Rock Music - It Kills - Another good & informative article by Terry Watkins
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I am not basing this on the words of the song, nor a certain style. I am basing it on the different ways the music itself is perceived by human beings. You keep changing the subject from that and bringing up other points. I am sure your points may be valid, but you are not hearing me that rock music appeals and is heard by the beat, it is taken in by a different awareness of our world than the music with tunes, etc. The hymn you quote is not to praise him with the beat, beat, beat of the drums repeating one thing but to praise him.
Maybe this will explain my point, for the heart worship is in spirit and truth. Music is a wonderful instrument for that to hear from God and express worship of God, music aside from the words but the music itself. Perhaps there are people who can use the heavy beat of rock for that, but my point is that the heavy physical beat of drums is not for either hearing or expressing worship and praise. It is better suited to fleshly things that are not part of God. I realize you can put God's words to this beat, but the beat itself suits the fleshly things better and without words does not bring on worshipful feelings, but there is music that does.
using th beat of drums as an argument against any type of music is fragile at best. You act is if drums did not in biblical days, when percussion is probably one of the oldest groups of instruments in the world. If someone is weak enough to let a rhythm section cause them to sin or whatever else is being hinted at then I laugh at them.
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Do you enjoy good food? Eating food for anything other than to stay alive could be seen as feeding the flesh, so to speak. Eating good food does not make people feel worshipful. Does that make it wrong? Is it wrong to enjoy food, rather than just eat just what keeps you alive?
You could apply your argument to 1000 things people do and enjoy. But yet, magically, somehow your argument doesn't apply to those things. It only applies to the things you want to use it against. Look at sex, when a married couple has sex, there's more to sex than procreation. There is closeness and intimacy, and even the physical feelings that come with it. You could say having sex for any reason other than trying to have kids is feeding the flesh.
This is one of those philosophies that can't stand up when you take it to other aspects of life. It doesn't uphold itself in any other manner.
You could apply your argument to 1000 things people do and enjoy. But yet, magically, somehow your argument doesn't apply to those things. It only applies to the things you want to use it against. Look at sex, when a married couple has sex, there's more to sex than procreation. There is closeness and intimacy, and even the physical feelings that come with it. You could say having sex for any reason other than trying to have kids is feeding the flesh.
This is one of those philosophies that can't stand up when you take it to other aspects of life. It doesn't uphold itself in any other manner.
I agree we are to worship in spirit and truth and a lot of rock music is just plain nasty stuff. (Been there) Two of favorite groups were Pink Floyd and the Moody Blues. (Never did like the Rolling Stones or the Beetles) If you knew my whole testimony of where I have been you might understand why this music means so much to me. I had been in some very deep and dark places. The Lord has used this music in my life,if you saw me 30 years ago you would not recognize me. He has brought me that far. This past year I gave a contemperary Christian radio station because they were playing too many "Jesus is my boy friend" "Jesus is my home boy",cheap shallow and feeble garbage that is just plain dead. There is no life to it.
If the message is not there I just won't listen to it. Again it goes back to discernment. (By the way even though I do listen to it I couldn't understand that song Nautilus uploaded either.)
If the message is not there I just won't listen to it. Again it goes back to discernment. (By the way even though I do listen to it I couldn't understand that song Nautilus uploaded either.)
Does the Lord have grace on those who are ignorant and who just don't know about the CCM music and christian rock issue? Sure He does. But the Lord will lead His children out of that.
The Lord will eventually lead His son or daughter out of the CCM movement After all, the Holy Ghost will lead us into all truth.
The Bible says this:
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. - 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (Holy Bible)
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. - Ephesians 5:8-14 (Holy Bible)
Sure Sarah. Doctrinally speaking, I do consider myself a Baptist. Because I agree a lot doctrinally with what the Baptists believe. Unless when what they believe does not line up with Scripture, then I do not agree with them on. For example, a lot of the independent fundamental Baptists believe in the Book. They believe in the verbally inspiration of the word of God. And so do I. They believe that God has preserve His word for His children. And so do I.
And a lot of them believe that Book is the Authorized King James Version.
Also, another fundamental doctrine that a lot of the independent Baptists believe is the Godhead or the Doctrine of the Trinity. Which I also believe.
Another doctrine that I agree with the Baptists on is the Eternal Security of the Born again believer. Also I agree with them on the teaching that the Holy Spirit of God comes upon a person at the instant of Salvation.
But the Charismatics would have you believe that the Holy Spirit comes on a person after salvation. That is wrong. The Holy Spirit comes and indwells inside of the believer at the very instant & moment that person gets saved.
Furthermore, I agree with a lot of the Baptists on Dispensational Bible teaching.
And finally, I totally agree with the Baptists on Non-Conformity and Biblical Separation from the world.
Now some of the things that I do not agree with the Baptists on are church buildings or church temples as they are not supported in Scripture.
Another thing that I do not agree with the Baptists on is the common belief that one joins the Church by water baptism. Which again that teaching is not found anywhere in the Scriptures. Every believer is baptized into the Church by the Holy Spirit ( 1 Cor. 12:13).
And there is a false teaching out there that is very heretical, and I don't know how many of the brethren out there who are Baptists agree with it or not, but the bottom line is, it is not supported in the Scriptures. And this teaching is called "The Baptist Bride" Here is a short excerpt on this heresy:
Info on the Baptist Bride
By Pastor James L. Melton
Baptist Bride
A "Baptist Brider" is an extreme Baptist who believes that "The Baptist Church" is the Bride of Christ. All other Christians supposedly make up the FAMILY of God, but are not part of THE BRIDE. The details of this heresy differ from one group to the next, but the general teaching is that The Baptist Church (whatever that is!) has existed since the time of Christ (or perhaps John the Baptist) and that "approved" water baptism actually places a believer into the bride. Water baptisms that are not approved are considered "alien" baptisms and are not honored by the Baptist Bride churches. This leaves "aliens" like Bob Jones Sr., John Wesley, George Whitfield, and Martin Luther out of the bride, while the Bridegroom rides off into the sunset with His proud and conceited Baptist sweetheart. However, finding someone who will ADMIT to being a "brider" is not an easy task. Just like the Campbellites, they hate the name, but love the doctrine.
There are a number of careless steps that Baptist Briders usually take before promoting this outrageous heresy:
(1) Ignore II Timothy 2:15 where we are told to RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE WORD OF TRUTH. This will allow one to go anywhere in the New Testament to find "proof texts" for his theory.
(2) Ignore Matthew 3:11 where John speaks of Christ's HOLY GHOST baptism in CONTRAST to his water baptism. This allows them to pretend that water baptism is also the context of I Corinthians 12:13, Romans 6:3-4, and Galatians 3:27. This is convenient because this would mean that water baptism puts one INTO the body of Christ.
(3) Now ignore Matthew 20:22-23 where Jesus speaks of a FUTURE baptism for his disciples which is not a WATER baptism.
(4) Ignore the fact that John's baptism was a special baptism of repentance which accompanied the preaching of the KINGDOM message to ISRAEL (Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3; Acts 13:24; 19:4; Mat. 3:1-6; John 1:31).
(5) Ignore the fact that Paul said he wasn't even sent to baptize, but to preach the Gospel (I Cor. 1:17). (If baptism puts one into the body and bride of Christ, why would Paul make such a statement? We realize that Paul did baptize some, but it wasn't part of his commission.)
(6) Assume that the term "church" means an organized denomination with a name and a history, as in The Catholic Church, The Episcopal Church, or The Baptist Church. This assumption will allow the brider to add his own special touch to passages like Ephesians 5:30-32, and Ephesians 4:4.
(7) Now he can grab Matthew 16:18, just like the Catholics and Campbellites, and pretend that Jesus was speaking about His BAPTIST church. After all, He DID take over after John the BAPTIST, so the brider can teach that it MUST have been a BAPTIST church.
(8) Ignore the fact that the Kingdom was being offered to Israel all through the Gospels and clear through Acts chapter seven when Israel made her final rejection of the Kingdom by killing Stephen.
(9) Ignore the fact that immediately after Israel rejects the Kingdom God picks Paul and gives him a special commission which does NOT include the water baptism of repentance since his gospel message is not a KINGDOM message (Acts 8-9; I Cor. 1:17; II Cor. 5:18-20).
(10) Ignore the fact that if "The Baptist Church" started with John or Jesus, then there wasn't any point in God giving a special commission to Paul since the whole thing was already established and operating anyhow!
Now the Brider is all set. Now he can teach that his church started with John. Then John gave the bride away to Jesus who promised that the gates of Hell wouldn't prevail against His church. Then Jesus turned his duties over to the twelve and commissioned them to go into all the world teaching and baptizing, which is what The Baptist Church has been doing ever since. How nice. Don't you just love a happy ending? Too bad Wesley and Whitfield couldn't come along.
- James Melton (The Bible Believer's Handbook of Heresies).
So that is just an example to show you that just because I consider myself a Baptist, doesn't mean that I agree with all that the Baptists teach. I agree with the Baptists until they veer off from Scripture. Where they do this is where I then no longer agree with them.
In other words, as long as the Baptists are teaching something that lines up with Scripture then I am in agreement with them there. But if what they teach does not line up with Scripture (i.e. Church Buildings, Baptist Temples, Baptist Bride, etc.), then I am not in agreement with them.
But more importantly Sarah, I am a Bible Believer. I am a King James Bible believer. Because my Final Authority is the word of God.
So I judge a man's teaching by the Book. By the Scriptures. And that includes any preacher, whether that preacher is a Methodist, Pentecostal, Protestant, Presbyterian, or Baptist.
Because again, my Absolute Final Authority is the word of God. Which is the Authorized 1611 King James Bible.
And a lot of them believe that Book is the Authorized King James Version.
Also, another fundamental doctrine that a lot of the independent Baptists believe is the Godhead or the Doctrine of the Trinity. Which I also believe.
Another doctrine that I agree with the Baptists on is the Eternal Security of the Born again believer. Also I agree with them on the teaching that the Holy Spirit of God comes upon a person at the instant of Salvation.
But the Charismatics would have you believe that the Holy Spirit comes on a person after salvation. That is wrong. The Holy Spirit comes and indwells inside of the believer at the very instant & moment that person gets saved.
Furthermore, I agree with a lot of the Baptists on Dispensational Bible teaching.
And finally, I totally agree with the Baptists on Non-Conformity and Biblical Separation from the world.
Now some of the things that I do not agree with the Baptists on are church buildings or church temples as they are not supported in Scripture.
Another thing that I do not agree with the Baptists on is the common belief that one joins the Church by water baptism. Which again that teaching is not found anywhere in the Scriptures. Every believer is baptized into the Church by the Holy Spirit ( 1 Cor. 12:13).
And there is a false teaching out there that is very heretical, and I don't know how many of the brethren out there who are Baptists agree with it or not, but the bottom line is, it is not supported in the Scriptures. And this teaching is called "The Baptist Bride" Here is a short excerpt on this heresy:
Info on the Baptist Bride
By Pastor James L. Melton
Baptist Bride
A "Baptist Brider" is an extreme Baptist who believes that "The Baptist Church" is the Bride of Christ. All other Christians supposedly make up the FAMILY of God, but are not part of THE BRIDE. The details of this heresy differ from one group to the next, but the general teaching is that The Baptist Church (whatever that is!) has existed since the time of Christ (or perhaps John the Baptist) and that "approved" water baptism actually places a believer into the bride. Water baptisms that are not approved are considered "alien" baptisms and are not honored by the Baptist Bride churches. This leaves "aliens" like Bob Jones Sr., John Wesley, George Whitfield, and Martin Luther out of the bride, while the Bridegroom rides off into the sunset with His proud and conceited Baptist sweetheart. However, finding someone who will ADMIT to being a "brider" is not an easy task. Just like the Campbellites, they hate the name, but love the doctrine.
There are a number of careless steps that Baptist Briders usually take before promoting this outrageous heresy:
(2) Ignore Matthew 3:11 where John speaks of Christ's HOLY GHOST baptism in CONTRAST to his water baptism. This allows them to pretend that water baptism is also the context of I Corinthians 12:13, Romans 6:3-4, and Galatians 3:27. This is convenient because this would mean that water baptism puts one INTO the body of Christ.
(3) Now ignore Matthew 20:22-23 where Jesus speaks of a FUTURE baptism for his disciples which is not a WATER baptism.
(4) Ignore the fact that John's baptism was a special baptism of repentance which accompanied the preaching of the KINGDOM message to ISRAEL (Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3; Acts 13:24; 19:4; Mat. 3:1-6; John 1:31).
(5) Ignore the fact that Paul said he wasn't even sent to baptize, but to preach the Gospel (I Cor. 1:17). (If baptism puts one into the body and bride of Christ, why would Paul make such a statement? We realize that Paul did baptize some, but it wasn't part of his commission.)
(6) Assume that the term "church" means an organized denomination with a name and a history, as in The Catholic Church, The Episcopal Church, or The Baptist Church. This assumption will allow the brider to add his own special touch to passages like Ephesians 5:30-32, and Ephesians 4:4.
(7) Now he can grab Matthew 16:18, just like the Catholics and Campbellites, and pretend that Jesus was speaking about His BAPTIST church. After all, He DID take over after John the BAPTIST, so the brider can teach that it MUST have been a BAPTIST church.
(8) Ignore the fact that the Kingdom was being offered to Israel all through the Gospels and clear through Acts chapter seven when Israel made her final rejection of the Kingdom by killing Stephen.
(9) Ignore the fact that immediately after Israel rejects the Kingdom God picks Paul and gives him a special commission which does NOT include the water baptism of repentance since his gospel message is not a KINGDOM message (Acts 8-9; I Cor. 1:17; II Cor. 5:18-20).
(10) Ignore the fact that if "The Baptist Church" started with John or Jesus, then there wasn't any point in God giving a special commission to Paul since the whole thing was already established and operating anyhow!
Now the Brider is all set. Now he can teach that his church started with John. Then John gave the bride away to Jesus who promised that the gates of Hell wouldn't prevail against His church. Then Jesus turned his duties over to the twelve and commissioned them to go into all the world teaching and baptizing, which is what The Baptist Church has been doing ever since. How nice. Don't you just love a happy ending? Too bad Wesley and Whitfield couldn't come along.
- James Melton (The Bible Believer's Handbook of Heresies).
So that is just an example to show you that just because I consider myself a Baptist, doesn't mean that I agree with all that the Baptists teach. I agree with the Baptists until they veer off from Scripture. Where they do this is where I then no longer agree with them.
In other words, as long as the Baptists are teaching something that lines up with Scripture then I am in agreement with them there. But if what they teach does not line up with Scripture (i.e. Church Buildings, Baptist Temples, Baptist Bride, etc.), then I am not in agreement with them.
But more importantly Sarah, I am a Bible Believer. I am a King James Bible believer. Because my Final Authority is the word of God.
So I judge a man's teaching by the Book. By the Scriptures. And that includes any preacher, whether that preacher is a Methodist, Pentecostal, Protestant, Presbyterian, or Baptist.
Because again, my Absolute Final Authority is the word of God. Which is the Authorized 1611 King James Bible.
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UMMM You might want to try again about the roots of rock and roll
ROCK BEFORE ELVIS
The term "rock and roll" was originally a nautical term which has been used by sailors for centuries. It refers to the rock (fore and aft motion) and roll (sideways motion) of a ship. The expression can be found in English literature going back to the 1600's, always referring to boats and ships.* The term entered black spiritual music in the 1800's, but with a religious meaning, and was first recorded as such on a phonograph in 1916, in a minstrel recording of black gospel on the Little Wonder record label called "The Camp Meeting Jubilee." Scroll to record # 339 on that link and you will hear: We've been rockin' an' rolling in your arms,
Rockin' and rolling in your arms,
Rockin' and rolling in your arms,
In the arms of Moses.
Now, here is where rock and roll music came from. Before 1947, the only people who talked much about "rocking" were black gospel singers. They were singing, "Rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham," and "Rock me Jesus," and "Rock me in the cradle of Thy love," and "Rock me Lord," and "Rock Daniel," and "I Call Jesus My Rock" etc., going back to the late 19th century. "Rocking" was a term used by African Americans for the rapture they experienced at certain religious events, and the term also referred to the powerful rhythm found in the music that accompanied that religious experience. For example, this recording from 1928 or this 1934 recording. Pay attention to the 1934 recording, and you will hear him say "I'm going to rock, you gonna rock...I sit there and rock, I sit there and rock, yeah yeah yeah." You should listen to that recording all the way through. It is evident from that recording (and others) that "rocking" was a part of religious experience in black culture of the time, where the ecstatic congregant was overwhelmed by the rhythm of the music and the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Morgan Wright's HoyHoy.com: The Dawn of Rock 'n Roll
[h=1]The gospel roots of the’Godmother of rock’n’ roll’[/h]
Washington Post Feb 19,2013,
By Daniel Burke| Religion News Service,February 19, 2013
Before Elvis and Chuck Berry and Johnny Cash. Before Aretha and Whitney and Beyonce. Before the blues met gospel and conceived rock’n’ roll, there was Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
The first gospel superstar, Tharpe was a guitar hero in a flower-print dress whose bluesy chops and strutting style would be mimicked by countless acolytes, both white and black.
“I mean, she’s singing religious music, but she is singing rock’n’ roll,” said one such devotee, Jerry Lee Lewis, of “Great Balls of Fire” fame. “She’s hitting that guitar, playing that guitar, and she is singing. I said,’Whoooo. Sister Rosetta Tharpe!’”
The gospel roots of the’Godmother of rock’n’ roll’ - Washington Post
Sister Rosetta Tharpe Wikipedia
Sister Rosetta Tharpe (March 20, 1915 – October 9, 1973) was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and recording artist. A pioneer of twentieth-century music, Tharpe attained great popularity in the 1930s and 1940s with her gospel recordings that were a unique mixture of spiritual lyrics and rhythmic/early rock accompaniment. She became gospel music's first crossover artist and its first great recording star, referred to later as "the original soul sister".[SUP][3][/SUP][SUP][4][/SUP][SUP][5][/SUP] She was an early influence on iconic figures such as Little Richard, Johnny Cash,Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis.[SUP][6][/SUP]
Willing to cross the line between sacred and secular by performing her music of 'light' in the 'darkness' of the nightclubs and concert halls with big bands behind her, Tharpe pushed spiritual music into the mainstream and helped pioneer the rise of pop-gospel beginning with her 1939 hit "This Train."[SUP][7][/SUP] Her unique music left a lasting mark on more conventional gospel artists such as Ira Tucker, Sr., of the Dixie Hummingbirds and other early gospel recording artists. While she offended some conservative churchgoers with her forays into the pop world, she never left gospel music.
Tharpe's 1944 hit "Down By The Riverside" was selected for the American Library of CongressNational Recording Registry in 2004, with the citation stating that it captured her "spirited guitar playing" and "unique vocal style", which were an influence on early rhythm and blues performers, as well as gospel, jazz, and rock artists.[SUP][8][/SUP] Tharpe has been called the Godmother of Rock n' Roll.[SUP][9]
Sister Rosetta Tharpe - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[/SUP]
ROCK BEFORE ELVIS
The term "rock and roll" was originally a nautical term which has been used by sailors for centuries. It refers to the rock (fore and aft motion) and roll (sideways motion) of a ship. The expression can be found in English literature going back to the 1600's, always referring to boats and ships.* The term entered black spiritual music in the 1800's, but with a religious meaning, and was first recorded as such on a phonograph in 1916, in a minstrel recording of black gospel on the Little Wonder record label called "The Camp Meeting Jubilee." Scroll to record # 339 on that link and you will hear: We've been rockin' an' rolling in your arms,
Rockin' and rolling in your arms,
Rockin' and rolling in your arms,
In the arms of Moses.
Now, here is where rock and roll music came from. Before 1947, the only people who talked much about "rocking" were black gospel singers. They were singing, "Rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham," and "Rock me Jesus," and "Rock me in the cradle of Thy love," and "Rock me Lord," and "Rock Daniel," and "I Call Jesus My Rock" etc., going back to the late 19th century. "Rocking" was a term used by African Americans for the rapture they experienced at certain religious events, and the term also referred to the powerful rhythm found in the music that accompanied that religious experience. For example, this recording from 1928 or this 1934 recording. Pay attention to the 1934 recording, and you will hear him say "I'm going to rock, you gonna rock...I sit there and rock, I sit there and rock, yeah yeah yeah." You should listen to that recording all the way through. It is evident from that recording (and others) that "rocking" was a part of religious experience in black culture of the time, where the ecstatic congregant was overwhelmed by the rhythm of the music and the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Morgan Wright's HoyHoy.com: The Dawn of Rock 'n Roll
[h=1]The gospel roots of the’Godmother of rock’n’ roll’[/h]
Washington Post Feb 19,2013,
By Daniel Burke| Religion News Service,February 19, 2013
Before Elvis and Chuck Berry and Johnny Cash. Before Aretha and Whitney and Beyonce. Before the blues met gospel and conceived rock’n’ roll, there was Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
The first gospel superstar, Tharpe was a guitar hero in a flower-print dress whose bluesy chops and strutting style would be mimicked by countless acolytes, both white and black.
“I mean, she’s singing religious music, but she is singing rock’n’ roll,” said one such devotee, Jerry Lee Lewis, of “Great Balls of Fire” fame. “She’s hitting that guitar, playing that guitar, and she is singing. I said,’Whoooo. Sister Rosetta Tharpe!’”
The gospel roots of the’Godmother of rock’n’ roll’ - Washington Post
Sister Rosetta Tharpe Wikipedia
Sister Rosetta Tharpe (March 20, 1915 – October 9, 1973) was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and recording artist. A pioneer of twentieth-century music, Tharpe attained great popularity in the 1930s and 1940s with her gospel recordings that were a unique mixture of spiritual lyrics and rhythmic/early rock accompaniment. She became gospel music's first crossover artist and its first great recording star, referred to later as "the original soul sister".[SUP][3][/SUP][SUP][4][/SUP][SUP][5][/SUP] She was an early influence on iconic figures such as Little Richard, Johnny Cash,Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis.[SUP][6][/SUP]
Willing to cross the line between sacred and secular by performing her music of 'light' in the 'darkness' of the nightclubs and concert halls with big bands behind her, Tharpe pushed spiritual music into the mainstream and helped pioneer the rise of pop-gospel beginning with her 1939 hit "This Train."[SUP][7][/SUP] Her unique music left a lasting mark on more conventional gospel artists such as Ira Tucker, Sr., of the Dixie Hummingbirds and other early gospel recording artists. While she offended some conservative churchgoers with her forays into the pop world, she never left gospel music.
Tharpe's 1944 hit "Down By The Riverside" was selected for the American Library of CongressNational Recording Registry in 2004, with the citation stating that it captured her "spirited guitar playing" and "unique vocal style", which were an influence on early rhythm and blues performers, as well as gospel, jazz, and rock artists.[SUP][8][/SUP] Tharpe has been called the Godmother of Rock n' Roll.[SUP][9]
Sister Rosetta Tharpe - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[/SUP]
By Mission Evangelism, Inc.
TRACING IT TO ITS ORIGINS
"Its strength has always been rooted in the sexual energy of its rhythm . . Rock 'n' roll made you want to move and shake and get physically excited."—Janet Podell, Rock Music in America, pp. 46-47.
"Its insistent basic backbeat and shuffle rhythms demanded a physical response . . So the harsh, direct syncopation of rock 'n' roll came as a physical manifestation of its content—a challenge to loosen up, to break the old molds of convention and standards of propriety . . The musicians themselves moved and danced as they played, begging the listener to cast off his inhibitions."—William J. Shafer, Rock Music, p. 15.
The following passage was penned by a non-Christian who studied deeply into the roots of the music his ancestors brought to the Western world.
"Spurred by the holy drums [in Central Africa], deep in the meditation of the dance, one is literally entered by a god [demon] . . and it can happen to anyone.
"In Abomey, Africa, these deities that speak through humans are called vodun. The word means 'mysteries.' From their vodun (also called voden) comes our Voodoo, and it is to Voodoo that we must look for the roots of our music . . Voodoo is not so much Africa in the new World as it is Africa meeting the New World, absorbing it and being absorbed by it . . Protestantism and Voodoo are always at odds. A Haitian saying goes, 'If you want the loa [a voodoo god] to leave you alone—become a Protestant [believer]' . .
"Elvis Presley was the first product of African music in America which the official culture could not ignore . . When whites started playing rock 'n' roll, the whole aesthetic of Western performance changed . .Spurred by a god within him, the devotee . . throws himself into a series of improvisations [bodily movements] . . The audience is not taken in: it is to the loa [Voodoo god] and not the loa's servant [the performer] that their admiration goes out.
"The Voodoo rite of [demon] possession by the god became the standard of American performance in rock 'n' roll. Elvis Presley, Little Rich*ard, Jerry Lee Lewis, James Brown, Janis Joplin, Tina Turner, Jim Morrison, Johnny Rotten, Prince;—they let themselves be possessed not by any god they could name but by the supernatural spirit they felt in the music . . Western performers transmitted their possession through their voice and their dance to their audience, even through their records.
"Music can be understood by the body instantly. It carries so much history within it that we don't need history to understand it . .
"From the first, this music has felt like an attack on the institutions [marriage, the family, the church, etc.]—and that was what it was attacking . . 'If I told you what our music is really about, we'd probably all get arrested,' Bob Dylan told an interviewer in 1965. It is a music that won't stop, and it won't leave us alone. It speaks through the body and invokes the spirit."—Michael Ventura, "Hear that Long Snake moan," Whole Earth Review, Spring 1987, pp. 28-43; and Summer 1987, pp. 82-92.
In the following passage, the author refers to the demons as "gods," because that is what the native musicians and worshipers call them. But they are actually demons which, at the sound of the drum rhythms, come and enter those in attendance.
"Much has been said and written by many people about the harmfulness of the beats in rock music. One of the most important reasons it is harmful is because it calls the demons.This use of music goes way back in African history. It is also found in Indian history.
"The author has, in her possession, tapes of songs to the oldest known, original gods of India.These come from Tamil in the southern part of India, and go back to the early time of Indian history.
"From these countries, and particularly from Africa, the music and religion spread in the world because of the dispersion of people in slavery. Even though slaves, people preserved their loyalty to their religion, through whatever means they could.
"There are three main religions which are still extant which grew out of this dispersion."In Haiti, it is called Voodoo. In Cuba, it is called Santeria. And, in Brazil, it is called Condomble.
"In each of these religions, as in African and Indian religions, specific rhythms are used to call specific gods. This is the purpose of the rituals performed.
"Drums are played; there is dancing. A certain rhythm is played, depending on which god is desired, and that god comes and possesses individuals.
"The same exact rhythms are used in each of the three religions named above, in African and Indian music, in rock music, and in music used in meetings of faith healers. The god comes, whenever he is called by anyone using those rhythms on the drums.
"Does the god come to celebration-type worship services, when the god's rhythm is played in Christian rock music, even though the people present do not realize that they are calling a god? There is quite a strong consensus that the god does come."—Demon Possession and Music, by Dr. Juanita McElwain.
Dr. McElwain said that the demon comes when those rhythms are played. Why does he come? in order to possess people. Sounds terribly dangerous! Would you want to be present at such a gathering?
But why do the natives want to call the demons to come and possess them? Because the people have learned that when the demons enter their bodies,—the people feel excited and exhilarate,, and want to wave their arms, dance around wildly, and fall on the floor in apparent ecstasy.
While they are gathered together, the demons give them—what seems to be—a glorious feeling of excitement and exaltation. Amid the excitement of these native rituals, the natives are urged to want to have sexual intercourse with one another.
But then afterward, those demons—still in their bodies—give them feelings of depression and anger, and gradually lead them to acts of violence.
Elsewhere in this book, we learn that exactly the same thing happens to those who attend rock concerts!
Just below is an incident which exactly fits the above description of what happens in African voodoo rituals! Although the location was very different, the steady drum beats brought the same "gods,"—with the same effects on the worshipers—who, like African natives, had come to the gathering that evening in order to experience those effects!
Without realizing it, these worshipers, at a small church in America that you will soon read about, had invited demons to enter their bodies. As a result, in the weeks and months which followed, you can know that those people experienced various difficulties with feelings of depression, hostility, and desires to engage in acts of immorality.
The demons are very intelligent; and their objective is to remain in the people after the meeting is over, so they can influence them to maintain a half-dead Christian experience. For this reason, the demons will not cause too many problems, lest the people become alarmed, stop attending the demon drum rituals, and flee to Christ for help.
"Not long ago, at the invitation of one of my music students, I visited a local church and was able to witness a use of 'gospel music' that was totally out of harmony with normal standards of worship.
"In front of the church, which seated no more than 250 worshipers, were enough drums, synthesizers, amplifiers, and loudspeakers to fill a room many times that size with sound at a decibel level that would even then be decidedly uncomfortable.
"At the beginning of the worship service, the performance of standard gospel hymns began at a relatively soft level, at a moderate tempo and very little use of the drums.
"However, the musicians gradually abandoned the pianissimo in favor of the forte and then fortissimo—with all twelve speakers at maximum volume level. The percussion instruments [drums], at high volume and with complex rhythms, were leading out in a drastic change in the conduct of those who had come to this evening worship service.
"As tempo and sound level increased, the congregation began to stir in the pews and soon were standing and raising their hands. As the music progressed from simple melodies and rhythms to higher volume levels and rhythmic complexities, many in the congregation (of primarily Anglo-Saxon heritage) began to dance in the aisles and chancel of the little church!
"The dancing was not with another person, but individual parishioners would jump and whirl, often shaking violently as they fell to the floor—with screams of ecstasy! As the service was at its height of excitement, the musicians very gradually lowered the volume while simplifying and softening the beat. Gradually, the physical manifestations moderated, and soon all were back in their pews, singing softly and occasionally raising one or both hands, while recuperating from the strenuous exercises they had just experienced.
"The congregation had been led through this entire experience by the influence of music—music that led them in tiny increments of excitement by means of skillfully played instruments. During the zenith of the service, a young man seated behind me asked me, 'Are you saved?' He was apparently puzzled by my lack of participation.
"I asked a high-school-age girl, 'What does it feel like to be writhing on the floor with people above you?' 'It is the most ecstatic and glorious experience you can imagine,' she replied. However, if it had not been for the musical excesses, these 'high' experiences would not have taken place. I did not sense the presence of the Holy Spirit in the church that evening."—Paul E. Hamel, D.Mus. Ed., Eeritus Professor of Music, Andrews University.
—There is much more on this subject of the origins of this captivating music in the next two chapters.
Mahalia Jackson Biography
Mahalia Jackson reigned as a pioneer interpreter of gospel music whose fervent contralto was one of the great voices of this century. Both gospel and rhythm & blues had their roots in the Sanctified church, but whereas blues and R&B departed on secular paths that led to rock and roll, gospel stayed the spiritual course. Nonetheless, the influence of gospel on R&B and rock and roll, especially through such force-of-nature voices as Jackson’s, is inescapable. Little Richard has cited Jackson as an inspiration, calling her “the true queen of spiritual singers.”
In Jackson’s own words, “Rock and roll was stolen out of the sanctified church!” Certainly, in the unleashed frenzy of the “spirit feel” style of gospel epitomized by such singers as Mahalia Jackson, Marion Williams and Sister Rosetta Tharpe, one can hear the rousing roots of rock and roll. One of Jackson’s accompanists was keyboardist Billy Preston, who went on to great fame as a rock and R&B star. But religious passion was paramount in Jackson’s life, and no sacred-to-secular transformation would mark her career as it did so many others. “Her voice is a heartfelt express of all that is most human about us—our fears, our faith, our hope for salvation,” David Ritz wrote in his liner notes for Mahalia Jackson: 16 Most Requested Songs. “Hope is the hallmark of Mahalia Jackson and the gospel tradition she embodies.”
rock and roll hall of fame
Mahalia Jackson Biography | The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
Mahalia Jackson reigned as a pioneer interpreter of gospel music whose fervent contralto was one of the great voices of this century. Both gospel and rhythm & blues had their roots in the Sanctified church, but whereas blues and R&B departed on secular paths that led to rock and roll, gospel stayed the spiritual course. Nonetheless, the influence of gospel on R&B and rock and roll, especially through such force-of-nature voices as Jackson’s, is inescapable. Little Richard has cited Jackson as an inspiration, calling her “the true queen of spiritual singers.”
In Jackson’s own words, “Rock and roll was stolen out of the sanctified church!” Certainly, in the unleashed frenzy of the “spirit feel” style of gospel epitomized by such singers as Mahalia Jackson, Marion Williams and Sister Rosetta Tharpe, one can hear the rousing roots of rock and roll. One of Jackson’s accompanists was keyboardist Billy Preston, who went on to great fame as a rock and R&B star. But religious passion was paramount in Jackson’s life, and no sacred-to-secular transformation would mark her career as it did so many others. “Her voice is a heartfelt express of all that is most human about us—our fears, our faith, our hope for salvation,” David Ritz wrote in his liner notes for Mahalia Jackson: 16 Most Requested Songs. “Hope is the hallmark of Mahalia Jackson and the gospel tradition she embodies.”
rock and roll hall of fame
Mahalia Jackson Biography | The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
By Mission Evangelism, Inc.
"The big thing about rock music is its power of suggestion. Sensual singing, an insistent beat that builds, suggestive lyrics—these turn people on today. Music is used everywhere to condition the human mind.
"Our future music may be a frequency machine feeding impulses to our nervous system through electrodes, or something attached to the ear, giving us highs and lows more powerful than any drugs in use today."—Ken Lynch, Gospel Music, 1987, p. 8.
Mike Quatro is a well-known producer of rock shows and an expert at knowing how to bring in the paying customers. He describes rock in this way:
"Rock motivates you internally, gives you a sensual feeling. A girl can be turned on by the music. It releases her inhibitions. The beat of the drum has always been a factor . . A girl realizes her own sexuality through the music."—Mike Quatro, quoted in Ira Peck, The New Sound, Yes, p. 112.
"Jazz and rock to the pagan are the symptoms of a glorious release from the bonds of moral restraint . . These musical forms came from the slums of music, and they corrupted taste and manners."—Issa Goldberg, Tinpan Alley.
An article in the trade journal, High Fidelity, warned:
"If you ask me whether rock music has been a symptom or a cause of America's terrible problems with its young people, I would be inclined to say both—but primarily a cause."—Gene Lees, High Fidelity, February 1970.
In 1978, a music therapist in California investigated the effects of rock music on teenagers. He gave an emotional stability test to 240 school children, aged 10-18. Rock music was played during the test.
Without explaining how the test was given or who it was given to, the results were then handed to a psychologist to examine. He concluded that the test had been given to patients in a mental institution.Checking into this further, the same therapist found that, in tests using an auto-driver trainer simulating actual driving conditions, listening to rock while behind the wheel increased the frequency of driver error by 34.4%.
T
I believe we should be careful what we put into our minds. If you feel rock music by itself is bad (the music, not the lyrics), by all means do not listen to it. That could very well be a God-given conviction meant for YOU for YOUR protection. There are some Christian rock songs that have been a tremendous blessing to me and that I have joyfully worshiped the Lord to (not as much as the old hymns, which in my opinion are simply the best worship music on Earth). I think the real issue here is the lyrics. All of the above mentioned people in the article seem to have been listening to music with obvious Satanic ties, whether by lyrics actually worshiping Satan or by lyrics filled with violence and sex and the like. Obviously, the Bible talks about things like that, and I believe we should absolutely NOT fill our heads with that stuff, whether in music, literature, or movie form, or any other form for that matter. As to the catchy rock music itself (lyrics excluded!), I'm not qualified to tackle a question like that. It's been debated long and hard by people smarter and more godly than I on both sides, and so I simply hold that if you'll keep God close and listen to what He says to YOU on the matter, and obey Him and to remember not to do anything to cause a brother or sister in Christ to stumble or fall, Christ will guide you into all Truth.
N
Are there really still people who believe this? My son listens to Classic Rock (Eagles, Led Zepplin, ZZ Top, Stones, Journey, Foreigner, Guns 'n Roses) unless he's in the car with me, then it's usually Contemporary Christian. There is a 70's station I like (pop music I went to high school with; Barry Manilow, the Eagles, Bob Sieger, Cher, Boston, 3 Dog Night). Great music. I try to give my kids an appreciation for all types of music. My son also loves Phantom of the Opera and Trans-Siberian Orchestra (check them out, amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!)
I knew a boy in high school who committed suicide. A friend, we dated off and on for a while. It was his 5th year. His parents were so messed up that they had to have 2 funerals because she wouldn't go to the one his father was going to. Does that tell you something? He listened to basic pop and rock music of the time (1979) but believe me, there was a lot more going on in his house than anyone knew about and the music had nothing to do with it.
I knew a boy in high school who committed suicide. A friend, we dated off and on for a while. It was his 5th year. His parents were so messed up that they had to have 2 funerals because she wouldn't go to the one his father was going to. Does that tell you something? He listened to basic pop and rock music of the time (1979) but believe me, there was a lot more going on in his house than anyone knew about and the music had nothing to do with it.
What makes you think they are taken out of context Sarah? What I am giving you is information on this issue.
I mean we are dealing with Science here. Rock & Roll music exalts the flesh. It leads people to sin.
I am telling you the whole CCM Movement is of the Lord. If this "Christian" rock music is okay, then why did it show up just within the last few decades?
Another thing to consider is this: the main argument that a lot of the CCMers use to justify the whole "Christian" rock or rap music, is that they will say: "we need to reach the youth. We need to reach the young people."
Let me ask you Sarah, where do you ever find in the Bible where the apostles were using Music as as a tool for evangelism?
The whole mantra of "using the world's music to win the lost" is NOT Biblical at all.
I mean we are dealing with Science here. Rock & Roll music exalts the flesh. It leads people to sin.
I am telling you the whole CCM Movement is of the Lord. If this "Christian" rock music is okay, then why did it show up just within the last few decades?
Another thing to consider is this: the main argument that a lot of the CCMers use to justify the whole "Christian" rock or rap music, is that they will say: "we need to reach the youth. We need to reach the young people."
Let me ask you Sarah, where do you ever find in the Bible where the apostles were using Music as as a tool for evangelism?
The whole mantra of "using the world's music to win the lost" is NOT Biblical at all.
Your welcome.
Well let me ask you though Sarah, does it line up though with the Scriptures?
A good question to always ask yourself is this: Is what they are preaching line up with the Scriptures?
Also, Biblical Separation is important. And that is hardly preached these days. Probably two of the least taught Bible doctrines in these last days are most likely the following:
The Bible Doctrine of Hell
And
The Bible Doctrine of Separation from the world
Well let me ask you though Sarah, does it line up though with the Scriptures?
A good question to always ask yourself is this: Is what they are preaching line up with the Scriptures?
Also, Biblical Separation is important. And that is hardly preached these days. Probably two of the least taught Bible doctrines in these last days are most likely the following:
The Bible Doctrine of Hell
And
The Bible Doctrine of Separation from the world