Christian Rock and Roll - Part 1

We get many requests asking our opinion of certain CCM performers or a certain type music. There is no way for us to keep up with every performer in CCM or every type of music. We put together these simple, common-sense, Bible guidelines. If you're concerned about your music, see if it passes these Bible guidelines. After listening to hundreds of CCM tapes, CD's, and videos, at least 95% of Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) does not pass these Bible guidelines.

We have also created a list of good, Christ-honoring, Christian Music with RealAudio sound clips you can link to at the end of this page.

CHRISTIAN MUSIC SHOULD PRAISE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST — NOT MAN

Now, you would think this point is unnecessary for CHRISTian music. After all, CHRISTian means "a follower, believer of Jesus Christ". And if it is truly Christian music, it should testify, praise and sing about the Lord Jesus Christ.

The PURPOSE of Christian music is to PRAISE the Lord.

I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing PRAISE to thy name, O thou most High. Psalm 9:2

Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we SING and PRAISE thy power. Psalm 21:13

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my SONG will I PRAISE him. Psalm 28:7

 

PRAISE the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise. Psalm 33:2-3

Even when the apostle Paul and Silas were thrown in jail and in stocks they sang praises to the Lord (notice: they weren't singing the blues – they "sang praises unto God").

Sadly, much of what goes by the name CHRISTian Music today is NOT CHRISTian. It does NOT testify, praise or sing about the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, a great deal of it does not even mention the Lord Jesus Christ. Much of today's Christian Music goes out it's way to avoid the name of Jesus Christ – or any Christian content whatsoever.

Amy Grant

"What we're trying to do is take Christian principles and make them understandable. Even if it doesn't say Jesus, it doesn't matter. . ." (Rolling Stone, June 6, 1985 p 10)

"(42) Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
(43) For they loved the PRAISE OF MEN more than the praise of God." John 12:42-43

The book "What About Christian Rock" by Dan Peters, Steve Peters and Cher Merrill is a book praising Christian Rock. Chapter Eight (pp. 100-145) of the book, titled "Goals" is very interesting. In "Goals", through personal interview, correspondence, or quoted statements, the authors state the "quoted" goals of approximately 130 individual CCM performers. Dr. Garlock and Kurt Woetzel, in their book, Music in the Balance, give summary of these goals. Here is the chart as it appears in Music in the Balance (p. 111):

Notice in the chart: 66 stated "Evangelism" as their goal, and only 3 out of 130 artists said "praise" is one of their goals! And what's even more interesting – out of 130 CCMers ONLY ONE "Used Scripture" in stating the goal of their music! WOW! And this is from a book (What About Rock) trying to justify Christian Rock!

The GOAL of using Christian music as Evangelism is not the Bible GOAL of Christian music. Tim Fisher, author, musician, music professor and founder of Sacred Music Services, states in his book, "The Battle for Christian Music":

"Music is NEVER used in Scripture as a means of reaching the lost." (Tim Fisher, The Battle for Christian Music, p.155)

Even CCM artist, Michael Card, admits that much of CCM — is NOT Christian:

"The lyrics of a good number of the songs don’t betray anything specifically Christian —they may have some moral message, but not a lot of the big songs are identifiably Christian. . . 'What happens to the message when we start getting the music to as many people as possible?' There is an essential part of the gospel that’s not ever going to sell. The gospel is good news, but it is also bad news: 'You are a sinner, and you are hopeless.' How is a multimillion-dollar record company going to take that? That’s a part of the message, too, and if that’s taken out—and it frequently is in Christian music— it ceases to be the gospel." (Can't Buy Me Love, Christianity Today, May 20, 1996, p. 25)

Martin Luther puts it bluntly — "whoever does NOT want to sing and speak of it shows that he does not believe it".

"We should praise God with both word and music, namely by proclaiming [the Word of God] through music. . .He who believes earnestly cannot be quiet about it. But he must gladly and willingly sing and speak about it so that others may come and hear it. And whoever does NOT want to sing and speak of it shows that he does not believe it." (Don Cusic, The Sound of Light, p. 15)

And according to the Lord Jesus Christ that is Satan’s goal:

"But he [Jesus] turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, SATAN: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of MEN." Matthew 16:23

According to the Lord Jesus Christ – Satan’s goal is to uplift man. According to the Lord Jesus Christ – Satan glorifies and uplifts man!

According to the Lord Jesus Christ the following comments and quotes are satanic:

dc Talk:
Here's how Dallas Morning News, (April 27, 1996) describes a DC Talk "Freak Show" concert:

"As teenagers’ shrieks filled the Dallas Convention Center moments before dc Talk took the stage Friday night, one of the relatively few grown-ups in the sold-out crowd observed, ‘This is just like the BEATLES.’"

Michael W. Smith
Smith’s concerts are filled with teenage girls who "scream out their affection for him" (not the Lord Jesus Christ). Here’s how Inside Music, Jan/Feb 91, describes a Smith concert:

"His concerts draw hundreds of thousands of fans each year, mostly teenage girls who scream out their AFFECTION FOR HIM non-stop throughout. . . . To his fans, Smith is the absolute greatest there is, BAR NONE . . ."

Let's listen to the "screaming-satanic-man-worship" in a few CCM concerts:

You can hear the audience PRAISING their CCM "god".

Author Josh McDowell says about CCM former Steve Camp:

"Thank God for Steve Camp. The body of Christ is enriched because we have his heart and his music. My oldest daughter thinks he hung the moon." Josh McDowell (CCM, Aug, 91, p. 15)

Did you read that – "My oldest daughter thinks he hung the moon"! Do you know who hung the moon? The Lord Jesus Christ hung the moon! (John 1:3) Steve Camp is in the place of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Not surprisingly, the message Satan delivered Eve in the garden of Eden is ". . . ye shall be as gods. . ." (Genesis 3:5) — exactly what happens at many CCM concerts.

CCM artist, Michael Card, admits this glorifying of man in CCM:

"Now, the industry is celebrity-driven. The song is almost irrelevant. The focus is on the PERSON, and songs have become disposable." (Can't Buy Me Ministry, Christianity Today, May 20, 1996 (p. 22)

 

Did you know this CCM-man-worship is ABOMINATION to the Lord? Did you know, "for that which is HIGHLY ESTEEMED among men is ABOMINATION in the sight of God"?

And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is ABOMINATION in the sight of God. Luke 16:15

Even CCM "star" Keith Green wrote of this "CCM-man-worship" over 15 years ago! And it's gotten much, much worse since then. Here's what very-pro CCM star Keith Green wrote:

"Why do we IDOLIZE Christian singers and speakers? We go from glorifying musicians in the world, to GLORIFYING Christian musicians. It's all idolatry! . . . Satan is getting a great victory as we seem to WORSHIP these ministers on tapes and records, and clamor to get their autographs in churches and concert halls from coast to coast." (Keith Green, from the Tract, "So You Wanna Be A Rock Star")

CCM musician Michael Card makes these startling words about CCM:

"The direction and value system are getting worse faster than any of us can imagine." (Can't Buy Me Ministry, Christianity Today, May 20, 1996 (p. 22)

Here's how CCM magazine introduces it's review of Sandi Patty's, "after-adultery", album, "Artist of My Soul". Read it and weep. What is now called Christian Music is nothing but Satanic MAN-worship:

"The press kit arrived today packed full of superlatives and more than 1200 square inches of plush photography. The singer looks to her right and smiles pleasantly as the breeze teases nicely coiffed blond hair. Her arms are thrown wide as she gladly embraces the moment. This is, after all, something of a comeback.

Open the lavish 9-inch by 12-inch publicity folio. Inside, the singer smiles up at you from a photograph a foot-and-a-half wide. Open the folder again and a photographic panorama spreads three-feet wide across the desk. On the left 18 inches, she's outside, same setting, still smiling, gazing skyward. To the right, indoors, under amber light, hands lightly clasped, eyes downcast, she strikes a contemplative pose.

Nestled inside the press kit, enfolded by all those smiling photos, are the words--the P.R.--and the PRAISE [DTTM; Praise of Sandi Patty - NOT the Lord Jesus Christ - according to Matthew 16:23 – this is Satan – read Matthew 16:23 if you do not believe it!] is effusive. [DTTM: effusive means: pouring freely, excessively, gushy, that is the PRAISE of Sandi Patty] The singer has created "a distinguished work of art." Her voice is "distinctive," her songs "eloquent and articulate," the CD "masterfully crafted" and "breathtakingly performed." She's a "preeminent talent," who is "critically acclaimed" and "highly successful" –"stirring" with "remarkable musical diversity" and an "expansive vocal range." "Dynamic... quintessential... timeless... heartwarming." She is the recipient of five Grammy Awards, nine Grammy nominations, 35 Dove Awards ("more than any other artist"), three platinum records, five gold records. Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera." (CCM Magazine, January, 1998, p.32)

AND GOD SAYS THAT IS ABOMINATION:

". . . that which is HIGHLY ESTEEMED among men is ABOMINATION in the sight of God". Luke 16:15

Christian music lifts-up and praises the Lord Jesus Christ — not man.

Christian music glorifies God — not man.

Satan's music, according to the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 16:23, glorifies and praises man – such as CCM! (Matthew 16:23)

CHRISTIAN MUSIC IS FOR THE LORD — NOT THE WORLD

A Christian's music is sung to the Lord. It is not for the world.

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart TO THE LORD; Ephesians 5:19

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts TO THE LORD. Colossians 3:16

Sing praises TO THE LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings. Psalm 9:11

Isaiah 12:2 sums it up wonderfully, ". . .for the LORD JEHOVAH is . . . MY SONG . . .":

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and MY SONG; he also is become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2

CCM artists justify their avoidance of "Jesus" and Christian lyrics by claiming they're using Christian music as a tool for reaching the lost. When used for the purpose of "talking" to the world — they can justify, saying or not saying anything – because after all, they're TRYING to reach the lost! But Christian music was NEVER meant for the lost world. The Bible is very clear – Christian music is "sung unto the Lord" – not the world!

Not only that — the vast majority of people purchasing CCM is Christians! It is not the lost world! Rather than reaching the lost [which is wrong in itself] CCM is "preaching" it's "watered-down, anti-Jesus, unchristian, lovey-dovey, non-judgmental, cool, worldly, fleshly, feel-good" message to Christians!

The purpose of Christian music was NEVER meant to evangelize the lost!

God's method of reaching the lost is the preaching of the Word of God.

For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of PREACHING to save them that believe. 1 Corinthians. 1:21

The ONLY way Christian Music can appeal to the world is make it UN-Christian — which is exactly what CCM does. Most CCM artists "remove" or "redefine" the Lord Jesus Christ. They replace the Lord Jesus Christ with the pronouns; "he", "him", "you", "I", et. al. They also "redefine" the Lord Jesus Christ as a "politically-correct" "tolerant", "lovey-dovey", non-judgmental, "partying", "hip-hop", "rapping-rocker" that appeals to the world. Songs such as, dc Talk’s "Jesus Freak", Messiah Prophet Band's, "Master of the Metal", et al. clearly describe "another Jesus" than the Jesus Christ of the Bible. In 2 Corinthians. 11:4, the apostle Paul warns of "another Jesus".

Just as the lost world is not interested in a "Bible-believing" church that preaches the word of God, the world is not interested in music that openly praises the Lord. The lost world is NOT going to praise the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible is CLEAR — "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God"!

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians. 2:14)

Christian music is NOT for the world – it is for the Lord! If it is FRIENDLY to the world then according to the Word of God it is AGAINST the Lord!

". . . 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

After Babylon captured the children of Israel, Babylon requested Israel to sing, but Israel refused to sing "the Lord's song in a strange land". Notice, it is "the Lord's song" — NOT the world's song or even Israel's song.

(1) By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
(2) We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
(3) For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
(4) How shall we sing the LORD'S SONG in a strange land? Psalms 137:1-4

Christian music is for the Lord — NOT the world.

CHRISTIAN MUSIC IS A NEW SONG — NOT AN OLD SONG

When I got saved, I loved rock 'n' roll. Nothing – but nothing, was more important to me than rock music!. I played rock guitar – day and night! I did not have a dream or goal besides rock music. And when I got saved July, 30, 1975, at 20 years old, I had NO intention to stop listening and playing rock music. But something changed. . .

I didn't know it then — but "old things are passed away; behold, all things are become NEW" and that included my music!

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become NEW. 2 Corinthians 5:17

I didn't change intentionally — but within six months, the ONLY music I wanted to listen to and play was real Christian Music. Music that praised my Lord and Savior! My desire and love for rock music was replaced by a NEW SONG — even PRAISE unto our God!

Just as 2 Corinthians 5:17 says (and God cannot LIE - Titus 1:2) "all things are become NEW" and the very FIRST thing God "makes new" is a NEW SONG!

After someone trusts Jesus Christ, according to the Word of God, God gives that person a "NEW song" — and notice that NEW SONG is — "PRAISE unto our God". And also notice — "he hath put" — God did it. If someone does NOT have a NEW SONG chances are they're not even saved! All things are become NE especially your music!

(1) I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
(2) He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
(3) And he hath put a NEW SONG in my mouth, even PRAISE unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Psalm 40:1-3

I will sing a NEW SONG unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee. Psalm 144:9

Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a NEW SONG, and his praise in the congregation of saints. Psalm 149:1

Fanny Crosby is the greatest hymn writer that ever lived, writing over 9,000 songs! Before Fanny got saved, at 45 years old, she wrote many secular songs. But after she got saved — things were different. . . Here's what Fanny said about mixing Christian and worldly music:

"Sometimes I need to reject the music proposed for my songs because the musicians misunderstand that the Fanny Crosby who once wrote for the people in the saloons has merely changed the lyrics. Oh my no. The church must never sing it's songs to the melodies of the world." (Danny Castle, video "What's Wrong with Christian Rock")

And do you know why Fanny Crosby said that — because Fanny got saved! And God "hath put a NEW SONG in my mouth, even PRAISE unto our God" inside the NEW Fanny Crosby! Fanny Crosby wrote over 9,000 songs to the Lord! Fanny used over 200 different pen names because she wanted to make sure God got the glory and not her.

How different are today's CCM performers. They copy the world's tunes. Many try to "crossover" into the worldly music world. They copy the world's looks and "hip-hop" language. They fellowship with the world. They even play the world's songs – even some of the most anti-Christ, Satanic songs available!

We've documented this many, many times in our material, but here's a few examples.

AMY GRANT
Amy's album, House of Love includes the environmental-mother-earth song, Big Yellow Taxi, by new-age-priestess — Joni Mitchell. Time magazine, (December, 16, 1974, p.63) tells of Joni Mitchells intimate relationship with a muse (a demon spirit) named Art. Joni says, "I feel like I'm married to this guy named Art, I'm responsible to my Art above all else." Some of the words to Big Yellow Taxi, "They paved paradise and put up a parking lot". How different from the words of the Lord Jesus in Luke 23:43, "And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

REZ BAND
The secular group Jefferson Airplane is one of the most blasphemous in all of rock music. Their song "The Son of Jesus" spews their hatred and blasphemy of the Lord Jesus Christ, they sing, Jesus was involved in the occult, had illegitimate children by Mary Magdalene, and that God the Father was sexually attracted to Jesus' daughter.:

So you think young Jesus Christ never a lady, and you think young Mary
Never saw him smile wide & free,
You won't read it in the Bible but if you look you're liable
To come across the truth about the man from Galilee

The man upon the water, they had a son, they had a daughter she hid them
From the slaughter in the deep Black Sea
God loved the son of Jesus Ol' God got off on the spaklin' daughter too

BELIEVE IT OR NOT! The CCM group, the REZ band sings, one of "blasphemous" Jefferson Airplane's song, "Somebody to Love"!

DELIVERANCE
One of the most openly Satanic bands in all of rock is Black Sabbath. They have actually given invitations during their concerts for young people to receive Satan. One of their albums, is truthfully titled, "We Sold Our Soul for Rock'n Roll". Their song N.I.B. (Nativity In Black) is one of the most openly satanic songs ever recorded. It is a love-song from Lucifer, in which Lucifer invites the listener to "please take my hand", the lyrics:

Some people say MY LOVE cannot be true
Please believe me, MY LOVE, and I'll show you
I will give you those things you thought unreal . . .
YOUR LOVE FOR ME has just got to be real . . .
Look into my eyes, you will see who I am
MY NAME IS LUCIFER, PLEASE TAKE MY HAND!"

Now surely, it's NOT POSSIBLE — no CCM group would EVER go that far and do a song by Black Sabbath? Wrong. . . The CCM group, Deliverance, on their album "What A Joke", have a song by Satanist rockers — Black Sabbath — "After Forever!"

Here's a short list of some so-called Christian Contemporary performers who sing "worldly-secular-rock" songs.

Amy Grant "PLAYS" Joni Mithchell
Johnny Cash "PLAYS" Danzig, Beck, SoundGarden, et. al!
Petra "PLAYS" Argent (ditto KISS)
77's "PLAYS" Led Zeppelin.
DC talk "PLAYS" Doobie Brothers, Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, REM, et. al.
Audio Adrenaline "PLAYS" Edgar Winter
Point of Grace "PLAYS" Earth, Wind and Fire
Jars of Clay "PLAYS" Ozzy Osbourne
Rez Band "PLAYS" the Who, Jefferson Airplane
Holy Soldier "PLAYS" Rolling Stones
Rachel, Rachel "PLAYS" Kansas
Deliverance "PLAYS" Black Sabbath
MXPX plays Buddy Holly

Many, many more examples could be given. See our other articles for more examples.

The Bible clearly commands us to "come out from among them, and be ye separate" and to "touch not the unclean thing" — CCMers not only "touch" it — they "honor" them by singing their songs!

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the UNCLEAN thing; and I will receive you, 2 Corinthians 6:17

Where is the CCMers "NEW SONG, even PRAISE unto our God" from Psalms 40?

Why did the same God that gave me, Fanny Crosby, and millions of others a NEW SONG, not do the same for them, as He promised on Psalms 40 and 2 Corinthians. 5:17? Acts 10:34 says, ". . . God is no respecter of persons". And I know ONE thing — GOD DOES NOT LIE!

In hope of eternal life, which God, THAT CANNOT LIE, promised before the world began; Titus 1:2

God is not a man, that HE SHOULD LIE; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Numbers 23:19

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become NEW. 2 Corinthians 5:17

(1) I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
(2) He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
(3) And he hath put a NEW SONG in my mouth, even PRAISE unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Psalm 40:1-3

CHRISTIAN MUSIC IS A NEW SONG — NOT AN OLD SONG.

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 14:15:

I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the UNDERSTANDING also. 1 Corinthians 14:15

The message in Christian music should be clear, not vague, or unclear. Christian music should praise the Lord and — the listener should clearly understand the message.

The apostle Paul didn't try to "trick" anybody, he wanted to make sure he was understood:

Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great PLAINNESS of speech: 2 Corinthians 3:12

And my speech and my preaching was NOT with ENTICING words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 1 Corinthians 2:4

Paul warns against "enticing words", such as CCM does:

And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with ENTICING words. Colossians 2:4

Martin Luther, the German Reformer, also avoided any worldly influence and wanted the message clear:

"But I would like to avoid any new words or the language used at court. [DTTM – Is that ever contrary to the CCMers who imitate the rock world’s slang and lingo; like dcTalk’s "Jesus Freak"] In order to be understood by the people, only the simplest and the most common words should be used for singing; at the same time, however, they should be pure and apt; and further, the sense should be CLEAR and as close as possible to the psalm." (Martin Luther, "To George Spalatin," Letters II, p. 69)

Look how clear these songs praise the Lord. And literally thousands of examples could be given:

"Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine" by Fanny Crosby
"My Jesus I Love Thee" by Adoniram Gordon
&quoE> nderful, Wonderful Jesus" by Anna Russell
"Victory in Jesus" by E.M. Bartlett
"Jesus Is All the World to Me" by Will Thompson
"Jesus Is the Sweetest Name I Know" by Lela Long
"Jesus Lover of My Soul" by Charles Wesley
 

Most of CCM music is vague, or it is sung in a "worldly-hip-hop-cool-lingo". Rather than "Jesus", they will say "he", "you", "I", etc. CCMers want to appeal to the world (to $ell records and make dollar$!) so they use "double-speak" tactics. They won't come right out and say what it means — but they'll usually put in enough "double-speak" "hidden agenda" to "$ell" it to Christians.

Some of their songs they'll explain on they lyric sheets what the song means — because when you listen to it — it's total nonsense!

Here's some samples of the unclear, vague, ridiculous and nonsense messages in CCM: And we could give hundreds!

Stan Moser, former head of Word Records (the man responsible for signing Amy Grant) and CEO of Star Song Records, was one of the pioneers and most important executives in CCM. And after 26 years in CCM, in November 1995, walked away from CCM. In an article in Christianity Today, titled "We Have Created a Monster" about CCM, Mr. Moser freely admits:

"But to be candid, I look at the majority of the music I hear today and think it's virtually meaningless." (Christianity Today, "We Have Created a Monster", May 20, 1996 p. 27)

Let's look at "real-life" example of the CCMer's "looney-toon" attempt to justify their "lust" for fleshly rock 'n' roll (and disobedience to the Word of God). This is from Steve Miller's, funny-book, "The Contemporary Christian Music Debate" (which is NOT a debate by Miller but a book of side-stepping, ignoring truths, half-truths, "looney-toon-logic", correcting and changing of the Word of God to justify his "love" for rock 'n' roll). While Miller readily admitts to the unclear lyrics in CCM — his suggestion to "clear up" the confusion should get the "kooks" award of the year! Here's Miller "looney-toon" suggestion:

"Often the LACK OF CLARITY by the variables of a concert can be overcome by the foresight of the local church promoter. One way to alleviate the problem is to find out which songs will be played (through the group's home office) and play these songs (via cassette) with overheads of the words in a youth meeting several days prior to the concert." (Steve Miller, The Contemporary Christian Music Debate, p.102)

What a joke! Play the tapes with lyrics on an overhead so they can UNDERSTAND what they're singing! What a mess! That's a good example of the contents of Miller's un-Biblical-funny-book and CCM's attitude in general - they go into "looney-toon" to justify their "love" of rock 'n' roll!

Christian music's message should be clear — not vague, or concealed.

CHRISTIAN MUSIC SHOULD EMPHASIS THE MESSAGE — NOT THE MUSIC, NOR THE MUSICIAN

Christian music should give ALL the attention and praise to the Lord — and NONE to the music, or the musician, or the singer. The Lord should get ALL the praise, ALL the glory, and ALL the honor. Spiritually speaking, the Christian musician should be heard but not seen — the Christian musician should be hide in Christ.

Christian music should emphasis and praise the Lord — not the music nor the musician.

Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious. Psalm 66:2

Christian musicians today are so caught up with their "music" and just the "right-sound" that the message takes a backseat. A lot of Christian music (especially with the "canned" accompaniment tapes) is a "performance" rather than a message. When that happens, the "performance" completely destroys the message by pointing all the attention to self or the music. Consequently, the musician "robs" the Lord of any praise and from a Christian perspective, it's fruitless.

Sadly, many musicians (and not just limited to CCM) are like the chief rulers that the Lord Jesus addressed in John 12:

For they loved the PRAISE OF MEN more than the praise of God. John 12:43

Stan Moser, former head of Word Records (the man responsible for signing Amy Grant) and CEO of Star Song Records, was one of the pioneers and most important executives in CCM. And after 26 years in CCM, in November 1995, walked away from CCM. In an article in Christianity Today, titled "We Have Created a Monster" about CCM, Mr. Moser freely admits:

"But to be candid, I look at the majority of the music I hear today and think it's virtually meaningless." (Christianity Today, "We Have Created a Monster", May 20, 1996 p. 27)

Mr. Moser goes on to say:

"There is a growing chasm between CCM and the church – between what's actually happening in the real world of ministry, or even in the music ministry of the church, and what we're doing in CCM. In fact, I would probably be more inclined to call the industry "commercial Christian music," rather than "contemporary Christian music."" (Christianity Today, "We Have Created a Monster", May 20, 1996 p. 27)

HM magazine says, "a lot of Christian bands do not feel it necessary to speak about God or Christ":

"There are a lot of bands out now who do not feel it necessary to speak about God or Christ". (HM magazine, Issue #67, p.26)

Ghoti Hook (now how's that for a Christian name), says "point-blank", they, "don't mention God onstage..." and rather than get their audience interested in God, they want their audience to get "interested in them" (Satan's goal; man-worship, see Matthew: 16:23):

"Sometime people give us a hard time because we don't mention God onstage. . . I know that a lot of other bands and people are called to talk about God onstage a lot more than we do, and that's great, but we just feel that our calling is to get people interested in our MUSIC, interested in US . . ." (HM magazine, Issue #67, pp.34-35)

Christian rockers, Spudgun, says:

"We don't normally say stuff about God from the stage". Jason Keely, Spudgun (HM magazine, Issue #67, p. 40)

Much of Christian music today is more entertainment than ministry. A lot of Christian musicians (and not limited to CCM or Christian Rock) are far more interested in impressing their audience and "flaunting" their musical talent than ministering to the Lord. You can not sing to "please men" and sing unto the Lord. It's one or the other.

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should NOT be the servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10

Christian music is not entertainment. Christian music is spiritual "food". Real Christian music admonishes [reprove mildly], while praising the Lord.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and ADMONISHING one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your HEARTS to the Lord. Colossians 3:16

Christian music is from the heart, not just the voice. Beautiful voices are a "dime a dozen". But beautiful hearts are "more priceless than gold". I can't remember the times I've watched a Christian musician, flaunt, pomp, articulate, get every note and vibrato perfect — and yet God was nowhere around. And yet, I've seen several times, when the singer may not hit the right notes — and yet God was all over them — and it showed!

A church we once attended had a man, named "J.C." Brown. "J.C.", by the world's standards "wasn't all there" — but "J.C." and the Lord "was all there". When "J.C." would sing, he didn't know all the words, he wasn't musically "in tune" — but he was spiritually "in tune" with the Lord. And when "J.C." sang, hearts were moved, tears would flow and you knew God was there. Why? "J.C." was "in tune" with the Lord.

Christian music is not entertainment, not a talent show, not a performance or a concert — but a SERIOUS ministry to the Lord.

Augustine once stated:

"When I am moved by the voice of him that sings more than the words sung, I confess to have sinned". (Oliver Strunk, Source Reading in Music History, Vol. I, p. 74)

Dr. Frank Garlock, author of several books on Christian music, and an instructor in Christian music for over 40 years. Dr. Garlock writes in his book, Music in the Balance:

"Contrary to popular opinion, sacred music is not for entertainment. Christian music is first and foremost a vehicle for praise unto the Lord." (Garlock, Frank & Woetzel, Kurt, Music in the Balance, Majesty Music, 1992 p.54)

CHRISTIAN MUSIC SHOULD EMPHASIS THE MESSAGE — NOT THE MUSIC — NOR THE MUSICIAN

God's place of worship and fellowship is the local church.

Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the CONGREGATION of saints. Psalm 149:1

I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the CONGREGATION will I praise thee. Psalm 22:22

Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the CHURCH will I sing praise unto thee. Hebrew 2:12

While I realize there are exceptions, the primary place for Christian music, (excluding tapes, CD's and other recordings) is the church. CCM'ers justify their performing in worldly concert halls, auditoriums, et. al. as "trying to reach the lost". Of course, at the same time they charge $15 - $20, rarely mention Jesus Christ and never, never, never — mention hell, judgement, sin or enough "salvation doctrine" to get anyone saved!.

CCM artist, Michael Card, admits to this separation of CCM and the church":

". . . we started with little root in the church, and now we’re bearing the fruit of that separation . . . There’s a big accountability gap in the industry as a result of a lack of connectedness to the church." (Christianity Today, Can't Buy Me Ministry, May 20, 1996 (p. 22)

A lot of CCM performers rarely ever perform at church services. When they do perform at a church, it's a "concert-only-service" rather than a "church" service.

Michael W. Smith

" . . . my goal is not to speak to the church. I want to talk to the kids and address the whole peer pressure thing." Michael W. Smith (CCM June 1986, p. 18)

Amy Grant

Dan Harrel, Amy Grant's brother-in-law, and promoter of Amy said:

"We never played many churches with Amy. That was the way everyone else had done it, and nobody had ever made it." (Rolling Stone, June 6, 1985, p.10)

Stan Moser, former head of Word Records (the man responsible for signing Amy Grant) and CEO of Star Song Records, was one of the pioneers and most important executives in CCM. And after 26 years involved in CCM, in November 1995 walked away CCM. In an article in Christianity Today, titled "We Have Created a Monster", about CCM Mr. Moser says:

"In the beginning of the eighties, Sandi, Patti was singing Dottie Rambo songs in church concerts; toward the end of the eighties, she was singing at the Republican National Convention. We went from the church to Carnegie Hall, from the church to large, secular arenas, where Bill and Gloria Gaither would hold praise gatherings. . .

We as an industry weren't running away from the church at that time, but I do think we walked away, hoping to bring enough of the church along so we could still make a living-so we could still, basically, get rich. Materialism, a lot of it, crept in and started affecting our values. . .

"There is a growing chasm between CCM and the church – between what's actually happening in the real world of ministry, or even in the music ministry of the church, and what we're doing in CCM. In fact, I would probably be more inclined to call the industry "commercial Christian music," rather than "contemporary Christian music. . . "(Christianity Today, "We Have Created a Monster", May 20, 1996 p. 27)

Most CCM artists mainly perform at concert halls, auditoriums, some even perform at worldly night clubs.

Robert Sweet, formerly of Stryper.

"We always had this attitude that we didn't want to be characterized as this little religious band sold in religious bookstores and happy and content to play in a church for love offerings." (Milwaukee Journal, Aug 25, 1987 p. 11)

Mark Farner, of the 70's mega-group Grand funk2 Railroad, now is a born-again Christian and CCM performer. Farner plays the same bars and nightclubs as before he was saved. According to Farner, 90% of his performances are secular.

"Music is a part of my ministry no matter where I go and 90 percent of that is secular," Farner said. Farner also continues to tour the nation performing in some of the same nightclubs and bars that he played as a member of Grand funk2. (Calendar Fall/Win 91 p 6)

CHRISTIAN MUSIC IS IN THE LOCAL CHURCH — NOT CONCERT HALLS, NIGHT CLUBS.

CHRISTIAN MUSIC SHOULD FEED THE SPIRIT — NOT THE FLESH

The Christian life is a spiritual life.

A Christian is born-again of the Spirit.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. John 3:6-7

A Christian is to walk in the Spirit:

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Galatians 5:16

God is a Spirit — and you "MUST worship him in spirit".

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him MUST worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24

And a Christian's music should be spiritual — not carnal.

I will sing with the SPIRIT, and I will sing with the understanding also. 1 Corinthians 14:15

I've had CCMers scream many times, "The Bible doesn't give ANY guidelines for Christian music. It's all a matter of TASTE and PREFERENCE". I usually turn to Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16, and they surprisingly "eye" them for the very "first time"." it's important enough to the Lord to list them twice. The Bible lists three specific types of Christian songs; psalms and hymns and SPIRITUAL songs. I certainly do NOT think CCM and rock music is a psalm, hymn or SPIRITUAL SONG!

ROCK MUSIC AND CCM IS FLESHLY MUSIC!

Christian music should feed the spirit — NOT THE FLESH.

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and SPIRITUAL songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Ephesians 5:19

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and SPIRITUAL songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colossians 3:16

A Christian has "crucified the FLESH".

"And they that are Christ's have crucified the FLESH with the affections and lusts." Galatians 5:24

The SPIRIT and the FLESH are contrary and opposite. They are enemies.

"For the FLESH lusteth against the SPIRIT, and the SPIRIT against the FLESH: and these are contrary the one to the other:. . ." Galatians 5: 16

It couldn't be clearer — Christian music should feed the SPIRIT — NOT THE FLESH.

And Rock music (which is what CCM is) is FLESH.

There is no doubt — rock music is FLESH. It’s CARNAL. That’s why the world "loves" rock music. The world does not love "spiritual" things – But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians. 2:14) – but FLESHLY, CARNAL things. And that is why the world "loves" rock music. A few "testimonies" from the world:

"But rock music has one appeal only, a barbaric appeal, to sexual desire – not love, not eros, but sexual desire undeveloped and untutored." (Bloom, Alan, The Closing of the American Mind, Simon & Schuster, 1987 p.73)

"Its admirers want to make rock appealing by making it respectable. The thing can’t be done. Rock is appealing because it’s vulgar, . . Rock is the quintessence of vulgarity. It's crude, loud, and tasteless." (Pattison, Robert, The Triumph of Vulgarity, 1987, preface, p.4)

Rock music, any rock music – is FLESH! You can label it "Christian", but that doesn’t change it’s nature – it’s still FLESH. You can label strychnine "candy", but that doesn’t make it candy – it’s still POISON.

What is the main characteristic of rock music? What makes rock different from other music? Why does rock appeal to the flesh? What is it about rock that is has "taken-over" the music world?

In order to answer that question, let's examine the components of music. Music is composed of three main components; melody, harmony and rhythm. If these ingredients are not present, then it's not music, but noise.

Melody:

Webster's Dictionary defines melody as; 1. Sweetness of sound; music 2. The chief theme of a musical composition. 3. A tune; song (The Grosset Webster Dictionary, p. 372)

Melody is the most prominent part of music. Melody is the theme of the tune. Without the melody line, there is no music. Melody is the horizontal line the notes follow on the music score.

Here's a few quotes from famous musicians on melody:

"Melody is the main thing; harmony is useful only to charm the ear." Joseph Haydn (Wordsworth Dictionary of Musical Quotations, p. 15)

"Three things belong to composing, first of all melody; then again melody; then finally, for the third time, melody." Salomon Jadassohn (Wordsworth Dictionary of Musical Quotations, p. 15)

"Melody is the very essence of music." Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Wordsworth Dictionary of Musical Quotations, p. 16)

Harmony:

Webster's Dictionary defines harmony as; Agreeable proportion of sound. A succession of chords. (The Grosset Webster Dictionary, p. 281)

Harmony is when two or more note are played at the same time. Harmony adds depth to the melody line. Harmony is the basis for the formation of chords. Harmony is the vertical line where the notes meet on the music score.

Rhythm:

Our friend, Webster defines rhythm as; The pattern of tones with regard to their relative time value. (The Grosset Webster Dictionary, p. 490)

Rhythm is the movement in music. Without rhythm, music would be one, long continuous sound, or an uncontrollable noise. Rhythm or the beat is the "glue" that holds everything together. The rhythm is an "unseen" but required component of the music score.

WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT ROCK MUSIC?

Because of that, rock is unlike any other music. In other music, the melody is the main component, but in rock – the rhythm or the beat literally takes over the music.

"The rhythm in rock is the dominant part of the sound. The heavy emphasis on the BEAT is what distinguishes rock from every other type of music." (Frank Garlock, Music in the Balance, p. 32)

 

"Perhaps the most important defining quality of rock and roll is the BEAT, . . . Rock and roll is different from other music primarily because of the BEAT." (Charles Brown, The Art of Rock and Roll, p. 42)

And it is that BEAT that the FLESH loves!

"The sexuality of music is usually referred to in terms of it's rhythm — it is the BEAT that commands a directly PHYSICAL response." (Simon Frith, Sound Effects, Youth, Leisure, and the Politics of Rock 'n' Roll, p. 240)

"Rhythm is the element of music most closely allied to BODY MOVEMENT [fleshly, carnal], to PHYSICAL action. Its simpler patterns when repeated over and over [which is exactly what rock does] can have a hypnotic effect on us". (Joseph Machlis, The Enjoyment of Music, p. 19)

Larry Norman, in his song, "Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music", sings about the FLESHLY and PHYSICAL response (moves my feet) of the BEAT of rock.

I ain't knocking the hymns,
Just give me a song that has a BEAT.
I ain't knocking the hymns,
Just give me a song that moves my feet

I've talked to hundreds of young people about the satanic and filthy lyrics in secular rock and nearly every one, replies, "I don't listen to the lyrics. I don't care what the lyrics say. It's the BEAT that I get in to".

Donnie Brewer of 1970's groups Grand funk2 says:

"We take the kids away from their parents and their environment to where the only reality is the rhythm and the BEAT." (Hart, Lowell Satan's Music Exposed, p.102)

When secular rock-star, Michael Jackson was asked why he did the filthly-sexual, hand gestures on stage, he replied:

"It's the music that COMPELS me to do it. You don't think about it, it just happens. I'M A SLAVE TO THE RHYTHM." (The Evening Star, February 11, 1993, p. A10)

I've had hundreds of CCMers' say to me, "The Bible gives no instructions on the STYLE of music for a Christian to listen to. It's all a matter of preference and culture." I have read many articles and books by CCM advocates, that claim, the Bible gives no instructions on the type of music for a Christian to listen to.

Don Butler, Gospel Music Association executive director

"There is no such thing as 'gospel music'. Every style and form of music can become gospel, whether it's jazz, pop, rock 'n' roll, or rap." (IM Mar/Apr 1991 p. 27)

But "what saith the Lord"? Does the Bible give us any indication to the type of music we should sing? Did the Lord God who made heaven and earth, who created music and sound, who put so much emphasis on music in His Word — did He forget to tell us what is Christian music?

Not hardly. Thank God — He has given us instructions for our music. Thank God — we can BURY "once and for all" the ridiculous LIE that — "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."

Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet MELODY, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered. Isaiah 23:16

For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of MELODY. Isaiah 51:3

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making MELODY in your heart to the Lord; Ephesians 5:18-19

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 5^th 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"!

I'm reminded of the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, as he described some people, much like the CCMers, who "having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not?"

(17) And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither UNDERSTAND? have ye your heart yet hardened?
(18) Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? Mark 8:17-18

So far we've seen:

1. MELODY is the main theme of music.
2. Rock music emphasizes the BEAT.
3. God defines music as MELODY.

Now are you ready for this? Fasten your seat belt and hold on — here comes a biggee! Most of rock music and CCM does not have ANY MELODY! According to the technical definition of music — rock is NOT even music! According to the Lord God — rock music is NOT music!

NO MELODY = NO MUSIC!

The world famous composer and conductor, Dimitri Tiomkin said of rock music:

"The big beat is deliberately aimed at exciting the listener. . .There is actually very little MELODY, little sense in the lyrics, ONLY RHYTHM [beat]". (Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, Aug., 8, 1965, p. 9J)

Lenny Seidel, a concert pianist and twenty-five year Christian music scholar, gives this definition of both godly music and rock music:

"True godly music will be composed of three elements - all in perfect balance with each other. They are: melody, harmony, and rhythm.

 

Rock "music" has NO MELODY only fragments of melody endlessly repeated. Since there is no true melody, there is no real harmony. There is ONLY RHYTHM. And rhythm in and of itself is not music." (Leonard J. Seidel, Face the Music – Contemporary Music On Trial, pp. 46-51)

In his classic book, The Understanding of Music, author Charles R. Hoffer, answers our question: How does rock differ from other popular music?:

"How does rock differ from jazz and other popular music? One characteristic is its HEAVY BEAT, which led one critic to define rock as 'music in which the bass drum carries the MELODY?'" (Charles R. Hoffer, The Understanding of Music, p. 503)

Popular author, Martha Bayles, writes in her eye-opening book, "Hole in Our Soul: The Loss of Beauty and Meaning in American Popular Music":

". . .ry, ular music seems terminally hostile to any sound traditionally associated with music." (Martha Bayles, Hole in Our Soul: The Loss of Beauty and Meaning in American Popular Music, p. 4)

Even the secular, satanic rockers the Rolling Stones admit rock is NOT music — but NOISE!

"It's a NOISE we make. That's all. You could he kind and call it music." Mick Jagger, Rolling Stones (Roy Carr, The Rolling Stones - An Illustrated Record, p. 37)

NO MELODY = NOISE!

Rock music emphasizes that HARD, driving BEAT. What instrument do you hear more than any other in rock? What instrument is it that pounds out that heavy beat?

THE DRUM

The Bible lists many kinds of instruments: Psalms 150:3-5 says:

(3) Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
(4) Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
(5) Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Psalms 150:3-5
 

With all the many references to musical instruments, there is one instrument that is NEVER mentioned! The DRUM! Why is that? The drum was a very common instrument in Egypt and the lands around Israel. And yet the DRUM is NEVER mentioned in a King James Bible.

Did the Lord just forget to include the DRUM or is there another reason?

Is it because — drums are associated with voodoo, shamanism, paganism and magic rituals?

"[Drums] represents the beat of the heart and is played to summon up magic powers." (Miranda Bruce-Mitford, The Illustrated Book of Signs & Symbols, DK Publishing, 1996 p.80)

 

"The shaman was the original 'long hair', the first rock star draped in leather, dancing POSSESSED to a rhythm banged out on A DRUM." (Danny Sugerman, Appetite for Destruction, p. 208)

In Siberia, in northern Asia, drums are used in shamanic rituals to heal people. It is believed that the shaman can communicate with the spirit world THROUGH DRUMMING. (Louise Tythacott, Musical Instruments, Thomas Learning, 1995, p. 37)

"Pagan dances and rituals are always accompanied by the incessant BEAT of DRUMS. Rhythm plays a major role in these demonic activities." (Hart, Lowell Satan's Music Exposed, Salem Kirban Inc., 1980 p.71)

Robert Palmer is a contributing editor to Rolling Stone and other rock magazines. Palmer has also taught courses in music at Yale, and many other universities. Palmer was the chief advisor for the highly acclaimed "History of Rock 'n' Roll" that aired on public television. Palmer, an advocate and lover of rock music, is among the leading authorities on rock music. Here's what Palmer says about rock and the drum:

"Bata drums [drums used in voodoo], sacred to the Yoruba people of Nigeria and Cuba: Their push and pull provided a template for the inner rhythms of rock and roll." (Palmer, Robert Rock & Roll An Unruly History, Harmony Books, New York, 1995 p.46)

"The idea that certain RHYTHM patterns or sequences serve as conduits for spiritual energies, linking individual human consciousness with the gods, is basic to traditional African religions, and to African-derived religions throughout the Americas. And whether we're speaking historically or musicological, the fundamental riffs, licks, bass figures, and drum rhythms that make rock and roll can ultimately be traced back to African music of a primarily spiritual or ritual nature. In a sense, rock and roll is a kind of 'voodoo' . . . ," (Robert Palmer, Rock & Roll, An Unruly History, Harmony Books, New York, 1995 p.53)

Palmer describes how drums are used in "voodoo" possession — and the same drum patterns are part of the basics of rock 'n' roll and CCM!

"Bata drummers tap out their toques, or rhythm patterns, like signals to the realm of the gods, inviting and enticing them to come on down and mount or POSSESS their horses, or devotees. . .The specific drum patterns or toques include some riffs and licks basic to the rock and roll vocabulary." (Palmer, Robert Rock & Roll An Unruly History, Harmony Books, New York, 1995 p.62)

Here's an episode from the occult, new-age magazine, New Age Journal, describing the "possessing" power of drums. Notice, even the devotees of the occult stay away from those drums:

"I remembered a conversation I'd once had in Cuba with a reporter from The New York Times, 'Stay away from those drums,' he had told me, referring to the ones said to call down the gods in Santeria's sacred ceremonies. 'If I ever really gave in to those DRUMS, my life would change in ways I'm not prepared to take on,' he had added. I knew what he was talking about. It was all there in the drumming. Listen long enough, and some energy field, some kind of interconnectedness, became palpable. I was hungry for those drums. Yet I still ran from them." (A Shaman's Story, by Elizabeth Hanly (A Vodoun priest leads the author on a journey of understanding, New Age Journal, March/April 1997 pp.56-57)

Little Richard, the self-professed "architect of rock ’n roll", readily admits Satan’s control and influence in his life and rock music:

"My true belief about Rock ‘n’ Roll — is this: I believe this kind of music is demonic . . . A lot of the BEATS in music today are taken from voodoo, from the voodoo DRUMS." (Charles White, The Life and Times of Little Richard, p. 197)

Danny Sugerman, an authority on rock music, and author of several books on rock, writes in Appetite for Destruction:

"The shaman was the original 'long hair', the first rock star draped in leather, dancing possessed to a rhythm banged out on a DRUM. . . To these people, communication with the gods was synonymous with DRUMS . . .the body can become the conduit for a deity, a deity not necessarily the same sex as the worshiper, and DRUMS are the catalyst for the whole process. The trance of the RHYTHM then begets the hysteria, which begets what Westerners simplistically call 'possession'." (Danny Sugerman, Appetite for Destruction, p.208, 181)

David Tame writes in The Secret Power of Music:

"Today's DRUMMER differs but little from the shaman in his incessant beating out of a rhythm, and likewise often enters into a form of trance while performing." (The Secret Power of Music, David Tame, p. 199)

The DRUM has always been associated with the paganism and the devil. In fact, a little more than a hundred years ago, drums were forbidden (except for the military) in America!

"The arrival of African slaves has had one of the strongest influences on North American music. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, millions of African people were taken as slaves to the U.S. to work on plantations in the South. They brought many of their own traditions with them but were forbidden to play their DRUMS." (Louise Tythacott, Musical Instruments, Thomas Learning, 1995, p.19)

Do you know why New Orleans is the voodoo capital of the U.S, and also the birthplace of jazz? Because drumming was forbidden in the U.S. – except in New Orleans!

"This was especially true in New Orleans. African-based DRUMMING, singing, and dancing, discouraged and repeatedly banned elsewhere in North America, had flourished there since the early eighteenth century. This unique heritage has informed and enlivened New Orleans music ever since, as well as distinguishing it from the rest of American musical culture, making the city an ideal incubator for a nonmainstream music as rhythmically oriented as rock and roll. (Palmer, Robert Rock & Roll An Unruly History, Harmony Books, New York, 1995 p.21)

When the first blacks from Africa were converted to Christianity they knew the power and evil influence of DRUMS. And the converted blacks strictly forbid the use of drums! They referred to the drums as "the Devil's drum". (Martha Bayles, Hole in Our Soul: The Loss of Beauty and Meaning in American Popular Music, p. 138)

"Historically blacks had drawn the line between particular instruments and practices; They permitted tambourines, for instance, but not DRUMS." (Martha Bayles, Hole in Our Soul: The Loss of Beauty and Meaning in American Popular Music, p. 130)

One simple guideline for Christian music is NO DRUMS!

CHRISTIAN MUSIC SHOULD FEED THE SPIRIT — NOT THE FLESH!

CHRISTIAN MUSIC SHOULD EMPHASIS THE MELODY — NOT THE BEAT!

It's amazing when God sought for a man after His own heart, God picked — a young musician named David! When God picked His king for Israel, it was — a young musician named David!

And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and