Is Your Music Giving Place To The Devil?

Ephesians 4:27
"Neither give place to the devil"

  Summary Edition

Authors Note

There are a number of books on the subject of so-called "Christian music". I do not intend for this book to revolutionize or change someone's life forever. I can only hope that you will let the Holy Spirit guide you into all truth as he promises.

John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

The simple intention of this book is to educate and expose the effects, drawbacks, and flaws of modern day, so called, "Christian music;" whether it is southern gospel, praise and worship, contemporary Christian, Christian rock, pop or rap. The Bible has a lot to say about music and the effect it is supposed to have on your life.

For the most part the study put in this book is purely common sense. If you are reading your Bible like you should and have a good relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, you shouldn't have a problem with "chewing up the meat and spitting out the bones."

Ps 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

I don't expect you to agree with me. I only expect you to agree with the Bible. If I say something that does not agree with the Bible throw it out (AMEN). I want to present a case to show the facts and let you make up your mind according to what the Bible says and not what man says (AMEN). The question is, "Is Your Music Giving Place To The Devil?"

Throughout this book you will see the Bible being quoted instead of just references. The reason for this is people usually don't want to turn to all the scriptures and read the book at the same time. They do not want to bother with looking up the scripture while reading, so they just skip over it without looking at it.

In this book that will not be the case. The scriptures will be printed right in the text for convenience and understanding. By far it is the most important thing contained in the text and to miss it would be to miss the whole truth. Also, all references will be taken from the Authorized King James Version. Every reference to "the Bible," "God's word," and/or "Scripture," is a direct reference to the King James Bible.

Chapter 1

  Introduction and Basic Overview

Music Reflects Character: "You are what you listen to."

Aristotle said, "Music has the ability to form Character."

Music apart from words illustrates a message to the listener. Music is a very powerful means by which much is taught. Music is the means that reflects the character of the composer, singer, instrumentalist, or listener; provided that he is truthful to himself in this expression. Therefore, if the person is sensual then such will be the music. If the person is rebellious then the music will be rebellious. If the person is carnal then the music will be fleshly. If the person is spiritually minded then the music will be characterized by Godliness.

Prov 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

Each kind of music teaches, dramatizes, and symbolizes all of the components of that particular philosophy expressed. Music with matching words especially intensifies its effects. Music with matching words that are dramatized by direct visual sensations teaches a lesson not soon or easily forgotten (the alphabet). So called "Christian Rock" music teaches the philosophy of revolution, dramatizes revolution by the productions of its performers, and symbolizes revolution by the appearance of its performers and followers because they use secular Rock as a tool for means of reaching people.

At least rock music is true to its philosophy, rebellion and revolution. So why would Christians want to be like the world? Country music teaches the philosophy of loose and "easy liven" accompanied with restless heartache. It is lived out in the lives of its performers, and symbolized by the appearance and lifestyles of both performers and followers.

1 Pet 1:13-14

13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

The songs are written and produced by unsaved God hating people that commit sin and sing about it openly and repeatedly. Country music is true to its philosophy: "Eat, drink, and be merry!" Each kind of music, including the words and visuals, operate true to form; and generally so do its followers. So again, why would Christians want to imitate or follow in their footsteps?

Real Christian Music

Christian music is to teach the doctrine of Christ as revealed in God's word. Its musical notation characterizes the attributes of God and its words teach the word of God. It is lived out by the Godly presentation of musicians whose daily lives in public and private emulate true Godly attributes as defined in God's word. Its followers also get their behavior and absolutes for living from God's word. In short, it runs true to form in all of its aspects formed by God's blessed and Holy word, the Bible.

Col 3:16 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.

Did you see how the Lord gives a prerequisite for music? His prerequisite is letting the word of Christ dwell in you richly and with all wisdom. The Lord gives instruction that you need to know his word with all wisdom. Most Christians never take this into consideration at all. They go off blindly thinking that it is all right for anyone to make and orchestrate Christian music, but they totally miss the point of the verse.

Most Christians don't realize it takes some Bible knowledge to write Christian music. If you don't know your Bible you could be writing or singing heresy and not even know it. This is why the Lord gave a requirement for a pastor not to be a novice. The Lord doesn't want him teaching because he knows he will make a mess of things if he does not know the book.

Many songs we have today contain things that are not doctrinally sound. For example, the hymn, "Battle Hymn Of The Republic" is not doctrinally sound at all. That woman never saw the coming of the Lord. She was sitting in the middle of the Civil War writing something she didn't have a clue about. This is something I came across that might be interesting to read.

By definition, a hymn is a song that incorporates theological truth into its text. Wonderful examples of Christian hymns are "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" and "How Firm a Foundation." But despite its author's use of biblical phrasing, the " Battle Hymn of the Republic" is not about Christ "marching" against sin and the Church being "victorious" over evil. The theological truths that it expresses are anti-Christian and anti-biblical, thus it should never be sung by a Christian congregation.

The "Battle Hymn of the Republic" was written in the fall of 1861. While in Washington , D.C. with her husband, Mrs. Julia Ward Howe watched troops marching off to war singing "John Brown's Body." She determined to write a more inspiring war song to what was a good melody. First published in the Atlantic Monthly, she received five dollars for her literary effort.

Born into a prominent New York City family, Julia Ward was raised in a conservative, Christian home. As a young woman she rebelled against her parents' strong Calvinism and ultimately married the Boston reformer, Dr. Samuel G. Howe. She adopted the tenants of Transcendentalism, then Unitarianism, and it was in that light that the " Battle Hymn" was written.

The Transcendentalists became the core of the radical abolitionist movement. Dr. Howe, as well as their Boston pastor, the Reverend Theodore Parker were two members of the "Secret Six" who financed and armed the anti-slavery terrorist John Brown. After his murderous rampage in Kansas and at Harper's Ferry, Mrs. Howe lamented, "John Brown's death will be holy and glorious. John Brown will glorify the gallows like Jesus glorified the cross."

The " Battle Hymn of the Republic" can only be understood within the framework of the Transcendentalist-Unitarian creed. The first verse reads:

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He has loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword.
His truth is marching on.

Mrs. Howe applied the apocalyptic judgment of the Revelation (14:17 -20 & 19:15 ) to the Confederate nation. She pictured the Union army not only as that instrument which would cause Southern blood to flow out upon the earth, but also the Union army as the very expression of His Word (sword) itself. The Transcendentalist-Unitarians believed that the evil in man could be rooted out by governmental action. The South was evil and was thus deserving of judgment of the most extreme nature-its own Armageddon.

The second verse follows the same theme by presenting the conquering Union army as the abode of their vengeful God.

I have seen Him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps;
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps.
His day is marching on.

The third verse is so contrary of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that many hymnals leave it out altogether.

I have read the fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel.
As ye deal with My contempters, so with you My grace shall deal;
Let the hero born of woman crush the serpent with his heel.
Since God is marching on.

Mrs. Howe proclaimed a gospel of judgment pictured by rows of affixed bayonets. Taking God's promise of deliverance from Genesis 3:15, she applied it not to Christ, but to the Union soldier who would receive God's grace by killing Southerners. This was certainly a different gospel; the kind of which the Apostle Paul said, "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:8)

Verse four returns to the prose of the Apocalypse with trumpet and judgment seat imagery:

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never sound retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat.
O be swift, my soul, to answer Him! Be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.

The problem again is that civil warfare was the instrument being promoted for determining the hearts of men. A man's positive response to the call for enlistment in the Union army was the action that would reveal their standing before God.

The fifth and final verse gives the ultimate expression of the warped and anti-biblical theology that possessed the radical abolitionists.

In the beauty of the lilies, Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me.
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.

To Julia Ward Howe the work of Christ was incomplete. It was up to men through civil government to bring about a utopian society. She was quoted in her biography, "Not until the Civil War did I officially join the Unitarian church and accept the fact the Christ was merely a great teacher with no higher claim to preeminence in wisdom, goodness, and power than any other man."

The " Battle Hymn" theme has nothing to do with Christianity or God. It is a political-patriotic song about the destruction of the South, written in religious terminology. It is a clever product. Howe deliberately created the idea that the North was doing God's work. It paints a picture of a vengeful God destroying His enemies-the South, and elevating the North's cause to that of a "holy war." In doing so, Howe portrayed the South and its people as evil and the enemy of God. Outrageous, but it worked.

As a Unitarian, Julia Ward Howe believed the Unitarian doctrine that man is characteristically good and he can redeem himself by his own merits without any help from a saviour. She rejected basic biblical truths such as a literal hell-"I threw away, once and forever, the thought of the terrible hell which appears to me impossible."

Mrs. Howe also refuted the exclusive claim of Jesus, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6) by saying, "Having rejected the exclusive doctrine that made Christianity and special forms of it the only way of spiritual redemption, I now accept the belief that not only Christians but all human beings, no matter what their religion, are capable of redemption. Christianity was but one of God's plans for bringing all of humanity to a state of ultimate perfection."

Our challenge is to bring a proper understanding of the nature of this battle anthem to the leadership of the Christian church. No Christian church would intentionally sing a song of praise to Satan's doctrines, nor would any pastor or elder lead their flock into rebellion against true biblical doctrine. Yet by ignorance, is has been done on a regular basis in the American church. The " Battle Hymn of the Republic" is apostasy. It promotes hatred and vengeful destruction. It has no place in a worship service Battle Hymn of the Republic

By Allen Trapp. http://southronsentinel.tripod.com/Issue9

As you can plainly see the Lord knows what he is talking about when he inspired Paul to write that the word of Christ needs to be dwelling in the believer.

Col 3:16 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.

Do you know why he said these things? Well look right at the verse, "TEACHING and ADMONISHING" one another. God wants you to sing and write for teaching and admonishing one another. In doing so the Lord gets a blessing from you singing to him. Can you imagine the Lord getting a blessing from this song above? God rejoices in truth and not in iniquity, false doctrine, or lies.

1 Cor13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

The verse is saying something totally missed by most Christians? Most miss it because they simply do not care what the Bible teaches about music. The Lord wants you to know his words so that you can teach and admonish others. If you do not know his words you need to have someone that does check your music for Godliness.

Why do you think parents reject most music that teens pick out? The reason for this is because they know the words of the Lord and they know that it does not match what their children are listening to. This is the same reason that baby Christians think it is ok to do things like the world. They do not fully grasp the Bible or character of God enough to make good sound biblical decisions.

1 Pet 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2. As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

They are not required by the Lord to make these decisions but to trust the Bible. As you already know a baby wants what it wants when it wants it. They will go by there feelings and not by the Bible because they do not know the Bible well enough.

Corruption of Christian Music

What has happened to Christian music? Christian music has departed from following its true form. No longer does Christian music notation attempt to characterize Godly attributes, but rather it characterizes sensual feelings through sensual rhythm and harmony. No longer does so called "Christian Music" use words to strongly and scripturally echo God's Holy word, but rather weakly speaks of moral objectives and vague, subjective, pious feelings. Its musicians get their dramatization from Rock musicians, Country-Western performers, or Easy Listening artists, and even rappers. Its symbolization is a mix-mash of pseudo-religionists wallowing in a "good god," "good devil," and "good man" mire. Such musical mush is a sickening departure from anything that might be scripturally termed "spiritual."

1 Pet 1:14-16: 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so {be ye holy} in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

I sure don't know how Christians today can know these verses and still pattern their so-called Christian music after the world and its standards. The problem is, like I said earlier, they just don't care. It does not matter how much Bible you can show them. They already have their mind made up and you are not going to change it no matter what you say or do.

Gen 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Effects of Corrupted Christian Music

(See testimonies below)

Many people have become captivated with this pseudo-Christian music because of its sensual fleshly appeal, and defend its "spirituality" with great vigor and apparent offense. As music mirrors the soul of an individual, so does this pseudo-Christian music reflect the carnal condition of the souls and lives of such persons.

Many pastors of fundamental churches consistently fill their auditoriums and congregations with this kind of religious musical mush. Often such pastors wonder about the quality of spiritual growth in their church members, not recognizing that such spiritually weak, carnal, sensual music is one of their problems; both personally and spiritually.

Luke16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is {highly esteemed} among men is abomination in the sight of God.

How to Fix the Problem

The Bible says,

Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Thus the fleshly music used in many churches today and absorbed daily by many Christians hinders the true work of the Holy Spirit. That which appeals to the flesh cannot also appeal to the Holy Spirit!

Eph. 4:29-30 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Recognition of the fact that such corrupted music is displeasing to God will demand repentance from the usage of it as well as repentance from the carnal condition of the soul: that condition which gave freedom to embrace such music in the first place. Then replacement must follow, replacement of corrupted music with true Christian music.

Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in you heart to the Lord.

Testimonies of Deliverance

1. "I was following the Lord wholeheartedly until we switched churches and I was invited to the new youth group. I had a conviction against rock music, but as I was surrounded by it, my beliefs were corrupted. This music eventually led to rebellion and moral failures. The Lord has gained victory in my life now, but the music still brings on rebellion if I listen to it. Please get rid of this music and play melodious, harmonious music!"

A Fifteen-Year-Old Student from Pennsylvania

2. "'Christian rock" had made me a shallow, rebellious, young Christian. It made it easy for me to get into regular rock music. When I finally submitted to God and got the rock music out of my life, I was able to see the double standard that is lived out by "Christian rock" musicians.

"'Christian rock' does not praise God and it is worse than regular rock because I think it is hypocritical. Rock is wrong and addictive and has contributed to my moral failure. I praise God for His help in releasing me from it."

An Eighteen-Year-Old Student from Indiana

3. "About four years ago, a local Christian radio station began broadcasting 'rock' of the 'Christian variety.' At first, I accepted only the light stuff. Within months, I found myself listening to heavier and heavier stuff. I thank God that my parents and I came to an agreement on the music I will listen to. I can see how it has affected the lives of some who at one time were my closest friends. I still enjoy easy classical music, but they are into heavy worldly rock and the lifestyle that goes with it. Just a few weeks ago, God convicted me of what I once considered super-soft, contemporary music. I threw the tape away and thank God for the conviction that brought me to do it."

A Twenty-Year-Old Student from Kansas.

4. "I began to listen to 'Christian rock' without the blessing of my father. He told me that if I listened to 'Christian rock' it would open the door for Satan. I just laughed, and listened anyway. It totally deadened my Christian growth and led to terrible immorality, rebellion, and rejection of God. It then developed into secular, hard rock. Now all I can do is go back and pick up the pieces. But I still have a scar in my life that will never be removed."

A Sixteen-Year-Old Student from Oklahoma

5. :When I got into 'Christian' and secular rock, I went out from under my father's protection. I lost sleep, was rebellious, had a rotten attitude, and made life miserable for my parents. I also had major impure thoughts. I no longer listen to that music, and life is so much more enjoyable and I have much more spiritual victory. Whenever I hear this music, I get uptight and am tempted to get back into it.

Thank God I am not in it anymore."

A Seventeen-Year-Old Student from Texas

6. "'Christian rock' has hindered my life because the only difference between 'Christian rock' and secular rock is the words. The beat, rhythm, and the melody are not different; they are the same."

"It does not matter whether I listen to secular or 'Christian rock,' when the songs are over, I feel the same. I feel an emptiness in my soul, a heavy burden. Even 'Christian rock' sometimes makes me feel like going out and getting rowdy or even hurting someone else if they provoke me, and that is against all of God's teachings, and everything God stands for. So get rid of all rock!!!"

A Twenty-One-Year-Old Student from Michigan

7. "When I was twelve or thirteen years old, I was given some 'Christian rock' tapes by my parents to listen to because they thought I was getting into secular music. The truth is, I was getting into some bad music. The 'Christian rock' dominated my life for over a year until I could not get the same satisfaction I received the first time I heard it. I went to secular rock music and kept this desire and sin from my parents. I started out on soft music and grew to pop/rock-type music.

It was not long until my desire grew to 'hard rock' and 'progressive' stuff. I started getting into drinking and going to dance clubs. Minor recreational drugs came in and soon my life was going down the drain.

One night while drinking, I fell into immorality and my life was devastated. God used this tragedy to turn me around and bring me back to Him. I feel very deeply that if I had not started out in 'Christian rock' I would have been convicted about the bad music I got into. Maybe I would not have messed my life up so much."

An Eighteen-Year-Old Student from Oklahoma

8. "'Christian rock' was brought into my life earlier than my peers because of a weakness in my forefathers. I continually desired music that had a strong and fast beat. The music I started with was soft, slow, and contemporary, and it took over my life and I became dependent upon it rather than upon God. I did not realize it, but I was a lukewarm Christian, no matter how many times I sought God at the altar. Eventually, my parents saw the folly of Christian contemporary music and took it out of our home. After it was gone, the music took less precedence in my life, and God gave me the conviction to not listen to evil Christian contemporary music. He made me free in my soul!"

A Sixteen-Year-Old Student from Illinois

9. "When I was twelve I began listening to 'Christian rock.' My friends listened to it and I felt pressured to listen to it, too. I became addicted to the beat and slowly progressed until I was into 'heavy metal Christian.' I was talking to a boy in our church about rock music. He told me I listened to the same thing in 'Christian rock.' I decided to listen and find out for myself. The beat was exactly the same, and I quickly was addicted to rock. I have been working on conquering this, but when I hear any 'Christian rock' I immediately feel guilty and stay away from my parents."

A Fifteen-Year-Old Student from Florida

10. "'Christian rock' at one time really messed up my view of Christianity. I would listen to it and think, 'Look how Christianity is trying to blend in with the world.' . . . I have totally avoided this music and have considered it ungodly and unscriptural!"

A Nineteen-Year-Old Student from Ohio

11. "When I was thirteen, I had a friend who was in his twenties. He began helping my father, who was in charge of our youth group. The music he listened to was wrong, and as I became closer to this guy, I began to listen to his music and began to get deeper into it. Finally, it was to the point that it no longer satisfied the flesh and I wanted more. So I then started to listen to regular, secular rock music, and it caused moral failure in my life.

"I would warn anyone who would experiment with 'Christian rock' not to do so, or it is likely that the same result would happen to them. Thank you!"

A Sixteen-Year-Old Student from Michigan

12. "'Christian rock' was a big part of my life about six months ago. It totally consumed me. I lived in the bondage of this music and the bondage of the music of my friends' preference, which was not very good either, to say the least. I realized that this ungodly music did not glorify God and never will.

"The main things I learned this week are that we as Christians do not take drugs to witness to drug users, and we do not convert to worldly habits to identify with the world. So I saw no reason to use worldly music with Christian words so that I could minister to the world!"

A Seventeen-Year-Old Student from California

13. "When I used to listen to rock music it hindered my spirit and caused a rebellious attitude. I can tell you that when I hear 'Christian rock' music, it makes no difference what the lyrics are. It is the music that causes the poor spirit and rebellious attitude."

A Twenty-Year-Old Student from Oklahoma

14. "I never listened to the so-called 'Christian rock,' but I did listen to Christian contemporary music. I realized that all day long, when I was dressing or getting ready for bed, the songs were in my head. The backbeat and the music that was full of soft, then real loud notes made my whole body move faster. When all this was going on, I could never concentrate on studies, much less the Bible. It was distracting, and I also realized that when I would go into a store that had rock playing, I liked it, and it was a lot like the tapes I had been listening to."

An Eighteen-Year-Old Student from Florida

15. "For many years I listened to 'Christian rock' and excused it because I was not listening to secular rock. I loved going to concerts and enjoying myself. Then I went to one 'Christian rock' concert, and one of the lead singers was dressed in a tank top and tight jeans. I was not sure what to do. I knew it was wrong, but I stayed anyway. When I got home my mom saw one of the pamphlets. She was shocked and said, "No more 'Christian rock'!" I was forced to obey, but later chose to obey, seeing how wrong the music was."

A Fifteen-Year-Old Student from Texas

16. "I became influenced in 'Christian rock' from some bad friends I had made. Every free minute I had was spent listening to this music. I felt really proud that everybody else was listening to regular rock and I was listening also, but mine had Christian lyrics. One day as I was listening to this music I switched the station to FM and I was shocked to hear the same song on a secular station! I have done some searching in my life and realized that this music was controlling my thoughts, and that because of it, I could not conquer the giant of lust. This week I realized that I would have to give up 'contemporary-Christian music' if I was going to have victory over the giant of lust!"

A Fifteen-Year-Old Student from Missouri

17. "When I got started listening to contemporary Christian music, I started out on 'mild' music, but it grew to harder music. It grew to the point where the music took the place of Bible reading. . . .it was addictive, and I held some back. Later, it was brought to my attention that when you cannot get rid of something in your life that keeps you from God, it is an idol. This music, which is supposed to promote Christianity, caused me to violate God's commandments about idolatry.

A Seventeen-Year-Old Student from Missouri

18. "I grew up in a good Christian home where my father was a pastor. I have a fourteen-year-old sister, and when she was in the third or fourth grade I remember her listening to the radio when my parents were away at the church. As I grew older I was constantly being convicted about my habits but could not get victory over them.

"As I grew older, I slowly grew from one type of music to another and finally to 'progressive' and 'new wave.' I despised myself secretly because of my music, but I took it out on my fellow Christians who listened to 'Christian rock,' because I could still get a 'high' from their music and it was supposed to be 'Christian.' Even now as I am finished with this unglorious music, I still have trouble with it when I hear it anywhere."

An Eighteen-Year-Old Student from Florida

19. "When I began listening to 'Christian rock' my personal devotions were almost nonexistent. 'Christian rock' deafened my Christian 'immune system' (conscience) to rock music. When I listened to this music, I would fall away from and rebel against my parents.

"'Christian rock,' in my opinion, distorts hymns. I can remember a 'Christian rock' beat to most of the hymns I have sung. I strongly encourage not getting into this music."

A Seventeen-Year-Old Student from Missouri

20. "'Christian rock' and Christian contemporary music have, in my life, been stepping stones. Not stepping stones going up - but down. Just a few months of listening to 'Christian rock' and contemporary music led to a life of being controlled by acid rock. This quickly led to and encouraged rebellion, greed, moral impurity, and trying to protect my rights and hide from my parents.

"Now, however, I have become accountable to my father in this, and I am experiencing glorious victory over this satanic music. As I quit, however, I was tempted to get back into 'Christian rock,' because, after all, 'Christian rock' is better than heavy metal, I thought. The Lord in His grace, though, reminded me of the effects this music had on my life before, and I was able to overcome it. I thank God that He is leading me to victory."

A Seventeen-Year-Old Student from Pennsylvania

Comments on The Testimonies

Well, there you have it straight from the horse's mouth. Not just someone telling you about somebody they knew one time. You have to do something with facts. You can deny, ignore, reject or accept them. It still makes no difference to the facts for they will still be there regardless of your beliefs. The Lord is not interested in what we think concerning these matters. The Lord is interested in the facts.

These people are telling you exactly what this music caused them to do and the pain that came with it. You had better take heed and examine what you are listening to. Make sure the music, no matter what kind it is, is pleasing to the Lord. Don't just go along blindly thinking it is okay. The Bible says to try the spirits to see if they be of God or not.

1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

You are also commanded to prove all things and to hold fast to those things that are good.

1 Thes 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

Heart Trouble?

Genesis 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

As you deal with Christians on the subject of corrupt Christian music they will get mad and you will be laughed at and ridiculed. The reason for this behavior is simple: Satan deceives the Christian. He is deceived into thinking that God will honor anything as long as his heart is right. This could not be further from the truth according to the Bible. Look at what the Bible says in Jeremiah and Proverbs.

Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Prov 28:26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

I can demonstrate the fact that a man cannot trust himself. Peter was God fearing, zealous, and ready to die for Jesus Christ, right? Yes, of course he was. Even more than this he was right there in the sight of Jesus Christ. He didn't even have to claim the verse, "walk by faith and not by sight" because he was walking by sight. He had Jesus Christ right in his presence. If anything he would be more reliable than we are. Read over it just a little and see what you think.

Matt 16:21-25: 21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. 24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Let me tell you probably what was going through Peter's head. Peter probably began to ponder and think to himself, "Well, I've left all for Christ. I sold my fishing boat. I threw my business away. I have forsaken everything. All I known is how to follow Christ and now he says he is leaving us. After three and a half years of faithful service this is the thanks I get?

He can't leave. If he does all the miracles go with him and all our hopes of the kingdom being set up here on earth are done forever. You mean I'll never reign with Jesus Christ on this earth? About the time all these thoughts are going through his head he says out loud " Be it far from thee Lord this shall not be unto thee ". Then Jesus Christ sharply rebukes him and says, "Get thee behind me SATAN." Then he tells you why he rebukes him, " for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men ." He rebukes him because his human nature got the best of him, which is, "me first you next". Peter had Jesus Christ right there and he knew who he was and confessed it only a few verses earlier.

Matt 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Our nature is that of not savoring the things of God but those of man. I can say that statement without even consulting another person. You see we give ourselves too much credit and we usually think we are something more than we are.

3 John1:9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the {preeminence} among them, receiveth us not.

You had better go ahead and admit it now or you sure will at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Human nature is no different now than it was then. We still want to be first and we still don't savor the things of God like we ought to. Do you think Peter realized that Satan had filled his heart? Of course he didn't realize it or he wouldn't have said what he said. I wonder how many times Satan has filled our hearts and caused us to say things we ought not to have said and we didn't even realize it? I would venture to say he has filled our hearts quite a few times and we didn't even have a clue.

Be Not Deceived!

Job 15:31   Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompence.

I just want you to put down what you feel during the reading of this book and go strictly by what the Bible says. You have to trust the Bible and not yourself and not others; but solely trust in the BIBLE. Have you ever been deceived? I would guess that everyone in there lifetime has been deceived in one way or another. The Bible warns us time and time again to "BE NOT DECIEVED."

Deut 11:16 Take heed to yourselves, that your heart {be not deceived}, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;

Dealing with Christians

Acts 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

While dealing with Christians on the subject of worldly, carnal, so-called, "Christian music," I have noticed that most do not have a fruitful relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. They are not trying to win people to Jesus Christ and all they are concerned about are themselves. They do not attend Church on a regular basis and they do not accept the Bible as being literal, nor do they accept it as their final authority. They are constantly saying the whole time I am talking with them, "these are not the Bible days dude you have to be up to date to reach people." The funny thing is they never quote Bible to back themselves up; they just use themselves as being the final authority. That, my friend, is the problem.

The same Christians will argue until they are blue in the face they are right, just like any good Mormon or Jehovah's Witness. Without having any final authority other than themselves they go off as blind as they came in to the argument. I am convinced that the Lord does this on purpose because of the hardness of their hearts. The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel and told him that the men of Israel had set up idols in their heart. He also told him that they did not deserve to get advice from the Lord and when they did get it he was going to give them an answer according to the multitude of their idols.

Ezk 14:2-5: 2 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them? 4 Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols; 5 That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.

Explanation and Justification

I hear so many lame explanations from these Christians that I know what they are going to say before they say it. Their explanations and justifications are so typical that it would make you sick. Here are some examples of these typical analogies thought out by unfruitful backslidden Christians. I will mention these phrases then very briefly refute them.

(A.) "Well I have to listen to this kind of music because hymns bore me."

Does reading the Bible bore you? Does that mean that we throw it out? Of course we don't throw it out because it is boring, but we learn to love it. Also notice that most of the statements are self-centered. They do not care about what others see (Which is their Testimony) or even what the Bible says.

1 Thes 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of {evil}.

The difference here is the spirit and the flesh. The flesh may think that hymns are boring but on the other hand the spirit is getting refreshed and not drained. You have to understand we are in a battle between the old man and the new man and they are completely opposite of each other yet live in the same body. They naturally oppose each other because your flesh does not get saved, only your spirit does. This comment (A.) is one of a Christian who is being run by his flesh and not by his spirit. They no more care about what the Bible says on the issue than any JW or Mormon.

(B.) "When I listen to it my heart is right."

When Peter rebuked the Lord (Matt16:22 quoted previously in Ch 2) I'm sure he thought his heart was right also. Motives of the heart do not by any means make it right. Refer back to chapter 2 for more details about the heart.

(C.) "I don't care what the Bible says. I know what I feel."

Sometimes you don't feel like going to work but you go anyway. This latter day society is very oriented with feelings. This began in the sixties with the rebellion of a nation against God. The saying is "If it feels good do it." This could not be any farther from the truth if you are a Christian. The Bible says that you have an old and new man and the old man has to be reckoned dead. If you do not do this you will walk in the flesh and fulfill your lustful desires.

  Quotes about Music

Some folks want to think that music is amoral. No amount of covering up will hide the facts once they are examined and the Holy Spirit leads you into all truth. Please look at these quotes and see if they are the truth.

Matt 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

The Plasmatics

"The brainwashed do not know that they are being brainwashed"

Angus Young from ACDC

Hit Parader 1985

"Someone else is steering me. I become possessed when I'm on stage"

National Review

• Today Rock'n'roll is the most popular industry in the world"
• Rock's sheer pervasiveness makes it the most profound value shaper in existence today. Unless you are deaf , it's virtually guaranteed that Rock music has affected your view of the world
• We wake up to it, drive to it, play , study and go to sleep to it.
• Dr Bloom noted in, "The something of the American mind" that ' Nothing is more singular about this generation than its addictiveness to music"

2000 BC

Music checked in China to ensure that it conveyed truth.

Shin (Emperor) - examined music

Plato -

"When modes of music change the fundamental laws of the state change with them"

"Through foolishness, they deceived themselves into thinking that there was no right or wrong in music, that it was to be judged good or bad by the pleasure it gave"

As it was the criterion was not music but a reputation for promiscuous cleverness and a spirit of law breaking.

Aristotle -

Music has the power to form character

Conclusion

Now let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Well it is simply this "Do Right!" Bob Jones Sr said those words were the most important two words in the English dictionary. Friends, I hope you examine your so-called Christian Music and see if this is what God would be pleased with. The question is. "Is Your Music Giving Place To The Devil?"