March 8, 1997 (Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - An excellent book which exposes the error of Christian rock music is THEIR ROCK IS NOT AS OUR ROCK by Adrian Van Manen AdrianVM@Juno.com (Windsor Hills Baptist Church, 5517 NW 23rd St., Oklahoma City, OK 73127). The book is $7.00 (includes S/H). The author gives a wide selection of quotations from CCM performers to illustrate the philosophy of the new music. Following are some excerpts from the book --

"Outwardly the Israelites seemed to be very religious. We could classify them as spectators. They Lord says they come to hear the words of the preacher, 'but they will not do them for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness" (Ezek. 33:31). Today many come to church as spectators. Church members sing the great old gospel hymns (many of which were written under very difficult circumstances). From all outward appearances they seem to receive a blessing from the preaching. However, the minute they get into their cars, they reveal where their hearts are. They turn on their rock music; their favorite country western station; or if they are really spiritual, their fleshly Christian rock 'n' roll." (p. 3)

"What the CCM crowd is doing is ingenious. They take abstract lyrics, the dress of the world, the Devils' music, and then expect people to flock to their 'Christianity.' Their god is a wonderful god; he allows them to continue their worldly lifestyles with no chastening, and at the same time allows them to be friends with secular rock stars. Their god, however, is not the God of the Bible. The God of the Bible tells us to fear and worship Him. When we begin to fear and worship Him, we begin to keep His commandments, one of which is to 'abstain from all appearance of evil'" (1 Thess. 5:22)." (p. 59)

"Webster's Dictionary defines dichotomy as 'a division . . . two opposed by contradiction.' Rock 'n' roll and Christian music are a true dichotomy. They are 'opposed by contradiction.' They repel each other. Their goals are opposite of each other. Rock 'n' roll glorifies rebellion, selfishness, greed, lust, and the flesh. Christian music glorifies Christ, purity, selflessness, and obedience. Webster's Dictionary defines synthesis as 'the combination of separate elements of thought or sensation into a whole.' Christian rock promotes the 'combination of the separate elements' of rock 'n' roll and Christian music. They create a synthesis that God never intended. Presenting pure Christianity as an antithesis and dichotomy to the lost world is too difficult a task for them. They find that the world is much more eager to receive them and their message in a synthesized form." (p. 26)

"CCM embodies a philosophy of synthesis. Its supporters claim to be Christians. They speak of salvation, regeneration, repentance, and faith, using their terms to define these words. (They also dress like, run around with, and use the music of the world.) They are synthesizing Christianity with the world. God declares that it will not work." (p. 25)

"Rhythm can be compared to the Holy Spirit in the spiritual realm. The Holy Spirit is a member of the Trinity; however, He never seeks to glorify himself. . . . Rhythm should seek to give precedence to the words, melody, and harmony, while it remains in the background. It is interesting to note that those who go against the Scripture in putting the Holy Spirit in the spotlight are also those that put rhythm in the spotlight musically." (p. 12)

"CCM musicians actively seek the approval of the wicked world, and are constantly comparing their work 'for the Lord' to the worthless product of the Devil's crowd. Alycia Boyd says of the Christian rock group, Messiah Prophet, they: 'have a style that always remains close to Iron Maiden . . . comparisons can be made with a mixture of secular artists like Nazareth, AC/DC, Def Leppard and Led Zepplin.' MusicLine Magazine makes the following quote about the Christian rock group Lone Justice: 'Hot off the road from touring with U2 and gaining mainstream acceptance with a new single, "Ways to be Wicked," is a new band of country-punkers called Lone Justice.'

"These quotes could go on page after page with the same proud statements. The Lord said in John 15:19: 'If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.' 1 John 2:15-17 says: 'Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.'

"It is impossible for Christians to have the best of both worlds. God will not share his glory with the world's filth. Yet the CCM crowd proudly continues to take their synthesized stand. Either they or God are liars, and Titus 1:2 says God cannot lie. The tragedy occurs in that they are able to influence others to follow them down their path of self will and destruction. They, like Pied Pipers, are tearing down the walls of separation from the Devil and his demons." (p. 73)

"How did pastors, youth directors, and music directors allow this destructive cancer to filter into their Bible-believing churches? Previous to the 1970's, they were diametrically opposed to this type of music. They let down their spiritual guard. . . . Pastor were also getting their philosophy from other men. Theology built on men's philosophy put ministries on a drifting anchorless foundation. . . .

"Loren Balman, executive director of corporate marketing at ABC-owned Word Records and Music, let the cat out of the bag. Loren says: 'Nobody wanted guitars or drums on the altar, it looked sacrilegious. But how offensive could a 2-by-4-inch piece of plastic be? It is hard to believe a minor deception could breed a successful idea.'

"God's people have been duped by the master deceiver. A little '2-by-4-inch piece of plastic,' which can carry the sound of a full rock band, was brought into church services of fundamental, Bible-believing, separated, Devil hating, blood bought believers without so much as a raised eyebrow. Preachers, youth directors, and music directors had not been getting their beliefs from God's absolute Word, which caused them to accept something many of them were not prepared for.

"Taped backgrounds served their purpose for the Devil and his crowd. They were a means of carrying the music of the world within the walls of the church. The performers and their philosophy of easy believism, no commandments, watered-down lyrics, now became a part of many 'modern' fundamental churches." (p. 125)

"Young people need to replace the old with something new. How ironic it is to bring them out of the grasp of rock music, only to draw them into CCM. How many drug addicts, hooked on the hard stuff, having gone through withdrawal, end up walking away from drugs? Many of them return with a much stronger addiction than they had the first time. This is the effect withdrawal from secular rock has upon many CCM converts. They may listen to CCM for awhile, but the yearning for something more satisfying to the flesh draws them back to the hard stuff." (p. 156)

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[The previous quotes are from a book exposing the error of Christian rock music entitled THEIR ROCK IS NOT AS OUR ROCK by Adrian Van Manen AdrianVM@Juno.com (Windsor Hills Baptist Church, 5517 NW 23rd St., Oklahoma City, OK 73127). The book is $7.00 (includes S/H). The author gives a wide selection of quotations from CCM performers to illustrate the philosophy of the new music.]

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