles Times, August 7, 1988)

WHAT YOU CAN DO

If you are involved in “Christian” rock music, stop listening to it now! Destroy your albums. Renounce rock and ask Jesus Christ to replace this music in your life with something he loves and approves. If you are a church leader and you have been an accomplice, knowingly or unknowingly, in bringing Rock into your church, ask Jesus Christ for forgiveness; then courageously lead the youth and adults under your discipling out of rock, carefully explaining to them the reason for your actions

If you are a parent, you must take tough but loving measures now to help your teenager withdraw completely from this evil form of music idolatry. Jesus can strengthen and guide you in your efforts.

If you are not a Christian and are hooked on rock music, listen up! God can set you free of rock and all other sin. He can save you for all eternity and bring profound joy, peace and happiness into your life. Won’t you please give God the opportunity to change your life and make you whole? You can do this by getting on your knees, confessing your sins and asking forgiveness from the one and only Lord Jesus Christ. Pledge to commit your life to His service and ask for Him to enter your heart and become Lord of all. You’ll never, ever regret your decision, for the Bible tells us that God is just and faithful. “God is Love.”

Texe Marrs and Living Truth Ministries publish an informative newsletter, FLASHPOINT, to alert Christians to the dangers and hidden schemes of the New Age Movement and the occult. To receive the FLASHPOINT Newsletter and other materials by Texe Marrs contact:

LIVING TRUTH MINISTRIES

1708 Patterson Road

Austin, TX 78733-6507

1-800-234-9673

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.

He had known what it was to be popular! For 30 years he had entertained Lords and Ladies with his operas. But those days seemed long past. Creditors were at his door. He was depressed. He could not sleep and he was plagued by rheumatism. If he did not come up with a musical success soon the 56 year old composer feared he would finish out his days in a London debtors prison. But, two letters arrived that fateful summer of 1741 that would change all that for George Frideric Handel. The first letter was an invitation from the Duke of Devonshire inviting him to the Irish Capital, Dublin, to produce a series of benefit concerts “For the relief of the prisoners in the several gaols (jails), and for the support of Mercer’s Hospital in Stephen Street, and of the Charitable Infirmary on the Inn’s Quay.” Handel thought the change might do him good and besides, he was eager to be out from under the persistent dun of his creditors. He accepted the invitation.

Shortly thereafter a second letter arrived from a wealthy but somewhat eccentric English Land owner named Charles Jennens. He quickly opened the letter. Jennens had written some lyrics for him in the past. To his amazement the letter was a compilation of Old Testament and New Testament scripture passages. George read the words again and again. He was greatly moved and felt impressed to put them to music in oratorio form. An oratorio is a sort of spiritual opera. Handel locked himself in his study and within 7 days he had completed Part I — the Christmas section or the oratorio. He presses on to Part II that focused on the Redemption and 9 days later that was finished. Then, in less than a week he completed Part III – The Resurrection and Future Reign of Christ portion.

He took his new oratorio to Dublin with him. The new oration first came to the public’s attention on April 8th, 1742 at the public rehearsal. The first official presentation was on April 13th. It was a tremendous success. Handel lived for another 17 years and lead many performances of this great work. In fact, he conducted the last one only eight days before his death. Charles Burney, 18th century music historian, remarked that Handel’s Messiah “fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and fostered the orphan.“ While it has done all that to be sure, it has also directed the hearts of millions of Christians to the magnificence and awesomeness of the KING of Kings and LORD of Lords, Jesus Christ. My heart is blessed each time I listen to The Messiah.

One final note. Contrary to what a present-day music lover might think, “The Messiah” was originally associated with Easter rather than Christmas.

Selected Scripture Portions Used In The Messiah

Selected portions of PART 1 – The Christmas Portion

Part 1 begins by focusing on prophetic portions of scripture dealing with the coming of the promised Messiah.

Comfort Ye

Isaiah 40:1-3 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 2. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. 3. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Every valley shall be exalted

Isaiah 40:4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:

And the Glory of the Lord

Isaiah 40: 5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

Thus saith the Lord

Haggai 2: 6,7 For thus saith the Lord of Hosts; Yet once, it is a little while and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of Hosts.

[I have omitted the Malachi 3:1-3 portion]

Behold A Virgin Shall Conceive

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Isaiah 40: 9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!

[I have omitted Isaiah 60:1-3]

The people that walked in darkness

Isaiah 9: 2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

For unto Us a Child is born

Isaiah 9: 6 For unto Us a Child is born, unto Us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

There were shepherds abiding in the field & Glory to God

Luke 2: 8-11& 13-14 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. 9 And, lo. the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

[I have omitted Zec.9: 9-10; Isaiah 35:5-6; Isaiah 40:11; Matthew 11:28-30]

Selected portions of PART 2 – The Redemption Portion

Behold the lamb of God

John 1: 29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

He was despised

Isaiah 53: 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Isaiah 50: 6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

Surely He hath borne our griefs…

Isaiah 53:4,5 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray

Isaiah 53: 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

[I have omitted Psalm 22:7-8; Psalm 69:20; Lam. 1:12]

He was cut off out of the land of the living

Isaiah 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

But Thou didst not leave His soul in hell

Psalm 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Lift up your heads, O ye gates

Psalm 24:7-10 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in. 8. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. 9. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in. 10. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of Glory.

Let all the angels of God worship Him

Hebrews 1: 5-6 For unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? 6 And again, when He bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, He saith, “And let all the angels of God worship Him.”

Thou art gone up on high

Psalm 68: 18 Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast led captivity captive: Thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.

The Lord gave the word

Psalm 68: 11 The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.

How beautiful are the feet

Romans 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Their sound is gone out

Romans 10:18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

Why do the nations so furiously rage together?

Psalm 2:1-2 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His anointed, (saying,)

Psalm 2:3-4 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. 4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.

Thou shalt break them

Psalm 2:9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

Hallelujah

Revelation 19:6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

Revelation 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever.

Revelation 19:16 And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, LORD OF LORDS.

Selected portions of PART 3 – The Resurrection & Future Reign of Christ

I know that my redeemer liveth

Job 19: 25, 26 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26. And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.

1Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

Since by man came death

1Corinthians 15:21, 22 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Behold I tell you a mystery

1Corinthians 15: 51, 52 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

The trumpet shall sound

1Corinthians 15: 52-54 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53. For this corruptable must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

Then shall be brought to pass…O death where is thy sting?

1Corinthians 15:54-57 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory? 56. The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

If God be for us

Romans 8: 31, 33-34 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Worthy is the Lamb

Revelation 5: 12, 13 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 13. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

I trust that focusing on the Scriptures that are a part of Handel’s Messiah will help you to appreciate Jesus Christ The Messiah. If you have never received The Lamb of God, Christ as your Savior and Lord, I would urge you to do it without delay…TODAY!

John Newton wrote a song that told the story of his life. 1 Chronicles 17:16 was the verse that inspired him to write Faith’s Review And Expectation. The verse reads, “And David the king came and sat before the LORD, and said, Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?” The verse of the song that reflects the 1 Chronicles passage reads this way – “Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ‘Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home.”

You might be thinking “Wait a minute. That is not Faith’s Review and Expectation, that is Amazing Grace…how sweet the sound, that sav’d a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see!” To be sure, the song is Amazing Grace, perhaps the most beloved song of all times. The original title was Faith’s Review….

But who is the self-proclaimed “wretch” who wrote the song? John Newton was born in London July 24, 1725, the son of a commander of a merchant ship which sailed the Mediterranean. In July or 1732, thirteen days before his seventh birthday, death took his saintly mother who had since his third birthday been his teacher and friend. He took the death of his mother hard. In fact, it became evident that he was bitter at God over his circumstance because he began as one author puts it, “a decline into rebellion and degradation that lasted until his 24th year.” At 11 years of age he went to sea with his father and made six voyages with him before the elder Newton retired. In 1744 John was forced into service on a man-of-war, the H. M. S. Harwich. The conditions on board were intolerable to him, so he deserted but was soon recaptured and publicly flogged and demoted from midshipman to common seaman.

Finally, at his own request, Newton was exchanged into service on a slave ship, which took him to the coast of Sierra Leone. He then became the servant of a slave trader and was brutally abused. Early in 1748 he was rescued by a sea captain who had known John’s father.

John Newton ultimately became captain of his own slave ship. And what kind of captain was he? Lindsay Terry writes, “It is reported that at times he was so wretched that even his crew regarded him as little more than an animal. Once he fell overboard and his ship’s crew refused to drop a boat to him. Instead they threw a harpoon at him, with which they dragged him back into the ship.” But God intervened in Newton’s life and got his attention through a violent storm. The gale was so severe that all the livestock were washed overboard and the crew tied themselves to the ship to keep from being swept overboard. As he was attempting to steer the ship through the violent storm, he experienced what he was to refer to later as his “great deliverance.” He recorded in his journal that when all seemed lost and the ship would surely sink, he exclaimed, “Lord, have mercy upon us.” Later in his cabin he reflected on what he had said and began to believe that God had addressed him through the storm and that grace had begun to work for him. For the rest of his life he observed the anniversary of May 10, 1748 as the day of his conversion, a day of humiliation in which he subjected his will to a higher power. “Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ’tis grace has bro’t me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.” He continued in the slave trade for a time after his conversion; however, he saw to it that the slaves under his care were treated humanely.

In 1750 he married Mary Catlett, with whom he had been in love for many years. By 1755, after a serious illness, he had given up seafaring forever. During his days as a sailor he had begun to educate himself, teaching himself Latin, among other subjects. From 1755 to 1760 Newton was surveyor of tides at Liverpool, where he came to know George Whitefield, deacon in the Church of England, evangelistic preacher, and leader of the Calvinistic Methodist Church. Newton became Whitefield’s enthusiastic disciple. During this period Newton also met and came to admire John Wesley, founder of Methodism. Newton’s self-education continued, and he learned Greek and Hebrew.

He decided to become a minister and applied to the Archbishop of York for ordination. The Archbishop refused his request, but Newton persisted in his goal, and he was subsequently ordained by the Bishop of Lincoln and accepted the curacy of Olney, Buckinghamshire. Newton’s church became so crowded during services that it had to be enlarged. He preached not only in Olney but in other parts of the country. In 1767 the poet William Cowper settled at Olney, and he and Newton became friends.

Cowper helped Newton with his religious services and on his tours to other places. They held not only a regular weekly church service but also began a series of weekly prayer meetings, for which their goal was to write a new hymn for each one. They collaborated on several editions of Olney Hymns, which achieved lasting popularity. The first edition, published in 1779, contained 68 pieces by Cowper and 280 by Newton.

Among Newton’s contributions which are still loved and sung today are “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds” and “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken,” as well as “Amazing Grace.” Composed probably between 1760 and 1770 in Olney, England “Amazing Grace” was possibly one of the hymns written for a weekly service. Through the years other writers have composed additional verses to the hymn which came to be known as “Amazing Grace.” The origin of the melody is unknown. Most hymnals attribute it to an early American folk melody.

Newton was not only a prolific hymn writer but also kept extensive journals and wrote many letters. Historians accredit his journals and letters for much of what is known today about the eighteenth century slave trade. In Cardiphonia, or the Utterance of the Heart, a series of devotional letters, he aligned himself with the Evangelical revival, reflecting the sentiments of his friend John Wesley and Methodism.

In 1780 Newton left Olney to become rector of St. Mary Woolnoth, St. Mary Woolchurch, in London. There he drew large congregations and influenced many, among them William Wilberforce, who would one day become a leader in the campaign for the abolition of slavery. Newton continued to preach until the last year of life, although he was blind by that time. At 82, shortly before he died he said, “My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things, that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Saviour.” He died in London December 21, 1807 but left his executors instructions for his epitaph. It reads in part, “John Newton, Clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long labored to destroy.”

The grace of God, through our Lord Jesus Christ is truly AMAZING, is it not?

Adapted from information by Al Rogers & Lindsay Terry