MUS:Which is Christian Rock-N-Roll?

   *Hard metal STRYPER

   -or-

   Soft melodious Amy Grant?

   There is a raging debate over the issue of Christian rock-n- roll.
And while men debate the issue God, a long time ago, laid down the
truth. The following are GOD's guidelines of what is acceptable music
before him. After all, music that truly Christian will conform to the
Word of God and the desire of the Holy Spirit.

   [1] The music must not be like the world if it is to be acceptable
unto Jesus.

   "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord." -2
Corinthians 6:17

   Now, it is not the instruments that are sin. There is nothing wrong
with a guitar or a set of drums. It is in how the instrument is being
used and what kind of heart is using the instrument. What will stand
out about a Christian's use of a guitar is that it is separate and
different from the world. That fleshly and entertainment quality of it
will be gone. They will stand out because of their separation from the
worldly bands! Not just in lyrics, but in action and deed. They will
"prove" they belong to Jesus by their actions.

   "I preached they should repent and turn to God and prove their
repentance by their deeds." -Acts 26:20

   When some group calls themselves "Christian" and yet copies the
lights, smoke, dress, hair and loudness of the worldly groups they are
merely liars who claim to be Christians. They are not Christians. For
if they are of God they will be separate in all they do. They will be
salt and light. What the world and the Christian community should be
awed at is the purity with which any group sings with. Their religion
should be pure above all else. A purity that convicts the world and
inspires their brothers and sisters.

   "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is
this:...to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." -James 1:27

   A group that copies the style of the world and yet sings about Jesus
is an abomination in God's sight. The worldly Christian bands are dead
in their sins and transgressions. They need to have an honest encounter
with a Holy table turning Jesus Christ! They need to have the Holy
Spirit show them they are living Ephesians 2:1-2,

   "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which
you USED to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the
ruler of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are
disobedient."

   In spite of God's solemn warning these bands still continue to walk
in the pride, entertainment and selfish ambition that the world walks
in. If you don't leave a Christian concert saying things like...

   "Wow, how different that is from worlds concerts."

   Then it wasn't a Christian concert.

   [2] The musician's heart must be pure and clean.

   Let me ask you a question or two. What bands do you listen to? What
kind of person leads your music at church? Do you listen to music that
is pure and radiants that it is different than the style of music the
world listens to? Or do you merely say to yourself, "But the words are
good. The words talk about Jesus.".

   How many justify what they listen to by saying "The words are good
and based on scripture!" Understand this clearly...scriptural words are
not enough! It is not enough for a band to sing and talk about Jesus.
Before you listen to them you should know if their hearts are clean and
pure.

   Even Satan quoted scripture to Jesus. As we read Matthew 4:6 notice
how Satan quoted scripture to Jesus. The scriptures that Satan quoted
were not taken out of context. They were right and true. In fact, the
scripture talks about God's love and protection. Satan is sharing with
Jesus about God's salvation. Just as these Christian rock bands do. The
bands talk about Jesus - but with what kind of spirit and heart?

   "Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the
highest point of the temple. 'If you are the Son of God, ' he said,
'throw yourself down. For it is written: 'He will command his angels
concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you
will not strike your foot against a stone.'"

   Here is Satan quoting Psalm 9:11-12 about God's love. Everything
Satan just said was true. Yet is was the devil sharing those
scriptures. It was the pit of hell talking about God's love. Words mean
nothing if the spirit is unclean! Open your spiritual eyes and see that
Satan has taken these bands to the "highest point of the temple" in the
"holy city" and is speaking scriptures through them. Do you not know
that scripture says, "test the spirits" and not just the words of a man?

   If the bands to not overwhelmingly meet these two basic requirements
God has set down...then throw the tapes out. Don't go to their
concerts. You will have to judge the heart and spirits what are playing
the music. God and judge by the power or the Holy Spirit. Throw out all
those tapes where the band or singer is after the things of this world
or are worldly.

   Don't go to a concert where the music and musician are unclean. Let
your eyes be only on the faithful in the land.

   "My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell
with me; he whose walk is blameless will minister to me." -Psalm 101:6

   Only those who are faithful in being separate from the world should
we share our lives with in the Lord. Only those whose "walk is
blameless" should you allow to "minister" to you. And these bands pride
themselves on being "ministers" to others. Only the bands whose "walk",
that is, dress, actions and styles are un-like the ways of the world
should minister to you.

   A holy Christian has no business buying the tapes or listen to the
music of those whose "walk" and hearts are not "faithful" to the Word
and Lord. You cannot have both the ways of the world and Jesus.

   For though they speak of Jesus and purity they are deceived and
deceiving others. You should silence such musicians and music.

   "No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who
speaks falsely will stand in my presence. Every morning I will put to
silence all the wicked in the land..." -Psalm 101:7-8

   How these groups "practice deceit". They are good at talking about
righteousness and purity. They pride themselves on saying their music
talks of Jesus. But by their actions they deny Jesus. They speak
"falsely". And you should not be listening to them.

   "They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They
are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good." -Titus
1:16

   By their actions of wearing ear rings in the ears...of wearing long
hair...of wearing leather and the other costumes the world wears they
prove they are not Christians! By their actions of performing at their
concerts they prove they are like the world. They prove they are
"disobedient" to the Lord. Just look at the long hair, hair styles and
the dress that various musicians have. They don't even begin to obey
the basic, the very basic, teachings of scripture (1 Corinthians 11:14
& 1 Timothy 1:9). How they entertain, dress and perform with all the
glitter of the world and yet have the pride to offer a Holy Jesus to
people. How easily we are deceived.

   Yet these bands and others clamor before God and men that Jesus ate
with drunkards. Yes, indeed, Jesus ate with drunkards...but without
getting drunk! Jesus was salt. Jesus was pure. Jesus' life convicted
others of sin. Jesus did not deny God by His actions. His words and
action were both pure. Unlike the Christian bands of today.

   Unless there is a deep world shattering repentance on the part of
these "Christian" musicians GOD says that "blackest darkness" is
reserved for them. This issue of Christian rock-n-roll is no light
weight issue.

   The reason we know that "blackest darkness" is reserved for such
bands is that they have told us so. They boast of it! These musicians
tell you that they are trying to to be like the world in order to draw
the world to Jesus. They brag that their worldliness draws the world.
God says that such groups are "springs without water" and that
"blackest darkness" is reserved for them.

   What makes a group worthy of "blackest darkness"? They qualify for
this part of hell because they seek to be like the world in order to
draw people to Jesus.

   "These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm.
Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful
words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature,
they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error.
They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of
depravity - for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him." -2
Peter 2:17-19

   "By appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature" in
drawing people to their concerts they become fit for the darkest part
of hell. Can't you just see Paul entering a town dressed in black
leather and chains, selling T shirts that say "Paul of Tarsus and Some
Band"? Then with lights a blazing, smoke filling the room and him
siking everyone up stop and say, "Come now believe in a pure un-world
like Jesus!". Before long you are going to hear we can have a Christian
STRIPPER for Jesus. After all her/his words would be good and they
would pull in crowds no one else could. In short, anytime we appeal to
the sinful part of man we become a people fit for the darkest parts of
hell. How many churches are doing that, let alone to discuss Christian
music.

   How many say, "But I came to the Lord because or that rock band."
The truth is as Jesus said, they didn't come to the Lord instead they
become "twice as fit for hell", (Matthew 23:15). For how can someone go
to a concert that is like the world and leave prepared for a cross
carrying holy life by the grace of the Holy Spirit? Have we forgotten
that the blind cannot lead the blind? Have we forgotten that "both"
will "fall into a pit"? Are we so dull spiritually that we allow groups
to use the name of good musicians like Keith Green to justify their
impurity? God is very clear that we are to leave such groups, singers,
churches and ministries.

   "Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind
man, both will fall into the pit." -Matthew 15:14

   Remember well that they offer people Jesus. They offer the good
news. They talk of peace and righteousness. They offer freedom from
hell, but cannot deliver. Remember Peter said...

   "They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of
depravity..." (vs :18)

   And if you are genuinely saved it is in spite of them, not because
of them.

   When these bands call tracts such as this "persecution" in Christ,
they seem to forget one large detail. Jesus said, "Blessed are you when
men FALSELY accuse you." And, "Blessed are you when men persecution you
because of RIGHTEOUSNESS sake." To recognize Holiness takes no
justification or arguments. Purity convicts and encourages all.
Wickedness and worldliness takes the justification of deceitful talk.

   To know what music and musicians are acceptable to God all you have
need to do is honestly surrender your life to God. Something most do
not honestly do in spite of their words to the contrary.

   "Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy to offer
your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is
your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the patter
of the this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his
good, pleasing and perfect will." -Romans 12:1-2

   To know what music and musicians are acceptable unto God all you
have need to do is live out Romans 12:1-2 by the power of the Holy
Spirit.

   Look again at Romans 12:1. It says to "offer your bodies as living
sacrifices". So there goes that old worldly argument that God doesn't
care what you look like. God cares! He does not want his children to
look like they belong to the world. As 2 Corinthians says, "...let us
purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit,
perfecting holiness out of reverence for God."

   Look again at Romans 12:2. "Do not conform to the pattern of this
world." How much clearer can God be?! If you are part of a Christian
band then let everything about you be different from the pattern of
this world. Cut and comb the hair. Dress like you belong to heaven. Get
a pure heart instead of the deceiptful talk the world practices. Sit
down with doped up kids and call for repentance. Stop worrying about
popularity and getting a hit record. Stop deceiving yourself. "Don't
merely listen to the Word, do what it says." (James 1:22) You can't be
impure with the pattern of the world and go to heaven.

   Look again at Romans 12:2. "Then you will be able to test and
approve what God's will is...". The reason most Christians and
Christian bands cannot tell they are in sin is that they have not truly
given themselves to God wholeheartedly. Let not these Christian
musicians and bands take you in by their "whitewash". For, be sure of
this...

   "For this you can be sure: No immoral or IMPURE or greedy person -
such a man is an idolater - has ANY inheritance in the kingdom of
Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because
of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
Therefore do not be partners with them." -Ephesians 5:5-7

   Indeed, "do not be partners with them"!
