Is listening to secular music wrong?

[apothanein kerdos]

This is going nowhere SJ.

[soulwinner]

Heavy Metal: Early 70's - Late 70's

Message: Sex, no morality, and drug abuse. Lyrics openly promote rebellion, violence, and homosexuality. Satanic messages are hidden or camouflaged by backwards masking. Also, open sex begins to occur on the dance floors of discos.

Music: Beat and volume increase, driving rhythms captivate listeners. Beat or pulse of music hypnotizes listeners as they are fed evil lyrics. Performers openly admit sexual perversion and act it out on stage, contributing to the moral decay and debasing of society.

Main Performers: Kiss, Rod Stewart, Bee Gees, The Who, Led Zepplin, Elton John, Alice Cooper, Village People, Stevie Wonder, Black Sabbath, Rolling Stones, Eagles, Jethro Tull, and Deep Purple.

Theatrical Satan Rock: Late 70's - Present

Message: Violence supreme. Satan is no longer hiding his motives. Lyrics openly denounce Christianity presenting the devil as the answer. Violence, sex, rebellion, and drugs are not only promoted, but are acted out on stage. Lyrics even promote suicide. MTV brings Satan's messages into homes through rock videos.

Music: Violent, loud, abrasive. It has become a combination of Disco, Hard Rock, and 50's music. Synthesized music creates a "robot-like" sound, simulating the controlling power of rock music. Rock music has evolved into the single most powerful tool by which Satan communicates his evil messages to our youth.

Main Performers: Kiss, Eagles, Iron Maiden, Cindi Lauper, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Van Halen, AC/DC, The Grateful Dead, Michael Jackson, W.A.S.P., Prince, Boy George, and Alice Cooper.

To the Christian, God says in His Word: "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" (Eph. 5:11). The Lord Jesus said in Matt 7:18,20 "A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit....Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." The question this verse brings to mind is: What kind of fruit does rock and roll produce? There is definite fruit to rock and roll and all of it is evil. This demonic music has been the major tool and vehicle through which Satan popularized suicide, drug abuse, immorality, perversions (bestiality etc.), blasphemy against God and sacred things, homosexuality, occultism, and satanism. Now God has said to Christians not to have any fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. Rock and roll is an unfruitful work of darkness and Christians have no business trying to imitate those who are on the broad road to destruction. Christians also have no business listening to secular rock as it is all an abomination to God.

God also says in His Word: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" (1 John 2:15- 16). "As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance. But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy" (1 Pet 1:14-16). "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Cor 7:1). Finally, how can satanic Christians be holy as we are commanded when an earring is hung in the ear, sexual clothes are worn, and a rebellious nightclub atmosphere is created by those who claim to worship God?

[Orr v'emet]

No problem Sj...I accept the apology and look forward to the rest of the discussion.

[soulwinner]

RELIGIOUS ROCK: A BRIEF HISTORY

"Ye have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment" (Malachi 2:17). "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Rom 12:2). "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold" (Matt 24:12).

The same spirit of rock and roll which includes: the spirit of rebellion, the spirit of immorality and perversion, and the spirit of death is now being brought into the churches under the guise of religious rock and roll.

Remembering the example of the frog, the water, and the bunsen burner: the devil first turned on his bunsen burner when he introduced "Christian" contemporary music into the church. Within this scope of music there were many areas of "grey" as the church lightly began to assimiliate the style and sound of the devil's rock and roll music. The bunsen burner continued to burn and the water slowly heated up. Next, Satan slowly introduced hard rock and roll into the churches. Once this religious rock and roll gained acceptance the devil turned up the flame on his bunsen burner. He then brought in religious heavy metal, religious acid rock, religious new wave, and religious punk rock. Again since Satan did it slowly, he was able to gain acceptance for his demonic music. Today the water is boiling and many in the church have accepted his deception. Pastors and church leaders, who ought to know better, bring this filth into their churches believing the deception that God can use this evil for His glory.

LOSS OF DISCERNMENT

One definite cause for the lack of discernment is the television set. The technology of television itself is not evil. However, TV programs are energized by either God or Satan. Most of the programs on television present morals, lifestyles, and attitudes that are contrary and opposed to the Word of God. Television is now glorifying evil, murder, violence, occultism, immorality, and perversion while at the same time Christianity and godly standards are mocked and belittled. Today millions of unbelievers sit in front of their TV sets laughing and mocking at what once was considered sacred. The tragedy of all this is that Christians are blinded and hardened as they spend hours sitting at home parked in front of their TV's getting ministered to by the devil. While Christians sit and watch shows that deep down they know God would not approve of, they slowly go further from God and closer to the world.

The children are not spared either as most of the Saturday morning cartoons have evil, occultic story lines. Along with TV, other factors contributing to the loss of discernment are: little or no daily prayer life and irregular, inconsistent Bible reading. God warns in His Word: "Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?" (Jer 7:8-10).

Christians have not been delivered from sin and hell in order to partake of abominations. God wants His people to live holy, separated lives in this evil world. The cry through the land is for revival, but how can it come when Christians are in love with their TV's and rock music? All this is at the expense of Bible reading, prayer, holiness, and separation from evil

[Eternally Striving]

THE SEED SOWERS, P.O. Box 2513, Stn. F, Scarborough, Ont. M1W 3P2 Canada. Computers for Christ #22 (Due to the importance of this message...copy and distribute wherever the Lord leads.)

FOR MANY MORE IN-DEPTH ARTICLES EXPOSING RELIGIOUS ROCK, CLICK HERE

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In the world of biology, we are given the example of a frog that when placed into boiling water, will immediately jump out. However, if that same frog is put into a bowl of cool water which is slowly heated by a bunsen burner, the frog will eventually boil to death.

Religious rock and roll is like the frog and the water. The term "rock and roll" means fornication. It is a street name for sexual immorality. It has wrecked the lives of many teenagers through suicide, drug abuse, immorality, perversion, satanism, etc. Sadly, we live in a day where many Christians and church leaders are allowing this demonic music into their churches, claiming that the music is holy and sanctified because the lyrics are changed to include some 'religious' words. Where is the discernment in the church? Are Christians losing their ability to discern the difference between good and evil? The fact that this demonic music even made it into the church is proof of the moral and spiritual decline affecting the church today. We are being invaded by hard rock, acid rock, punk rock, new wave, and heavy metal music under the guise of religious rock and roll.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And eggs will boil when you go to a concert...plants will die when you play rock music....and my innards will molecularly breakdown if I mosh too much.

[soulwinner]

FRUIT OF RELIGIOUS ROCK

This is a partial list of the evil fruit of religious rock and roll music. It is by no means exhaustive.

CONFORMITY: There is a definite pressure to conform to this world rather than to separate oneself from its godless influence. Religious rock is a cheap imitation of secular rock and roll. These religious rockers, like the secular, play their music at the same ear-splitting level and give off the same nightclub bar-room atmosphere with all the coloured lights, smoke pots, and special effects. Little do these religious rockers realize, but as they identify and imitate the secular rock scene they are indirectly giving approval to that type of morality and lifestyle. As a result they are a path of destruction for others. Note: The reason rock and roll is played so loud is because at high decibel levels a person's conscience and inihibitions are numbed. That individual can be more easily programmed to accept Satan's standards instead of God's.

What does God have to say about all this compromise and fellowship with evil? In 2 Cor. 6:14-17 God says: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 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. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." After reading this it can be seen that coming out and being separate from evil is not the cheap imitation and monkey-see-monkey-do that the religious rock scene portrays. Again, where is the discernment between good and evil within the church?

SECULAR ROCK AND ROLL: One definite fruit of religious rock is that it leads it's followers back to involvement with secular rock. Many Christian young people listen to secular rock radio stations and own secular rock albums in addition to their collection of religious rock and roll. As already pointed out, at religious rock concerts some of the bands play secular rock songs to "warm" up the audience. This exposes Christian young people to all forms of demonic filth and will certainly influence them in a negative way. The danger is that religious rock will lead people away from God, holiness, and a separated lifestyle just as surely as secular rock will lead them to the devil. God says plainly in James 4:4 "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, 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".

[soulwinner]

FRUIT OF RELIGIOUS ROCK

This is a partial list of the evil fruit of religious rock and roll music. It is by no means exhaustive.

CONFORMITY: There is a definite pressure to conform to this world rather than to separate oneself from its godless influence. Religious rock is a cheap imitation of secular rock and roll. These religious rockers, like the secular, play their music at the same ear-splitting level and give off the same nightclub bar-room atmosphere with all the coloured lights, smoke pots, and special effects. Little do these religious rockers realize, but as they identify and imitate the secular rock scene they are indirectly giving approval to that type of morality and lifestyle. As a result they are a path of destruction for others. Note: The reason rock and roll is played so loud is because at high decibel levels a person's conscience and inihibitions are numbed. That individual can be more easily programmed to accept Satan's standards instead of God's.

What does God have to say about all this compromise and fellowship with evil? In 2 Cor. 6:14-17 God says: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 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. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." After reading this it can be seen that coming out and being separate from evil is not the cheap imitation and monkey-see-monkey-do that the religious rock scene portrays. Again, where is the discernment between good and evil within the church?

SECULAR ROCK AND ROLL: One definite fruit of religious rock is that it leads it's followers back to involvement with secular rock. Many Christian young people listen to secular rock radio stations and own secular rock albums in addition to their collection of religious rock and roll. As already pointed out, at religious rock concerts some of the bands play secular rock songs to "warm" up the audience. This exposes Christian young people to all forms of demonic filth and will certainly influence them in a negative way. The danger is that religious rock will lead people away from God, holiness, and a separated lifestyle just as surely as secular rock will lead them to the devil. God says plainly in James 4:4 "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, 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".

[soulwinner]

Why would a Christian listen to secular rock & roll?

Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the hearts of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil" (Eccl 8:11)....or, maybe they don't really love the Lord Jesus....or, maybe they are not really born again but merely profess to be a Christian.

The Bible says that Satan was created a beautiful musical creature (Ezek 28:13). Since music was built into his very nature are we foolish enough to assume that he will not use it to deceive and enslave?

Rock comes in a package --- it is a package deal! The listener doesn't just get the music alone. Over time one or more of the following evil fruits will be manifest in the life of the listener:

-Rebellion -Suicide -Homosexuality -Violence -Immoraliy -Blasphemy -Drugs & Alcohol -Occult -Worldliness

The music influences (in a negative, unbiblical way) a persons': morals, values, and philosophy of life. How does the music do this? The music mesmerizes the listener while Satan puts his ungodly lyrics, morals, and standards into the persons' mind either directly or by backward masking.

There are no neutral secular rock and roll groups

There is no rock group totally neutral and suitable for Christian listening. Why? Every rock group either directly or indirectly has songs with lyrics that according to God's standards encourage one or more of the following: rebellion, immorality, drug use, drinking, occultism, suicide, violence, and blasphemy. Name one rock group that does not encourage any form of evil according to God's standards! It cannot be done.

Does rock music produce: Godliness and purity, a hunger and a thirst for Christ, a broken and contrite heart, conviction for sin, or a Christ honouring atmosphere? ...No, No, No it does not. If rock doesn't do any of these things, but rather does the opposite, then why would any Christian listen to this music???

The following is a quote by David Wilkerson from his book: SET THE TRUMPET TO THY MOUTH. He is talking about the problem of Religious rock, but it also applies to Christians who partake of secular rock. "Only the despisers of the Lord Jesus could embrace what He hates. Only the rebellious could purchase one of their records. Only those with a divided heart could go to one of their concerts or view one of their video cassettes. Their video cassettes are demonic and blasphemous. The spirit of mixture and confusion it was born in will slowly possess you and lead you blindly to the altars of Baal. Sneer if you choose, but you have been warned" (page 113,114).

BLIND DEFENSE: Some religious rockers get very angry when they hear someone speak against their demonic music they love so dearly. If only they would defend, love, and serve the Lord Jesus Christ as much as their godless music. God says: "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light" (Eph 5:8). "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Eph 5:15,16).

REBELLION: Many involved in the religious rock scene refuse to listen to correction and rebuke from scripture. They harden their necks and set their mind not to give up their demonic music. It doesn't seem to concern them that this music is vomit on the table of the Lord and is an abomination to Him.

"Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words:...He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings..." (John 14:23-24).

"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 Cor 6:17). Christians are a peculiar people and God wants them to live godly, separated, and holy lives in this evil world. "Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;" (Titus 2:12).

[soulwinner]

THE PURPOSE OF MUSIC

Why do the religious rock and rollers not only desire to look and sound like the world but also desire to be accepted by the world? They want to play on MTV and get their songs high on the secular and gospel charts. The Lord Jesus Christ said in John 15:19,20 "If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. It they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you;...". We also read in 2 Tim 3:12 "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution". The previous verses state that Christians will not be loved and accepted by the world because the world in general rejects the Lord Jesus Christ. "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather that light, because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19).

In light of the Word of God does it not follow to reason that true godly music that worships and exalts the Lord Jesus Christ will be rejected by the world? Music that calls people to repentance, holiness, separation, and total commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ will not be popular in the eyes of a Christ-rejecting world.

Now what is the purpose of music? Music has two purposes: 1) to worship and glorify God; 2) To edify and build up Christians. The Word of God says: "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Eph 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" (Col 3:16).

Music is not necessary to win the lost but it is a form of worship and praise to God. In fact, sacred Gospel music is not for the world and it has never been meant for the world. It is for the child of God to worship and praise God. God has not ordained music to win the lost; he has ordained preaching. "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 Cor 1:21). The purpose of sacred gospel music is not to draw the unsaved to the Lord Jesus Christ. Sacred music may at times draw the unsaved, but that is not its purpose. Its purpose is to worship and praise God and not to be used as a tool to win the unsaved. The unsaved are drawn to God by the preaching of the Word.

Since music is a form of worship it is corrupted when mixed with carnality. The worship of God must be carried out with holiness and purity. Linking worship to the demonic, sexual, rebellious style of rock and roll is nothing less than blasphemy. God's demands of righteousness and holiness have never been diminished. Just as it was an abomination to offer to the Lord a blemished lamb for sacrifice, so today it is an abomination to offer to God carnal, worldly, sexual, demonic music as a praise offering.

[soulwinner]

A PROFANE DENIAL

"They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate" (Titus 1:16).

The religious rockers make many professions about the Lord Jesus Christ but as soon as the music starts, a transformation occurs as they are taken over by the spirit of Elvis Presley. The Lord Jesus warned in Matt 7:21-23 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity". It can be seen by this verse that there is more to being a Christian than just speaking the name of Jesus. The Lord Jesus said to those who worked iniquity to depart because He didn't know them.

In the religious rock scene we have many who freely profess the name of Jesus but in works they deny Him. They go on stage and speak about the Lord Jesus Christ but they play music associated with rebellion, sexual immorality, perversion, and nihilism. They wear demonic sexual clothing such as: sado- masochistic studded jackets and pants, effeminate men with earrings, long hair, makeup, and tight sexual clothing. All this adds up to a denial of their words by their actions.

When people are communicating there is a verbal part and a non-verbal part. In order for the message to be clearly understood both the verbal and the non- verbal must be in agreement. If there is a contradiction between the verbal and the non-verbal, people will believe the non-verbal before the verbal. These religious rockers verbally make their profession; "They profess that they know God;". Non-verbally the religious rockers give off a different message of rebellion, compromise, and sexuality; "but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate" (Titus 1:16). When they claim to be preaching the Lord Jesus Christ, they really are not. What they are actually doing is taking the name of the Lord in vain. They profane the name of the Lord when they link it up with something that is not consistant with His nature.

JUDGMENT IS COMING ON RELIGIOUS ROCK AND ROLL

This is a warning to anyone involved with Satan's religious rock and roll.

You are playing demonic music that is an abomination to God.

You are harming yourself as well as God's blood-bought children.

The Lord Jesus warns: "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea" (Matt 18:6).

If you truly love the Lord Jesus you will forsake this evil music.

If you do not, God's judgment will surely come into your life.

Judgment is coming for the rebellious

God has always judged sin and rebellion in the past, and He is going to do it again. Do you want God's judgment in your life? "But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord God" (Ezek 11:21). "But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die" (Ezek 18:24). The Bible warns: "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that friend of the world is the the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a enemy of God" (James 4:4). It's your choice; obey or rebel.

"O Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return" (Jer 5:3).

"Now will I shortly pour out my fury upon thee, and accomplish mine anger upon thee: and I will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense thee for all thine abominations. And mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: I will recompense thee according to thy ways and thine abominations that are in the midst of thee; and ye shall know that I am the Lord that smiteth" (Ezek 7:8,9).

"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20).

"For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the Lord will answer him by myself: And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the Lord" (Ezek 14:7,8).