| Our 2 cents on CCM |
| What it comes down to, the problem we have with this so called genre of "Christian" contemporary music, is a slap in the face to true Christians. It seems that anyone can use the label "Christian" now-a-days, and thousands of so-called Christians come running. Is it that Christians in this era have no Biblical foundations? Are they just going on what feels good, and sounds good, does it give me an emotional high? So, anything labeled Christian must be good then, right? It seems that if anyone even mentions the name of Jesus, or heaven or anything remotely related to Christ, immediately, our Christian brothers and sisters are labeling them Christian, and taking to heart everything that these Artists say. And you cannot deny this fact, there are bands out there that don't even LIKE to be called Christian, yet Christians are the ones holding them up on a pedestal. Our problem is the messages these bands are sending out, and their core beliefs. Now we have been looking through these "Christian" rock bands for the past couple of weeks, going directly to their homepages, and looking them up, down and sideways til we're blue in the face, and there is RARELY a reference to Jesus Christ, now being born-again ourselves, if we had a band, that would be the VERY FIRST thing you'd see when coming to our homepage, worshiping and glorifying Christ! and yet visiting these sites, all we see are ads for CDs, T-shirts, merchandise, etc. NO WHERE is there a "what we believe" or "doctrinal statment" or "statement of faith" to be found. So ok, what can we find? The Lyrics, so we must judge them by that, since we cannot find anything else pertaining to God. It is pretty confusing when reading the lyrics, let me tell you, they send more crossed and confused messages, and yet we're supposed to be glorifiying our Lord, when they don't even have their beliefs straight!!! What it comes down to is, Christianity sells. 1 Tim 6:10a "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil." It appears that with every "Christian" rock group, there is the anti-type to a secular band. Ever heard of Toby Mac?? HMM sounds kinda like Fred Durst who is the lead singer of Limp Bizkit. Reading an interview with Toby Mac he said, that Limp Bizkit was a great influence on his music. Ok, So we have the King of Hate, being an influence to a "Christian" singer. What does the Bible say about such things? Matthew 7:15- 20 - entitled "You Will Know Them By Their Fruits" "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. " In other words, how can these bands say they are influenced by: Limp Bizkit, Bob Marley, Black Sabbath, Iron Magma, Kiss, Savatage, Riot, Ted Nugent, Slayer, Nazareth, The Beatles, Metallica, Stryper, David Bowie, Queensryche, Terry Tailor, Testament, U2, Alice in Chains, Pantera, Creed, Bon Jovi, ETC ETC ETC! How then can bad fruits be an influence, and produce good fruits? IT CAN'T! Not everyone that proclaims to be saved, is actually saved! Again what does the Bible say?! Matthew 7: 21 - 23 entitled - I Never Knew You! "Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord, ' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name, and then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!" Reading the lyrics of one band, first they proclaim that you must choose God, and then in another part they say that God has hardened some peoples hearts so they cannot choose, and yet again, they have a song entitled "white knuckling the rosary" are they Christian? or Catholic? Well, what about the Bible verses that they put under every song? Looking up the verses, I do not see any corelation to the lyrics. They are shooting fish in a barrel. Mark 7 :20 - 23 entitled - Defilement Comes From Within! "And He said, What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishnesss. All these evil things come from within and defile a man." 2 Timothy 2:22 "Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord, out of a pure heart." Romans 12: 1 - 2 - entitled Christians should Lead Transformed Lives "I beseech you therefore, brethern, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and accpetable and perfect will of God." I John 2:15 - 16 - entitled Do Not Love the World "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world-- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-- is not of the Father but is of the world." In Conclusion: That is why we do not believe in this so called "Christian Contemporary Music". If you want to listen to secular, than listen to secular, but don't go labeling it "Christian". Do the research, find out what they believe, are they actually glorifying Christ? Remember, 1 Cor. 14:33 "For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the Saints." You who claim to be Christians, ACT LIKE IT! |
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