MUS:Rebuttal to "Christian Rock_n_Roll"

   With loving concern, I must take issue with some of the comments of
the (unknown) author of the file "Christian Rock-N-Roll". Personally,
even before I accepted Jesus as Lord, I didn't care for the heavy metal
sound, and I still don't. However, I don't believe we should renounce
Christian rock musicians on the basis of "the lights, smoke, dress,
hair and loudness" as the author stated. We know that God certainly
doesn't judge on that basis:

   1 Samuel 16:7b "For man looketh on the outward appearance, but the
Lord looketh on the heart."

   A quote from the above mentioned file: --- When some group calls
themselves Christian and yet copy the lights, smoke, dress, hair and
loudness of the worldly groups they are liars - they are not
Christians! For if they are of God they will be separate in all they
do. --- - Unquote.

   By this same yardstick, lets look at a spirit-filled Christian
businessman. Just like his worldly contemporaries, he wears a
three-piece business suit and the current hairstyle. He sits in the
same business meetings, uses the same productivity tools, looks at the
same reports, and calls on the same clients. So what separates him from
the non-believer? His WORDS and his DEEDS!

   The same thing applies to musicians. Worldly rock bands have been
known to throw illegal drugs out to the audience; Stryper is known to
throw Bibles! The songs of the world's bands proclaim the worship of
Satan and other idols, immorality, death and human degradation in
general. Christian rock proclaims the Gospel! THIS is what separates
them from the world, not insignificant props such as lights and smoke,
or decibal levels.

   More quotes: --- Yet those who support these false Christian groups
clamor that Jesus ate with drunkards. Yes, indeed Jesus ate with
drunkards... but without getting drunk! --- - Unquote

   Are these Christian musicians partaking in the same drunkenness,
drug abuse, and immoral sex as their worldly counterparts? If so, I
whole- heartedly agree with the above statement... but I have heard no
one accusing them of doing so. By all reports I know of, they are
surrounded by appalling displays of sin and ungodliness, but are
maintaining exemplary Christian lifestyles in the midst of it, just
like Jesus did.

   A note to those who look at their neighbor and brand them as a false
Christian:

   2 Corinthians 10:7 Do ye look on things after the outward
appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of
himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we
Christ's.

   Indeed, we are commanded to discern those who come to us in the name
of the Lord, that we would not be deceived by false teachers. The Bible
tells us precisely how to do this:

   Matthew 7 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's
clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them
by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt
tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil
fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree
that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the
fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

   And what are the fruits of Christian rock? The only fruits I have
heard of is people accepting Jesus Christ; people who were delivered
out from the midst of Satan's stronghold in rock music.

   ONE LAST THING - I've heard it reported that the members of Stryper
maintain that their music and show was not designed to praise God; but
rather to deliver the Gospel, to evangelize the world of rock music.
With that in mind, my belief is that we who are already Christians have
no call to listen to Stryper's music. God's purpose for music is to
praise and glorify Him, the music we listen to should do just that.
Again, I direct this at already born-again believers, and don't wish to
take away from Stryper's or other's evangelism effort.
