Rock Music
Rock Music
Rock Music
Inside
InsideRock
Music
Rock
Music
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I side Rok
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VANCE FERRELL
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Mus i c
Violence
Drug overdose
Hypnotic trance
Licentiousness
Demonic control
Murder
Backward masking
Escaping the addiction
EF-761
Inside Rock Music
by Vance Ferrell
Published by Evolution Facts, Inc.
Altamont, TN 37301 USA
Printed in the United States of America
Cover and Text Copyright 2006
There is a way that seemeth right
unto a man, but the end thereof are the
ways of death.
Proverbs 16:25
Rock music can make it easy for you to go
somewhere you want to go, but know you
shouldnt.Lawson, Rock is Here! p. 70.
The same exact rhythms are used in each
of the three religions named above, in African and
Indian music, in rock music, and in music used
in meetings of faith healers. The god comes,
whenever he is called by anyone using those
rhythms . .
Does the god come to celebration-type worship services, when the gods rhythm is played
in Christian rock music, even though the people
present do not realize that they are calling a god?
There is quite a strong consensus that the god
does come.Demon Possession and Music, by
Dr. Juanita McElwain.
Additional copies: For additional copies of this book at remarkably low prices in boxful quantities, write to Evolution Facts, Inc.,
Altamont, TN 37301. When you write, ask for a copy of our General
Book Order Sheet, containing low-cost boxful prices of this and
other books, such as Evolution Cruncher, Evolution Handbook, Science vs. Evolution.
Introduction
me, Yes.
I bring you a plea, a cry from my generation,
from the generation that was brought up in this
music, and for the next generation that is coming
along,stop this music! Help us! Or a moral decay
will overwhelm ussuch as we have never known
before!David Hill, testimony presented to a gathering of Christian pastors and youth leaders, at a
CoMission Christian Conference, at the Moody Bible
Institute, March 30, 1992.
Dr. William J. Schafer tells us that rock music is communication without words, regardless of what ideology is inserted into the music.
And Professor Frank Garlock says, The Words
only let you know what the music already says
. . The music is its own message and it can completely change the message of the words.
To those who would propose the argument that
music in itself is neutral and that it is the words
that make it either moral or immoral, Dr. Max
Schoen in his book The Psychology of Music says,
Music is the most powerful stimulus known
among the perceptive senses. The medical, psychiatric and other evidences for the non-neutrality of music is so overwhelming that it frankly
amazes me that anyone should seriously say otherwise. Dr. Ruben Gonzalez, History of Rock
Music.
Dr. Howard Hanson, famed composer and former
head of the Eastman School of Music in Rochester,
New York, wrote:
Music is made up of many ingredients and,
according to the proportion of these components,
it can be soothing or invigorating, ennobling or
vulgarizing, philosophical or orgiastic. It has powers for evil as well as good.Dr. Howard Hanson, American Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 40, 1943,
p. 317.
Dr. Adam Knieste, a musicologist who has given
careful study to the effects of music on human behavior, describes it this way:
Music is a two-edged sword. Its really a powerful drug. Music can poison you, lift your spirits
or make you sick without knowing why. Whereas
mellow tones can relax you, in contrast, loud,
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Caprusos.
There are four primary aspects to music: the music (the sounds), the lyrics (the words), the way it is
played (the performance), and the effects it has on
those who play it and listen to it. The total effect is
powerful.
In this book, you are going to learn about the
powerful effects of rock music and what causes
them.
You will recall that we quoted Zams statement, that
three tones have no meaning in themselves; but it is only
the words which produce the meaning. However, the tones
E, D, and C never exist in isolation in a piece of music.
The surrounding harmonies, rhythms, phrasing, accentuation, volume, etc.make those three tones take
on a variety of emotional colorations. This fact is where
Zams defense of the total innocence of music breaks
down. Music is more than tones.
According to the way it is written, arranged, and
played,even music without words can have a wide
variety of meanings!
A godly church hymnpresented with tones, inflections, and volume indicating fear, suspense, or
hatewould totally destroy the message of the words!
While individual letters in an alphabet may be neutral, they take on powerful meanings when combined
into words, phrases, and sentences; meanings which
can be refined and decent or crude, vile, and vicious.
The same is true of music. When combined with
certain other tones, arranged in certain ways, played
with certain accents, in certain rhythmic formations, and sounded on certain instrumentsthe
meaning of the music can vary widely.
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On a very basic level, music influences our feelings and emotions. As an art form, it is uniqueand
made of many factors, including rhythm, harmony, texture, and melody. Depending on the presence, amount,
and balance of these and other related components,
music can be soothing or invigorating, ennobling or
vulgarizing, philosophical or evil. Music can be a
source of great blessing, or something which
prompts people to rebellion and sinful behavior.
To hear music is to respond to it in some way. It
enters our being on a subverbal level, and produces
physiological changes and glandular secretions which
can modify our emotions and feelings. Researchers call
this an affective response.
There can be changes in respiration, blood distribution within the body, and variations in blood sugar
level. Pupillary reflexes change, brain-wave patterns
are modified, and metabolism is affected. As these
changes occur, a person may be stimulated or sedated,
depending on the nature of the music.
It is significant that researchers have found that
similar musical experiences produce nearly the
same moods or emotional changes in different people
within a given culture. The emotional changes may begin to develop certain thought patterns in us. Because
thoughts encourage actions, music can modify our
behavior.
Bob Larson, in his book, Rock and Roll: The Devils
Diversion, tells of one experiment: A missionary took
back to Africa records of regular Christian music
and acid rock.
He played both to members of the local tribe. When
regular Christian hymns were played, the people
responded with smiles and nods of approval and
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hearts has a beat. This is a regular beat pattern, during which blood is pumped through its four chambers
and on out into the body.
LEFT
ATRIUM
RIGHT
VENTRICLE
TO LUNGS
RIGHT
ATRIUM
LEFT
VENTRICLE
TO BODY
The main beat is called the systolic. This occurs as blood is pumped from the left ventricle out
into the aorta into the body. In music, this occurs on
the first beat.
The secondary beat in the heart is known as the
diastolic, and occurs as blood is pumped from the
right ventricle to the lungs (in order to be replenished
by fresh oxygen). In music, this occurs on the third
beat.
Good music emphasizes the first and third
beats in the rhythmic pattern (when the meter is 4/4).
This is a normal, natural biological pattern.
In contrast, the rhythmic emphasis of rock music is on the syncopated beat; that is, the abnormal
second and fourth beats. This causes rock to not be in
synchronization with the beat of the heart.
Not only is the rhythm of the beats important,
but also the speed of those beats.
The normal pulse rate of the heart is between 60
and 90. The MM (metronome markings, which indicate
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Hymns.
This does not sound like a man who borrowed beer
songs to make into hymns!
The value of the melody for Our God He is a Castle
Strong [a literal translation of the German title] consists . . in its basic integrity and strength. This is no
patchwork of bits and pieces taken from here and there
[in barrooms], but a masterpiece of musical expression. The melody reflects not only the general mood of
the text, but gives strong rhythmical emphasis to the
important words.Ulrich S. Leupold, Liturgy and
Hymns, Vol. 53, in Helmut T. Lehman, gen. ed.,
Luthers Works, pp. 283-284.
One-fourth of Luthers upper-division doctoral
studies was devoted to music. Luther knew music
theory and played well on the lute (a soft-toned guitar)
and the flute.
Luther undoubtedly was a musical genius of high
rank, who would have become a great composer, had
not Providence destined him for a differing work (Paul
Netl, Luther and Music, p. 62).
Second, it is said that Charles Wesley used crude
worldly tunes for his songs! That is also not true! A
noted British hymnologist wrote:
The poverty-stricken drunks of Redruth and
Wednesbury were not providing this music for the
Wesleys.Eric Routley, Twentieth Century
Church Music, p. 155.
Here is a summary of the problem in two paragraphs:
Rock music is degenerate, immoral, and degrading. Musically, it is poorly constructed and uses a few
simple chords with much dissonance. It also has intense, loud volume and wild, syncopated rhythmic pat-
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terns.
These weird effects drive people to distraction,
so they can hardly think straight. The objective is
to promote free love, sex, perverted sex, drugs, rebellion, and violence.
This is rock music. Can any good come out of it?
Can it possibly be used to help people come to Christ?
Can it help them clean up their lives and, in the enabling strength which only Christ can give, obey the
Ten Commandments?
Pastors and gospel singers urge that Christian
rock is all right because the words are different. Worldlings are laughing at professed Christians for believing
that lie.
We know now what rock music is. Next, we must
turn our attention to so-called Christian rock.
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glorify God.
Then, suddenly, the concert began. The first
chord exploded over the audience, ricochetting off the walls in an ear-splitting roar. We
were off like a rocket hurling into space!
The group had two levels: loud and louder.
The audience clapped along, talked among themselves, and were obviously enjoying it. My ears
hurt.
What few words they were singing that could
be heard over the loud accompaniment didnt
seem to relate in any way to the musicor to anything godly. Although some lyrics mentioned
God, they didnt go with the earthly, sensuous
style of the musical delivery.
I left the gymnasium that night with my ears
ringing, my senses dulled, and depressed about
the whole thing.Lowell Hart, Satans Music Exposed, 1980, pp. 19-22.
Hart then described the next Christian concert
he heard that year:
Later that same year, another contemporary
group came to town. They called themselves
The Hallelujah Sound, representing the Salvation Army. The only Salvation Army groups I had
known played stirring arrangements of hymns.
This one was different.
They were an ensemble of six . . with two electric guitars, electric organ, drums, alto sax, and
one trumpet. The audience was about equally divided between youth and adults.
The spokesman for the group announced that
the concert would be in two parts: the first, the
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. . Everyone is not comfortable with God, but contemporary music is a way of making them comfortable.Ibid.
Any gospel which makes sinners comfortable is
not the genuine Gospel of the Bible!
Alan ODay (singer/musician and composer) wrote
this:
To me, Contemporary Christian music is the
station that I tune in on the radio, thinking that
Im hearing secular music because it sounds so
hipuntil I catch the words and realize the lyric
has a slightly different intent. Im happy to see
that Christian music is moving into the 20th
century, and that in some cases, the distinction between Christian and secular music is
being blurred.Ibid.
Laurence Juber (former lead guitarist for Paul
McCartney):
Christianity is a point of view thats been
around for a couple thousand years, and over the
last few years its been quite good at adopting contemporary styles of music. Im not terribly religiously motivated, but Im sure that contemporary Christian music is going to become more
commercial because the better the music is, the
better it is going to get sold.Ibid.
Richard Harrington, writing in the Washington
Post, says that the religious record industry recognizes
the terrific sales potential in pushing more positive
pop into the churches. He says it is capitalizing on
its opportunity to make big sales by fusing current
popular musical styles with religious words.
Harrington mentions a statement by John Styll,
editor of Contemporary Christian Music magazine,
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This kind of violence has no place in a Christian concert. No violence at all should be involved!
Now as for, what they call, a thrash soundit
is too wild! . .
I know you mean well; you want to bring those
headbanging unbelievers to Christbut you have
taken it too far . .
By the way, this letter is not from an old granny.
Im 15 years old!Alisa Williams, quoted in
Doug van Pelt, Contemporary Christian Music,
February 1989, pp. 20-21.
Those who believe that rock music can be Christianized, by substituting better lyrics, should keep
in mind what an expert on the subject said:
Paul McCartney, originally of the Beatles and
a solo artist since the 1970s, told the Washington Post: The message is not in the lyrics, but
in the music. Washington Post, quoted in
Review, October 30, 1997.
If the message is in the twisted patterning of
the musicfar more than in the words,how could
adding Christian words (lyrics) to rock music make
it acceptable?
There really is no such thing as Christian rock.
Rock is inherently evil, whatever words may be used.
Since music releases certain kinds of feelings
or emotions, and since these affect behavior, it is
extremely important that we are cautious as to what
kind of music we listen to. The music registers both
in our minds and in our bodies.
The most important criteria that the Christian can
employ in making such a choice are these: How does
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singing.
Christian rock groups treat the message of salvation as though it were just another product to be
promoted. Whatever part of the message can have
money squeezed out of it is used; the rest is thrown
away. In their trade journals and advertising, they flip
out such phrases as, The gospel music industry, The
Jesus music scene, The Christian market, and The
top twenty gospel hitsyet it is all a sham. The industry cares nothing about Jesus, repentance of sin,
forgiveness, and obedience to Gods Ten Commandment law.
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for
the remission of sins.Acts 2:38
But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he
hath committed, and keep all My statutes, and do that
which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall
not die.Ezekiel 18:21
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almost 200,000.
[In May 2000] over 900 were injured at the
93XFest at Float-Rite Park in Somerset, Wisconsin. Artists, show announcers, and guest celebrities called upon women to disrobe; and their naked images were projected on large screens. Three
women told police they were raped during the
three-day festival . .
[Speaking of the dangers of mosh pits] Cory
Meredith, owner of StaffPro security company in
Orange County, California, lays much of the blame
on the performers themselves. The rowdiness,
he says, could be stopped, but it seems like it
is part of the show, so they let it continue.
The Rock n Roll Horror Show: What Every Parent should Know, Family Circle, November 1,
2001.
We need not be surprised at the results. Music
which originated in brothels, bars, slums, and earlier still from pagan cultures in foreign landsis
the new heritage of Christian music!
Worldlings laugh at the way Christian young
peopleand even their youth leaders and pastors
excitedly accept whatever has a sprinkling of Christian words in it. The cry of church leaders is Lets
be contemporary; lets have new church music. The
old hymns are boring. People wont come to church if
we play them!
In an article, entitled Problem of Religious Content,
the rock magazine, Rolling Stone, praised Bob Dylans
latest album as one of his best. It then discussed the
problem that, in order to break into the Christian
churches, the music industry was having to use Christian words which few music writers and singers be-
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lieved in.
Then the comment was made: The words really dont
matter after all. The secular music industry recognized
that it would be the music itself which would capture
the churches and its young people. A few Christian words,
detested by the rock composers and singers, scattered
here and there in the songs, would just help get more to
enter the doors.
The Counterculture springs more than anything
else from rock n roll music. The shattering, obliterating volume . . amounted to a new form of
violence . . coupled with the anarchic, brutesexual rhythm and lyrics of rock n roll music.
The counterculture is the worlds first socio-political movement to grow out of the force of electronically amplified music.Time magazine, February 22, 1971.
The rock magazine, Rolling Stone, agreed: Rock is
more than just music. It is the energy center of the
new culture and youth revolution.
Special note: In this book, I only hint at the
extremely evil words of rock music, the things that
are done on stage, and the things that are done with
men and women fans and others after the performance
is over.
The biographies of composers, musicians, and
singers all read the same: total excess of sex, perversion, street drugs, alcohol, and violence interspersed
with crime and suicides. Their devoted, possessed fans
are led along the same road.
It appears that Satan brings all his rock worshipers along the same pathway to hell.
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In each of these religions, as in African and Indian religions, specific rhythms are used to call
specific gods. This is the purpose of the rituals
performed.
Drums are played; there is dancing. A certain
rhythm is played, depending on which god is desired, and that god comes and possesses individuals.
The same exact rhythms are used in each of
the three religions named above, in African and
Indian music, in rock music, and in music used
in meetings of faith healers. The god comes,
whenever he is called by anyone using those
rhythms on the drums.
Does the god come to celebration-type worship services, when the gods rhythm is played in
Christian rock music, even though the people
present do not realize that they are calling a god?
There is quite a strong consensus that the god
does come.Demon Possession and Music, by
Dr. Juanita McElwain.
Dr. McElwain said that the demon comes when
those rhythms are played. Why does he come? in
order to possess people. Sounds terribly dangerous!
Would you want to be present at such a gathering?
But why do the natives want to call the demons
to come and possess them? Because the people have
learned that when the demons enter their bodies,
the people feel excited and exhilerated, and want to
wave their arms, dance around wildly, and fall on the
floor in apparent ecstasy.
While they are gathered together, the demons
give themwhat seems to bea glorious feeling of
excitement and exaltation. Amid the excitement of
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Worked by Demons
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Worked by Demons
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and then jazz, later rock n roll, and finally various forms
of rock. But it was the intensity of the drums which
hurtled it into the greatest shock attack on the souls of
men and women.
Some scholars connect the West African possession cultures with the ancient Neolithic
mother goddess culture, which over 3,000 years
ago stretched from eastern Europe into what is
now the Sahara desert . .
When they came to America, in those places
where Africans were allowed to keep their drums,
it mutated into candombl, santera, and vden.
In America, where the drums were prohibited
for many generations, this legacy of possessiontrance dance rhythm became jazz, rock and
roll, rock, and then hard rock.Ibid., p. 138.
The importance of jazz as a contribution to
modern music is a greatly debated question . .
Jazz is, of course, a stimulus coming from
primitive art.Karl Nef, An Outline of the History of Music.
The incessant, monotonous drum beat was the
key to reviving the possession cults of the East and
Africa in America. From America, through rock, it has
been carried around the world.
John Chernoff, a sociologist, in his book, African
Rhythm and African Sensibility, comments on how,
during his time in Africa, when he played the drums
with possession-cult members, he could always play
them perfectly and satisfy the spirits. But, when alone
in his hut, he could not do so. He recognized that
there was a mysterious, overruling presence where
the cult drums were played.
He was experiencing a type of rock concert in
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Africa. It had the incessant, confusing beat which, although lacking sound amplifying equipment, was still
an intense sound to the encircling natives who swayed,
danced, screamed in frenzy, and fell to the ground.
Dr. Juanita McElwain, in her book, Demon Possession and Music, explains it further:
Having established that spirit possession does
take place, the possibility of the role of music
in possession may be examined. Satan has always been highly involved with music, beginning
in heaven. Satan had led the heavenly choir. Story
of Redemption, p. 25. This suggests that Satan
is the most intelligent being regarding music
in our world. He knows how to make the best
use of it to achieve his ends. He does things
with music that seem strange and even impossible.
The search for the use of music in devil possession resulted in finding two main avenues.
One is the use of beats in music to call the
spirits or gods. The other is the altered state
of consciousness.Demon Possession and
Music, by Dr. Juanita McElwain.
Immediately after the above statement, Dr. McElwain discusses the use of beats in music by demons.
That which African ritual musicians and dancers refer
to as gods are actually demons. By coming to the
drum trance area, the natives were entering into
a compact with demons that would permit them to
take control of their minds and bodies. When men
and women in Western lands consent to attend the offspring of those African drum trances (various forms
of rock concerts), they are also giving permission to
demons to enter their bodies and fill them with a
Worked by Demons
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nation, enlightenment, trance, tuning in, and hypnotism. Wade further states: Any type of concentration on sensual stimulation may alter consciousness. Music with a strong rhythm, or concentration on the relaxation of different parts of
the body, can induce it. The apparently innocent
concentration on a mental image of Jesus standing
in your favorite spot can bring the same effect
(ibid.).
Entrainment: Before proceeding, it is important to understand the ways in which music
facilitates an altered state of consciousness.
One important element of the process is called
entrainment. In 1665, the Dutch scientist Huygens noticed that if two clocks were placed next
to each other, they would soon begin ticking synchronouslyand so was discovered the Law of
Entrainment. Rhythms in close proximity will
entrain. Because of entrainment, music is often
used beneficially to control heart rate and other
rhythms in the body. Since this is true, it is also
possible to use the rhythm of sound to control
the rhythm of brain waves. Neuro-chemical cortical brain activity may be measured. A set of descriptors has been developed and identified as
Beta, Alpha, Theta and Delta.
Beta is predominantly present when the individual is attending to a task, particularly such a
task as mathematics. This is also the state of the
brain during critical thinking. When Alpha is predominant, the individual is in a relaxed state.
There are some claims that hypnotism takes place
in higher levels of Alpha. One description is alert
relaxation. The Theta condition is extremely re-
Worked by Demons
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Worked by Demons
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Satanic Control
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ter!
Satanic Control
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Satanic Control
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Backward Masking
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ward masking.
A majority of the jazz and rock groups which use
backward masking in their recordings, and as background recorded music in their live performances,
have learned it from the teachings of Aleister Crowley.
Many have admitted it.
Satan is using rock stars to destroy souls. A significant number of those composers, musicians, and
singers have studied witchcraft and made definite
compacts with the devil. If he will give them fame
and riches,they will serve him and do his bidding.
The vicious, violent messages of destruction and
death in rock music are part of their fulfillment of the
compact. Their satanic clothing is another part. Their
sensual contortions on stage are yet another. Backward
masking is still another.
Backward masking is the placement of special
messages in the rock music, intended to affect the
hearers on a subliminal level.
Messages pass the conscious mind and go directly into the subconscious. If a backward message
is embedded in a song, the listeners conscious mind
will not pick it up because it is not obvious. But, subconsciously, he will get the message. The music is frequently listened to over and over again.
It is dangerous, in the extreme, to listen to satanic music or attend concerts where it is presented!
Do not frequent such places.
Dr. Wilson Bryan Key, a foremost authority on subliminal perception, has written three books on the subject. Writing in Subliminal Seduction, he says:
Experiments have demonstrated that humans
can receive, process, and transmit information
which makes no conscious appearance at any
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Backward Masking
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human brain is capable of experiencing the functional relation to the Holy Spirit by a mechanism
which is misused to achieve hypnotic trance . . This
mechanism may be surrendered to the control
of an evil spirit, as occurs in voodoo spirit possession; or a human hypnotist may intrude into
the relationship when he casts a spell over his subject.T.E. Wade, Spirit Possession, 1991, p. 47.
As we have learned earlier in this book, rock music is the most powerful example of voodoo drum
trances in our world today!
If one submits to the suggestions of an evil spirit,
possession by that evil spirit will take place. The
mechanism, designed by God for communication with
the Holy Spirit, has been taken over by evil spirits.
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Country Music
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ning to shine with alertness and joy. My countenance had softened. My anxieties left as the sinful oppression under which I had labored for years
was lifted. I was developing an intimate relationship with my Saviour. All these wonderful things
did not happen overnight . .
Rock music combines the two most detrimental and dangerous forces in musical composition:
driving backbeat and unbalanced, chaotic harmonies. These characteristics affect the listeners
heartbeat and respiration. More significantly, they
are tools with which a musician or performer can
manipulate the emotions and behavior of his audience.Wendy Vanessa Griffin, Tennessee,
quoted in How to Conquer the Addiction of Rock
Music, pp. 91-93.
All my life I have had a strong desire to follow
the Lord, whatever the cost. I daily delighted myself in memorizing Scripture, praying, and encouraging others.
When I was in the sixth grade, my best friend
introduced me to Christian rock music. At first I
didnt enjoy it, because it gave me a deep unrest
in my spirit, but it didnt take long for me to become accustomed to it. Soon it became a regular
part of my life, and I felt that I almost couldnt
live without it.
This music began to change me into a selfseeking, sensual person. It drove a wedge between me and my parents, contributing to deep
bitterness in my family. The music turned my focus to things of the world.
By the time I reached high school, I was desperately seeking a new way of life. I wondered, Is
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and song. Music is often perverted to serve purposes of evil, and it thus becomes one of the
most alluring agencies of temptation. But,
rightly employed, it is a precious gift of God, designed to uplift the thoughts to high and noble
themes, to inspire and elevate the soul.
As the children of Israel, journeying through
the wilderness, cheered their way by the music of
sacred song, so God bids His children today gladden their pilgrim life. There are few means more
effective for fixing His words in the memory
than repeating them in song. And such song
has wonderful power. It has power to subdue
rude and uncultivated natures; power to quicken
thought and to awaken sympathy, to promote
harmony of action, and to banish the gloom and
foreboding that destroy courage and weaken effort.
It is one of the most effective means of impressing the heart with spiritual truth. How often to the soul hard-pressed and ready to despair,
memory recalls some word of Godsthe longforgotten burden of a childhood song,and temptations lose their power, life takes on new meaning and new purpose, and courage and gladness
are imparted to other souls!
The value of song as a means of education
should never be lost sight of. Let there be singing in the home, of songs that are sweet and
pure, and there will be fewer words of censure
and more of cheerfulness and hope and joy. Let
there be singing in the school, and the pupils
will be drawn closer to God, to their teachers,
and to one another.
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orderly manner.
6. It should be simple and melodic, and presented
without any emphasis on personal display.
7. It should give precedence to the preaching of
the Word of God, both in emphasis and in allotment of
time given to the music.
8. It should maintain a balanced appeal to the
emotion and intellect, and not just charm the senses.
This is yet another set of suggestions for what the
presentation of music and words should be like:
1. It should bring glory to God and assist us in
acceptably worshiping Him.
2. It should ennoble, uplift, and purify the Christians
thoughts.
3. It should effectively influence the Christian in
the development of Christs character in his life and in
that of others.
4. It should have words that are in harmony with
the clear teachings of the Bible.
5. It should reveal no mixing of the sacred with
the profane.
6. The music should match the message of the
words.
7. It should be presented in such a manner as to
shun theatrical and prideful display.
8. The words should be presented so they can be
clearly heard and understood.
9. The message of the words should not be overpowered by the music or the way it is presented.
10. A careful balance of the emotional, intellectual,
and spiritual elements should be maintained.
11. High principles of dignity and excellence should
never be compromised, in efforts to reach people just
where they are.
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12. The musical presentation should be appropriate for the occasion, the setting, and the audience for
which it is intended.
The following two basic principles should govern our choice of music:
1. All music that we listen to, perform, or compose, should glorify God. Whether therefore ye eat or
drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God
(1 Cor 10:31). This is the fundamental Bible principle.
Anything that cannot meet this high standard will
weaken our experience in the Lord, and we dare not
yield to it.
2. All music that we listen to, produce, or present
should be the noblest and the best. Finally, brethren,
whatsoever things are true . . whatsoever things are
pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things
are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there
be any praise, think on these things (Phil 4:8). This
present life is a preparation for heaven; and all our
music should be a foretaste of what we will experience
in the life to come.
Lastly, we might mention these points:
1. Vocal treatment: The raucous style common to
rock; the suggestive, sentimental, breathy, crooning
style of the nightclub performer; and other distortions
of the human voice should be avoided.
2. Harmonic treatment: Music should be avoided
that is saturated with the 7th, 9th, 11th, and 13th
chords, as well as other exotic sonorities. These chords,
when used with careful restraint, produce beauty; but,
when used to excess, they distract from the true spiritual quality of the text.
3. Visual presentation: Anything which calls undue attention to the performer(s), such as excessive,
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5. Extreme care must be used in the type of programming and music listened to on the various media. Everything vulgar, enticing, cheap, immoral, theatrical, and countercultural should be totally avoided.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly . . teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and
hymns. Colossians 3:16
Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His
name.Hebrews 13:15
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not
be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my
song; He also is become my salvation.Isaiah 12:2
I, even I, will sing unto the Lord; I will sing praise
to the Lord God of Israel.Judges 5:3
Let the people praise Thee, O God; let all the
people praise Thee.Psalm 67:3
And when He [Christ] was come nigh . . the whole
multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise
God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they
had seen.Luke 19:37
Ye that fear the Lord, praise Him; all ye the seed
of Jacob, glorify Him.Psalm 22:23
O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for
His mercy endureth forever.Psalm 118:29
Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee: He shall not suffer the righteous to be
moved. Psalm 55:22
My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will
sing and give praise.Psalm 57:7
Thou art my God, and I will praise Thee: Thou art
my God, I will exalt Thee.Psalm 118:28
I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith
the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give
you an expected end.Jeremiah 29:11
Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with
him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.Isaiah
3:10
A just man falleth seven times, and riseth up
again.Proverbs 24:16
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Final Appeal
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Final Appeal
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The words in Christian rock teach that God approves of whatever we do! It teaches that there is
no need of repentance from sin or putting away of our
idols. It teaches that we do not have to change our lives
or obey Gods Ten Commandment law. The lyric message of Christian rock is actually watered-down
worldliness.
The music, with its incessant rock beat, was
devised in the councils of Satan to excite the passions and lower nature of men and women. It weakens their moral nature, so that they are less able to
resist temptation and indulgence in sin.
Christian rock is the total opposite of godliness.
Masquerading as it does under the label of Christian,
it is all the more sinister in its attack and successful in
overcoming the faithful followers of Jesus.
Because Christian contemporary music so closely
resembles the worlds worst secular music, it easily
lures Christian believers into giving themselves fully
to all that the world can offer. A full 97% of those who
keep listening to Christian contemporary music,
eventually become addicted to secular rock. It is
the intense beat in both which is addicting; so a crossover from one to the other is easily made.
The offense of the cross has been removed. Genuine godliness is old-fashioned and out of date. Christians are fooled into thinking that a Christian rock
concert is the best way to fulfill the Great Commission to give the message to all the world.
Music has a tremendous power, not only for evil,
but also for good. Consider the simple message of a
song appealing to those in the audience to accept Christ
as their Saviour. It can have a tremendous effect on
those with whom the Spirit of God is working. Many
evangelists use a musical selection as the high point of
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it turned out to be just that, far exceeding our expectations and assuaging our qualms.
Then wed sing the verse of the day, plus previous
ones learnedsometimes jubilantly, sometimes in a
quiet meditational mode, but always worshipfully, as
befitted the selection on which we were working.
And so the week progressed, with the effect building as we approached its end: one verse per day, threeto-four-verse songs Monday through Thursday, and
then Friday for the finale!
Thats when the kids liked to prove that we really
had learned all the verses of that song by heart! How
we sang on Fridays! How happy and rewarded they felt
at the end of the week. I dont recall once having to
throw anyone a dark look or having to hold a tight rein
on discipline; we were enjoying the whole experience!
Occasionally I would pull impromptu trios and
quartets out of the audience and let them demonstrate
the piece before we would attempt to sing it congregationally. And we planted the faculty strategically around
the room to help carry the tunes and identify with the
students as fellow learners.
I had not entered this experiment with instructional objectives. But, as we went along, it became apparent that we were really modeling, instructing the
youngsters on how to have a rich and rewarding devotional life on their own, using sacred music in a more
deliberate way (along with Scripture),learning how
to talk and sing to God.
Frequently, the brief homily of the day expanded
the theme of the song or the particular verse we were
learning that day. Its so easy to sing congregational
songs mechanically, without realizing that these are
often personal addresses to God.
So we tried to help the students personalize each
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I was surprised at how personally they came to appropriate the messages of the songs. But I shouldnt have
been. After all, thats what the whole thing was all about,
and what Christian education should be about. Learning to praise God and express heartfelt gratitude to
Him is truly one of the distinctives of any godly Christian school that is properly organized around its mandated objectives.
Dont tell me that teenagers can only relate to the
superficial, sentimental, or bounce-and-sway stuff; I
have learned differently! I have listened to them handle
I Sing the Mighty Power of God. I have watched their
faces and seen them savor the songs as one would savor an exotic dishmaking each line intensely personal as they sang it to their God.
Whoever thought that I Am So Glad that Jesus
Loves Me is for kindergarten? Review that lyric, to be
sung with zest, and youll find it has a special charm
and exuberance about it for adults! The second and
third verses of that song really thrilled these young
people, and probably the angels as they heard them
sing it!
As the students memorized these songs, the Holy
Spirit led them to adopt their messages as their very
own! I think the Spirit even sharpened their memorization skills. This was Christian education in verity.
Faculty and students together all began to comprehend that hymns and gospel songs enjoy a special
kind of inspired quality, not at Scriptural level, of
course, but certainly more than just good poetry or
melody. We found ourselves becoming personally grateful to the poets and musicians who so enriched our
lives, especially our private devotional lives.
One of our boys worked at a construction site
during the next summer to earn school money. I got to
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also helping them make their personal decision to continue their daily walk with Christso they would have
a grand class reunion later in heaven, when Christ returns the second time for His own!
Prof Akers also told of an incident which occurred
shortly after that school year began. It was a foggy Friday evening in October, and three of the girls were on
the front steps of the old mansion that served as their
academy that year.
As they sat there in the gathering darkness, they
enthusiastically sang a song, earlier memorized during a morning worship which they planned to sing that
night for vespers, which was soon to begin.
This was the song they were singing:
Once I was lost in sins degradation, Jesus came
down to bring me salvation, Lifted me up from sorrow
and shame, Now I belong to Him!
Joy floods my soul for Jesus has saved me, Freed
me from sin that long had enslaved me, His precious
blood He gave to redeem, Now I belong to Him!
Now I belong to Jesus, Jesus belongs to me, Not
for the years of time alone, But for eternity.
But just then, as they finished singing the song over
the first time,someone appeared. We will let Prof
Akers tell what happened next:
Out of the fog and the darkness loomed the form
of a well-dressed middle-aged gentleman, hat pulled
down in front and topcoat collar turned up to protect
him from the elements. Briefcase in hand, he was presumably a business executive just off the last commuter
train [at the nearby train station].
His sudden appearance startled the girls. But he
stood a respectful ten or twelve feet away on the sidewalk leading up to the school and asked in a friendly
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tone, Girls, what kind of an institution is thisa seminary or something? I just heard your lovely music wafting through the fog and wondered. Where did you learn
to sing a song like that?
Were students in this Christian school, and we
learn these songs every day, came the reply.
There was an awkward silence, which he finally
broke: My young friends, you dont know how fortunate you are. I sure wish Id attended a high school
like that when I was your age! Thank you, ladies; youll
never know how much I needed that tonight.
Id give a million dollars right now if I could sing
a song like that from my heart, like you do. May you
always be able to sing it.
And with that, he disappeared into the darkness.
All around us are men and women disappearing
into the darkness of this world. They need Jesus Christ,
the One revealed so clearly in your Bibles and your
old-time hymn books.
All around us are young people, in the churches
and in the world, who are also disappearing in the darkness of worldliness.
Why would anyone want that Satan-inspired, demon-filled junk noisecalled rock,when they can
have godly music which will help them prepare for eternal life!
The problem is that the youth are spiritually
starved. We are not pointing them in the right direction: toward study and memorization of Bible verses
and Christian songs.
I urge you to begin changing things at your home,
at your school, and at your church. Bring godly songs
into them all. Make the songs real to yourself and to
others. Begin memorizing and singing them. Let the
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good work begin in your own lifeand let it radiate outward. It will affect everyone you meet.
If you cannot find an old-fashioned songbook, turn
to the last page in this book! We have one for you,
and at a fairly low cost.
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so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and
worship other gods, and serve them; I denounce unto
you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye
shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou
passest over Jordan to go to possess it. I call heaven
and earth to record this day against you, that I have set
before you LIFE and DEATH, blessing and cursing:
THEREFORE CHOOSE LIFE, that both thou and thy
seed may live: that thou mayest love the Lord thy God,
and that thou mayest obey His voice, and that thou mayest
cleave unto Him: for He is thy life, and the length of thy
days.Deuteronomy 30:15-20.
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APPL AUSE
Should we applaud God in church? No, that does
not sound right. Should we applaud fellow Christians?
We all recognize that applause is a very strong form of
flattery and that clapping our hands in applause for
musicians, singers, or preachers will not help them
remain close to God.
Is this something we should just keep doing, or
should we pause and consider what is involved here?
Should we be praising frail humans so often, so vigorously?
Here are several facts you will want to know. I recognize that I am rowing against the stream in telling
you this, since applauding by Christians seems almost
universal now. But you want me to tell you the truth,
dont you?
There are many pastors and non-rock Christian
musicians and singers who earnestly wish that people
would not applaud them. Yet it continues anyway. Few
dare to speak up and say, Brethren and sisters in
Christ, applause is not Gods plan for our lives. There
is something better.
Consider this chapter to be a message from your
pastor, urging you toward a better course;for many
pastors would heartily approve of what I will here briefly
say to you.
Applause
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time of Chrysostom, bishop of Constantinople (A.D. 398404). He wrote how he mourned that preachers and other
Christian speakers were being applauded by church
members in those Christian congregations which had
become worldly.
We need Chrysostoms today who will plead with
the people to return to the humble, godly faith of our
forefathers.
The services of the ancient sanctuary were centered
around the cross. It was a place of sacrifice, a place of
repentance, a place for God to make appeals to the
heart. A place to rededicate lives.
The sound of applause would have disturbed the
solemn appeals of the Holy Spirit, as He attempted to
speak to hearts at each religious gathering.
One significant problem here is where Christians
go and what they watchwhen they are not in church:
the theater, sports arena, worldly musical concerts, and
television shows.
Because of worldly entertainment they indulge in
at other times, the people have come to expect that, at
religious services, the performers up front will entertain and the audience will pay them with flattering applause.
But the house of God is not a sports arena, and a
truly Christian concert should not be one either.
Applause is an intense form of praising men. Yet,
in giving it to an erring mortal like ourselves, we weaken
our own hold on God and we do not help the one we
are praising. Flattery always injures. It exalts people
and separates them from God. In the minds of those
giving it, such lavish praise tends to make a god of the
one they are applauding. Those who receive it imagine
that they are greater people than they really are. Weak-
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Christian singers artificially give a breathy, contemporary song, sung with swaying body and hand
motions, eyes half closed, microphone held close to
the lips. The hearty applause tells them that they succeededat what? at drawing attention and praise to
themselves.
They well-know how unworthy they are; yet the
applause glorifies them as though they were a god.
Craving all the more applause, the only way they can
increase it the next time is to keep lowering the standard of their presentationkeep making it more
worldly. The craving for ever more applause becomes
intoxicating. It becomes the only measure of success.
Applause measures entertainment value. Think
about that a minute. Applause in church and religious
services reduces them to little more than entertainment for its own sake.
People leave, thinking that they have had their religion for the week, and they are free to go home and
watch more entertainment on television. The search
for entertainment becomes their religion, their recreation, their way of life.
Indeed, while the applause produces a craving in
the performer for ever more, it leaves a feeling of emptiness in the hearts of those who, having praised men,
leave the religious meeting. Many are tempted to leave
the church entirely and seek more exciting entertainment out in the world.
Here is an interesting question: What are we trying
to accomplish by clapping? Is it to give praise and adulation to the performers? If so, we have defeated the
purpose of the gathering, which was to give honor and
praise to God, and to renew our dedication to Him.
By applause, the message conveyed to speakers
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Applause
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Then there is the intriguing experience which happened to young John Thurber and his singing group.
Returning from a North Carolina youth congress in the
1960s, they were driving into Chattanooga.
The quartet and Marilyn Dillow, our younglady soloist, were riding into the city about 5 p.m.
The car radio was advertising a gospel all-night
sing in the civic auditorium. We had never experienced a gospel sing; and, since our music was
hymns and gospel songs, we felt we could discover some new music by attending.
We were college kids with no money, so we
stopped at a gas station and changed into our uniforms. We hoped that the person at the ticket
counter would recognize us as a quartet and let
us in free. Well, she not only let us in free; she
showed us right up to the stage door, apparently
assuming that we were on the program!
Backstage, Thurber explained the situation; and
the auditioner was startled when they told him that
they sang simple songs without accompaniment.
The man was surprised but asked us to sing
anyway. Jack blew the pitch pipe and we sang
The Old Rugged Cross. No frills, just the plain
message in simple style. The man asked us to
sing another . . When we finished, he got up and
said for us to go backstage and wait. We might be
used some time during the program.
We felt a little nervous standing around with
all the famous gospel quartets and trios that were
advertised features for the evening.
Soon the program started, and the first quartet to be introduced was one of the most popular
ones at that time. The place went wild with
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Applause
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Applause
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The Bible teaches that we are to live our lives dedicated to God and His service, and that we are to reverence His sanctuary.
And He said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy
shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou
standest is holy ground.Exodus 3:5.
The Lord is in His holy temple: let all the earth
keep silence before Him.Habbakuk 2:20.
But as for me, I will come into Thy house in
the multitude of Thy mercy: and in Thy fear will I
worship toward Thy holy temple.Psalm 5:7.
If your pastor were here, he would probably be glad
you are reading this chapter. He wants you in heaven.
It is only as, through the enabling grace of Christ, we
adhere to the rules given in the Bible that we are safe.
When others about you are applauding men, what
should you do? If (if) there is something in the message that prompts a godly response on your part, what
should that response be? How did Gods people in
Bible times show their appreciation of what was said?
Although it may seem old-fashioned, the Bible has not
changed; why should we? We are plainly told His plan
for us in this respect; here it is:
And all the congregation said, Amen, and
praised the Lord. And the people did according
to this promise.Nehemiah 5:13.
And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all
the people (for he was above all the people); and
when he opened it, all the people stood up: And
Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the
people answered, Amen.Nehemiah 8:5-6.
Twelve times in Deuteronomy 27, the people are directly commanded by the Lord to say amen as the way
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Bibliography
185
186
Bibliography
187
188
189
190
Human sacrifices 87
India, music in 68
Israels soft, melodious
music 123-124
Jazz 19, 22, 33
Jazz, origin of 77
Key, Dana 6
King, William of the
Commodores 44
Knieste, Adam 8
Larson, Bob 12
LaVey, Anton 87
Lyre music 123
Luther, Martin and music 35
Masking, backward 92-96
Master plan 97
McCartney, Paul of the
Beatles 51
McElwain, Juanita 41, 78,
84
Merriam, Alan 9
Metronome markings 29
Moods, changing African
12-13
Moods, changing student
10
Moody Bible Institute 5
Moshing pit 50, 64
Musical carriers 83
Music beats 79
Music, eleven elements in
13
Music, demonic aspects of
73-96
Music, four primary aspects
11
Music in the Bible 119-129
Music, key aspects of bad
13-14
General Index
60
Syncopation 27
Systolic and diastolic beats
28
Theta brain waves 81, 82
Tone wave generators 83
Trance drum 76-78
Unresolved dissonances 26
Vibrations 81
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The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the
soul that seeketh Him.Lamentations 3:25
Ye shall serve the Lord your God . . and I will take away
sickness from the midst of thee.Exodus 23:25
The Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give
grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them
that walk uprightly.Psalm 84:11
The Lord preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and
He helped me.Psalm 116:6
Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established;
believe His prophets, so shall ye prosper.2 Chronicles
20:20
Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in
peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
2 Corinthians 13:11
To do good and to communicate forget not; for with
such sacrifices God is well pleased.Hebrews 13:16
I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my
salvation: my God will hear me.Micah 7:7
But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly
for Himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto Him.Psalm
4:3
If there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according
to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
2 Corinthians 8:12
If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My
love.John 15:10
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.1 Peter 1:13
Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself,
even as He is pure.1 John 3:3
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