As
pictured to the left, John the Baptist was beheaded by Herod for speaking our
uncompromisingly against Herod's adulterous affair with Herod's brother's wife
(Herodias). Herodias hated John so much that she wanted him dead, and that's
exactly what happened (Matthew 14:1-11).
The early church were faithful witnesses of the Truth of God's Word. As a result people were getting saved, and the idol makers were losing business. In anger, the idol makers almost killed Paul (Acts 19:27 and 30, "So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth ... And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not." Paul was severely beaten in Acts 21:32. He was eventually beheaded by Nero. Stephen was stoned to death in Acts Chapter 7. James was beheaded in Acts Chapter 12.
These early Christians were HATED of the world; not followed and admired. Jesus had forewarned them of this in John 15:19, "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."
Compare this, in contrast, to today's milquetoast believer who rarely stands for anything. I dare you to go to ANY so-called "Christian" rocker or rapper's website and show me the simple plan of salvation, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You cannot! The reason is because they are of the world, and the world follows them. This is why professed "Christian" rock-n-roll bands like P.O.D., Mercy Me, and Third Day have all appeared on the godless TONIGHT SHOW with Jay Leno. Do you think they would invite John the Baptist and allow him to preach on the TONIGHT SHOW? No way! James 4:4 plainly teaches that to be "a friend" of the world is to become God's enemy.
The Greek word for "friend" in this Scripture means "to assist." Thus, to assist the world, in any capacity, makes us God's enemy because we are then helping the Devil. Much of the CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) on the market is worldly trash, and not "Christian" by any standards. Christian rock/rap "assist" the Devil by drawing young people away from the Lord. Please don't miss what I'm about to say. There is NO such thing as "Christians rock."
It may be "religious rock"; but, it is certainly not Christian. You can't repacked rock-n-roll music and label it as being "Christian," just as you can't repackage witchcraft (which is all that Harry Potter is -- witchcraft repackaged). Witchcraft is sinful, no matter what form it appears as; likewise, rock music is sinful, no matter in what form it appears. I want to make 2 observations about Christian rock and rap:
- Secular musicians readily admit that IT IS THE MUSIC ITSELF THAT IS DEMONIC, not necessarily the words...
During a 1993 Oprah Winfrey interview, Michael Jackson, explained the reason for some of his filthy sexual gestures during his concerts:
"It happens subliminally. IT'S THE MUSIC THAT COMPELS ME TO DO IT. You don't think about it, it just happens. I'M SLAVE TO THE RHYTHM."
(The Evening Star, Feb. 11, 1993, p. A10)Nothing about the lyrics! It's the MUSIC!
How can the Holy Spirit of the Bible use such wicked, fleshly music!
Regardless of the lyrics!
- Religious Rock/Rap music becomes
a spiritual end in itself for most listeners. There's not enough
comprehendible Bible doctrine in most CCM to edify anyone. It's all
about the flesh. Most CCM appeals to the flesh. The use of
religious terms and phrases here and there aren't enough to lead anyone to
Christ. Every Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Church of Christ, United
Church of Christ, Mormon, Lutheran, Seventh Day Adventist, and other
cults--believe that Jesus died on the cross (but they ADD something to faith
alone in Christ). The Christian Rock/Rap being sold to the public as
"Christian" is religious rubbish.
Despite the artist's claims that people are coming to God through their music, people are not coming to Christ to be BORN AGAIN; they're coming to religion in the name of Christ. There's a BIG difference! There are tens-of-millions of people coming to religion in the name of Christ; but they've never been BORN AGAIN by the incorruptible Word of God. 1st Peter 1:23 states, "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." Most Catholics claim to be "born again"; but they cannot be born again through their churches' traditions. They have been deceived by the Vatican and their priests. Jesus confirmed this in Mark 7:13, "Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition..."
Traditions are manmade doctrines. Catholics don't follow the Word of God; therefore, how can they be born again is lieu of the plain teaching of 1st peter 1:23. If you don't recognize the Bible as God's Word, then the Lake of Fire WILL one day be your eternal prison.
Christian Rock/Rap music is made for the children of IGNORANT Christian parents. Why ignorant? Many professed Christian parents have the silly mentality that it's better for their teen to listen to Stryper , KUTLESS, Petra, or TobyMac; than to listen to Iron Maiden, or Van Halen. The truth is that no Christian teen should listen to EITHER. If you have no control over what your teen listens to; then you are a wimp, and a failure, as a parent. I'll tell you what, it will be a cold day in Hell before any child of mine will disobey me. I set the rules, and they keep them...period! There's no if, ands, or buts about it.
Christian Rock inoculates it's listeners. In other words, just as a vaccine is administered to prevent someone from getting the real thing, so does Christian rock inoculate it's listeners by giving them just enough religion to keep them from the Truth of God's Word. Satan loves all the religious talk, just don't mention the Truth of God's Word. The Truth friend, is that ANYONE who teaches that the sacrament of "holy baptism" or "holy communion" brings the forgiveness of sins is a LIAR!
Martin Luther was a liar! The Lutheran Church lies to people! The Pope is a liar! The Council of Trent were a bunch of liars! The Catholic Church lies to people! Salvation can only happen by faith ALONE in Jesus, the Christ. This is because it was Jesus Who shed His precious blood to pay for our sins (Colossians 1:14; Hebrews 9:22-24; 1st John 1:7; Revelation 7:14). Salvation is a FREE GIFT (Romans 5:15), which is NOT conditional on anything we can do. We need only believe upon Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour. Will you receive Christ now?
John 1:12,13 states, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." The "blood" in John 1:13 speaks of our natural birth; hence, no one is born saved. Some Jewish people think they are born saved, simply because they're Jewish; but that is a lie (Romans 3:10,23). Nothing done in the flesh can save us.
Nothing done by the will of man can save us. There is only one way to be saved--God. John 6:40 tells us that God's will is "...that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life..." This wishy-washy, pantywaist, milquetoast, ear-tickling, back-scratching, Gospeless, deadbeat, persecutionless, worldly, so-called "Christianity" professed by nearly all CCM artists makes God sick!!! Whatever happened to 2nd Timothy 3:12, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." Take another good look at John the Baptist's head if you want to see what real Christianity is about. There is something very wrong, phony, and synthetic about today's Christian music artists/producers. I will stand uncompromisingly against it, and so should you!
The Apostle Paul declares in Galatians 4:16, "Am
I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?" It's
ironic, I receive many hateful e-mails from professed "Christian" rockers who
criticize me for preaching the Word of God. The Bible clearly teaches
that believers in Christ are to COME OUT of the heathen world (2nd Corinthians
6:14-17). I believe one of the main reason why professed Christians
won't REPENT of their religious rock-n-roll/rap is because they're NOT
Christians at all.
They have religion without Truth, Churchianity
without Christianity. And let me say, the Christian country music scene
today is just as grim. Many professed "Christians" in the Christian
country music business are NOT saved. This is evidenced clearly when we
see Johnny Cash singing songs by Satanist
Glen Danzig. Although Dolly Parton has sang her share of Gospel
songs, she also recently sang Led
Zeppelin's demonic STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN on her album. Tragically, this is what Christianity in America has come to. Should it
be surprising that Christianity Today would be
promoting Harry Potter's
witchcraft? Not at all.
Religious rock is demonic, as is ALL
rock music. The music itself is evil. The people who sing and
produce the music are NOT living Christ-honoring separated lives from the
world. God commands us to EXPOSE the works of darkness, not repackage
them to make lots of money (Ephesians 5:11). Religious rockers/rappers
are raking in hundreds-of-millions of dollars for the industry. They
have all sold their souls to Satan and are reprobate enemies of God. Bible Christianity, if practiced properly, will make you extremely UNPOPULAR
with the world, just as it did John the Baptist, and the early Christians in
the Book of Acts.
