Posted on 05/16/2004 5:36:21 AM PDT by RMrattlesnake
What Is Christian Music?
By Missionary Ken Hutcheson
Those who defend "Christian Rock," claim that there are no differences between music; that the only considerations are the words and purpose. But this is patently false by the fact that the world clearly differentiates between music that is religious or Christian, classical, military or march music, country/western, waltz, honky-tonk or bar, etc... Further, people’s minds are conditioned from childhood to associate these differences with activities, events, memories, etc., whether god or bad. Even God’s Word refers to bad music such as "the song of the drunkards" (Psalm 69:12), "sing as an harlot" (Isaiah 23:15), children mocking Job with songs (Job 30:8-9), "the song of fools" (Eccl. 7:5), "religious" music that God does not like (Amos 5:23), and God’s condemnation of all who make musical instruments "like David" to be used for sin! (Amos 6:1-6).
For years, before his death, Bro. Lester Roloff thundered that rock music is the most destructive influence on teenagers today, that it is so addictive it has a hold on them like dope, booze, tobacco, etc. And this is true of so-called "Christian Rock," or "Contemporary Music."
God’s Word plainly commands us to "Abstain from all appearance of evil," (I Thes. 5:22) and to provide "for honest things, not only in sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men." (II Cor. 8:21). These verses, plus many others, clearly teach that whatever we do must not only be right before God, but that it must also look right and sound right before men.
Certain misguided church leaders thought that the way "to win young people" was to invite rock groups into churches and to encourage teenagers to buy their records and tapes. But the results have filled some churches with worldly members having little or no moral standards. A few pastors and editors tried to show that it was doing great spiritual damage to the youth of America and to those in churches, but they have been either ignored or bitterly opposed.
Repeatedly, some Christians, who were saved out of certain worldly conditions, have pleaded that they have painful struggles with rock music in the church because it reminds them of their sinful past! When lost people go to church and see and hear singers that look and sound like those in night clubs, bars, rock concerts, etc., they are either disgusted or drawn to a false religion. Some churches have now almost totally switched to "Christian Rock," and "Contemporary Music;" and it is hard to tell that their music is even Christian anymore. The dress styles of most "Christian Rock" singers is detestable and repulsive in the extreme. It is obvious that they are trying to promote themselves, get attention for themselves, and steal glory that belongs only to our Lord Jesus. They have certainly not learned the great lesson of John the Baptist who said, "He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease!" (John 3:30).
A few months ago persecuted Christians in Russia sent an urgent message to the Churches of America. It has been quoted in several Christian publications and we endorse it totally and enthusiastically! It is one of the most shocking and rebuking statements ever made in the two thousand year history of Christianity and should forever settle the matter. It ought to have the widest possible circulation. We quote:
"For years we (Russian persecuted Christians) have suffered persecution, and now freedom is bringing another great harm to our churches. This damage is coming from the Christians in America who are sending rock music and evangelists accompanied by rock bands.
"Our young people do not attend these meetings because we have all committed not to participate in secular entertainment.
"This is a great burden on our hearts. Many came (from America) with Bible in hand and rock music. We are embarrassed by this image of Christianity. We do not know what words to use in urging that this be stopped. We abhor all Christian rock music coming to our country.
"Rock music has nothing in common with ministry or service to God. We are very, very against Christian Americans bringing to our country this false image of ‘ministry’ to God. We need spiritual bread; please give us bread, not false cakes. It is true that rock music attracts people to the church, but not to godly living.
"We were in prison for years for Christ’s sake. We were not allowed to have Christian music, but rock music was used as a weapon against us day and night to destroy our souls. We could only resist with much prayer and fasting.
"Now, we have a time of more openness, and we are no longer taken to prison. However, now it is Christians from America who damage our souls. We do not allow this music in our churches, but they rent big stadiums and infect teenagers and others with their rock music.
"we, the leadership and congregations of the Unregistered Union of Churches, the former Persecuted Church, have made an agreement no to allow rock music in our churches. We urge you to join with us, and we advise you to remove rock music from America, and certainly not to bring it to our own country.
"Do not desecrate our teenagers with it. Even the unbelievers recognize it as unholy music, and they cannot understand how American Christians can be so much like the world. We can give you the conclusion that after Russian unbelievers have attended these rock concerts where Christ’s Word was preached, they were disappointed and disillusioned with Christianity.
"We call this music from Hell. We urge all Americans to stop giving money (to send) such concerts to Russia. We want only traditional Christian music in our churches. This is the unanimous decision of all our leaders.
This statement was signed by leaders of the Underground Church in Russia, and its logic, reasons, and Bible principles are simply unanswerable to rock groups and their supporters. Think of that: poor, humble, suffering Russian Christians are severely rebuking and instructing arrogant, worldly American Christians. They ought to be ashamed. They ought to repent!
Therefore, what is Christian music? First, the words must be true to the Bible. Second, the music must not sound like or remind people of the world. Third, the music must honor and glorify our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Name above every name! Fourth, the musicians must be so dedicated to the Lord that they will do everything possible, including dress and music style, not to attract attention to themselves or the world but to magnify our Lord Jesus! Amen!
Had that been maintained, Christian rock would be a non-issue.
One reason I had to leave the Baptist faith, was the entertainment mentality that seemed to drive the services. There is a good article in "Touchstone Magazine" related to this. I'll see if it's on line.
When will we get a clue? Sunday morning is for believers - and their worship (which can include music) needs to "take them to heaven." When will realize that a "purpose-driven life" (the current Christian book-of-the-month club) is still man-centered? Oh Church, why play around the edges with your programs, fads, and performances - when you can approach the throne of God through Christ!
Have it your way if you like. I'm pretty sure it's not God's way.
I for one dropped by 15-year-old off at church this morning with two sets of drumsticks. It's youth sunday.
In evening's production 100-plus teenagers will be sharing their kind of music, complete with trash can band, step team and the latest video technology.
And if you can't see that these kids are sold out for Christ, you're blind.
I don't really think Christian worship should be fossilized by tradition, so that nothing is allowed to change because every detail or feature is sacred. If you are comforted and spiritually uplifted by plainsong chanting, or by pipe organs and 17th century hymns, I'm glad. But please, please don't imply that my style of worship is wanton because I prefer to praise God with several thousand other congregants over a soft rock ensemble.
I posted it as a new thread.
“The sanctuary is the house of praise as well as the house of prayer. All saints praise God: they would not be saints if they did not. Their praise is sincere, suitable, seasonable, and acceptable. Personal praise is sweet unto God, but congregated praise has a multiplicity of sweetnesses in it. When holy ones meet, they adore the Holy One. Saints do not gather to amuse themselves with music, nor to extol one another, but to sing his praise whose saints they are. A congregation of saints is heaven upon earth: should not Jehovah, the Lord of saints, have all the praise that can come from such an assembly?” (from The Treasury of David by Charles H. Spurgeon, commentary on Psalm 149:1)
“Where Jehovah is, there shall he be worshipped. It is well not only to go to the Lord's house, but to worship there: We do but profane his tabernacles if we enter them for any other purpose.” (from “The Treasury of David” by Charles M. Spurgeon, commentary on Psalm 132:7)
"But please, please don't imply that my style of worship is wanton because I prefer to praise God with several thousand other congregants over a soft rock ensemble."
Sorry, but that's where it's at.
Do you remember back in the early sixties, how people thought they were having religious experiences on LSD?
Oh, I'm sure they were emotionally charged experiences, but clearly, they were not really seeing God. It was a cheap and easy counterfeit.
Amplified music, and rock music in particular, have effects that lead one away from God. The emotional charge people get from it is a counterfeit that fools them into giving up the search for the real thing.
Neither the human auditory apparatus nor the human brain were designed to handle noises that loud. If you turn a radio up louder than its specs will handle, you get distortion; if you pour sound at that volume into the ears, you get distorted cognition.
Do you have a scripture for that? I recall the verse that commands us to "compel them to come in."
Luk 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
And if there are no "seekers" then why did Jesus say to those who thirst to come to him and he will give them living water. Why did he say that those who seek that they will find. By your logic only those who have found will seek.
You seem to think that only those who are filled with the water will thirst. Sorry, but those who are thirsty are the ones who seek water.
Isa 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters...
Where are these thirsty people supposed to go?
Where is the water? Where is the gospel preached?
I say "Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled."
Our church is filled every Sunday for 4 services. Why? Because our pastor implores us to "compel them to come in." And when we do, God does his work. That is where those who are thirsty find water. That is where those who "seek", find.
I would draw a distinction between music fit for sacred purposes, "praise and worship" music, and music which is fit for Christians to enjoy in general.
Any time the Lord's Supper is celebrated, it is fit to have music. The Psalms themselves are songs, as are many of the most beautiful scripture passages. Music for these purposes should be reverent, scripturally based, timeless, and fit for all members of the congregation.
However, the Lord's Supper is not the only time people gather together in prayer. Children, teen agers and young adults have energy and passions which are given to them from God, and which are directed in large part by their experiences with artistic expression. When music is specifically for such groups, it is fitting to use instrumentation which resonates with such groups. There is no transcendent distinction between using drums and electric guitar and using screechy synthesized violins and acoustic guitar.
That is not to say there may be profound and inappropriate elements found in Christian rock: For praise and worship purposes, the lyrics should specifically explicitly focus on the Christian God, and should be stripped of any timely cultural references, or attributes specific to any individual or groups of individuals. The music should fit the tone and style of the lyrics, but this is subjective and a matter of art. Dark, brooding music with minor keys can express alienation, anger and loneliness; mere lyric changes cannot make heavy metal music fit for worship.
Lastly, Christians do have the full compliment of emotions, and the presence of emotions such as loneliness, sadness, grief, as well as humanly love, excitement and physical joy demand artistic expression. While songs expressing these may be unfit for worship, they are not necessarily evil. Attention should be paid to where those emotions are directed, not judging the presence of those emotions in the songs themselves. This can be a difficult task, and requires parents maintain good communication with their children: Some very dark sounding songs can be positive. I remember an obscenely ridiculous furor over whether Van Halen's "Jump" endorsed suicide, when it actually endorses something akin to a leap of faith. (Although it's not in any way a Christian song, and Van Halen is a very un-Christian band.) On the other hand, many pop love songs use very Christian sounding language, creating a very dangerous idolatry out of romance. Also, A lot of pop and rock bands will have a very Christian sounding song, surrounded by very perverse songs. Examples of this are Train, Incubus, and just about every "soul" singing pop star ever.
Step team.....sorta like drill and ceremony in the army, isn't it? :>)
Always amazes me what becomes popular!
>>Do you remember back in the early sixties, how people thought they were having religious experiences on LSD? <<
That comparison is perverse. Yes, you could say that the LSD users were seeking SPIRITUAL experiences, but NOT religious ones. And the spirituality they were seeking was plainly pagan. Modern Christian music has the intent and action of praising God.
>>Amplified music, and rock music in particular, have effects that lead one away from God.<<
For you, maybe. You are biblically forbidden to add to the law, however. Did you not know the Pharisees had experiences which led them to decide all sorts of practices were harmful to obeying the law? You are doing exactly what they did: using your negative experiences and/or fear to impose novel laws on the people of God. If music has led you to temptation, share your experiences. Be specific, and state how it led you to temptation. You will find people from similar backgrounds may be greatly helped by your testimony. But to not pre-judge those who are dissimalar to you. THeir experience of "amplified music" may be radically different, and either benign or blessed.
>>Neither the human auditory apparatus nor the human brain were designed to handle noises that loud. If you turn a radio up louder than its specs will handle, you get distortion; if you pour sound at that volume into the ears, you get distorted cognition.<<
This is true under certain circumstances; excessive, persistent volume can be a very bad thing. But I've rarely experienced Christian praise music THAT loud that a weekly exposure would harm young people's ears. And please don't expect them to like only the quiet, soothing levels of music that make you feel relaxed.
Also, being right near a live drum is usually louder than any setting you'll find on ear phones, and they had very, very loud drums in the days of ancient Israel, and horns that could be heard for dozens of miles. Electronic amplification is new; very loud music is not.
>>Step team.....sorta like drill and ceremony in the army, isn't it? :>) <<
Yeah, you want to talk about deafening music from before amplification: an army band. I've heard some that could make the battle of Jericho seem natural.
I appreciate your concern about spiritual counterfeits. I wouldn't be going to church at all if it wasn't for God convicting me of my sin and leading me to repentence.
Would you imply then that Chapman's "God is God" is a Satanic worship song..? (done in d flat, rare in most contemporary Christian music)
The way the music of that strong was constructed spoke of the atonalities of todays living, that out of the congested sinful mess we find our world in...we find that God is still resplendant and still supreme...that "God is God"!
You can't paint all Christian contemporary artists with a broad brush...some are indeed suspect, but others are cutting edge and years ahead of what even the "secularists" do.
How about John Michael Talbot...you gonna call his music satanic too?
Let's take that old chest nut.."It is Well with my Soul". Traditional protestant Baptist song...one that even traditionalists love to sing and is on the 'approved lists' of most conservative musically churches. The author wrote it during a period of mourning on a ship going to England..he had lost most of his family when a ship they were on sunk. The author suffered a psychotic break towards the end of his life in the Holy Land...thinking he was Jesus Christ? Does that make his song Satanic...?
Jars of Clay's original video "Flood" couldn't get on to MTV originally because it contained images of flooding water and a man caught in the midst of the miry water...the song spoke of being caught up in sin and personal degredation...but I suppose that was evil and of the Devil too?!(MTV accepted an alternate version that did away with the "Noah's flood imagery". If you ask me, Jars of Clay should have stuck to its guns and said ...this video or we walk else where...so I do fault them for caving the way they did!)
I judge Music by what I call the personal performance test. Can I imagine or believe from my heart having sung a particular song before God's white throne with all of the hosts of Heaven looking on, dressed in some outfit or other?
If I were Andrew Lloyd Webber, I would have a great deal of difficulty singing "Jesus Christ SuperStar". How-ever DC Talk's "JesusFreak" despite its rhythms I believe would be received; I could imagine doing it as a 20 something male trying to reach inner city kids. There are differences in spiritual "ring" between those two songs even though techically, Webber's work is more polished.
Spititual witness is important...what happened to Amy Grant was a real wake-up call about the pit-falls of Christian Music performers and temptation, Sandi Patti was another tragedy as was what happened to Mike English. The personal witness and lives of these performers are the most telling of all, in terms of sincerity of heart at the base of their musical creations.
Yet even then we have discern wisely....Lest we reject the Psalms on account of the mistakes King David made!!!!
I think it's a bias point of view and a gross generalization to suggest that the little or no moral standards in the church today is because of rock music. And why would Christian rock groups be touring the Russian "Underground" church? Seems to me they be the last people who would want to show up to a public concert. This article has more holes then Swiss cheese.
LOL. This article quotes Lester Roloff about what is Christian and what is not Christian. "Brother" Roloff (may he rest in peace) also proclaimed television, dresses that are not ankle length, movies and any co-mingling of boys and girls to be sins. And I am sure that if he had lived long enough he would (between child beatings) have proclaimed the internet to be a sin also. Roloff was a Fascist-like cult leader.
We should be very careful who we quote as an authority on what is or is not Christian.
In case you are not familiar with the Roloff Homes for Children (the Lighthouse for boys and the Rebbecca home for girls) let me give you a little background. In the early seventies abuse charges let to raid after raid of the Roloff homes and led to criminal charges and investigations that continue to this day, along with a never ending string of lawsuits. What types of abuse and crimes you might ask. For example: making boys run barefoot through briers and cactus, beating children with sticks, trapping boys in a 15 foot deep pit and then getting other boys to join them in urinating on the trapped boys and throwing rocks at them. Everything I mentioned has been proved and there have been convictions for them. Doesn't sound very Christian does it? And this article is going to quote him as to what is Christian?
The Roloff homes for Children are probably responsible for more nanny state legislation on children's homes that any other single cause. And every Christian children's home in the country today uses Roloff's example as an example of what not to do.
John 4:23 tells us who the real seeker is. It’s all about Him.
Rom. 3:11 & Ps. 14:2 (among others) tells us the truth of the unsaved
– “…there is none who seeks for God.” Remember, none can be saved, lest the Father draw them.
As for the parable in Luke of the dinner invitation, context is paramount. Verse 15 is a man who spoke in the presence of Jesus, “Blessed is everyone who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!” (Spoken like a cliché of today, something akin to “God bless us, everyone.”) Verse 16, however, is where Jesus actually corrects such thinking by pointing out in the dinner invitation parable what men are REALLY doing with God’s invitation. In other words, Jesus gives evidence that God does not bless everyone, and that Ps. 14:2 is true.
Does any of this mean we are not to take the gospel to the nations? Perish the thought! That’s what we are to do – go out into the world with His message. However, He alone does the drawing. But as for worship (“the gathering of the brethren”) – it’s for…well, the brethren.
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