The utter irreverence is so very obvious at times!
Christian music should move your soul, not your body!
.Christian music should move your soul, not your body!
"Christian" Rock Destroys Youth
Abigail Sings Scripture Play List - http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list...
edwardpf123 has made a comment on "Christian" Rock Destroys Youth:
Some people say, "Why do you make the beat the deciding factor?" Because it controls the rest, the harmony and melody; and that's the only place I can find, in or out of the Bible, to draw the line. If someone says the beat is not the place to decide, then there is no place.
Alan Ives
Is Contemporary Christian Music "Christian"? - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1oVap... By Alan Ives
Music that calls people to repentance, holiness, separation, and total commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ will not be popular in the eyes of a Christ-rejecting world.
Music is not necessary to win the lost but it is a form of worship and praise to God.
The purpose of sacred gospel music is not to draw the unsaved to the Lord Jesus Christ. Sacred music may at times draw the unsaved, but that is not its purpose. Its purpose is to worship and praise God and not to be used as a tool to win the unsaved. The unsaved are drawn to God by the preaching of the Word.
Linking worship to the demonic, sexual, rebellious style of rock and roll is nothing less than blasphemy. God's demands of righteousness and holiness have never been diminished.
What kind of hold does religious rock have on people when they refuse to give up their demonic music? How can a person profess that he loves God and at the same time embrace such evil? How low must religious rock sink before God's people wake up from their slumber?
There are some people who say that "Christian" Rock can't be wrong because of all the people who go forward at the concerts. They also mention that these bands are popular because God is blessing them. However; so called results do not mean that God is behind it. The end does not justify the means (That is the basis of humanism).
'Melody is the primary repository of abstract "idea" in music'.-Mitchel and Logan
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOOD AND BAD MUSIC
By Alan Ives
Melody is for our spirit...
Harmony, on the other hand, is for the soul....
When you put the accent on the wrong beat, it is dance music, and it appeals to your flesh;
White Heart? This White Heart?
In 1985 White Heart's lead singer, Scott Douglas, was arrested for child molestation! In 1986 Scott was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in a Tennessee prison!
Petra recorded the song "God Gave Rock And Roll To You" ....Gave Rock'n Roll to You" is a song by the secular group Argent. The SAME SONG is on the perverted group KISS's Revenge album!
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"!
Sporting heavily tattooed and pierced bodies, the group P.O.D., has destroyed any remaining fragments of Bible separation and convictions. P.O.D. is undoubtedly, the most popular rock band ever courted by the Christian world. Their metal-reggae, CDs are mega-million, top-sellers. Crowned by the Christian community, such as HM magazine, as "The Most Important Rock Band Today" (HM Sep/Oct 2001), P.O.D. is clearly "king" of the Christian Rock empire.
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!
'Bible Guidelines for Christian Music'
If anyone wants to see how 'Amazing Grace' would sound being sung by a Christian Rock band, you can find it being sung by Petra on youtube. You decide how spiritual it sounds.
edwardpf123 has made a comment on "Christian" Rock Destroys Youth:
For those who would like to read more on this important subject, an excellent book is 'The Rapid Decay In Sacred Music' by Gordon Sears. You can find it Songfest.
If you have any questions, feel free to PM me.
Rock in Russia? - http://hosted.homeserver.com/warneveryone
NEW SERIES ON MUSIC
Our new series, MUSIC FOR GOOD OR EVIL, explores the the many issues which churches are facing today in this critical area.
Available in DVD or for immediate download.
DVD: $29.95
E-Video Download: $18
.
MUSICAL ASSOCIATIONS
AND CCM ADAPTATION
March 1, 2011 (David Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org; for instructions about subscribing and unsubscribing or changing addresses, see the information paragraph at the end of the article) -
When it comes to music, the philosophy coming into ascendence among IB churches is this: as long as the words are right we should relax and be edified and not be critical.
West Coast graduate: “The music was a lot more of a concern to me when I first started to hear it and think of the fact that it was CCM artists that perform it. But seriously, are the words evil? Can a Christian not be edified by these songs? Is it not more important for a person to be edified than it is to be approved by men?”
Hyles Anderson graduate: “I am not against new songs that are theo-centric and doctrinally correct. Who the writer is not my concern. Any music that promotes God for who He is or what He has done without emphasizing the flesh, I am for.”
This philosophy allows the church to “adapt” CCM by selecting songs that have Scriptural lyrics and toning down the rhythm. It is an attempt to take the “rock” out of Christian rock and to turn charismatic praise music into fundamentalist praise music.
Following are some of the reasons why this philosophy is unscriptural and very dangerous:
1. THIS PHILOSOPHY DISREGARDS THE BIBLE’S CLEAR COMMANDS TO SEPARATE FROM HERESY AND END-TIMES APOSTASY.
Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
1 Corinthians 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
1 Timothy 6:3-5 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
2 Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
All of these commandments pertain to associations.
As for grabbing things from the CCM bin that have sound words, a Church of Christ preacher will speak much truth. In fact, a large portion of what he preaches will be sound, but we are forbidden to associate with him in any sort of ministry context because he preaches heresy.
Even a Roman Catholic priest will say things that are doctrinally right. Roman Catholics have written hymns about Christ that are perfectly sound. They do many things that are commendable. They are often at the head of the Pro-life movement, for example. But this is neither here nor there when it comes to associating with them. Since Roman Catholics are committed to deep heresy and since Romanism represents apostate Christianity, Bible-believing churches are to avoid associating with them. They are to mark them and avoid them. Words could not be clearer. Marking and avoiding is certainly contrary to searching around in their midst for something to adapt.
The Contemporary Christian Music movement is permeated with heresy and is committed wholesale to a philosophy of ecumenism that is plainly building the end-times Harlot Church. Rome has a very big role in the CCM movement, and there is not one out of 1000 of the CCM people that issue any sort of warning about that whatsoever. They talk about Christ and sing His praises, but they are spiritually blind at a truly fundamental level.
If they were indeed filled with the Holy Spirit, which they so frequently and earnestly sing about, they would do as Paul did when he encountered a false teacher trying to lead people away from the truth:
“Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, and said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” (Acts 13:9-10).
I have been to some large, influential charismatic ecumenical conferences with press credentials and I have thus witnessed with my own eyes and ears those places where CCM is birthed and where it is most at home. Never have I seen reproof of error after the fashion of what the Spirit-filled Paul did in Acts 13. All of those conferences (New Orleans 1987, Indianapolis 1990, St. Louis 2000, etc.) featured an ecumenical mixed multitude that included large numbers of Roman Catholics. And not one of the charismatic leaders or popular CCM “artists” (including Bill Gaither and his outfit who performed at one of these conferences) lifted even a finger of protest and warning. They are practically all in bed with the vile, wretched end-times apostasy. You might be able to find some exception somewhere, but it is only that -- an exception. (For reports on these conferences see “Strange Things in New Orleans,” “Charismatic Confusion in Evangelism,” and “End Times Confusion in St. Louis,” at the Way of Life web site. Use the search engine or consult the Charismatic section of the Topical Listing from the tab at the top of the web site’s home page.)
I attended with press credentials the New Baptist Covenant Celebration in 2008, with speakers like Jimmy Carter, Al Gore, Tony Campolo, and that great Baptist giant Bill Clinton. The very liberal Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and Baptist World Alliance and American Baptist Churches USA were participants. It was all about ecumenism. In his opening message Jimmy Carter said that it is impossible to agree on doctrines and issues so we should unite rather on the “gospel,” but the gospel was never defined, and the “gospel” that was actually preached was the social gospel and kingdom building and environmentalism. Carter mentioned the “fundamentals” but no one said what they were, because doctrinal purity was not on the table. There were “ministries” represented at the Celebration such as Affirming and Welcoming Baptists who are trying to get churches to receive unrepentant homosexuals as members and workers. We interviewed the representative of this organization and she told us that she believes the early chapters of Genesis are not literal history, marriage is a man-made institution, and there is no such thing as sexual sin. (For a report on this conference see “The New Baptist Covenant: A Celebration of Liberalism,” FBIS, Feb. 25, 2008, at the Way of Life Literature web site. Use the search engine or consult the Ecumenism section of the Topical Listing from the tab at the top of the web site’s home page.)
I attended the National Pastor’s Fellowship in 2009 sponsored by Zondervan and InterVarsity Press (with speakers such as Brian McLaren, Bill Hybels, Paul Young, author of The Shack, Shane Claiborne, John Ortberg, Christopher Wright, Scot McKnight, Alex McManus, J.P. Moreland, Andy Crouch of Christianity Today, and Billy Graham’s brother-in-law Leighton Ford, to name a few). (For a report on this see “The Emerging Church Is Coming,” FBIS, March 3, 2009, at the Way of Life Literature web site. Use the search engine or consult the Emerging Church section of the Topical Listing from the tab at the top of the web site’s home page.)
All of these large influential conferences are committed to the ecumenical philosophy. None of them would dream of reproving Roman Catholicism in any effective manner. They are far too busy with other agendas to do anything like that. These conferences throw men together of all doctrinal persuasions, from Leighton Ford’s “evangelical conservatism” to Brian McLaren’s universalism and rejection of hell to Paul Young’s God-is-a-womanism as taught in his book The Shack.
These are the types of forums in which CCM is birthed and where it is most at home. The music at these forums was “real” Christian rock. They pulled out all the stops. No messing around with this silly thing of trying to remove the rock” from Christian rock. There were even colored lights and smoke.
It is really pathetic to see once old-fashioned Baptist churches like Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia, trying to use CCM, like they have been doing for a couple of decades. They have the “worship leader” and the band but the people just stand there stiffly, mouthing the words on the big screen without the foggiest idea of what to do with such music. Hey, that music is created to “connect” you to God, to enable you to “experience” God. It’s all about “feeling” something. You’re supposed to yield to it, move to it, dance, man!!!! Independent Baptist churches that want to use CCM need to bring in some charismatic ecumenists to teach them how to do it or they need to go to some of the charismatic churches and conferences and observe how it is supposed to be done so they can do right by it. If you want to use charismatic stuff, you ought to at least make an effort to know what it is and how it should be used.
For nearly four decades I have researched the Pentecostal-Charismatic movement, beginning from when I was led to Christ by an old-line Pentecostal and visited Pentecostal churches as a new Christian seeking God’s will about “who” to join. The 317-page book The Pentecostal-Charismatic Movements: The History and the Error is packed with documentation of the apostasy and spiritual danger represented by this movement, which also represents the very heart and soul of Contemporary Christian Music. We also have a photo-packed DVD series on that subject.
I have visited for research purposes influential churches that represent the heart and soul of CCM and its philosophy, such as Mars Hill Church in Seattle (Mark Driscoll), Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa, California, Vineyard Fellowship in Anaheim, Carpenter’s Home Church of Lakeland, Florida, Christ Church in Nashville, City Harvest Church in Singapore, Without Walls in Florida, Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, Bill Hybel’s Willowcreek Community Church west of Chicago, Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church in California, First Baptist in Atlanta, Hills Christian Life Centre in Sydney, and schools such as Oral Roberts University, Regent College in Vancouver, B.C., Wheaton College, and Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville.
I know what I am talking about here. Most Independent Baptist preachers have not had these personal experiences or done anywhere near the research I have done into the Pentecostal-Charismatic movement and CCM. I published the 450-page Contemporary Christian Music Under the Spotlight in 1998 after an intense period of research into that field, and since then I have learned much more. In 1998, the use and “adaptation” of CMM was still pretty rare among IB churches, but that is not longer the case.
Paul warned that evil communications corrupt good manners. If anything is evil today, it is the charismatic ecumenical movement which is producing the vast bulk of contemporary worship music. It has a name that it lives, but when judged biblically, it is found to be dead. It has zeal without knowledge. It has a form of godliness but it denies the power thereof, which is absolute truth.
There is widespread confusion about the gospel itself within this movement. At the North American Congress on the Holy Spirit and World Evangelization in 1987, which I attended with press credentials, a large percentage of the participants and many of the speakers were Roman Catholic. The two main leaders were a Pentecostal and a Roman Catholic who bragged about how wonderful it was that they could be so united and what a great thing God is doing today. Each evening featured about an hour of contemporary worship music, which united that mixed multitude in fervent “praise.” One evening a large percentage of the 35,000 or so participants raised their hands to indicate that they weren’t sure of their salvation. At a press conference the next day, Dennis Costella of Foundation magazine asked why the conference didn’t address the matter of salvation plainly and publicly in order to clear up the obvious confusion. A Pentecostal leader replied, “We don’t have time for that.” The more honest answer would have been as follows:
“We are a mixed multitude. This conference represents 40 different denominations, and we have different ideas about that. Our Catholic brethren have one idea and our Lutheran brethren another and there are differences of opinion even among us Pentecostals. In the context of the ecumenical movement, some believe baptism is necessary for salvation; some believe baptism regenerates; some believe cooing infants can be saved; some believe salvation must be nurtured through sacraments; some believe you can lose your salvation; some believe salvation is a mere sinner’s prayer; some believe in ‘Four Spiritual Laws,’ etc. So it is impossible to be doctrinally precise on that or practically any other issue and still keep our unity. As you know, doctrine divides; love unites, and love is what really matters. We can’t judge someone else, you know.”
That would have been the honest answer.
And the fact that the vast majority of CCM “artists” have bought into this wretchedly unscriptural ecumenical doctrine is why their music should be rejected wholesale, lock, stock, and barrel, by Bible-believing churches.
Thus, the first reason why the associations of CCM and not just the words must be considered is that the Bible commands us to separate from heresy and even more particularly from end-times apostasy.
John Styll, the publisher of Worship Leader magazine, made the following telling observation:
“You can have a pretty straight-laced but theologically liberal Presbyterian church using the same songs that are being sung at a wild and crazy charismatic church, but they use different arrangements and adapt the songs to their unique settings” (Styll, quoted by Steve Rabey, “The Profits of Praise,” Christianity Today, July 12, 1999).
Observe that he said that churches “use different arrangements and adapt their songs to their unique settings.”
My friends, that is EXACTLY what Lancaster Baptist Church in California and a rapidly growing number of IB churches are doing. Styll, who is totally committed to ecumenism and who delights in the fact that CCM is bringing all churches together, understands this matter much better than the average IB pastor who is allowing his people to mess around with CCM. Styll understands the power of music. He knows that if churches dabble around with CCM they will be hooked and they will be drawn gradually closer to the ecumenical thinking and orb.
In an interview with Christianity Today, Don Moen of Integrity Music said: “I’ve discovered that worship [music] is transdenominational, transcultural. IT BRIDGES ANY DENOMINATION. Twenty years ago there were many huge divisions between denominations. Today I think the walls are coming down. In any concert that I do, I will have 30-50 different churches represented.”
Styll and Moen know that they are talking about. They know the power of music and the deception of ecumenism. Forty years ago, who would have thought that fundamental Baptist churches would be using CCM on a wide basis in the early 21st century? But they are, and if they don’t set their houses in order they will be swept along by the flood of compromise and apostasy. The typical pragmatic IB thinking and the refusal to listen to “criticism” on the part of the average IB pastor, won’t get the job done.
2. THIS PHILOSOPHY WILL EFFECTIVELY STOP CLEAR WARNINGS.
How are the pastors and teachers going to give clear warnings about CCM and that crowd if they are using their music? (It is one thing to warn in generalities, which doesn’t offend people but also get the job done, and it is quite another to warn in a plain manner so that the people who visit the music section of a Christian bookstore will know what music to avoid -- which is almost all of it!)
I can’t figure out how this would work at any practical level.
Consider a church that is using the music of the likes of Jack Hayford, Darlene Zschech, Michael W. Smith, Twila Paris, Michael English, Brian Doerksen, Graham Kendrick, Rick Founds, Marty Nystrom, Michael Ledner, Marty Sampson, Steve Green, Jonathan Stockstill, Chris Tomlin, Stewart Townsend, Casting Crowns, and other mainstream CCM musicians.
How can the pastor of such a church or visiting preachers effectively lift a word of clear warning against this crowd?
Knowing human nature as I do and knowing the preaching ministry as I do, I don’t believe this would ever work, and the longer the situation is allowed to continue the quieter the pulpit will be about CCM in an effective sense.
The pastor of the church that allows his people to dabble around in CCM in search of “good” stuff has effectively been stopped from giving the clear warnings that he should be giving about music.
Oh, he might be able to say, “Beware of Contemporary Christian Music, folks,” in a general, vague fashion, but he won’t be able to be precise in the way that is required today to make people understand the real danger. He will hesitate and probably decide against bringing in a preacher who might deal with these matters plainly, knowing that his people would be confused and probably offended.
If such a pastor becomes convicted that he has allowed the church to go down a wrong path and tries to turn it around by issuing clear warnings himself, he will quickly learn that addicted people (in this case, addicted to sensual music) fervently defend their addictions.
3. THIS PHILOSOPHY MEANS THE CHURCH IS ACTUALLY PROMOTING CCM ARTISTS, AND THE CHURCH MEMBERS WILL DOUBTLESS BE LULLED INTO LISTENING TO THE “REAL STUFF.”
When church members see that CCM is “adapted” in their services and by the musicians, at least some of them will doubtless obtain the full-blown stuff to listen to in private. When they visit Christian bookstores and browse the music section they will see the same songs that they hear on Sunday and they will buy the stuff and before long they will see that real Christian rock is even more fun than “adapted” Christian rock. In this way the appetite for the “real” CCM will spread throughout the church, and this type of thing doesn’t happen slowly.
When Lancaster Baptist Church, home of West Coast Baptist College, performed “Shout to the Lord” in a Sunday service, Cary Schmidt, one of the leaders, said, “Most of you have heard this song or know the words to this song.” He knew that many of the church members were familiar with Hillsong and their music, and I do not believe that they listen only to the toned down versions played in church.
A pastor described to me a scene at a fundamental Baptist preachers meeting in which Hillsong numbers were sung as specials by a pastor’s wife. He said, “One session when she was performing, I was looking across the auditorium and just happened to see a young pastor coming out of the toilet with a big smile, and he was miming the words of the Hillsong junk she was singing. So I said to myself, ‘You are not only familiar with this song, but you have memorized it, and that means it is the music you listen to with enjoyment.’” Exactly, and he is probably not listening to the toned down “adapted” editions!
4. IF A CHURCH IS “ADAPTING” CCM, SOMEONE IS LISTENING TO “FULL-BLOWN” CCM IN ORDER TO FIND AND ADAPT “ACCEPTABLE” PIECES.
Typically, if musicians are “adapting” CCM for use in a conservative church that doesn’t yet allow full-blown rock & roll, those musicians are listening to “full-blown CCM” in order to find something to adapt.
Since rock & roll, even “soft rock,” is highly addictive and sensual, we know that these musicians rapidly lose their spiritual sensitivity and appetite for truly sacred music and become lulled into accepting an increasingly wider range of CCM.
Sun Records founder Sam Phillips, who recorded some of the first rock & roll hits, including Elvis’ first recording in 1954, knew the power of rock. Reminiscing many years later about why rock became such a social phenomenon, he said, “It all came out of THAT INFECTIOUS BEAT and those young people wanting to FEEL GOOD by listening to some records” (“Rock ‘n’ Roll Pioneer Sam Phillips Dies,” USA Today, July 30, 2003).
Rock can be hard or soft, fast or slow, loud or quiet, and it is still rock because it still has a heavily syncopated swing rhythm and it is still “infectious” and it still makes people “feel good.”
With the musicians being influenced by “real” CCM, their influence spreads throughout the church body.
A typical private conversation will be, “Hey, listen to this new cut by Darlene Zschech! Hey, you won’t believe this new Vineyard CD! Cool stuff!”
5. THE ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE “ROCK” FROM CHRISTIAN ROCK TYPICALLY RESULTS IN MERELY TONING DOWN THE MUSIC FROM HARD ROCK TO SOFT ROCK.
Those who adapt CCM do so because that particular church still says it is opposed to CCM so they can’t use it full blown. They have to tone down the rhythm. They have to try to take the rock out of Christian rock. The pastor won’t allow a rock band on stage and is afraid of thumping bass guitars and drums, so the music people “adapt” it so that it’s acceptable.
Typically, though, this is done merely by replacing hard rock with soft rock, and since it isn’t loud and boisterous and doesn’t have a heavy thump and the singers aren’t shaking around and there is no light show or smoke, everyone is satisfied that they are avoiding CCM.
The problem is that the back beat and other elements of soft rock are still there but it is all much more subtle and the soft rock rhythm is created by the pianists and perhaps other musicians rather than guitarists and a drummer with a trap set.
It’s soft rock or Southern Gospel honky tonk, and it is just as sensual and addictive to the flesh as hard rock. And it creates an appetite for such music which is never satisfied.
6. THIS PHILOSOPHY RESULTS IN THE SAME OLD SLIPPERY SLOPE.
For the previous reasons, the “adaptation” of CCM launches a church down the slippery contemporary slope as surely as if they had brought in a pure rock band.
It results in the gradual acceptance of and increasing use of CCM, a gradual allowance for sensual rhythms, the continual pushing of the boundaries.
We repeat the warning that many discerning men have issued about this slippery slope and its outcome:
“When the standard of music is LOWERED, then the standard of dress is also lowered. When the standard of dress is lowered, then the standard of conduct is also lowered. When the standard of conduct is lowered, then the sense of value in God’s truth is lowered” (Evangelist Gordon Sears, Songfest newsletter, April 2001).
The late Gordon Sears, who I had the privilege of meeting the day before he died, loved the Lord and loved the Lord’s churches, and he was deeply concerned about what is happening among fundamental Baptists. In the 1990s the number of his meetings dropped significantly because so many churches had changed their music standards, and they didn’t want an evangelist to come in and shake the boat. Notice that Sears said that the standard of music doesn’t have to be radically changed. It just has to be lowered, and that leads to a downward progression that will ultimately result in a lowering of the sense of the value of truth itself. A church can hold to truth, to doctrinal soundness, without truly valuing it or deeply caring for it, and this happens when it buys into the CCM philosophy that “love” and “unity” are more important than doctrinal purity.
“If a church starts using CCM, it will eventually lose all other standards” (Dr. Frank Garlock, Bob Jones University, chapel, March 12, 2001).
Dr. Garlock is dogmatic here and doesn’t allow for any exceptions. I hope he has warned West Coast about this, because to “adapt” CCM is doubtless the same as “using CCM.”
“Perhaps nothing precipitates a slide toward New Evangelicalism more than the introduction of Contemporary Christian Music. This inevitably leads toward a gradual slide in other areas as well until the entire church is infiltrated by ideas and programs alien to the original position of the church” (Dr. Ernest Pickering, The Tragedy of Compromise: The Origin and Impact of the New Evangelicalism, Bob Jones University Press, 1994).
The late Dr. Pickering warned that the introduction of CCM precipitates a slide toward New Evangelicalism more than anything else. That is a powerful statement. And observe that he said it is brought about by the mere “INTRODUCTION” of CCM. It doesn’t have to be a full blown reception. It just has to be introduced, and the church is on its way to New Evangelicalism. This is because the “introduction” of CCM at any level and in any way brings the church into intimate association of the world of CCM which is totally, passionately committed to the New Evangelical philosophy at best, and to “ideas and programs alien” to the position of an old-fashioned fundamental Baptist church.
“Good fundamental Baptists and others that refuse the teachings of the charismatic crowd concerning tongues, signs, miracles, and so forth are NOW SINGING THEIR MUSIC in our churches and preparing our people for the world, the flesh and the Devil. It is the new Trojan Horse move ... to deaden our churches to spiritual truth” (Victor Sears, Baptist Bible Tribune, 1981).
This amazing warning was given 30 years ago! That was before CCM began to sweep into IB churches. But Victor Sears saw it as “the new Trojan Horse move ... to deaden our churches to spiritual truth.” He knew that the contemporary music brought a contemporary philosophy, and he was deeply concerned. Sears was a leader in the Baptist Bible Fellowship International, and this was the first group of Independent Baptists that “introduced” CCM. It started with the use of contemporary background tapes for singing specials. I recall attending a BBFI preachers conference in the 1980s. The music was CCM even then. In light of these warnings, it is not surprising that the BBFI today has capitulated entirely to the New Evangelical philosophy. The men of real conviction and moral courage left long ago.
WEREN’T MANY OLD HYMNS IN BAPTIST HYMNALS WRITTEN BY NON-BAPTISTS? WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN USING THOSE AND USING CCM WITH GOOD LYRICS?
What is the difference between using a song by someone in the past like Fanny Crosby (“He Hideth My Soul,” Methodist) or James Gray (“Only a Sinner Saved by Grace,” evangelical Reformed Episcopal) or Martin Luther (“A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” Lutheran) as opposed to using CCW artists today as long as the lyrics are Scriptural and we don’t use the rock music?
To compare the use of Contemporary Christian Worship (CCW) songs to the use of hymns from the past that present a sound theology but were written by people from non-Baptist denominations is to compare apples with oranges. I offer four reasons why it is improper to compare the two.
First, the difference between using a song by someone in the past like Fanny Crosby (“He Hideth My Soul,” Methodist) or James Gray (“Only a Sinner Saved by Grace,” evangelical Reformed Episcopal) or Martin Luther (“A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” Lutheran) as opposed to CCW artists today is that the entire milieu of CCW represents a philosophy that is geared toward creating a one-world church. CCW represents the ecumenical judge-not philosophy. It is one of the chief things that are bringing all churches together. I have documented this extensively in my books, and I do not see how it cannot be disputed. (See chapter 3 of this book.) Further, CCW could be called Contemporary Charismatic Worship, because it overwhelmingly represents the charismatic doctrine and perspective. It is promoting the charismatic position of experiential worship rather than faith worship centered on God’s Word. We have documented this in the previously mentioned book.
For an Independent Baptist or a fundamentalist Bible church to use biblically sound hymns of the faith from the past will not destroy that church’s principles and character, will not change it from a separatist church to a non-separatist one, but using CCW will definitely do that. It is happening everywhere, and many men of God have observed it. Consider the following four warnings:
“When the standard of music is lowered, then the standard of dress is also lowered. When the standard of dress is lowered, then the standard of conduct is also lowered. When the standard of conduct is lowered, then the sense of value in God’s truth is lowered” (Evangelist Gordon Sears, Songfest newsletter, April 2001).
“If a church starts using CCM it will eventually lose all other standards” (Dr. Frank Garlock, Bob Jones University, chapel, March 12, 2001).
“Perhaps nothing precipitates a slide toward New Evangelicalism more than the introduction of Contemporary Christian Music. This inevitably leads toward a gradual slide in other areas as well until the entire church is infiltrated by ideas and programs alien to the original position of the church” (Dr. Ernest Pickering, The Tragedy of Compromise: The Origin and Impact of the New Evangelicalism, Bob Jones University Press, 1994).
“Good fundamental Baptists and others that refuse the teachings of the charismatic crowd concerning tongues, signs, miracles, and so forth are now singing their music in our churches and preparing our people for the world, the flesh and the Devil. It is the new Trojan Horse move ... to deaden our churches to spiritual truth” (Victor Sears, Baptist Bible Tribune, 1981).
The reason for this is that CCW is not just music; it is a philosophy of Christianity that is opposed to what biblicist fundamentalist churches stand for. It is opposed to a staunch doctrinal stance, opposed to strict separation from the world, opposed to ecclesiastical separation. I have never heard of a member of an Independent Baptist church becoming a Lutheran because of singing “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” or becoming a Methodist by singing Fanny Crosby’s hymns, but I know of many that have gone down the path of the contemporary philosophy because of listening to CCW.
The writers of the old hymns, though they were not all Baptist in theology, did not represent a movement that is opposed to old-fashioned Biblicist, separatist Christianity, whereas the CCW crowd most definitely does. Prior to the onslaught of the ecumenical movement, the Protestants were still protesting against error. They still considered Rome a religious whore. All of that type of thing has been rejected by the CCW movement.
Dan Lucarini, author of Why I Left the Contemporary Christian Music Movement: Confessions of a Former Worship Leader (which I highly recommend), says:
“No one should deny the power of music to proselytize! Pastors in particular must defend their flocks from false teaching, heresies and ‘ear ticklers’ who bring worldly sensuality into the congregation; you are right to point out how easily this comes into a church through worship music. It seems wiser to decline the use of what seems to be a perfectly good song, rather than to give any honor and hint of endorsement to the composer and his/her mission” (e-mail, May 24, 2009).
Another difference between the hymns in a standard Baptist hymnal and the songs coming from CCW is that CCW songs are filled with heresies. You have to look long and hard to find ones that are not tainted with error. Before the explosion of modernism and end-time apostasy, all of the Protestant and Baptist denominations shared the “fundamentals” of the faith.
I would put it like this: on the hymnal side (particularly those used in older traditional Baptist hymnals) there are a handful of songs that are questionable; on the CCW side there are a handful of songs that aren’t questionable! I have documented this in my book Contemporary Christian Music under the Spotlight. One of the CCW songs mentioned by the pastor that asked this question is “Majesty.” This song by Four Square Pentecostal pastor Jack Hayford preaches the false kingdom now theology. This is typical.
Dan Lucarini comments:
“A hymnal is very different than the contemporary ‘song of the month.’ We have the benefit of relying on the wisdom of godly men who very carefully assembled the hymnal. No hymnal is perfect, of course, but we know we can trust the vast majority of selections to support our doctrine without the need to examine each song and composer. The pastor who today claims that he will rigorously examine every CWM song before allowing its use takes on a terrible burden that will detract from his time preparing messages, discipling, and doing the work of an evangelist. I think that pastor means well but he is a fool to believe he can control CWM. No, practically speaking he will delegate this to a worship leader who is hardly qualified to defend the faith and the flock. This is the confession of a former worship leader!” (e-mail, May 24, 2009).
Another difference between the hymns in a standard Baptist hymnal and the songs coming from CCW is that CCW is experience oriented. It is designed to create an emotional experience.
The mission of Integrity Music and Integrity Worship Ministries is “helping people worldwide EXPERIENCE THE MANIFEST PRESENCE OF GOD” (integritymusic.com). Graham Kendrick, one of the biggest names in CCW, says, “The old way of preaching and singing began to give way to an expectation that ... God would visit us, and we’d EXPERIENCE HIS PRESENCE IN A TANGIBLE SORT OF WAY” (interview June 11, 2002 with Chris Davidson of Integrity Music). Secret Place Ministries exemplifies the CCW philosophy in that they “long for an encounter with the presence of God” and their worship music is said to “bring down the presence of God” (SecretPlaceMinistries.org).
It is important to understand that CCW is all about a feeling, and that is why the heavy backbeat suits it so well. That backbeat is physically sensual and stimulating. Steven Tyler of Aerosmith testified that rock music “is the strongest drug in the world” (Rock Beat, Spring 1987, p. 23).
The experience orientation of CCW is also why it tends to be characterized by repetitiveness. It has been called 7/11 music (7 words sung 11 times). This creates a hypnotic effect, particularly when accompanied by a strong backbeat.
Another difference between the hymns in a standard Baptist hymnal and the songs coming from CCW is that CCW songs doctrinally vague. This is one reason why it is so broadly appealing and ecumenically successful. For example, one of the songs mentioned in your question is “Holy Ground.” It was written by Geron Davis, a “Jesus Only” Pentecostal who denies the Trinity and baptizes only in Jesus’ name. If we consider the lyrics, the reason for its broad appeal (as the No. 2 best-selling contemporary praise song) becomes obvious.
“As I walked through the door/ I sensed His presence/ And I knew this was the place/ Where love abounds/ For this is the temple/ Jehovah God abides here/ And we are standing in His presence/ on Holy Ground./ We are standing on holy ground/ And I know that there are angels all around/ Let us praise Jesus now/ We are standing in His presence on holy ground/ In His presence there is joy beyond measure/ At His feet, peace of mind can still be found/ If you have a need, I know He has the answer/ Reach out and claim it/ For you are standing on holy ground.”
In light of the incredibly vague message, it is not surprising that this CCW song is popular in ecumenical Protestant, theologically modernist, and Roman Catholic churches. In fact, it is popular with New Agers. Barbra Streisand, who is not a Christian, included the song on her 1997 New Age inspirational album “Higher Ground.” She says that she first heard “Higher Ground” at Clinton’s mother’s funeral in 1994 and that it was “an electrifying moment.” Streisand applied the lyrics to her New Age philosophy that “God is everywhere “and “every square inch of this planet is holy ground.” When asked how he felt about Streisand being electrified by “Holy Ground,” Davis replied, “The presence of God has the same effect on everybody. It doesn’t matter how powerful, how wealthy, how well known you are. When you come into God’s presence, friend, we’re all on level ground” (Phil Christensen, “Holy Ground by Geron Davis,” http://www.ccli.com/worshipresources/SongStories.cfm?itemID=6). His gross lack of spiritual discernment is evident in that he didn’t mention anything about the necessity of being born again in order to have a personal relationship with God, and he did not warn that the devil appears as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11).
This illustrates how that CCW is at home ANYWHERE, and that is a loud warning to those who believe what the Bible says about end-time apostasy (e.g., 2 Timothy 4:3-4)!
And the doctrinal vagueness is not limited to a few CCW songs. It is one of this genre’s hallmarks. There are exceptions, of course, but vagueness tends to be the rule.
By the way, we urge churches to be careful even with the older hymns. We have never said that if a hymn is old it is good. We must examine our hymns doctrinally to make sure they are biblical in lyrical content. In my estimation, there are hymns in the standard hymnals used by Independent Baptist churches that shouldn’t be used (e.g., “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations”).
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