For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

Why we Reject CCM – Part 1 – Romans 12:1-2

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Why we Reject CCM – Part 1 – Romans 12:1-2

15 August, 2021

Series: Contemporary Issues, Measuring the Music

Book: Romans

Pastor Simeon Western

Pastor Simeon Western

Notes Download

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Having surveyed the history of rock and roll and CCM, we now consider biblical reasons why every Christian should reject CCM.

In our last lesson we surveyed a brief history of CCM. We saw that from its inception, it was built upon the wrong foundation. It involved a blending together of the world and Christianity with the Christian Hippie movement. We also saw that CCM from the beginning has been intimately associated with the charismatic movement with its false doctrines and dangerous emphasis on experience over truth.

In this message and the next, we want to consider a number of reasons why every Christian should reject CCM.

CCM is Modelled After the World

What God’s Word says about the World

The Bible is crystal clear on where the Christian is to stand in relation to this sinful world. The Bible speaks very plainly on this issue!

  1. Don’t Fall in Love with It (1 John 2:15-17).
  2. Don’t Commit Spiritual Adultery with It (James 4:4).
  3. Don’t Partner with It (2 Cor. 6:14-18; Eph. 5:11).
  4. Don’t be Stained by It (James 1:27)
  5. Don’t be Conformed to It (Rom. 12:1-2).
    1. “this world” = this world’s system, the spirit of the age.
      1. Trench defines it as: “All that floating mass of thoughts, opinions, maxims, speculations, hopes, impulses, aims, aspirations, at any time current in the world…being the moral, or immoral atmosphere which at every moment of our lives we inhale, again inevitably to exhale.”
      2. Its character unmasked in Scripture: The world is made up of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. It will pass away (doesn’t last), is not of the Father (1 John 2:15-16) and “lieth in wickedness” (1 John 5:19). The world is under the rulership and dominion of Satan who is called “the god of this world” (2. Cor. 4:4) and “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2). It was this wicked world to which Paul referred in Gal. 6:14 “…but God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”
    2. ‘conformed’ = formed, molded, fashioned.
      1. Same word translated “fashioning” in 1 Peter 1:14 – “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:”
      2. The word means to fashion oneself according to something or someone, to conform to another’s pattern. It is “wearing the world’s costumes and masks.” (Macarthur)
      3. J.B. Phillips says the command means “Don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold.”
      4. We are not to allow our lives to be shaped by the values, philosophies, fashions, attitudes, culture, ideals and priorities of this world’s system.
      5. Note: If our Saviour was hated by the world, why do we expect to be accepted of it? 1 John 3:13 “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.”
      6. Jim Elliot: “The world cannot hate us; we are too much like its own.”
    3. ‘transformed’ = the change of the appearance of one thing into that of another. The word forms the basis of our English word ‘metamorphosis’ (e.g., pupa to butterfly). The word is translated ‘transfigured’ in Matthew 17:2. Christ’s inner Divine nature was displayed on the Mount of Transfiguration. We are to manifest our inner redeemed nature outwardly in our daily lives.
    4. Both words (conformed & transformed) are in passive voice. We submit to or cooperate with one of these two processes in our lives. Either we allow our lives to be shaped and molded by the spirit of this world or we allow the Spirit of God through the Word of God to mold us into Christ’s image.
    5. ‘mind’ = the mind is the control center of the body. Our thoughts reveal who we are. “…as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” (Prov. 23:7). Phil. 4:8 “…think on these things.” As our minds are renewed, it will fruit in renewed conduct.
    6. CCM violates these clear commands in multiple areas. It does the opposite to these commands and promotes an adulterous relationship with this wicked word.

How CCM Conforms to the World

CCM is “conformed” to this wicked world in a number of areas:

CCM mimics the world’s attitudes and philosophies

  1. The same “I’ll do as I want” philosophy that is found in secular rock and roll is also found in CCM.
  2. The Christian rockers creed expresses the philosophy that any kind of music is fine for worship (refer slide).
  3. Larry Norman embodied the same rebellious spirit of mainstream rock and roll. In 1975 he wrote a song entitled “Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music”. Some of the lyrics are as follows: “They say rock ‘n’ roll is wrong … They say cut my hair/ They’re driving me insane Just give me a song that has a beat/ Just give me a song that moves my feet/ I don’t like none of those funeral marches!” The devil doesn’t have any good music! Anything Satan has is evil, not good!
  4. Many of the CCM artists worship A REBEL CHRIST, which is certainly a false christ. Mark Stuart of Audio Adrenaline says, “Jesus Christ is the biggest rebel to ever walk the face of the earth” (Pensacola News Journal, Pensacola, Fla., March 1, 1998, pp. 1, 6E). Sonny of P.O.D. says, “We believe that Jesus was the first rebel; the first punk rocker” (http://www.shoutweb.com/interviews/pod0700.phtml).
  5. Messiah Prophet Band says, “Jesus is the Master of Metal,” and Barren Cross says, “Better than pot, Jesus rocks.” John Fischer described God as puffing on a cigar and swaying to rock music (CCM Magazine, July 1984, p. 20), while J. Lee Grady says Jesus enjoys dancing with the angels and “grooving to the sound of Christian R&B pumped out of a boom box” (Charisma, July 2000).
  6. The cover of Rapper Jayceon “Game” Taylor’s 2012 album, Jesus Piece, features Jesus portrayed as a gang member, complete with a gaudy gold chain and a tattoo on his face. Taylor isn’t a CCM artist. He is a secular rapper, but his philosophy is no different than that of many of the “Christian” rockers and rappers. Taylor is inventing a “Jesus” in his own likeness. He says, “Last year in August I got baptized [at City of Refuge Church in Gardena, California] and so I’ve been going to church, but I still been kinda doing me out here. I still love the strip club and I still smoke and drink. I’m faithful to my family, so I wanted to make an album where you could love God and be of God, but still get it poppin’ in your life” (“Jesus Portrayed as Gang Member,” Christian Post, Oct. 24, 2012). Taylor says his new album is intended to encourage those who “love God but are still street and wanna remain themselves.”1
  7. These artists have created a “Jesus” in their image who doesn’t resemble the Jesus Christ of the Bible who is described as being “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;” (Heb. 7:26). The description of the glorified Christ in Revelation 1:10-17 reveals a totally different picture. Christ is no tattooed, ear ringed, long haired, cool rock and roller! He is the Lord of glory, shining in radiant splendour. John, who had a close relationship with Christ during His earthly ministry, didn’t get up and dance when He saw Christ. He fell at his feet as dead!

CCM mimics the world’s appearances (1 Thess. 5:22)

  1. CCM artists, with rare exception, follow the hair styles, clothing and sensuality of the main stream pop culture. As mainstream pop culture has become more sensual, provocative and unholy, CCM has followed suite.
  2. Ungodly hair styles – long hair on men, short hair on women (1. Cor. 11:14-15).
  3. Ungodly clothing styles – tight, revealing clothing, unisex styles (1 Tim. 2:9-10; Deut. 22:5). Ladies, don’t let the pressure of modern culture rob you of your God-given femininity! Men, don’t let the world rob you of your God-given masculinity.
  4. Refer album covers and band photos (slides).
  5. Tom Morton, who was a full-time musician with British Youth for Christ speaks about the mixed multitude in the CCM world: “What has happened over the last fifteen years in Britain has been the formation of a Christian music “scene”, featuring record companies, management agencies, tour organizers, full-time performers, concert promoters and assorted hangers-on. Instead of this subculture being rooted in Christian standards in face as well as in name, it appears that some of the Christian music scene has become, in effect, sub-Christian. Some Christian musicians seem excessively concerned with fame, with their image; some record companies seem profit-oriented at the expense of their artists’ ministries, and since their “package” is wrapped up in pseudo-evangelical language and justification, few people have realized what was happening.” Elsewhere he makes this frank admission: “The rock music industry is perhaps one of the most corrupt in existence, and the unthinking transfer of its techniques to the Christian sphere has resulted in some of the uneasy mixtures of gospel and garbage which have in the past gone under the name of ‘gospel concerts’.”2
  6. CCM concerts resemble the exact same feel as the world with their strobe lights, dry ice, darkened rooms etc.…
  7. Jeff Godwin in his book “What’s Wrong with Christian Rock?” states, “Look at the reaction of the fans, especially the women, at CCM concerts. C-Rock kings Stryper have stated they don’t give altar calls because the crowd might mob them and rip their clothes off! This should tell you what kind of spirit is let loose at those shows.”3

CCM mimics the world’s music styles (Eph. 5:18-19; Col. 3:16; Ps. 40:3).

  1. God’s Word clearly reveals that our music is to be Spirit filled, Word filled, spiritual and governed by melody.
  2. Instead of having a distinct, sacred sound which is what God’s Word requires for Christian music, CCM follows the styles that come straight out of the ungodly pop culture.
  3. E.g., Rock, Rap, R & B, Urban, Pop, Heavy Metal etc…

CCM mimics the world’s vocal styles.

  1. The scooping and sliding technique.
  2. The vocal improvisation technique.
  3. The breathy technique. This is very prevalent in popular music. The singer almost looks in love with the microphone. By singing very close to the microphone the singer creates an unholy, intimate feeling with the audience. “As much as possible I would counsel gospel singers to leave the microphones on their stands. If the microphone has to be hand held, then simply hold it at around chin height and don’t play with it. The modern sound reinforcement systems of today are well able to pick up your voice at that level.”4
  4. The vocal fry technique. Vocal fry is “a way of speaking in which the voice is very low-pitched and has a characteristic rough or creaking sound.”5
  5. Note: All of these worldly singing styles draw attention to the singer. In sacred music, the aim is to communicate the truth in song and to exalt Christ. There is nothing wrong with a well- trained voice so long as it is trained to be used properly and there is nothing wrong with striving for excellence in our Christian music as with any other ministry done for the Lord.

Excerpts from Dr. Hal Webb’s (Evangelist Barry Webb’s father) tract entitled “SHAME, SHAME, SHAME” denouncing CCM: ” How long will ye turn my glory into shame” (Psalm 4:2)

  1. “SHAME on Religious Song Writers and Publishers who style their compositions to sound like the depraved music of Rock, Disco and Rap, with fleshly beat and “copycat” instrumental arrangements. They hide a few shallow gospel words among the beat and roar of flesh pleasing- sounds in the hope of bringing sinners to Christ. One does not have to place sizzling steak in a garbage can to entice people to eat. God’s Holy Truths don’t need the vehicle of worldly sounds to please the ears of electronic-dazed youths. All music either lifts the soul or feeds the flesh…When Christian music carries the beat, instrumentation and the exact styling and sound of the lost crowd, it results in confusion and shame.”
  2. “SHAME on Christian Musicians and Entertainers who with worldly hair and dress and mannerisms fail to glorify God. They croon words of shallow religious thought, singing anywhere and everywhere, gathering praise to themselves. They become youth’s substitute for Rock with their so called “Christian” Rock, Disco and even country music. Their compromising squirm up the ladder of popular religious music cannot glorify God. Modern religious concerts attract the same hand- clapping, swaying, foot stomping, hero-worshipping fans as the world’s Rock scene, revelling in the praise of men, they blend worldly music techniques and lead youth away from proven musical values. Charging high prices for tickets and seeking men’s praise is certainly not “doing all to the glory of God” I Corinthians 10:31. Shame on new-sound singers whose style and background tapes are the same as today’s depraved secular music. Spotlights flash and drum beats roll but it’s all for the flesh and little for the soul.”

CCM Promotes Compromise with Error

CCM is a dangerous bridge to…

  1. The World of Secular Rock Music
    1. Many CCM artists openly endorse and praise secular rockers, even claiming their inspiration comes from that world. In doing so, they open the door wide for their Christian fans to delve into the dirty world of rock and roll.
    2. Illustration: My experience at a Christian school was that with rare exception the youth listened to the world’s rock and roll, not even CCM.
  2. The World of Pentecostalism
    1. CCM could really be called Charismatic Christian Music. CCM has its roots fairly and squarely in the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement (refer last sermon).
    2. CCM is a dangerous bridge to the error and confusion of the charismatic movement.
  3. The World of Ecumenism
    1. CCM is the engine room that is driving the formation of the apostate one-world church of the last days. It is the glue that binds together Catholics, protestants, evangelicals and out and out heretics by shifting the basis of unity away from objective truth to subjective experience.
    2. CCM is at home at the ecumenical gatherings and conferences.

Conclusion

Dan Lucarini, a former CCM musician wisely observed, “CCM is stuck with this stigma of immorality, because the music styles carry with them the baggage of the world’s immorality. It does not matter if you change the lyrics. It does not matter if you change the musicians. It does not matter if you change the record labels. It does not matter if you ask God to sanctify it. Rock music and all its children, and by association CCM, can and will corrupt the morals of everyone who practises it.”6

CCM is really all about syncretism7; an unholy mixing together of the world and Christian things which is strictly forbidden numerous times in God’s Word.

Testimony: N. Currie

References

  1. https://www.christianpost.com/news/rapper-the-game-talks-roman-catholic-backlash-from-jesus-piece- art.html Viewed 13/8/21
  2. J Blanchard, Pop Goes the Gospel, Evangelical Press 1983, p.77.
  3. J Godwin, What’s Wrong with Christian Rock?, p. 62.
  4. I Western, Biblical Philosophy of Music, SBBC Bible College Notes, p. 60.
  5. Oxford Dictionary, https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/vocal_fry, Viewed 13/8/21.
  6. D Lucarini, Why I Left the Contemporary Christian Movement, p. 73.
  7. Syncretism is “the attempted reconciliation or union of different or opposing principles, practices, or parties, as in philosophy or religion.” (Online Dictionary) It is “the amalgamation or attempted amalgamation of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought.” (Oxford Dictionary)