Replies

"It amazes me that here we are in the year 2006 ... mostly through 2006 actually... and the same arguments against music are still slithering around preaching circles."

Show me one thing I said which contradicts the Bible. Is the Bible outdated? Furthermore, at what point did I supposedly argue against music? That is like saying because someone argues against idolatry they are against worship, or because a prophet said to tear down the high places he must be for desecrating the temple. I am all for music, just not Christian rock.

"Music in church, for the most part anyway, has evolved and matured to such a level that it is almost unrecognizable."

I am unsure what you mean by this. Is this a good thing?

The scripture says, "if the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? So likewise you, except you utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for you shall speak into the air." See 1 Corinthians 14:6-12.

"Musical worship is nothing more ... and should be nothing more than singing prayer."

Prayer and worship can be expressed through music, but so can teaching sound doctrine, something which is painfully sparse in most Christian rock. And that is by design, because the supposed praise to God and favorable spiritual lyrics are merely a pretext for the age old philosophy of "whatever feels good, do it". (See Colosians 3:16 and 2 Timothy 4:3.)

"So it comes from someone with purple hair ..... you must get past the skin and bone."

Why is it the onlooker's responsibility to get over these things? If they are truly irrelevant, why do these people feel the need to make their hair some unnatural color? Apart from God's Spirit, man is only capable of looking on the outward appearance. This excludes immature believers, carnal churchgoers, and unbelievers from being able to "just get over it." The Bible places the responsibility of our appearance squarely on who is responsible, ourselves. We, and women specifically, are commanded to dress modestly and with meekness (not demanding that I have everything my own way).

1 Timothy 2:9

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.

1 Peter 3:2-4

While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

At worst, purple hair (and so many other external trappings which go along with it) is merely a manifestation of a spirit of stubbornness, rebellion, and self infatuation - in a word carnality. At best, it is a mark of childishness - something to be expected of a little girl who is fascinated with makeup, face painting, colorful fingernail polish and glitter. Rather than admonishing observers to "get past" it, you might be more effective in admonishing those who dress themselves this way that now that they are grown it is time to put away childish things.

"Grateful for her son, Hannah lifted her voice and began to sing a prayer to the Lord (1 Sam 2:1- 10)."

Finally, you resort to scripture. Yes, true worshipful song is often heartfelt and spontaneous, as opposed to prefabricated, rhythm driven, hypnotic, programmed pagan music often marketed under a Christian label by some of the same corporations peddling profanity and perversion laden secular music.

There are a variety of good cultural infuences of music. There are classical European styles. There are classical Latino styles. There are other melody led expressions from the tropics. Just like there are a variety of gifts, there is also a variety of good music. Rock music is different from these cultural infuences. ALL musical styles can be adapted to accommodate a rock beat. Beat driven music is carnal. It is fundamentally different from melody led music.

Melody led music is predominant in civilized cultures. Beat driven music is predominant in pagan and, so called, primitive cultures. Rock music took hold in pop culture after being imported from pagan cultures. Our culture is now markedly more pagan than it was before rock music became popularized.

For every instance of ecstatic experience which could be put forward as evidence of the spiritual nature of Christian rock, you can find many more in Voodoo music, Hindu music and other cultures where idols are worshiped, and worship is often accompanied by nakedness (or lewdness), sexual perversion, demonism, and even cannibalism. So ecstatic experience does not build a case at all for the spirituality of Christian rock (in a positive sense).

"There is an instance where two men in the New Testament were engaged in singing prayers – Paul and Silas."

Another good, Biblical example. Paul and Silas were not experiencing the comforts of a cushioned pew seat. They did not have drums and electric guitars. They were not lipsyncing to their ipods. They could have easily avoided being in the prison if they had not put Jesus first in their lives. Yes, this is a good example of spiritual songs. It is however unlike the type of music sweeping compemporary Christendom. On the one hand you have feel-good music, and on the other you have praise God even though I am suffering music. One one hand you have, do what feels good to you philosophy. On the other, you have a serve God no matter what the cost mentality.

"It all blends together. It is all good."

It would be easy for me to go with the flow, but this is not true.

What fellowship does righteousness have with unrighteousness? and what communion does light have with darkness? And what concord does Christ have with Belial? or what part does he who believes have with an unbeliever? And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? for you (plural) are the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from among them, and be separate, says the Lord.
(from 2 Corinthians 6)

When the Baal worshippers and Elijah had a show down, the prophets of Baal cried out and jumped and prayed and worshipped and even cut themselves. They worked themselves into a frenzy. Can you not can see a distinction between godly worship, praise and singing, and that which belongs to the world?