Rocking For Christ

cbs ^ | 12-7-04

[LouAvul]

The growing clout of America's 100-million evangelical Christians is being heard loud and clear. Just turn on your radio, and you'll notice that a seismic shift in American culture is taking place.

Before, you could tune into different stations, which offered different music and different messages.

But now, as Correspondent Bob Simon reports on 60 Minutes Wednesday, Dec. 8, at 8 p.m. ET/PT,, evangelical Christian music is flowing into mainstream media -- and changing it. In fact, Christian entertainment now brings in $4 billion a year.

Rappers and rockers are making hits and making money while spreading the gospel to national audiences. Christian groups can be heard on secular radio and seen on "The Tonight Show." Earlier this year, the group Third Day even played at the Republican National Convention.

"The fact that there are Christian themes now emerging in rock and that Christians are in rock is just representative of a spiritual desire or a spiritual hunger in our culture," says Cameron Strang, publisher of Relevant Magazine, a religious publication.

[reaganaut]

I posted about After Forever before I saw you posted the lyrics. Thinking along the same lines.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Yup. I was just using it as an example - Mention "Sabbath", and it conjures up images of pure unrefined evil among people who don'tknow them, but feel free to pass judgement anyway...

[PetroniusMaximus]

***If your point was that people can really be judgemental and feel free to cast stones as if they were perfect and without sin, then yes, I got your point.***

No, my point is that if these bands mock the One who died for you with their evil persona, themes, costumes, art and lyrics how can you continue to count them among your friends?

[reaganaut]

You should hear it in Church Latin. Wierd but cool.

http://www.sabbatum.com/sound

[rwfromkansas]

Essentially:

1) God commands us to worship him as he has purposed, not according to our inventions, the "doctrines and commandments of men," "will worship."
2) Because of this, we need to search Scripture for what he commands.
3) There is explicit command to sing Psalms, as well as example, but no such examples of hymns etc. Col. 3:16 appears to be discussing Psalms, but if it does include hymns and modern praise songs, modern praise songs especially have failed to live up to the verse by not really teaching or helping us hide God's word in our hearts.
4) Verses describing instruments do not refer tot eh corporate worship, and they have passed away due to their connection to animal sacrifices.
5) In summary, we are to "worship in Spirit and in truth," "making melody in our hearts to God" instead of using external "helps" like instruments since we no longer need them.

http://www.evertek.net/giwopc/rpw.html

http://www.apuritansmind.com/PuritanWorship/McMahonRegulativePrinciple.htm

http://members.aol.com/Puritanone/instr.htm

http://reformedonline.com/view/reformedonline/psalm.htm

http://www.reformed.com/triangle/t_psalms.html

http://www.fpcr.org/blue_banner_articles/eph519.htm

http://www.fpcr.org/blue_banner_articles/worsong.htm

http://www.the-highway.com/psalmody_Irons.html

I don't have the time nor desire to write a long speel on the matter, but there you go. Enjoy your reading.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Whether a particular such piece "mocks" or "exalts" is, granted, the $64,000 question, but the devil (or the Christ) is all in the details.

[rwfromkansas]

lol....oh my. :)

Seriously though, some good thinking in your previous post.

I disagree, but insightful point. As the Gospel is a stumbling block to sinful man, no matter what it is dressed up as. Still, we shouldn't dress it up.

[Chad Fairbanks]

I have that album!

[Lancey Howard]

bfl

[HiTech RedNeck]

In summary, we are to "worship in Spirit and in truth," "making melody in our hearts to God" instead of using external "helps" like instruments since we no longer need them.

This is a false dichotomy. In many churches if there was no organ or piano all the singing would be off key.

[k2blader]

Thanks for the recommendation. I need to bookmark this thread. :-)

[reaganaut]

To me, it's a collage of suede, feathers, and beads, and nothing more. I like the way it fills up the space on the wall in my rustic bedroom. To a dear friend of mine (my old pastor's wife), it's something I need to remove from my home before it does something to me spiritually. (What, I'm not sure - and neither is she.)

My old boss's wife (he was also a pastor, but not my pastor) said basically the same thing about my dreamcatcher and tried to pray a circle around my house to drive out the 'demons'. She kept hounding me about it until she found out I discovered their porno collection while helping them move. After that, she never mentioned the dreamcatcher, I didn't say anything she must have just been really embarrassed.

[Chad Fairbanks]

No, my point is that if these bands mock the One who died for you with their evil persona, themes, costumes, art and lyrics how can you continue to count them among your friends?

If by "mocking" you mean wearing black, wearing crosses, and singing about God being the only way to Love, then I guess I'm guilty as charged.

[rwfromkansas]

You are seriously telling me that the Sabbath day is not set apart...

[Chad Fairbanks]

I don't consioder it "dressing it up". I guess that's where we really differ... :)

[HiTech RedNeck]

Jesus didn't go walking around naked as a jaybird.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Oh man...what a story!

[k2blader]

I hear you.

It's also repulsive when folks take the name of the Lord in vain, as is too often done even by fellow believers.

[rwfromkansas]

No.

It is blasphemy to consider yourself needed to accomplish God's sovereign will.

Isaiah 46:9-10: "I am God and there is none like me...saying 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose'."

[HiTech RedNeck]

What used to be known as the sabbath day has come to live permanently as a "sabbath rest" in the heart of everyone who is a bona fide Christian.