While this may sound great on the surface, as Christians our final authority is the Word of God. We as Christians are to "judge" anything and everything by the Word of God. As you'll soon read, using rock music as a method of evangelizing is completely against the Word of God. We have documented FOUR clear and serious Biblical errors. This page is lengthy, but please read it prayerfully and carefully, in it's entirety. Also please note, the many clear scripture references, and many more could be given.

We heartily agree with the conviction of the German reformer Martin Luther, as he stood before the Diet of Worms, he boldly confessed:

"Unless I am refuted and convicted by testimonies of Scripture, my conscience is bound in the word of God: I cannot and will not recant anything. I cannot do otherwise. Here I stand. God help me, Amen."

". . .yea, let God be TRUE, but every man a LIAR;. . ." Romans 3:4

Rock music is FLESH. God is a SPIRIT. The SPIRIT and the FLESH are contrary to each other.

Rock music is FLESH.

There is no doubt – rock music is FLESH. It's CARNAL. And the world knows this! 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) The world loves 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)

Secular rock bad girl Lita Ford, says: "Listen, rock'n roll AIN'T CHURCH. It's nasty business. You gotta be nasty too. If you're goody, goody, you can't sing or play it. . ." (Los Angeles Times, August 7, 1988)

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.

Christian rock is FLESH! Here's a review of some CCM concerts:

Michael W. Smith

"His concerts draw hundreds of thousands of fans each year, mostly teenage girls who scream out their AFFECTION FOR HIM non-stop throughout. And that's where the problems start. To his fans, Smith is the absolute greatest there is, bar none. To his detractors, he is a manipulator who utilizes his good looks and stage show presence to gain unwholesome adoration from his Christian audience as part of a master plan to pursue pop stardom regardless of the cost." (IM Jan/Feb 91 p 22)

"Smith, with synthesizers blaring, drums blazing, and guitars screeching, sent a young crowd into a frenzy from beginning to end." (Tulsa Tribune)

"With sweeping strobes lighting the stage and crowd areas, Smith took the stage with some twirling dance steps that sent the crowd into rocking frenzy. The moment Smith's hands hit the air, the audience responded with over-the-head hand claps and stomping feet."

WHITE HEART

"Crossover,a hot new six-piece band from Rhode Island, got the place rocking with a blend of pop metal melodies and straight-ahead power. . . The crowd was in a frenzy by the time Whitecross appeared, and the front of the auditorium was packed with screaming metalheads."

CARMAN

"One of the first song routines Carman swings into is a jazzed-up 50's imitation of Elvis Presley called "Celebrating Jesus." Carman shakes, stutters and shimmies just like the "King" himself, as the crowd cheers and be-bops in the aisles".

If rock music was NOT fleshly — the lost world would not "love" it! The Bible is very clear – the "natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God. . . neither can he know them." ! If rock music was SPIRITUAL — the world would "hate" it! If Jars of Clay, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, dc Talk, et al had any real spiritual message, MTV, Billboard, VH-1, would NOT "receive" their songs and videos! They would NOT praise and play their music! Not according to God in 1 Corinthians 2:14!

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

God is a SPIRIT.

"God is a SPIRIT: and they that worship him must worship him in SPIRIT and in truth." John 4:24

"Now the Lord is that SPIRIT:. . ." 2 Cor 3:17

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the FLESH, but after the SPIRIT." Romans 8:1

God's salvation and methods are SPIRIT.

"It is the SPIRIT that quickeneth; the FLESH profiteth nothing:. . ." John 6:64

"Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his SPIRIT." 1 John 4:13

"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the SPIRIT, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." John 3:5

"But God hath revealed them unto us by his SPIRIT:. . ." 1 Cor. 2:10

God's music is spiritual not fleshly.

". . . I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also."(1 Cor. 14:15)

" . . . 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

"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

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

5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:5-8

"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

"For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the FLESH." Philippians 3:3

God is against the FLESH.

Not only is the SPIRIT contrary to the FLESH, but God is AGAINST the FLESH.

"So then they that are in the FLESH cannot please God." Romans 8:8

"That no FLESH should glory in his presence." 1 Cor. 1:29

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

So let's add this up . . .

1. Rock music (any rock music) is FLESH
2. God is SPIRIT.
3. God's salvation and methods are SPIRIT.
4. The SPIRIT and the FLESH are contrary, opposite.
5. God is against the FLESH.

How can anyone, who understands simple Bible verses, honestly "justify" rock music as a "tool for reaching people" for Jesus Christ? How can the "seeds" of FLESH grow "fruits" of the SPIRIT?

THEY CANNOT . . . IT IS NOT POSSIBLE!

Here's the testimony of Lowell Hart, a former rock musician:

"Rock, rhythm and blues, jazz, pop tunes, Bossa Nova, etc. are all products of the world. These [CCM] musicians are taking the fleshly and are saying, in effect, 'We are going to appeal to the spiritual.' It cannot be done. It is neither logical nor scriptural. This is typical of the contemporary Christian music approach today." (Lowell Hart, Satan's Music Exposed, p. 123)

And ANYONE who thinks they can "sow" to the FLESH and "reap" SPIRITUAL fruits according to God - they are DECEIVED! According to God – a Christian who claims they are using "flesh" [rock music] to bring forth "spiritual" [new birth, salvation] — they are "MOCKING GOD" — and calling God a LIAR, according to Galatians 6:7.8! Read it!

Be not DECEIVED God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his FLESH of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the SPIRIT of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Galatians 6:7,8

Could God possibly make it plainer? Only a disobedient, carnal, backslidde, Christian who will NOT submit to the word of God would justify fleshly, rock music as a "tool" to bring forth the spiritual, new-birth! It is NOT possible!

And ANYONE who thinks they can "sow" to the FLESH and "reap" SPIRITUAL fruits according to God - they are deceived!

"Be not DECEIVED God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his FLESH of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the SPIRIT of the Spirit reap life everlasting." Galatians 6:7,8

The Lord says in Romans 13:14 - "make not provision for the flesh".

"But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof." Romans 13:14

And yet, CCM takes just the opposite approach! They "parade" and "flaunt" the flesh – and "make not provision for the Lord Jesus Christ". Their dress, their long hair, their earrings on males, their "hip" speech, their album covers, their videos — nearly everything about CCM — copies, imitates and glorifies the FLESH.

The apostle Paul, addresses this "FLESH = SPIRITUAL" error in Galatians:

 "Are ye so foolish? having begun in the SPIRIT, are ye now made perfect by the FLESH?" Galatians 3:3

For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the FLESH, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 2 Peter 2:18

Are some of you CCMers getting this? Or are you so "rebellious" against the Word of God that — YOU JUST DON'T CARE! If you think I'm WRONG — Refute IT! Send me the Bible verses! I'LL BE WAITING!

If I'm NOT wrong — do something about it!

Not only is rock FLESH — rock is Satan's music!

If you think that's just a "paranoid-old-fogey-undocumented" response, read the following quotes — by rock artists!

Homosexual rock star, David Bowie in Rolling Stone magazine (Feb. 12, 1976), stunned the music world, when he stated:

"Rock has always been THE DEVIL'S MUSIC . . . I believe rock and roll is dangerous . . . I feel we're only heralding SOMETHING EVEN DARKER THAN OURSELVES."(Rolling Stone, Feb. 12, 1976)

Little Richard, one of the architects of rock 'n' roll, from "first-hand" experience, knows who is the "author" of rock 'n' roll.

"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." Little Richard (Charles White, The Life and Times of Little Richard, p. 197)

"I was directed and commanded by another power. The power of DARKNESS. . . The power of the DEVIL. SATAN." Little Richard (Charles White, The Life and Times of Little Richard, pp. 205-206)

"Rock'n roll doesn't glorify God. You can't drink out of God's cup and the devil's cup at the same time. I was one of the pioneers of that music, one of the builders. I know what the blocks are made of because I built them." (The Dallas Morning News, Oct. 29, 1978, p. 14A)

ERROR TWO:

The PURPOSE of Christian music.

God has placed a lot of emphasis on music. The Bible has over 500 references to music. The longest book in the Bible is Psalms. Psalms are "songs unto the Lord". The purpose of music is to praise and worship the Lord. Christian music is sung "unto the Lord" not "unto the world". Just a few verses, from hundreds, that teach this:

"Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing PRAISE.
Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.
With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King." Psalm 98:4-6

"It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing PRAISES unto thy name, O most High:" Psalm 92:1

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

"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 was NEVER meant for the lost world. The Bible is very clear - Christian music is "sung unto the Lord" - not the world!

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

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 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)

Nowhere in the Bible do you find music used as a goal of "Evangelism". Tim Fisher also gives another problem with using music for evangelism:

"One of the major problems with the CCM crowd is that they believe the purpose of music is outreach. When outreach is your stated purpose, you will go to any lengths to justify almost anything in attempting to reach the lost. Indeed, this is exactly what we are seeing in the CCM movement today." (Tim Fisher, The Battle for Christian Music, p.156)

The "lost" world is not interested in Christian songs "praising the Lord." The only way to get the lost world to "like" Christian songs is to "spiritually-dumb-down" the songs. In order for CCM to appeal to the world they have to remove, hide or disguise the Christian influence. Can the lost world really appreciate songs praising God for salvation, thankfulness, mercy, love, sanctification, et. al.? The Bible is clear — to the lost world spiritual things are foolishness!

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)

Psalm 137 is an interesting scenario. The children of Israel are taken captive by Babylon. The children of Israel were well known for their instruments and songs. Babylon wanted them to play a song — but the children of Israel refuse to play the Lord's song for the world!

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)

The music from the Lord is sacred! It should not be taken lightly! It should not be used as entertainment for the world!

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 praises the Lord. The lost world is NOT going to praise the Lord Jesus Christ. According to the Lord Jesus Himself – the world HATES Him!

"The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil." (John 7:7)

"If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you." (John 15:18)

The only way Contemporary Christian Music can "entice" the world is "remove", "disguise" or "redefine" the Lord Jesus Christ.

And that is exactly what they do! They subtly remove the Lord Jesus and replaced our Lord Jesus Christ with the pronouns; "he", "him", "you", "I", et. al. They have also "redefined" the Lord Jesus Christ as a "politically-correct" "tolerant", "lovey-dovey", "partying", "hip-hop", "rapping-rocker". Songs such as, dc Talk's "Jesus Freak", 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".

Here's a sample of the "removing" of the Lord Jesus Christ:

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)

"Lyrically, the only difference between Amy Grant love songs and, say, those of Olivia Newton John, is that often Grant's pronouns come with capital letters..."

Rich Mullins:

"I'm really sick of all this heavy-handed Christianity. Musicians take themselves too seriously. They should have more fun, and they should stop preaching unless that's what God has called them to. If I want to hear a sermon, I'll go to church, thank you." (CCM magazine, April, 1987, p. 12)

Steve Taylor:

"Our concerts attract people because they know they won't be preachy or insult their intelligence." (Peters Brothers, What About Christian Rock, p. 138)

(In other words, according to Steve Taylor, if you tell someone they're going to hell without Jesus Christ – to Mr. Taylor that's insulting their intelligence – no wonder Mr. Taylor has such a low opinion of Jesus Christ, as he would write a song titled "Jesus is For Losers"; Jesus Christ is for SINNERS. Bill Gates may not be a LOSER, but he is certainly a SINNER.)

Michael W. Smith

"My songs are not preachy - at all . . ." (Michael McCall, Contemporary Christian, June 1986, p. 19).

". . . So I've made a definite decision now that I'm no longer in the Sandi Patti kind of groove. I love Sandi. I think her music is great, and she needs to do her thing. But my goal is not to speak to the church. I want to talk to the kids and address the whole peer pressure thing." [No Jesus] (CCM, June 1986, p. 18)

Here's what a secular reporter in the Birmingham News wrote after watching a Michael W. Smith concert:

"If you weren't familiar with Michael W. Smith's standing in the world of contemporary Christian music, you might attend one of his concerts and come out none the wiser." (The Birmingham News, Feb. 12, 1993 p. 5c)

DeGarmo and Key:

"On Street Light, we were trying to stick to the street theme and deal with problems people were dealing with. They weren't biblical themes, and they didn't talk about God a lot." Dana Key (CCM Magazine, Nov. 1987, p.20)

Jason Martin of Starflyer 59

"A lot of bands, the reason they get so turned off, is because you have to put the word 'Jesus' in every line. . . That's why so many bands get almost anti-'Jesus'in their lyrics, even though they're Christians. . ."(HM, Mar/Apr 97 p. 21)

These CHRISTIAN bands act like saying the name "Jesus" is taking the "mark of the beast"! Notice Jason Martin of Starflyer, also says, "That's why so many bands get almost anti-'Jesus' in their lyrics, even though they're Christians". That's exactly what I've been preaching for years - many (if not most) CCM artists are "anti-Jesus" in their lyrics! They not only do NOT mention the name of Jesus! They not only go out of their way NOT to mention the wonderful name of Jesus - but they are anti-Jesus in their lyrics!

How can a Christian, someone who actually believes that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, loved them so much that He died for them, NOT want to sing about Jesus?

Compare that to these Christian songs:

Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine by Fanny Crosby
My Jesus I Love Thee by Adoniram Gordon
Wonderful, 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

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other NAME under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12

That at the NAME OF JESUS every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:10-11

"The lyrics of a good number of the songs don't say 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)

"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)

Leslie Phillips:

"People are tired of Christian songs that are only praise and worship. The church forced the 'old' taste in music on kids. We're breaking the stereotype." (Carol Leggett, Amy Grant p. 112)

Stryper

"We're not religious fanatics who are trying to convert everybody we meet. . .We honestly believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior, but we're about the most unreligious Christian band you could imagine. . . " Robert Sweet, of Strvper (Hit Parader Nov, 1986, p. 21)

Holy Soldier

"We're just trying to show that it doesn't need to be pretentious or preachy to be Christian." (CCM, July 92 pp. 54-56)

Wayne Watson

"There's one way I won't write. I won't write a song that says, 'You better get right with God.' From my own experience I find that way sometimes makes people defensive. . . " (Christian Activities Calendar, Spring/Summer, 1989, p. 111)

Sandi Patti:

"Music is a very powerful force. . . Why can't we take that same powerful force — music — put positive lyrics [Not Jesus] to it and begin shaping values that way.?" (Charisma, Feburary 1986, p. 43)

Kim Boyce:

"Christians can be judgmental about this and say it's not right, but I feel it doesn't matter what a song's message might be, as long as it comes from a Christian heart. And, conversely, a song is not a Christian song just because it comes from a Christian viewpoint." She pauses. "For example, take M.C. Hammer's 'Pray.' I don't know where M.C. Hammer is coming from. But why didn't a Christian artist write this song! It's very cool and it says something. I don't know if he is a Christian or not — I've heard it said he is but the point is that he can say anything he wants just because he's the hottest thing around."(IM Jan/Feb 91 p. 14)

And many, many, many more quotes could be given . . .

Here's some examples of albums with Jesus "completely removed"!

Sandi Patti's LeVoyage, And of course, the wonderful name of Jesus is nowhere to be found.
Michael W. Smith's album, Change Your World, has 2819 words - Jesus occurs - ZERO!
Michael W. Smith's album, I'll Lead You Home, has 2046 words -: Jesus occurs - ZERO!

And again many more albums could be given . . .

This should make ANY truly born-again Christian ashamed and abhorred of such Christ-less music. And yet many so-called Christians are defending and "loving" such music that "takes away their Lord".

"And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have TAKEN AWAY my Lord, . . ." (John 20:13)

BUT WAIT . . . TIME OUT . . .

If the purpose of CCM is "a tool to reach" people with Jesus Christ . . .

Would you please explain something for me — How in the world are you going to reach young people for Jesus Christ — when you do not even mention "His NAME"?

We're unable to come to the phone at this time. At the sound of the beep. . .

I don't care how much CCM'ers talk about "using rock as a tool to reach young people" or "motives" or "attitudes" or "relationships" or "values" or "self-esteem" or "positive-lyrics" — NO JESUS — NO REACHING THE LOST!

Peter says in Acts 4:

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12

How completely contrary to the men of God!

The Apostle Paul writes:

"And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." 1 Corinthians 2:1-2

The Apostles were beaten in Acts 5 and the scriptures say:

"And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go . . . And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ." Acts 5:40-41

Look how many times the Apostle Paul in just the first chapter of 1 Corinthians:

verse 1 Jesus Christ
verse 2 Christ Jesus, Jesus Christ our Lord
verse 3 God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
verse 4 Jesus Christ;
verse 6 Christ
verse 7 our Lord Jesus Christ:
verse 8 our Lord Jesus Christ.
verse 9 his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
verse 10 our Lord Jesus Christ
verse 12 Christ
verse 13 Christ
verse 17 Christ. . . the cross of Christ
verse 23 Christ crucified
verse 24 Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
verse 30 Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

The following excerpt is from "The Dragon's Hot Breath: Unmasking the Awful Truth About 'Christian' Rock Music" by Texe Marrs concerning a telephone conversation between Texe Marrs and CCM "star" Steve Taylor. After dealing with hundreds of CCM'ers – this is a typical response when asked about "removing the Lord Jesus Christ":

"I related to Mr. Taylor that I had searched the lyrics of every song in his album and that, regrettably, I could find no reference to Jesus and the Cross.
'Why do you not confess Jesus in your music?' I implored. 'Why do you not witness to our youth that Jesus loved them so much He suffered on the cross for them?' His response was, unfortunately, lacking. Taylor responded hotly, 'Is it necessary to tell young people about Jesus in every album?'
My immediate answer was 'Yes! In every album. Indeed, in every song!'"
(Texe Marrs, The Dragon's Hot Breath, Living Truth Ministries, p.7)

When music, such as CCM, purposely removes the Lord Jesus Christ — it is no longer Christian!

A Christian is a follower and disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. And when Jesus Christ is removed — it is NOT CHRISTIAN!

When a lot of the CCM "stars" mention the Lord Jesus Christ it's another Jesus (2 Cor. 11:4). It's not the Lord Jesus Christ of the Bible. CCM's "Jesus" is a "hip-hopping", "party-animal", "groovy", "boys-will-be-boys", "rock-star". Rather than "lifting up" the Lord Jesus Christ, they drag Jesus Christ down into the "mire and filth" of their "rock" world. Here's just a few examples of the "polluting" of the Lord Jesus Christ.

DcTalk - Jesus Freak
Steve Taylor - Jesus is for Losers
Bride - Psychedelic Super Jesus
Messiah Prophet Band - Master of the Metal
Carman - Resurrection Rap Video (Jesus is portrayed as a street-gang member)

The Word of God in John 12:43 has the CCM artists "number". Just like the chief rulers in John 12, the CCMers refuse to confess the Lord Jesus Christ because "they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God".

"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

CCM's methods are NOT Biblical!

After CCM has successfully "zapped-out" the Lord Jesus Christ; time for the next step. They try to completely "zap out" any influence and testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ in their "lifestyle". So they dress, look, act, talk, walk, appear with "secular artists" at "secular rock shows" — everything possible to look like the world. CCM artist Mylon Lefevre, unashamedly (by "perverting" Matthew 7:15!) titled on of his albums, "Sheep in Wolves Clothing".

If it "looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, walks like a duck and has web feet — it's a duck!"

When CCM "looks like the world, acts like the world, sounds like the world, imitates the world, fellowships with the world" — IT'S WORLDLY — IT'S NOT CHRISTIAN!

Again this is completely against the word of God:

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, . . ." 2 Corinthians 6:17

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" 2 Corinthians 6:14

God's "tool" for reaching the lost.

God's "tool" for reaching lost young people (or any people) with the gospel is NOT MUSIC — ANY MUSIC! God's "tool" for reaching people with the gospel is "PREACHING 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

This is God's "tool". He hasn't changed. God does NOT LIE. Every revival in history, bar none, came through the PREACHING of God's word — Torrey, Sunday, Moody, Spurgeon, Wesley, et. al. Music, such as written by Fanny Crosby, Charles Westley, helped "set the atmosphere" — but make no mistake about it — God's "tool" for reaching people with the gospel is "PREACHING the word of God".

No matter how much you try to justify "your fleshly appetite" for Christian Rock — one thing is certain — God can not LIE! And when He says, ". . . it pleased God by the foolishness of PREACHING to save them that believe" , He "demolishes" CCM's use of rock as "a tool for reaching the lost!"

Alfred Gibbs, writes in his book, The Preacher and His Preaching:

". . . preaching is the God-ordained means of spreading the gospel amongst the unsaved." (Gibbs, Alfred P., The Preacher and His Preaching, p.25)

"How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a PREACHER?" (Romans 10:14)

Did you read that? "without a PREACHER", not a SINGER, not an ENTERTAINER – A PREACHER!

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)

The word of God is the instrument of saving faith — NOT A SONG — ANY SONG!

Now, if you don't like that, don't get mad at me, get mad at God – HE WROTE IT!

Don't send me a nasty email telling me how "judgmental" I am – I didn't say it – GOD DID!

CCM's method is deceitful.

Another serious "error" using rock music as a "tool for reaching people for Christ" – it is "deceitful".

CCM "deceives" the listener into "getting into the music" and then — "surprise, surprise!" "We're NOT the world! We LOOK like the world. We SOUND like the world. We ACT like the world. We FELLOWSHIP with the world – but guess what! We're Christians!"

And guess what — THAT IS DECEITFUL!

Don Butler, gospel Music Association executive director, openly boasts of deceitfully using "music is the bait":

"Music is the bait, the message is the hook. We can use a different style of music for every age level to give people what they need. Once other religions find this out we'll be in trouble." (IM, Mar/Apr 1991 p. 27)

And what does the Lord say about doing His work "deceitfully"?

"CURSED be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, . . ." Jeremiah 48:10

You better read that again — Not "CURSED" be he that doeth the work of the WORLD deceitfully – but CURSED be he that doeth the WORK OF THE LORD deceitfully!

"CURSED be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, . . ." Jeremiah 48:10

Compare CCM's "deceitful" use of music to "entice" it's audience with that of the apostles:

The Apostle Paul refused to "entice" his audience.

"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

The CCM crowd says, "Let's use rock music to get their attention and then we'll 'SNEAK' in the Lord Jesus Christ".

The apostles sure didn't try to "sneak" in the Lord Jesus Christ. They BOLDLY "lifted" Him up! They proclaimed the Lord Jesus Christ, openly, proudly and with BOLDNESS! Despite beatings, despite threats, despite being put to death - they weren't about to "hide" their Lord Jesus Christ!

"10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
13 Now when they saw the BOLDNESS of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus."
(Acts 4:10-13)

"And he spake BOLDLY in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him." (Acts 9:29)

"Long time therefore abode they speaking BOLDLY in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands." (Acts 14:3)

"And he began to speak BOLDLY in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly." (Acts 18:26)

"And he went into the synagogue, and spake BOLDLY for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God." (Acts 19:8)

Who do you think is right?

The "DECEIT" of CCM or the "BOLDNESS" of the apostles?

With what we have presented, and we could have presented much more, and much worse. With the clear scriptures presented – any honest, serious, dedicated Christian – whose desire is to "follow the Lord Jesus Christ" – should put aside their "fleshly appetite", "prejudices", "personal desires", "friends" and serious ask themselves — "Are these things so?" And then – "search the scriptures" for the answer.

"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." Acts 17:11

Our prayer is you will have the conviction and courage, despite the cost, to obey the word of God. God needs some young people, pastors, youth leaders, parents, teachers that will take a stand against CCM and worldly music. May you have the conviction of the German reformer Martin Luther. As Martin Luther stood before the Diet of Worms, on December, 1521 with the threat of death ringing in his soul, he declared:

"Unless I am refuted and convicted by testimonies of Scripture, my conscience is bound in the word of God: I cannot and will not recant anything. I cannot do otherwise. Here I stand. God help me, Amen."

God help you . . .