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-
- RELIGIOUS ROCK - The music of devils in the CHURCH!!!
- (Due to the importance of this message...copy and
- distribute wherever the Lord leads.)
-
- 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 sucessfully 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
- (904) 625-2737
-
-