We get many requests asking our
opinion of certain CCM performers or a certain type music. There is no way
for us to keep up with every performer in CCM or every type of music. We put
together these simple, common-sense, Bible guidelines. If you're concerned
about your music, see if it passes these Bible guidelines. After listening
to hundreds of CCM tapes, CD's, and videos, at least 95% of Contemporary
Christian Music (CCM) does not pass these Bible guidelines.
We have also created a list of good, Christ-honoring, Christian Music
with RealAudio sound clips you can link to at the end of this page.
NOTE: Throughout this tract are links to
various pictures and RealAudio sound clips. Some of this you
just have to see and hear! You will need the free RealAudio
player for the sound clips. If you do not have the RealAudio player
you can
download it now. The reader is encouraged strongly to explore
these links ". . . Prove all things;" 1 Thessalonians 5:21
The copyrighted resource material used
throughout this tract is the ownership of the original copyright
holder. It's use here is for non-profit, research and educational
purposes. It's use here complies fully with the "Fair Use" privilege
under the Copyright Act.
|
CHRISTIAN MUSIC SHOULD PRAISE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST NOT MAN
|
CHRISTIAN MUSIC SHOULD PRAISE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST NOT MAN
Now, you would think this point is unnecessary for CHRISTian music. After
all, CHRISTian means "a follower, believer of Jesus Christ". And if it is
truly Christian music, it should testify, praise and sing about the Lord
Jesus Christ.
The
PURPOSE of Christian music is to PRAISE the Lord.
I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing PRAISE to thy
name, O thou most High. Psalm 9:2
Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we SING and
PRAISE thy power. Psalm 21:13
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and
I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my SONG will I
PRAISE him. Psalm 28:7
PRAISE the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and
an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully
with a loud noise. Psalm 33:2-3
When someone truly gets saved, God puts a NEW song in their mouth. And
that song is "PRAISE unto our God" the result of
salvation is PRAISE. And it's not something we work up, or
"fake", or just do but it's something God "puts"! Christian music is
"praise unto our God". Do you think God is a liar?
1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and
heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and
set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
3 And he hath PUT a NEW SONG in my mouth, even PRAISE
unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
Praise 40:1-3
Did you read that? The DIRECT result of being saved
is "A NEW SONG" even "PRAISE unto our God". REAL Christian music PRAISES
the Lord!
Even when the apostle Paul and
Silas were thrown in jail and in stocks they sang praises to the Lord
(notice: they weren't singing the blues
they "sang praises unto God").
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and SANG PRAISES unto
God: and the prisoners heard them. Acts 16:22
Sadly, much of what goes by the
name CHRISTian Music today is NOT CHRISTian. It does NOT testify, praise or
sing about the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, a
great deal of it does not even mention the Lord Jesus Christ.
Much of today's Christian Music goes out it's way to avoid the name of Jesus
Christ or any Christian content whatsoever.
We have documented this tragedy many times in our material, but just a
few examples.
Amy Grant
"What we're trying to do is
take Christian principles and make them understandable.
Even if it doesn't say Jesus, it doesn't matter. . ."
(Rolling Stone, June 6, 1985 p 10)
Rich Mullins:
"I'm really sick of all this heavy-handed Christianity. Musicians
take themselves too seriously. They should have more FUN, and they
should stop preaching unless that's what God has called them to. If
I want to hear a sermon, I'll go to church, thank you." (CCM magazine,
April, 1987, p. 12)
Michael W. Smith
Here's what a secular reporter in the Birmingham News wrote after
watching a Michael W. Smith concert:
"If you werent familiar with Michael W. Smiths standing in the
world of contemporary Christian music, you might attend one of his
concerts and come out none the wiser." (The Birmingham News, Feb. 12,
1993 p. 5c)
Michael W. Smith's album, Change Your World, has 2819 words Jesus
occurs ZERO!
Michael W. Smith's album, Ill Lead You Home, has 2046 words Jesus
occurs ZERO!
Michael W. Smith's album, Live the Life, has over 1100 words Jesus
occurs you guessed it ZERO!
There is NOTHING CHRISTian about
Michael W. Smith's music!
Jason Martin of Starflyer 59
"A lot of bands, the reason they get so turned off, is because you
have to put the word 'Jesus' in every line. . . That's why so many
bands get almost anti-Jesus in their lyrics,
even though they're Christians." (HM, Mar/Apr 97 p. 21)
Out of 25 Starflyer 59 songs, over 1400 words, 4 albums I could not
find the word "God, the word "Lord", I found "Jesus" ONE time in "2nd Space
Song" with this ridiculous line "counts the sands Jesus in your hands".
Jesus in your hands? Who, that believes that Jesus Christ is God Almighty,
the Lord of Lords, thinks they've got "Jesus in their hands"!
The Word of God, in John 12:43, has the CCM artists "number". Just
like the chief rulers in John 12, the CCMers refuse to confess and praise
the Lord Jesus Christ because "they loved the praise of men more than the
praise of God".
"42 Nevertheless among the
chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees
they did not confess him, lest they
should be put out of the synagogue:
43 For they loved the PRAISE OF MEN more than the praise of God."
John 12:42-43
The purpose of Christian music was
NEVER meant to evangelize the lost!
The book "What About Christian
Rock" by Dan Peters, Steve Peters and Cher Merrill is a book praising
Christian Rock. Chapter Eight (pp. 100-145) of the book, titled "Goals" is
very interesting. In "Goals", through personal interview, correspondence, or
quoted statements, the authors state the "quoted" goals of approximately 130
individual CCM performers. Dr. Garlock and Kurt Woetzel, in their book,
Music in the Balance, give summary of these goals. Here is the chart as
it appears in Music in the Balance (p. 111):
GOALS MENTIONED |
FREQUENCY |
Evangelism
|
66 |
Hope and
Encouragement |
28 |
Communicate God
|
16 |
Discipleship and
Commitment |
15 |
Positive Influence
|
11 |
Speak to
Contemporary Issues |
11 |
Praise |
3 |
Nebulous |
28 |
Used Scripture
|
1 |
Notice in the chart: 66 stated "Evangelism" as their goal,
and only 3 out of 130 artists said "praise" is one
of their goals! And what's even more interesting out of 130
CCMers ONLY ONE "Used Scripture" in stating the goal of their music!
WOW! And this is from a book (What About Rock) trying to justify Christian
Rock!
The GOAL of using Christian music as Evangelism is not the Bible GOAL
of Christian music. Tim Fisher, author, musician, music professor and
founder of Sacred Music Services, states in his book, "The Battle for
Christian Music":
"Music is NEVER used in Scripture as a means of reaching the
lost." (Tim Fisher, The Battle for Christian Music, p.155)
Even CCM artist, Michael Card, admits that much of CCM is NOT
Christian:
"The lyrics of a good number of the songs dont betray anything
specifically Christian they may have some moral message,
but not a lot of the big songs are identifiably
Christian. . . 'What happens to the message when we start
getting the music to as many people as possible?' There is an essential
part of the gospel thats not ever going to sell. The gospel is good
news, but it is also bad news: 'You are a sinner, and you are
hopeless.' How is a multimillion-dollar record company going to take that?
Thats a part of the message, too, and if thats taken outand
it frequently is in Christian music it ceases to be the gospel."
(Can't Buy Me Love, Christianity Today, May 20, 1996, p. 25)
Martin Luther puts it bluntly "whoever does NOT want to sing and speak
of it shows that he does not believe it".
"We should praise God with both word and music, namely by
proclaiming [the Word of God] through music. . .He who believes
earnestly cannot be quiet about it. But he must gladly and willingly sing
and speak about it so that others may come and hear it.
And whoever does NOT want to sing and speak of it shows that he does not
believe it." (Don Cusic, The Sound of Light, p. 15)
Most of CCM glorifies man:
And according to the Lord Jesus Christ that is Satans goal:
"But he [Jesus] turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind
me, SATAN: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the
things that be of God, but those that be of MEN."
Matthew 16:23
According to the Lord Jesus Christ Satans goal is to uplift man.
According to the Lord Jesus Christ Satan glorifies and uplifts man!
According to the Lord Jesus Christ the following comments and quotes are
satanic:
dc Talk:
Here's how Dallas Morning News, (April 27, 1996) describes a DC Talk
"Freak Show" concert:
"As teenagers shrieks filled
the Dallas Convention Center moments before dc Talk took the stage Friday
night, one of the relatively few grown-ups in the sold-out crowd observed,
This is just like the BEATLES."
Michael W. Smith
Smiths concerts are filled with teenage girls who "scream out their
affection for him" (not the Lord Jesus Christ). Heres how Inside
Music, Jan/Feb 91, describes a Smith concert:
"His concerts draw hundreds of thousands of fans each year, mostly
teenage girls who scream
out their AFFECTION FOR HIM non-stop throughout. . . . To
his fans, Smith is the absolute greatest there is, BAR NONE . . ."
Most CCM concerts GLORIFY and PRAISE the performer.
Let's listen to the "screaming-satanic-man-worship" in a few CCM
concerts:
You can hear the audience PRAISING
their CCM "god".
Author Josh McDowell says about CCMd`9former Steve Camp:
"Thank God for Steve Camp. The body of Christ is enriched because we
have his heart and his music. My oldest daughter
thinks he hung the moon." Josh McDowell (CCM, Aug,
91, p. 15)
Did you read that "My oldest daughter thinks he hung the moon"!
Do you know who hung the moon? The Lord Jesus Chri(Pung the moon!
(John 1:3) Steve Camp is in the place of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Not surprisingly, the message Satan delivered Eve in the garden of Eden
is ". . . ye shall be as gods. . ."
(Genesis 3:5) exactly what happens at many CCM concerts.
CCM artist, Michael Card, admits this glorifying of man in CCM:
"Now, the industry is celebrity-driven. The song is almost
irrelevant.The focus is on the PERSON,
and songs have become disposable." (Can't Buy Me Ministry, Christianity
Today, May 20, 1996 (p. 22)
Did you know this CCM-man-worship is ABOMINATION to the Lord? Did
you know, "for that which is HIGHLY ESTEEMED among men is ABOMINATION in the
sight of God"?
And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before
men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed
among men is ABOMINATION in the sight of God. Luke 16:15
Even CCM "star" Keith Green wrote of this "CCM-man-worship" over 15 years
ago! And it's gotten much, much worse since then. Here's what very-pro CCM
star Keith Green wrote:
"Why do we IDOLIZE Christian singers
and speakers? We go from glorifying musicians in the world, to
GLORIFYING Christian musicians. It's all
idolatry! . . . Satan is getting a great victory as we seem to
WORSHIP these ministers on tapes and
records, and clamor to get their autographs in churches and concert halls
from coast to coast." (Keith Green, from the Tract, "So You Wanna Be A
Rock Star")
CCM musician Michael Card makes these startling words about CCM:
"The direction and value system are getting
worse faster than any of us can imagine." (Can't Buy Me
Ministry, Christianity Today, May 20, 1996 (p. 22)
Here's how CCM mag introduces it's review of Sandi Patty's,
"after-adultery", album, "Artist of My Soul". Read it and weep. What
is now called Christian Music is nothing but Satanic MAN-worship:
"The press kit arrived today packed full of
superlatives and more than 1200 square inches of plush photography.
The singer looks to her right and smiles pleasantly as the breeze teases
nicely coiffed blond hair. Her arms are thrown wide as she gladly embraces
the moment. This is, after all, something of a comeback.
Open the lavish 9-inch by 12-inch publicity folio. Inside, the singer
smiles up at you from a photograph a foot-and-a-half wide. Open the folder
again and a photographic panorama spreads three-feet wide across the desk.
On the left 18 inches, she's outside, same setting, still smiling, gazing
skyward. To the right, indoors, under amber light, hands lightly clasped,
eyes downcast, she strikes a contemplative pose.
Nestled inside the press kit, enfolded by all those smiling photos, are
the words--the P.R.--and the PRAISE
[DTTM; Praise of Sandi Patty - NOT the Lord Jesus
Christ - according to Matthew 16:23 this is Satan read Matthew 16:23
if you do not believe it!] is effusive.
[DTTM: effusive means: pouring freely, excessively,
gushy, that is the PRAISE of Sandi Patty] The singer has
created "a distinguished work of art." Her voice is "distinctive," her
songs "eloquent and articulate," the CD "masterfully crafted" and
"breathtakingly performed." She's a "preeminent talent," who is
"critically acclaimed" and "highly successful" "stirring" with
"remarkable musical diversity" and an "expansive vocal range." "Dynamic...
quintessential... timeless... heartwarming." She is the recipient of five
Grammy Awards, nine Grammy nominations, 35 Dove Awards ("more than any
other artist"), three platinum records, five gold records. Et cetera, et
cetera, et cetera." (CCM Magazine, January, 1998, p.32)
AND GOD SAYS THAT IS ABOMINATION:
". . . that which is HIGHLY ESTEEMED among men is
ABOMINATION in the sight of God".
Luke 16:15
"There exists a vast mass of love songs of the poets, written in
a fashion entirely foreign to the profession and name of Christians.
They are the songs of men ruled ny passion, and a great number of
musicians, corrupters of youth, make them
the concern of their art and their industry; in proportion as
they flourish through praise of their skill,
so do they offend good and serious-minded men by the depraved taste of
their work. I blush and grieve to think that once I was of their number.
But while I cannot change the past, nor undo what is done, I have mended
my ways. Therefore, I have labored on songs
which have been written in praise of our Lord, Jesus Christ."
|
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
(c. 1525-1594) |
Christian music lifts-up and praises the Lord Jesus Christ not man.
Christian music glorifies God not man.
Satan's music, according to the Lord Jesus
Christ in Matthew 16:23, glorifies and praises man such as CCM! (Matthew
16:23)
CHRISTIAN MUSIC IS FOR THE LORD NOT THE WORLD |
CHRISTIAN MUSIC IS FOR THE LORD NOT THE WORLD
A Christian's music is sung to the Lord. It is not for the world.
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and making melody in your heart TO THE
LORD; Ephesians 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.
Colossians 3:16
Sing praises TO THE LORD, which
dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings. Psalm 9:11
Isaiah 12:2 sums it up wonderfully, ". . .for the LORD JEHOVAH is . .
. MY SONG . . .":
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for
the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and MY SONG; he also is become my
salvation. Isaiah 12:2
CCM artists justify their avoidance of "Jesus" and Christian lyrics by
claiming they're using Christian music as a tool for reaching the lost. When
used for the purpose of "talking" to the world they can justify, saying or
not saying anything because after all, they're TRYING to reach the lost!
But Christian music was NEVER meant for the lost
world. The Bible is very clear Christian music is "sung unto
the Lord" not the world!
Not only that the vast majority of people purchasing CCM is
Christians! It is not the lost world! Rather than reaching the lost
[which is wrong in itself] CCM is "preaching" it's "watered-down,
anti-Jesus, unCHRISTian, lovey-dovey, non-judgemental, cool, worldly,
fleshly, feel-good" message to Christians!
The purpose of Christian music was NEVER meant to
evangelize the lost!
God's method of reaching the lost is the preaching of the Word of God.
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 ONLY
way Christian Music can appeal to the world is make it
UN-Christian which is exactly what CCM does.
Most CCM artists "remove" or "redefine" the Lord Jesus Christ. They replace
the Lord Jesus Christ with the pronouns; "he", "him", "you", "I", et. al.
They also "redefine" the Lord Jesus Christ as a "politically-correct"
"tolerant", "lovey-dovey", non-judgemental, "partying", "hip-hop",
"rapping-rocker" that appeals to the world. Songs such as, dc Talks "Jesus
Freak", Messiah Prophet Band's, "Master of the Metal", et al. clearly
describe "another Jesus" than the Jesus Christ of the Bible. In 2 Cor. 11:4,
the apostle Paul warns of "another Jesus".
Just as the lost world is not interested in a "Bible-believing" church
that preaches the word of God, the world is not interested in music that
openly praises the Lord. The lost world is NOT going to praise the Lord
Jesus Christ. The Bible is CLEAR "the natural man receiveth not the
things of the Spirit of God"!
But the natural man receiveth not the
things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him:
neither can he know them, because they
are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians. 2:14)
Christian music is NOT for the world it is for the Lord! If it
is FRIENDLY to the world then according to the Word of God it is AGAINST the
Lord!
". . . 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." James 4:4
After Babylon captured the children of Israel, Babylon requested Israel
to sing, but Israel refused to sing "the Lord's song in a strange land".
Notice, it is "the Lord's song" NOT the world's song or even Israel's
song.
1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we
remembered Zion.
2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and
they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs
of Zion.
4 How shall we sing the LORD'S SONG in a strange
land? Psalms 137:1-4
Christian music is for the Lord NOT the world.
CHRISTIAN MUSIC IS A NEW SONG NOT AN OLD SONG! |
CHRISTIAN MUSIC IS A NEW SONG NOT AN OLD SONG
When I got saved, I loved rock 'n' roll. Nothing but nothing, was more
important to me than rock music!. I played rock guitar day and night! I
did not have a dream or goal besides rock music. And when I got saved July,
30, 1975, at 20 years old, I had NO intention to stop listening and playing
rock music. But something changed. . .
I didn't know it then but "old things are passed away; behold, all
things are become NEW" and that included my music!
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things
are passed away; behold, all things are become
NEW. 2 Corinthians 5:17
I didn't change intentionally but within six months, the ONLY music I
wanted to listen to and play was real Christian Music. Music that praised my
Lord and Savior! My desire and love for rock music was replaced by a
NEW SONG even PRAISE unto our God!
Just as 2 Corinthians 5:17 says (and God cannot LIE - Titus 1:2) "all
things are become NEW" and the very FIRST thing God "makes new" is a
NEW SONG!
After someone trusts Jesus Christ, according to the Word of God, God
gives that person a "NEW song" and notice that NEW SONG is
"PRAISE unto our God". And also notice
"he hath put" God did it. If someone does NOT have a NEW SONG chances are
they're not even saved! All things are become NE especially your music!
1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and
heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and
set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
3 And he hath put a NEW SONG in my mouth, even
PRAISE unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall
trust in the LORD. Psalm 40:1-3
I will sing a NEW SONG unto thee,
O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing
praises unto thee. Psalm 144:9
Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a
NEW SONG, and his praise in the congregation of saints. Psalm
149:1
Fanny Crosby is the greatest hymn writer that ever lived, writing over
9,000 songs! Before Fanny got saved, at 45 years old, she wrote many secular
songs. But after she got saved things were different. . . Here's what
Fanny said about mixing Christian and worldly music:
"Sometimes I need to reject the music proposed for my songs because
the musicians misunderstand that the Fanny Crosby who once wrote for the
people in the saloons has merely changed the lyrics.
Oh my no. The
church must never sing it's songs to the melodies of the world."
(Danny Castle, video "What's Wrong with Christian Rock")
And do you know why Fanny Crosby said that because Fanny got saved! And
God "hath put a NEW SONG in my mouth, even PRAISE unto our God" inside the
NEW Fanny Crosby! Fanny Crosby wrote over 9,000 songs to the Lord! Fanny
used over 200 different pen names because she wanted to make sure God got
the glory and not her.
Praise Him! praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
SING, O Earth, His wonderful love proclaim!
Hail Him! Hail Him! Highest archangels in Glory;
Strength and honor give to His holy name!
Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard His children,
In His arms He carries them all day long;
Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellant greatness;
Praise Him! Praise Him! Ever in joyful SONG!
Fanny J. Crosby |
How different are todays CCM performers. They copy the world's tunes.
Many try to "crossover" into the worldly music world. They copy the world's
looks and "hip-hop" language. They fellowship with the world. They even play
the world's songs even some of the most anti-Christ, Satanic songs
available!
We've documented this many, many times in our material, but here's a few
examples.
AMY GRANT
Amy's album, House of Love includes the environmental-mother-earth
song, Big Yellow Taxi, by new-age-priestess Joni Mitchell. Time
magazine, (December, 16, 1974, p.63) tells of Joni Mitchells intimate
relationship with a muse (a demon spirit) named Art. Joni says, "I feel
like I'm married to this guy named Art, I'm responsible to my Art above all
else." Some of the words to Big Yellow Taxi, "They paved paradise
and put up a parking lot". How different from the words of the Lord
Jesus in Luke 23:43, "And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To
day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
DC TALK
You'll never guess the song dc Talk uses toward the close of their "Jesus
Freak" concert? Amazing Grace? Blessed Assurance? OH NO! They do a
cover of Kurt Cobain and Nirvana's "All Apologies"!
Kurt Cobain is one of the worst ANTI-CHRIST, blasphemers since
John Lennon. Kurt Cobain decorated his home with blood-splattered baby dolls
hanging by their necks! The inside of Nirvana's album In Utero, which is the
album dcTalk got "All Apololgies" from, is pictures of chopped up babies!
Look at it. Cobain ran around his neighborhood spray-painting,
"ABORT CHRIST" and "GOD IS GAY". Cobain's first band was called "Fecal
Matter". (Des Barres, Pamela, Rock Bottom, pp.54-55)
dcTalk also sings songs by the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, REM, and the Doobie
Brothers!
REZ BAND
The secular group Jefferson Airplane is one of the most blasphemous in
all of rock music. Their song "The Son of Jesus" spews their hatred and
blasphemy of the Lord Jesus Christ, they sing, Jesus was involved in the
occult, had illegitimate children by Mary Magdalene, and that God the Father
was sexually attracted to Jesus' daughter.:
So you think young Jesus Christ never a lady, and you think young
Mary
Never saw him smile wide & free,
You won't read it in the Bible but if you look you're liable
To come across the truth about the man from Galilee
The man upon the water, they had a son, they had a daughter she hid them
From the slaughter in the deep Black Sea
God loved the son of Jesus Ol' God got off on the spaklin' daughter too
BELIEVE IT OR NOT! The CCM group, the REZ band sings, one of
"blasphemous" Jefferson Airplane's song, "Somebody to Love"!
DELIVERANCE
One of the most openly Satanic bands in all of rock is Black Sabbath. They
have actually given invitations during their concerts for young people to
receive Satan. One of their albums, is truthfully titled, "We Sold Our Soul
for Rock'n Roll". Their song N.I.B. (Nativity In Black) is one of the most
openly satanic songs ever recorded. It is a love-song from Lucifer, in which
Lucifer invites the listener to "please take my hand", the lyrics:
Some people say MY LOVE cannot be true
Please believe me, MY LOVE, and I'll show you
I will give you those things you thought unreal . . .
YOUR LOVE FOR ME has just got to be real . . .
Look into my eyes, you will see who I am
MY NAME IS LUCIFER, PLEASE TAKE MY HAND!"
Now surely, it's NOT POSSIBLE no CCM group would EVER go that far
and do a song by Black Sabbath? Wrong. . . The CCM group,
Deliverance, on their album "What A Joke", have a song by satanist rockers
Black Sabbath "After Forever!"
Here's a short list of some so-called Christian Contemporary performers
who sing "worldly-secular-rock" songs.
Amy Grant "PLAYS" Joni Mithchell
Johnny Cash "PLAYS" Danzig, Beck, SoundGarden, et. al!
Petra "PLAYS" Argent (ditto KISS)
77's "PLAYS" Led Zeppelin.
DC talk "PLAYS" Doobie Brothers, Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, REM, et.
al.
Audio Adrenaline "PLAYS" Edgar Winter
Point of Grace "PLAYS" Earth, Wind and Fire
Jars of Clay "PLAYS" Ozzy Osbourne
Rez Band "PLAYS" the Who, Jefferson Airplane
Holy Soldier "PLAYS" Rolling Stones
Rachel, Rachel "PLAYS" Kansas
Deliverance "PLAYS" Black Sabbath
MXPX plays Buddy Holly
Many, many more examples could be given. See our other articles for
more examples.
The Bible clearly commands us to "come out from among them, and be ye
separate" and to "touch not the unclean thing"
CCMers not only "touch" it they "honor" them by singing their songs!
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
Where is the CCMers "NEW SONG, even PRAISE unto our God" from Psalms
40?
Why did the same God that gave me, Fanny Crosby, and millions of
others a NEW SONG, not do the same for them, as He promised on Psalms 40 and
2 Cor. 5:17? Acts 10:34 says, ". . . God is no respecter of persons".
And I know ONE thing GOD DOES NOT LIE!
In hope of eternal life, which God, THAT
CANNOT LIE, promised before the world began; Titus 1:2
God is not a man, that HE SHOULD LIE;
neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall
he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Numbers 23:19
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are
passed away; behold, all things are become NEW.
2 Corinthians 5:17
1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard
my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and
set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
3 And he hath put a NEW SONG in my mouth,
even PRAISE unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust
in the LORD. Psalm 40:1-3
CHRISTIAN MUSIC IS A NEW SONG NOT AN OLD SONG.
"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..."(Shame, a tract by Dr.
Hal Webb, pp. 2,4,6)
CHRISTIAN MUSIC'S MESSAGE SHOULD BE CLEAR NOT VAGUE OR DECEPTIVE |
CHRISTIAN MUSIC'S MESSAGE SHOULD BE CLEAR NOT VAGUE OR DECEPTIVE
The Bible says in 1 Cor 14:15:
I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the
UNDERSTANDING also. 1 Cor. 14:15
The message in Christian music should be clear, not vague, or unclear.
Christian music should praise the Lord and the listener should
clearly understand the message.
The apostle Paul didn't try to "trick" anybody, he wanted to make sure he
was understood:
Seeing then that we have such hope, we use
great PLAINNESS of speech: 2 Cor. 3:12
And my speech and my preaching was NOT with
ENTICING words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the
Spirit and of power: 1 Cor. 2:4
Paul warns against "enticing words", such as CCM does:
And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with ENTICING
words. Colossians 2:4
Martin Luther, the German Reformer, also avoided any worldly influence
and wanted the message clear:
"But I would like to avoid any new words or the language used at
court. [DTTM Is that ever contrary to the
CCMers who imitate the rock worlds slang and lingo; like dcTalks "Jesus
Freak"] In order to be understood by the people, only the
simplest and the most common words should be used for singing; at the
same time, however, they should be pure and apt;
and further, the sense should be CLEAR and as close as possible to
the psalm." (Martin Luther, "To George Spalatin," Letters II,
p. 69)
Look how clear these songs praise the Lord. And literally thousands of
examples could be given:
"Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine" by Fanny Crosby
"My Jesus I Love Thee" by Adoniram Gordon
&quoE> nderful, Wonderful Jesus" by Anna Russell
"Victory in Jesus" by E.M. Bartlett
"Jesus Is All the World to Me" by Will Thompson
"Jesus Is the Sweetest Name I Know" by Lela Long
"Jesus Lover of My Soul" by Charles Wesley
Most of CCM music is vague, or it is sung in a
"worldly-hip-hop-cool-lingo". Rather than "Jesus", they will say "he",
"you", "I", etc. CCMers want to appeal to the world (to $ell records and
make dollar$!) so they use "double-speak" tactics. They won't come right out
and say what it means but they'll usually put in enough "double-speak"
"hidden agenda" to "$ell" it to Christians.
Some of their songs they'll explain on they lyric sheets what the song
means because when you listen to it it's total nonsense!
Here's some samples of the unclear, vague,
ridiculous and nonsense messages in CCM: And we could give hundreds!
Stan Moser, former head of Word Records (the man responsible for signing
Amy Grant) and CEO of Star Song Records, was one of the pioneers and most
important executives in CCM. And after 26 years in CCM, in November 1995,
walked away from CCM. In an article in Christianity Today, titled "We Have
Created a Monster" about CCM, Mr. Moser freely admits:
"But to be candid, I look at the majority of the music I hear today
and think it's virtually meaningless."
(Christianity Today, "We Have Created a Monster", May 20, 1996 p.
27)
Let's look at "real-life" example of the CCMer's "looney-toon" attempt to
justify their "lust" for fleshly rock 'n' roll (and disobedience to the Word
of God). This is from Steve Miller's, funny-book, "The Contemporary
Christian Music Debate" (which is NOT a debate by Miller but a book of
side-stepping, ignoring truths, half-truths, "looney-toon-logic", correcting
and changing of the Word of God to justify his "love" for rock 'n' roll).
While Miller readily admitts to the unclear lyrics in CCM his suggestion
to "clear up" the confusion should get the "kooks" award of the year! Here's
Miller "looney-toon" suggestion:
"Often the LACK OF CLARITY by
the variables of a concert can be overcome by the foresight of the local
church promoter. One way to alleviate the problem is to find out which
songs will be played (through the group's home office) and
play these songs (via cassette) with overheads of
the words in a youth meeting several days prior to the
concert." (Steve Miller, The Contemporary Christian Music Debate, p.102)
What a joke! Play the tapes with lyrics on an overhead so they can
UNDERSTAND what they're singing! What a mess! That's a good example of the
contents of Miller's un-Biblical-funny-book and CCM's attitude in general -
they go into "looney-toon" to justify their "love" of rock 'n' roll!
Christian music's message should be clear not vague, or concealed.
CHRISTIAN MUSIC SHOULD EMPHASIS THE MESSAGE NOT THE MUSIC, NOR THE
MUSICIAN |
CHRISTIAN MUSIC SHOULD EMPHASIS THE MESSAGE NOT THE MUSIC, NOR THE
MUSICIAN
Christian music should give ALL the attention and praise to the Lord
and NONE to the music, or the musician, or the singer.
The Lord should get ALL the praise, ALL the glory, and ALL the honor.
Spiritually speaking, the Christian musician should be heard but not seen
the Christian musician should be hide in Christ.
Christian music should emphasis and praise the Lord not the music
nor the musician.
Sing forth the honour of his name: make his
praise glorious. Psalm 66:2
Christian musicians today are so caught up with their "music" and just
the "right-sound" that the message takes a backseat. A lot of Christian
music (especially with the "canned" accompaniment tapes) is a "performance"
rather than a message. When that happens, the "performance" completely
destroys the message by pointing all the attention to self or the music.
Consequently, the musician "robs" the Lord of any praise and from a
Christian perspective, it's fruitless.
Sadly, many musicians (and not just limited to
CCM) are like the chief rulers that the Lord Jesus addressed in
John 12:
For they loved the PRAISE OF MEN more than the praise of God.
John 12:43
Stan Moser, former head of Word Records (the man responsible for signing
Amy Grant) and CEO of Star Song Records, was one of the pioneers and most
important executives in CCM. And after 26 years in CCM, in November 1995,
walked away from CCM. In an article in Christianity Today, titled "We Have
Created a Monster" about CCM, Mr. Moser freely admits:
"But to be candid, I look at the majority of the music I hear today
and think it's virtually meaningless."
(Christianity Today, "We Have Created a Monster", May 20, 1996 p. 27)
Mr Moser goes on to say:
"There is a growing chasm between CCM and the church between
what's actually happening in the real world of ministry, or even in the
music ministry of the church, and what we're doing in CCM. In fact,
I would probably be more inclined to call the
industry "commercial Christian music," rather than "contemporary Christian
music."" (Christianity Today, "We Have Created a Monster", May
20, 1996 p. 27)
HM magazine says, "a lot of Christian bands do not feel it necessary
to speak about God or Christ":
"There are a lot of bands out now who do not feel it necessary to
speak about God or Christ". (HM mag, Issue #67, p.26)
Ghoti Hook (now how's that for a Christian name), says "point-blank",
they, "don't mention God onstage..." and rather than get their audience
interested in God, they want their audience to get "interested in them"
(Satan's goal; man-worship, see Matt: 16:23):
"Sometime people give us a hard time because
we don't mention God onstage. . . I know
that a lot of other bands and people are called to talk about God onstage
a lot more than we do, and that's great, but we
just feel that our calling is to get people interested in our MUSIC,
interested in US . . ." (HM mag, Issue #67, pp.34-35)
Christian rockers, Spudgun, says:
"We don't normally say stuff about God from the stage". Jason Keely,
Spudgun (HM mag, Issue #67, p. 40)
Much of Christian music today is more entertainment than ministry. A lot
of Christian musicians (and not limited to CCM or Christian Rock) are far
more interested in impressing their audience and "flaunting" their musical
talent than ministering to the Lord. You can not sing to "please men" and
sing unto the Lord. It's one or the other.
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men?
for if I yet pleased men, I should NOT be the servant of Christ.
Galatians 1:10
Christian music is not entertainment. Christian music is spiritual
"food". Real Christian music admonishes [reprove mildly], while praising the
Lord.
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. Colossians 3:16
Christian music is from the heart, not just the voice. Beautiful voices
are a "dime a dozen". But beautiful hearts are "more priceless than gold". I
can't remember the times I've watched a Christian musician, flaunt, pomp,
articulate, get every note and vibrato perfect and yet God was nowhere
around. And yet, I've seen several times, when the singer may not hit the
right notes and yet God was all over them and it showed!
A church we once attended had a man, named "J.C." Brown. "J.C.", by the
world's standards "wasn't all there" but "J.C." and the Lord "was all
there". When "J.C." would sing, he didn't know all the words, he wasn't
musically "in tune" but he was spiritually "in tune" with the Lord. And
when "J.C." sang, hearts were moved, tears would flow and you knew God was
there. Why? "J.C." was "in tune" with the Lord.
Christian music is not entertainment, not a talent show, not a
performance or a concert but a SERIOUS ministry to the Lord.
Augustine once stated:
"When I am moved by the voice of him that sings more than the
words sung, I confess to have sinned". (Oliver Strunk, Source Reading
in Music History, Vol. I, p. 74)
Dr. Frank Garlock, author of several books on Christian music, and an
instructor in Christian music for over 40 years. Dr. Garlock writes in his
book, Music in the Balance:
"Contrary to popular opinion, sacred music is not for entertainment.
Christian music is first and foremost a vehicle for praise unto the
Lord." (Garlock, Frank & Woetzel, Kurt, Music in the Balance,
Majesty Music, 1992 p.54)
CHRISTIAN MUSIC SHOULD EMPHASIS THE MESSAGE NOT THE MUSIC NOR THE
MUSICIAN
CHRISTIAN MUSIC IS IN THE LOCAL CHURCH NOT CONCERT HALLS, NIGHT CLUBS |
CHRISTIAN MUSIC IS IN THE LOCAL CHURCH NOT CONCERT HALLS, NIGHT CLUBS.
God's place of worship and fellowship is the local church.
Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in
the CONGREGATION
of saints. Psalm 149:1
I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the
CONGREGATION will I praise thee. Psalm
22:22
Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the
CHURCH
will I sing praise unto thee. Hebrew 2:12
While I realize there are exceptions, the primary place for Christian
music, (excluding tapes, CD's and other recordings) is the church. CCM'ers
justify their performing in worldly concert halls, auditoriums, et. al. as
"trying to reach the lost". Of course, at the same time they charge
$15 - $20, rarely mention Jesus Christ and never, never, never mention
hell, judgement, sin or enough "salvation doctrine" to get anyone saved!.
CCM artist, Michael Card, admits to this "seI>"Ttion of CCM and the
church":
". . . we started with little root in the
church, and now were bearing the fruit of that separation
. . . Theres a big accountability gap in the industry as a result of a
lack of connectedness to the church." (Christianity Today, Can't Buy
Me Ministry, May 20, 1996 (p. 22)
A lot of CCM performers rarely ever perform at church services. When they
do perform at a church, it's a "concert-only-service" rather than a "church"
service.
Michael W. Smith
" . . . my goal is not to speak to the
church. I want to talk to the kids and address the whole peer
pressure thing." Michael W. Smith (CCM June 1986, p. 18)
Amy Grant
Dan Harrel, Amy Grant's brother-in-law, and promoter of Amy said:
"We never played many churches with Amy.
That was the way everyone else had done it, and nobody had ever made it."
(Rolling Stone, June 6, 1985, p.10)
Stan Moser, former head of Word Records (the man responsible for signing
Amy Grant) and CEO of Star Song Records, was one of the pioneers and most
important executives in CCM. And after 26 years involved in CCM, in November
1995 walked away CCM. In an article in Christianity Today, titled "We Have
Created a Monster", about CCM Mr. Moser says:
"In the beginning of the eighties, Sandi, Patti was singing Dottie
Rambo songs in church concerts; toward the end of the eighties, she was
singing at the Republican National Convention. We
went from the church to Carnegie Hall, from the church to large, secular
arenas, where Bill and Gloria Gaither would hold praise
gatherings. . .
We as an industry weren't running away from the church at that time,
but I do think we walked away, hoping to bring enough of the church
along so we could still make a living-so we could still, basically, get
rich. Materialism, a lot of it, crept in and started affecting our
values. . .
"There is a growing chasm between CCM and the
church between what's actually happening in the real world of
ministry, or even in the music ministry of the church, and what we're
doing in CCM. In fact, I would probably be more inclined to call the
industry "commercial Christian music," rather than "contemporary Christian
music. . . "(Christianity Today, "We Have Created a Monster", May 20,
1996 p. 27)
Most CCM artists mainly perform at concert halls, auditoriums, some even
perform at worldly night clubs.
Robert Sweet, formerly of Stryper.
"We always had this attitude that we didn't want to be characterized
as this little religious band sold in religious bookstores and happy and
content to play in a church for love
offerings." (Milwaukee Journal, Aug 25, 1987 p. 11)
Mark Farner, of the 70's mega-group Grand Funk Railroad, now is a
born-again Christian and CCM performer. Farner plays the same bars and
nighclubs as before he was saved. According to Farner, 90% of his
performances are secular.
"Music is a part of my ministry no matter where I go and 90
percent of that is secular," Farner said. Farner also continues to
tour the nation performing in some of the same nightclubs and bars that he
played as a member of Grand Funk. (Calendar Fall/Win 91 p 6)
CHRISTIAN MUSIC IS IN THE LOCAL CHURCH NOT CONCERT HALLS, NIGHT
CLUBS.
CHRISTIAN MUSIC SHOULD FEED THE SPIRIT NOT THE FLESH |
CHRISTIAN MUSIC SHOULD FEED THE SPIRIT NOT THE FLESH
The Christian life is a spiritual life.
A Christian is born-again of the Spirit.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of
the Spirit is
spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be
born again. John 3:6-7
A Christian is to walk in the Spirit:
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit,
and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Galatians 5:16
God is a Spirit and you "MUST worship him in spirit".
God is a Spirit: and they that
worship him MUST worship him in spirit
and in truth. John 4:24
And a Christian's music should be spiritual not carnal.
I will sing with the SPIRIT, and
I will sing with the understanding also. 1 Cor 14:15
I've had CCMers scream many times, "The Bible
doesn't give ANY guidelines for Christian music. It's all a matter of TASTE
and PREFERENCE". I usually turn to Ephesians 5:19 and
Colossians 3:16, and they surprisingly "eye" them for the very "first
time"." frarently it's important enough to the Lord to list them twice. The
Bible lists three specific types of Christian songs; psalms and hymns and
SPIRITUAL songs. I certainly do NOT think CCM and rock music is a
psalm, hymn or SPIRITUAL SONG!
ROCK MUSIC AND CCM IS FLESHLY MUSIC!
Christian music should feed the spirit NOT THE FLESH.
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and
SPIRITUAL songs, singing and making
melody in your heart to the Lord; Ephesians 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.
Colossians 3:16
A Christian has "crucified the FLESH".
"And they that are Christ's have crucified the FLESH with the
affections and lusts." Galatians 5:24
The SPIRIT and the FLESH are contrary and opposite. They are enemies.
"For the FLESH lusteth against the SPIRIT,
and the SPIRIT against the FLESH: and these are contrary the one to the
other:. . ." Galatians 5: 16
It couldn't be clearer Christian music should feed the SPIRIT NOT THE
FLESH.
And Rock music (which is what CCM is) is FLESH.
There is no doubt rock music is FLESH. Its CARNAL. Thats why the
world "loves" rock music. The world does not love "spiritual" things
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God:
for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because
they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians. 2:14) but FLESHLY,
CARNAL things. And that is why the world "loves" rock music. A few
"testimonies" from the world:
"But rock music has one appeal
only, a barbaric appeal, to sexual desire not love, not
eros, but sexual desire undeveloped and untutored." (Bloom, Alan,
The Closing of the American Mind, Simon & Schuster, 1987 p.73)
"Its admirers want to make rock appealing by making it respectable.
The thing cant be done. Rock is appealing
because its vulgar, . . Rock is the quintessence of
vulgarity. It's crude, loud, and tasteless." (Pattison, Robert, The
Triumph of Vulgarity, 1987, preface, p.4)
Rock music, any rock music is FLESH! You can label it
"Christian", but that doesnt change its nature its still FLESH. You can
label strychnine "candy", but that doesnt make it candy its still
POISON.
WHAT IS ROCK MUSIC?
What is the main characteristic of rock music? What makes rock different
from other music? Why does rock appeal to the flesh? What is it about rock
that is has "taken-over" the music world?
In order to answer that question, let's examine the components of music.
Music is composed of three main components; melody, harmony and rhythm.
If these ingredients are not present, then it's not music, but noise.
Melody:
Webster's Dictionary defines melody as; 1. Sweetness of sound;
music 2. The chief theme of a musical composition. 3. A tune; song
(The Grosset Webster Dictionary, p. 372)
Melody is the most prominent part of music. Melody is the theme of the
tune. Without the melody line, there is no music. Melody is the
horizontal line the notes follow on the music score.
Here's a few quotes from famous musicians on melody:
"Melody is the main thing; harmony is useful only to charm the
ear." Joseph Haydn (Wordsworth Dictionary of Musical
Quotations, p. 15)
"Three things belong to composing, first of all melody; then
again melody; then finally, for the third time, melody."
Salomon Jadassohn (Wordsworth Dictionary of Musical Quotations, p. 15)
"Melody is the very essence of music."
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Wordsworth Dictionary of Musical Quotations, p.
16)
Harmony:
Webster's Dictionary defines harmony as; Agreeable proportion of
sound. A succession of chords. (The Grosset Webster Dictionary, p. 281)
Harmony is when two or more note are played at the same time. Harmony
adds depth to the melody line. Harmony is the basis for the formation of
chords. Harmony is the vertical line where the notes meet on the
music score.
Rhythm:
Our friend, Webster defines rhythm as; The pattern of tones with
regard to their relative time value. (The Grosset Webster Dictionary, p.
490)
Rhythm is the movement in music. Without rhythm, music would be one, long
continuous sound, or an uncontrollable noise. Rhythm or the beat is the
"glue" that holds everything together. The rhythm is an "unseen" but
required component of the music score.
WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT ROCK MUSIC?
Because of that, rock is unlike any other music. In other music, the
melody is the main component, but in rock the rhythm or th beat
literally takes over the music.
"The rhythm in rock is the dominant part of the sound. The heavy
emphasis on the BEAT is what
distinguishes rock from every other type of music." (Frank Garlock,
Music in the Balance, p. 32)
"Perhaps the most important defining quality of rock and roll is
the BEAT, . . . Rock and roll is
different from other music primarily because of
the BEAT." (Charles Brown, The Art of Rock and Roll, p. 42)
And it is that BEAT that the FLESH loves!
"The sexuality of music is usually referred to in terms of it's
rhythm it is the BEAT that commands
a directly PHYSICAL response." (Simon Frith, Sound Effects,
Youth, Leisure, and the Politics of Rock 'n' Roll, p. 240)
"Rhythm is the element of music most closely allied to BODY
MOVEMENT [fleshly, carnal], to
PHYSICAL action. Its simpler patterns when repeated over and over
[which is exactly what rock does] can have
a hypnotic effect on us". (Joseph Machlis, The Enjoyment of Music, p.
19)
Larry Norman, in his song, "Why Should the Devil Have All the Good
Music", sings about the FLESHLY and PHYSICAL response (moves
my feet) of the BEAT of rock.
I ain't knocking the hymns,
Just give me a song that has a BEAT.
I ain't knocking the hymns,
Just give me a song that moves my feet
I've talked to hundreds of young people about the satanic and filthy
lyrics in secular rock and nearly every one, replies, "I don't listen to
the lyrics. I don't care what the lyrics say. It's
the BEAT that I get in to".
Donnie Brewer of 1970's groups Grand Funk says:
"We take the kids away from their parents and their environment to
where the only reality is the rhythm and the BEAT."
(Hart, Lowell Satan's Music Exposed, p.102)
When secular rock-star, Michael Jackson was asked why he did the
filthly-sexual, hand gestures on stage, he replied:
"It's the music that COMPELS me to do it. You don't think
about it, it just happens. I'M A SLAVE TO THE
RHYTHM." (The Evening Star, February 11, 1993, p.
A10)
I've had hundreds of CCMers' say to me, "The
Bible gives no instructions on the STYLE of music for a Christian to
listen to. It's all a matter of preference and culture."
I have read many articles and books by CCM advocates, that claim, the
Bible gives no instructions on the type of music for a Christian to listen
to.
Don Butler, Gospel Music Association executive director
"There is no such thing as 'gospel music'.
Every style and form of music can become gospel, whether it's jazz,
pop, rock 'n' roll, or rap." (IM Mar/Apr 1991 p. 27)
But "what saith the Lord"? Does the Bible give us any indication
to the type of music we should sing? Did the Lord God who made heaven and
earth, who created music and sound, who put so much emphasis on music in His
Word did He forget to tell us what is Christian music?
Not hardly. Thank God He has given us instructions for our music.
Thank God we can BURY "once and for all" the
ridiculous LIE that "the Bible gives no instructions on the type
of music for a Christian to listen to. It's all a matter of preference and
culture."
Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been
forgotten; make sweet MELODY, sing
many songs, that thou mayest be remembered. Isaiah 23:16
For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste
places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the
garden of the LORD; jothe d gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving,
and the voice of MELODY. Isaiah 51:3
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; Ephesians 5:18-19
The Lord God refers to music as MELODY!
According to God the emphasis of Christian music is the MELODY not
the BEAT! How is it, that the CCM world keeps "parroting" "the Bible
gives no instructions on the type of music for a Christian to listen to.
It's all a matter of preference and culture"? Is it because they can NOT
read 5th grade English? Or is it they
do NOT care what God says! I've shown many CCMers Ephesians 5:19,
and nearly all coolly, reply, "Aw, It don't really mean that".
In other words "I don't care what God says I'm gonna rock 'n' roll"!
I'm reminded of the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, as he described some
people, much like the CCMers, who "having eyes, see ye not? and having
ears, hear ye not?"
17 And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye,
because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither UNDERSTAND?
have ye your heart yet hardened?
18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having
ears, hear ye not? and do ye not
remember? Mark 8:17-18
So far we've seen:
1. MELODY is the main theme of music.
2. Rock music emphasizes the BEAT.
3. God defines music as MELODY.
Now are you ready for this? Fasten your seat belt and hold on here
comes a biggee! Most of rock music and CCM does not have ANY MELODY!
According to the technical definition of music rock is NOT even music!
According to the Lord God rock music is NOT music!
NO MELODY = NO MUSIC!
The world famous composer and conductor, Dimitri Tiomkin said of rock
music:
"The big beat is deliberately aimed at exciting the listener. . .There
is actually very little MELODY, little sense in the lyrics,
ONLY RHYTHM [beat]". (Los Angeles
Herald-Examiner, Aug., 8, 1965, p. 9J)
Lenny Seidel, a concert pianist and twenty-five year Christian music
scholar, gives this definition of both godly music and rock music:
"True godly music will be composed of three elements - all in
perfect balance with each other. They are: melody, harmony, and rhythm.
Rock "music" has NO MELODY only
fragments of melody endlessly repeated. Since there is no true melody,
there is no real harmony. There is ONLY RHYTHM.
And rhythm in and of itself is not music." (Leonard J. Seidel,
Face the Music Contemporary Music On Trial, pp. 46-51)
In his classic book, The Understanding of Music, author Charles R.
Hoffer, answers our question: How does rock differ from other popular
music?:
"How does rock differ from jazz and other popular music? One
characteristic is its HEAVY BEAT, which led one critic to define
rock as 'music in which the bass drum carries the
MELODY?'" (Charles R. Hoffer, The Understanding of Music,
p. 503)
Popular author, Martha Bayles, writes in her eye-opening book, "Hole in
Our Soul: The Loss of Beauty and Meaning in American Popular Music":
". . .ry, ular music seems terminally hostile to any sound
traditionally associated with music." (Martha Bayles, Hole in Our
Soul: The Loss of Beauty and Meaning in American Popular Music, p. 4)
Even the secular, satanic rockers the Rolling Stones admit rock is NOT
music but NOISE!
"It's a NOISE we make. That's all.
You could he kind and call it music." Mick Jagger, Rolling Stones
(Roy Carr, The Rolling Stones - An Illustrated Record, p. 37)
NO MELODY = NOISE!
Rock music emphasizes that HARD, driving BEAT. What instrument do you
hear more than any other in rock? What instrument is it that pounds out that
heavy beat?
THE DRUM
The Bible lists many kinds of instruments: Psalms 150:3-5 says:
3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with
the psaltery and harp.
4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with
stringed instruments and organs.
5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high
sounding cymbals. Psalms 150:3-5
With all the many references to musical instruments, there is one
instrument that is NEVER mentioned! The
DRUM! Why is that? The drum was a very common instrument in Egypt
and the lands around Israel. And yet the DRUM is
NEVER mentioned in a King James Bible.
Did the Lord just forget to include the DRUM or is there another
reason?
Is it because drums are associated with voodoo, shamanism, paganism and
magic rituals?
"[Drums] represents the beat of the heart and is played
to summon up magic powers."
(Miranda Bruce-Mitford, The Illustrated Book of Signs & Symbols, DK
Publishing, 1996 p.80)
"The shaman was the original 'long hair', the first rock star draped
in leather, dancing POSSESSED to a rhythm banged
out on A DRUM." (Danny Sugerman, Appetite for
Destruction, p. 208)
In Siberia, in northern Asia, drums are used in shamanic rituals to
heal people. It is believed that the shaman can communicate with the
spirit world THROUGH DRUMMING.
(Louise Tythacott, Musical Instruments, Thomas Learning, 1995, p. 37)
"Pagan dances and rituals are always accompanied by the incessant
BEAT of DRUMS. Rhythm plays a major role
in these demonic activities." (Hart, Lowell Satan's Music Exposed,
Salem Kirban Inc., 1980 p.71)
Robert Palmer is a contributing editor to Rolling Stone and other
rock magazines. Palmer has also taught courses in music at Yale, and many
other universities. Palmer was the chief advisor for the highly acclaimed
"History of Rock 'n' Roll" that aired on public television. Palmer, an
advocate and lover of rock music, is among the leading authorities on rock
music. Here's what Palmer says about rock and the drum:
"Bata drums [drums used in voodoo],
sacred to the Yoruba people of Nigeria and Cuba:
Their push and pull provided a template for the inner rhythms of rock and
roll." (Palmer, Robert Rock & Roll An Unruly History, Harmony
Books, New York, 1995 p.46)
"The idea that certain RHYTHM patterns or sequences serve as
conduits for spiritual energies, linking individual human consciousness
with the gods, is basic to traditional African religions, and to
African-derived religions throughout the Americas. And whether we're
speaking historically or musicologically, the fundamental riffs, licks,
bass figures, and drum rhythms that make rock and roll can ultimately be
traced back to African music of a primarily spiritual or ritual nature.
In a sense, rock and roll is a kind of 'voodoo' . .
. ," (Robert Palmer, Rock & Roll, An Unruly History, Harmony
Books, New York, 1995 p.53)
Palmer describes how drums are used in "voodoo" possession
and the same drum patterns are part of the basics of
rock 'n' roll and CCM!
"Bata drummers tap out their toques, or rhythm patterns, like
signals to the realm of the gods, inviting and enticing them to come on
down and mount or POSSESS their horses, or devotees. . .The
specific drum patterns or toques include some riffs and licks basic to the
rock and roll vocabulary." (Palmer, Robert Rock & Roll An
Unruly History, Harmony Books, New York, 1995 p.62)
Here's an episode from the occult, new-age magazine, New Age Journal,
describing the "possessing" power of drums. Notice, even the devotees of the
occult stay away from those drums:
"I remembered a conversation I'd once had in Cuba with a reporter
from The New York Times, 'Stay away from those drums,' he had told
me, referring to the ones said to call down the
gods in Santeria's sacred ceremonies. 'If I ever really gave
in to those DRUMS, my life would change in
ways I'm not prepared to take on,' he had added. I knew what he was
talking about. It was all there in the drumming.
Listen long enough, and some energy field, some kind of
interconnectedness, became palpable. I was hungry for those drums.
Yet I still ran from them." (A Shaman's Story, by Elizabeth Hanly (A
Vodoun priest leads the author on a journey of understanding, New Age
Journal, March/April 1997 pp.56-57)
Little Richard, the self-professed "architect of rock n roll",
readily admits Satans control and influence in his life and rock music:
"My true belief about Rock n Roll is this: I believe this
kind of music is demonic . . . A lot of the BEATS
in music today are taken from voodoo, from the
voodoo DRUMS." (Charles White, The Life and Times of
Little Richard, p. 197)
Danny Sugerman, an authority on rock music, and author of several books
on rock, writes in Appetite for Destruction:
"The shaman was the original 'long hair', the first rock star draped
in leather, dancing possessed to a rhythm banged out on a
DRUM. . . To these people, communication with
the gods was synonymous with DRUMS . .
.the body can become the conduit for a deity, a deity not necessarily the
same sex as the worshiper, and DRUMS are the
catalyst for the whole process. The trance of the
RHYTHM then begets the hysteria, which begets what
Westerners simplistically call 'possession'."
(Danny Sugerman, Appetite for Destruction, p.208, 181)
David Tame writes in The Secret Power of Music:
"Today's DRUMMER differs but
little from the shaman in his incessant beating out of a rhythm, and
likewise often enters into a form of trance while performing." (The
Secret Power of Music, David Tame, p. 199)
The DRUM has always been associated with the paganism and the devil. In
fact, a little more than a hundred years ago, drums were forbidden (exy th
for the military) in America!
"The arrival of African slaves has had one of the strongest
influences on North American music. In the seventeenth and eighteenth
centuries, millions of African people were taken as slaves to the U.S. to
work on plantations in the South. They brought
many of their own traditions with them but
were forbidden to play their DRUMS." (Louise Tythacott,
Musical Instruments, Thomas Learning, 1995, p.19)
Do you know why New Orleans is the voodoo capital of the U.S, and also
the birthplace of jazz? Because drumming was forbidden in the U.S.
except in New Orleans!
"This was especially true in New Orleans.
African-based DRUMMING, singing, and dancing, discouraged and repeatedly
banned elsewhere in North America, had flourished there since the early
eighteenth century. This unique heritage has informed and
enlivened New Orleans music ever since, as well as distinguishing it from
the rest of American musical culture, making the
city an ideal incubator for a nonmainstream music as rhythmically oriented
as rock and roll. (Palmer, Robert Rock & Roll An Unruly
History, Harmony Books, New York, 1995 p.21)
When the first blacks from Africa were converted to Christianity
they knew the power and evil influence of DRUMS.
And the converted blacks strictly forbid the use of drums! They referred to
the drums as "the Devil's drum". (Martha
Bayles, Hole in Our Soul: The Loss of Beauty and Meaning in American Popular
Music, p. 138)
"Historically blacks had drawn the line between particular
instruments and practices; They permitted tambourines, for instance,
but not DRUMS." (Martha Bayles, Hole in
Our Soul: The Loss of Beauty and Meaning in American Popular Music, p.
130)
One simple guideline for Christian
music is NO DRUMS!
CHRISTIAN MUSIC SHOULD FEED THE SPIRIT NOT THE FLESH!
CHRISTIAN MUSIC SHOULD EMPHAZIE THE MELODY NOT THE BEAT!
CHRISTIAN MUSICIANS SHOULD BE DEDICATED TO THE LORD NOT WORLDLY |
CHRISTIAN MUSICIANS SHOULD BE DEDICATED TO THE LORD NOT WORLDLY
It's amazing when God sought for a man after His own heart, God picked
a young musician named David! When God picked
His king for Israel, it was a young musician
named David!
And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be
their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David
the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart,
which shall fulfil all my will.
Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a
Saviour, Jesus: Acts 13:22-23
It's interesting to note that before David was a soldier he was a
musician!
It's interesting to note that before David was king he was a musician!
It's interesting to note that when God choose David he was a musician!
It's also very interesting that when the servants of Saul sought for a
musician to play before Saul because an evil spirit from the Lord troubled
him, they chose David!
14 But the spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit
from the LORD troubled him.
15 And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God
troubleth thee.
16 Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek
out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass,
when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his
hand, and thou shalt be well.
17 And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play
well, and bring him to me.
18 Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son
of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty
valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely
person, and the LORD is with him. 1 Samuel 16:14-18
(These verses CLEARLY "knock out" that LIE
that music is neutral!)
Noticed in verse 18, the testimony of David:
that is cunning in playing, [good
musician]
and a mighty valiant man, [valiant-heroic,
courageous]
and a man of war, [how did they know that?
David hasn't fought Goliath yet]
and prudent in matters, [prudent - wise and
disciplined in conduct]
and a comely person, [comely - fair,
handsome, modest]
and the LORD is with him. [The world knew
David was dedicated to God]
1 Samuel 16:14-18
Christian musicians, like David, should have a clear-cut testimony for
the Lord Jesus Christ! Christian musicians, like David, should be separate
from the world Saul's servants KNEW David was different!
Christian musicians, like David, should have this testimony "the
LORD is with them"!
Christian musicians like David, should be dedicated
to the Lord.
In the Old Testament the Levites had a special place with the Lord. They
were the spiritual leaders. And do you know who God told David to choose for
musicians! THE LEVITES!
And David spake to the chief of THE LEVITES to appoint their
brethren to be the singers with instruments of music, psalteries and
harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy. 1
Chronicles 15:16
God did NOT allow just anybody to be His musicians! Apparently the Lord
took His music very serious! For when He choose His musicians
He SPECIFICALLY choose the most dedicated and
consecrated tribe in all of Israel the LEVITES! WOW! The Levites
were separated for the service of the sanctuary. The priests were also
chosen from the Levites.
How does that compare with what is happening today! We've got people
today, who are supposed to be God's musicians who have committed
adultery [Sandi Patty, Michael English], arrested for child molestation
[singer for Whiteheart], used drugs [Andrea Crouch, Gary Chapman],
fellowshipped and singing ungodly, wicked songs [Johnny Cash, Deliverance,
dcTalk, 77's, et al.] and on and on and on! And all in the name of the Lord
Jesus Christ! Boy, what a carnal, wicked mess!
But that was the Old Testament. That was the children of Israel.
What about the New Testament?
I'm glad you asked. . .
In Ephesians 5:19, the Lord mentions "singing and making melody in your
heart to the Lord;"
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Ephesians 5:19
Look at the verse 18, the requirement for verse 19, "be filled
with the Spirit".
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess;
but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing
and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name
of our Lord Jesus Christ;
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Ephesians
5:18-21
Also, look at verses 20 and 21, that also qualify (see the semi-colon;)
verse 19
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
In Colossians 3:16, the Lord has another qualification for His musicians:
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.
Colossians 3:16
Did you notice the requirement in Col. 3:16
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you RICHLY" A Christian
musician should be a serious student of the Word of God! A Christian
musician should "teach and admonish" in his songs because the Word of Christ
s dwelling in him!
The Christian musician should KNOW the Word of God!
I have talked to literally hundreds (probably thousands) of CCM fans,
some of the most popular CCM artists, some of the most popular CCM authors,
many CCM pastors and I have never talked to ONE NOT EVEN ONE
who knew enough Bible to ntelligently discuss Christian music! (as Paul says
"I say the truth in Christ, I lie not")
In order to justify Christian Rock and CCM you
have to throw out the Bible!
But, believe me, I've talked to many CCM fans who could quote the lyrics
of their CCM rock stars! They knew the words of their rock "gods" but when
it came to the Words of the Lord God they didn't KNOW and what's
worse they didn't even CARE what God said!
Christian musicians should be "filled with the Spirit"!
Christian musicians should be "filled RICHLY with the Word of God"!
The group Christian rock band Tempest were popular in the 1980's, but
since have broken up. Read these words of guitarist Mikk Rowe of Temptest:
"I had no business being out there in a Christian band, trying to
tell others about their problems when I had so many problems in my life
that I wasn't even seeking guidance for. " (HM, Issue #64, p. 40)
There's a lot of Christian musicians (especially in CCM) that have no
business singing and representing the Lord Jesus Christ! There's a lot of
CCM artists, who have no business, being an example to young people of a
"dedicated" Christian BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT!
Christian musicians should be dedicated to the Lord not the world!
CCM musicians copy the world's music.
CCM musicians copy the world's looks and lifestyles.
When asked about their blatant, worldly looks most CCMers immediately
quote 1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on
the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth
not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance,
but the LORD looketh on the heart.
1 Samuel 16:7
The worldly CCMer is quick with "for man looketh on the OUTWARD
appearance, but the LORD looketh on the HEART". They think 1
Samuel 16:7 means, "see there God doesn't care what we look like God looks
on the heart!"
But is that what the Lord is saying in 1 Samuel 16? Look at the context
of WHY the Lord said that! Notice the first part "Look not on his
COUNTENANCE, or on the HEIGHT of his stature; because I have refused him:"
Lord, wasn't talking about his DRESS, or his HAIR but how TALL he was!
Why did the Lord say that to Samuel? Because God was about to choose His
king of Israel and His "chosen one" was NOT impressive by "man of war"
standards. David wasn't TALL. David was a TEENAGER. David was not even in
the line-up! David was not even in the running! The Bible says about David:
11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he
said, There remaineth yet THE YOUNGEST, and, behold, he keepeth the
sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit
down till he come hither.
12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a
beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise,
anoint him: for this is he. 1 Samuel 16:11-12
As you can see from the context of 1 Samuel 16, God is not referring to
clothes, etc.
There's no doubt that God does indeed "looketh on the heart".
And there's NO doubt that YOU and I can NOT "look on the heart". As 1
Samuel 16:7, says, "for MAN looketh on the
outward appearance". And the Lord Jesus
commands us in Matthew 5:16:
Let your light so shine BEFORE men,
that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in
heaven. Matthew 5:16
There's no doubt that God DOES indeed care how we LOOK!
If God doesn't care about the way we look why did He write the
following? Just to take up space in His Word?
In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in MODEST APPAREL,
with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or
pearls, or costly array;
But (which becometh women professing GODLINESS) with good works. 1 Timothy
2:9,10
Apparently to the Lord there's APPAREL that is
GODLY notice what the Lord said in verse 10 "which becometh
women professing GODLINESS".
The Bible tells us in Romans 12:2 "be not CONFORMED to this world".
We're to not "conform" to this world. We're to be different. We're to
act different and look different.
12:1 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.
2 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
CCM artists openly and mockingly disobey God's "be not conformed to this
world". Mylon Lefevre irreverently titled one of
his albums, "Sheep in Wolves Clothing".
One of the obvious copying of the rock world's appearance is the long
hair on males. I've had numerous CCMers, say, "Show me in the Bible where
long hair is wrong? Just give me a verse!" And when I show them 1
Corinthians 11:14:
Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have
LONG HAIR, it is a shame unto him? 1
Corinthians 11:14
Most of the time, the average CCMer, stares at 1 Cor. 11:14, for the
first time they did NOT know it was there! Usually their next
statement is, "Well Jesus had long hair!" With that I usually pull a
"dirty-trick" I ask them to show me from the Bible that Jesus had long
hair. End of conversation. . .
When the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, and other rockers started
wearing long hair, it was because of REBELLION!
Here's what David Lee Roth of the secular group Van Halen (who has songs
like "Running with the Devil") says his long hair "is a flag" and
"anti-establishment" otherwords REBELLION:
"[his long hair] It's a flag. It's Tarzan. I'll always be
anti-establishment". (USA Today)
Jerry Rubin, a 60's leader of rebellion says LONG HAIR is the "mark" of
REBELLION:
"Young kids identify short hair with authority, discipline,
unhappiness, boredom, rigidity, hatred of right, and
LONG HAIR with letting it go. . . Wherever we
go, our HAIR tells people where we stand on Viet Nam, Wallace, campus
disruption, dope. We are living TV commercials for the revolution. . .
LONG HAIR is the beginning of our liberation from
sexual oppression that underlies the whole military society."
(Jerry Rubin, Do It)
Just to show you how far the Church has gotten away from the Word of God,
someone sent me the following email:
"Last night I was up late watching an old episode of "I Love Lucy." In
this episode Lucy wanted to get a new "Italian" haircut. This is a haircut
that is similar to if not identical to the one on the heads of at least
50% of the women in most churches I have preached in (and I have preached
in hundreds of churches in nearly all 50 states). In fact, the "Italian"
cut that Lucy wanted was longer than the "do's" I have seen on the heads
of a lot of Baptist pastor's wives.
Ricky's (Desi Arnaz) reply was: "Lucy, there
is a difference between men and women. Men have short hair and women have
long hair. I am not going to have my wife getting her hair cut
off and looking like a man. It will confuse
Little Ricky and I do not want my son to grow up with a mother that looks
like his father."
This preacher said in the email:
"If Ricky Ricardo could preach I Cor. 11:14-15 on his TV show, I should
hope preachers will start to do so from their pulpits.quot;
Don't bet on it. . . Most Christians and PREACHERS could care less what
God says when it "interferes" with their music and lifestyle.
It's gotten pretty bad when television actors preach and KNOW more of the
Word of God than most Christians and PREACHERS! By the way, 1 Cor 11, is
just as much the Word of God as John 3:16.
Long hair is also worn by shamans and demonism. A shaman is someone who
invokes demon spirits and invites the demon to possess their body.
"The shaman was the original 'LONG HAIR', the first rock star draped
in leather, dancing POSSESSED to a rhythm banged out on a drum."
(Danny Sugerman, Appetite for Destruction, p. 208)
I find it very interesting also that in Revelation 9:7,8 describing the
demonic creatures as:
". . .their faces were as the faces of men. And they had HAIR as the
hair of women," Revelation 9:7,8
No honest person can deny that God intends for a man to have short hair
and a woman long hair. Asking silly questions like, "How long is long?",
just shows your rebellion to the Word of God.
My answer to the "classic", "How long is long?" is simple if you've got
to ask it's too long!
When I got saved, I had long hair. At that time, my long hair was
very important. I mean, very important! I don't believe I would have cut
my hair for $1000! But after a few months of reading my Bible,
fellowshipping with the Lord and other Christians I went to the barber
shop and got a haircut! I mean a real haircut that I had not had in many
years. It wasn't easy! But I remember coming home and looking in the
mirror. I felt wonderful! I felt clean! I can honestly say, that cutting
my long hair was one of the greatest victories of my Christian life! I put
so much importance on my long hair. After it was cut, I realized how silly
and rebellious, I was to let something, like the length of my hair, get me
to disobey the Word of God.
God clearly intends for a man to look like a man and a woman to look like
a woman. And as we've seen (and any sane person knows) the hair length is a
distinguishing characteristic of the male and female gender. A man who has
womanish looks (such as a man with long hair) or characteristics is called
effeminate. In 1 Cor. 6:9-10, the Lord has some very stern warning
against "effeminate"! Look who the Lord groups "effeminate" with!
9 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. 1 Cor 6:9-10
That's a pretty serious warning from the Lord God! I would NOT take that
lightly!
The evidence is
clear CCM is not Bible-Believing, Christian music.
CHRISTIAN MUSICIANS SHOULD BE DEDICATED TO THE LORD NOT WORLDLY
Here's a summary of Bible guidelines for
Christian Music:
BIBLE GUIDELINES FOR CHRISTIAN MUSIC |
CHRISTIAN MUSIC SHOULD PRAISE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST NOT MAN
The LORD
is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am
helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my SONG will
I PRAISE him. Psalm 28:7
CHRISTIAN MUSIC IS FOR THE LORD NOT FOR THE WORLD
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. Colossians 3:16
CHRISTIAN MUSIC IS A NEW SONG NOT AN OLD SONG
I will
sing a NEW SONG unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an
instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee. Psalm 144:9
CHRISTIAN MUSIC'S MESSAGE SHOULD BE CLEAR NOT VAGUE OR DECEPTIVE
I will
sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the UNDERSTANDING
also. 1 Cor. 14:15
CHRISTIAN MUSIC SHOULD EMPHASIS THE MESSAGE NOT THE MUSIC NOR
THE MUSICIAN
Sing
forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious. Psalm 66:2
CHRISTIAN MUSIC IS IN THE LOCAL CHURCH NOT CONCERT HALLS, NIGHT
CLUBS.
Saying,
I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the
CHURCH will I sing praise unto thee. Hebrew 2:12
CHRISTIAN MUSIC SHOULD FEED THE SPIRIT NOT THE FLESH
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. Colossians
3:16
CHRISTIAN MUSICIANS SHOULD BE DEDICATED TO THE LORD NOT WORLDLY
18 And
be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the
Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Ephesians
5:18-21
|
Again, we encourage you to honestly compare your music to these Bible
guidelines.
|