August 15, 1997 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - In the article "Charismatic Music Permeating the Churches" (May 30, 1997), I warned of the growing influence of Charismatic beat music in non-Charismatic churches. Even some churches which claim to be fundamental Bible-believing Baptist churches are adopting the Ecumenical-Charismatic music. The following was our conclusion to this article:

"Further, we are convinced that music which is produced by ecumenists and which is used to promote charismatic experience and ecumenism, cannot be used to produce sound Biblical faith and practice. By the laws which God put into this world, Contemporary Christian Music will produce in kind. Like produces like. The Bible warns, ‘Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners’ (1 Corinthians 15:33). If we associate closely with those who are disobeying the Word of God, we will be infected with their disobedience. Be not deceived. The church which gravitates toward ecumenical charismatic music will be moved away from a strong Bible stand. There is a spiritual power behind the Contemporary Christian Music" (D.W. Cloud, "Charismatic Music Permeating the Churches," Fundamental Baptist Information Service, May 30, 1997).

Recently we read an interesting testimony by a leader in the Contemporary Christian Music scene which confirms our warning. Don Moen, who works for Integrity Music, made the following statement about the music tapes from the Brownsville Assembly of God in Pensacola, Florida (the "laughing revival") which are being distributed widely. Moen was asked the question, "Why is this tape [of Brownsville music] important?"

He replied: "Because something is imparted when you listen to this tape. I don’t want it to sound spooky or mysterious, but there’s something powerful about embracing the music of the revival. The fire of the revival can stir in you even as you listen to the songs that took place at the Brownsville revival" ("Don Moen Discusses Music at Brownsville Assembly," Pentecostal Evangel, November 10, 1996).

Though we do not agree with Moen in calling the Brownsville phenomenon a revival, we do agree with his assessment that the spirit of the Brownsville meetings is imparted somewhat through the beat music which is being used there. In our visits to various Charismatic churches and conferences for our reporting through the years, we have observed that the music is always the same. It is a fleshly combination of beat music and mood music; you can dance to it and romance to it. We are not saying that simply listening to the Vineyard- or Toronto- or Brownsville-type music will knock people to the ground and cause them to start exhibiting Laughing Revival manifestations. That is possible, of course, but it is more likely that people listening to this music will pick up the unscriptural philosophy behind it. The philosophy is one of non-judgmentalism, ecumenism, a carnal "love" divorced from righteousness and judgment. It is the carnal people in fundamental Bible-believing churches who are drawn to the ecumenical-charismatic beat music, and it reinforces their carnality and draws them even further from their church’s biblical standards. Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) encourages carnality, and carnality draws folk to CCM.

In a perceptive article on the music at Brownsville, Pastor Joseph Chambers makes the following comments:

"The music minister at Brownsville Assembly of God in Pensacola, Florida, Lindell Cooley, defined the music of the ‘revival’ as ‘honky music.’ That word is an excellent description of Beatle’s music, as well as Pensacola’s music. The dictionary defined ‘honky’ as an adjective, which means ‘cheap entertainment or jangly piano music’ (Chambers English Dictionary, W&R Chambers, Ltd., 1990, p. 683). Jangly music is dissonant, described as ‘not agreeing or harmonizing in sound, a combination of musical sounds that call for resolution or produces beats’ (Ibid., p. 412). This is clearly Beatles’ music and it is an excellent description of the music that has invaded the church. Instead of quieting the human spirit, as music was created to accomplish, it arouses the human spirit and guides the person into unfamiliar realms of the emotions. It is perfect for creating altered states or a hypnotic condition. It is clearly music designed to do the opposite of what our creator ordained.

"There are two main songs that appear to help drive the Pensacola impartations. The first is what appears to be the theme, The River Is Here. ... This song is New Age to the core. It is void of truth, treats God in a generic fashion, and suggests that God’s grace and glory flows from a river. Notice the term, ‘And all who touch it can be revived.’ Standing in the Brownsville church, I watched almost everyone dance, jump, jerk, shake, or swoon to this song. It captured the crowd, but it absolutely was not the Holy Spirit. After forty-five years of [experiencing and practicing] Biblical worship, it clearly showed no kin [to true worship].

"The other song is on the opposite side of the pendulum. The above song is hypnotic in a mood-altering fashion. The second song gets you read to be zapped. It is named, Fire in His Eyes, and is usually sung right before Evangelist Hill takes the services. ... I have no way of knowing the mind of the composer, but it certainly does not fit historic theology.

"Jesus is not riding a white horse, but is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will ride this horse after the Rapture and the Great Tribulation when He returns to fight the Battle of Armageddon. Revelation, chapter six, suggests a White Horse rider with a crown and a bow, but this is judgment against the wicked and is certainly not when the saints ride. Most Bible teachers call this rider the Antichrist or the going forth of righteousness and judgment.

"This appears to be in perfect accord with the theology of the Vineyard Church and their Joel’s Army of conquerors. It is called Dominion Theology and denies the traditional Rapture of the church. The words of these two songs are certainly confusing, but the spirit ... is even more dangerous. Why would we even consider this kind of music to sing to the Lord Jesus Christ? The truth is that we would not, because this music is not sung to Jesus Christ; it is sung to a new Jesus and by a totally different spirit.

"The transition from honoring the Lord Jesus with singing and praise to honoring a false Jesus takes place first in the soul. The worshipper is not conscious of this transition and may be absolutely sincere and honest. The best way to notice that this transition has begun is the new arrogance and unapproachableness of those passing through this paradigm. The word paradigm describes the New Age idea of transition between two world views. ... It’s easy to make the transition. Leave your theology at home. Don’t question the big name who is dispensing this power. Open up and drink. Do not ask questions for questions and Biblical reasoning is a solid block against this change. Even a young Christian with little experience is a stalwart against this deception if they cling to the Word of God and refuse to be swooned by the crowd controllers. ...

"Dr. David A. Noebel said of the Beatles’ Music, ‘The hard fact is that in this present revolutionary era, heavy beat music has become the catalyst for the young radicals in their announced plans not only to destroy Western culture, but to dethrone God. And few can really deny that the Beatles have and are playing a strategic and crucial role in the spiritual and cultural demise of the West and in the proposed destruction of Christianity throughout the world’ (David A. Noebel, The Beatles, A Study in Drugs, Sex and Revolution, p. 8).

"The Beatles’ music has now finished duping the world and is now in the sanctuary" (Joseph Chambers, "Beatles’ Music at Pensacola," The End Times, March-April 1997, p. 3).

Pastor Chambers is an old-line Pentecostal and we differ from him on some theological points, but we agree with his assessment of the music at Brownsville. Rock music cannot be sanctified for the Lord’s use because it is fleshly and does not minister to the spirit. I am not speaking merely of the words; I am speaking of the rhythms. Before I was saved in 1974 at age 23, I lived a very wicked lifestyle and my music was rock music. Rock music fits a wicked lifestyle. Rock music perfectly fits the bar, the dance hall, the night club, the pool hall, the house of prostitution. Rock music fits the bar but it does not fit the Lord’s house. It was created by rebels who love those things which God’s Word says are evil. After I was saved I desired God to purify and use my life, and one of the first things He dealt with was my music. I knew that I had a choice: I could love the world or I could love the Lord. God’s Word tells me that I cannot serve two masters. I cannot say I love the Lord when I love those things which the Lord’s hates. "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, 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). It was a real struggle with the flesh to give up rock music, because I absolutely loved it and I had listened to it practically every waking moment for many years. I found that when I did turn my back on rock music and stop listening to it for personal pleasure, I learned to love wholesome music. It took a little time, but my perverted taste in music was transformed. Ever since then, I have had a holy hatred of rock music. I believe God did this in me. The Charismatic crowd loves experiences. Well, I have had some powerful experiences, and learning to hate rock music was one of them.

I realize the whole world has been taken over by rock music. I realize that it is impossible to get away from it entirely. It is everywhere, in the shops, in commercials, at every sporting event, you name it. To get entirely away from rock music one would have to go out of the world, as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 5:10. He told us that this is not God’s will. We are called to be IN the world to witness to the world, but not OF the world to be influenced by the world. It is like a boat. It is right for the boat to be in the water, but it is wrong for the water to be in the boat. While I cannot get entirely away from rock music as long as I remain in this wicked world, I do not have to willfully bring rock music into my life. I have often praised the Lord that one blessed day I will finally and completely be delivered from all rock music. You see, I don’t believe there is any rock music in Heaven. I do not believe the holy Lord of Glory likes rock music. I believe it is unclean, and no unclean thing will enter into God’s paradise. Until that Day, I will endure whatever amount of rock music I am forced to hear along life’s way in this present evil world, and at the same time I will strive to keep rock music’s unholy influence out of my life, home, and church.

Someone might be saying, "You are impossibly old fashioned and out of date; the times are passing you by and you will soon be all alone and lacking all influence like an old fossil." If that is the case, so be it. I don't care if all of the professing Christians in the whole world decide that rock music is a proper medium for the service of God. (This won’t happen, praise the Lord.) I refuse to submit to this foolishness. Rock music is carnal at best and it cannot be sanctified for the Master's use.