A TRUE STORY
The concert hall was filled with excited teenagers and young people, anxiously milling about and cracking jokes. Then the hall lights went dim and laser lights began to flash on stage. A bizarrely dressed group of rock musicians went into action, heavy metal guitars blasting out a vicious beat. Eerie green smoke was released and quickly enveloped the stage.I would like to start of my reply by pointing out that this is a second-hand account of this event as portrayed by someone with a avid hatred for Christian rock. and, it is based on a first-hand account by someone with the same emotions. Even if each person keeps strict standards of accuracy, it is easy for the details to get twisted in this sort of thing. Remember the "telephone" game as a little kid?
I would also like to point out some obvious inaccuracies that have already cropped up. He says the group started playing heavy metal guitars. The group in question (as he mentions later) is Mylon LeFevre and Broken Heart. Mylon LeFevre never was a heavy metal band. They were actually pop. Now, maybe he meant the guitars were heavy metal themselves (I guess Wilkerson must have noticed the band members having trouble lugging them around the stage or something) I'm not sure, but if so, he could have chosen a better term.If you want to see a first-hand, and likely, more accurate account, go here.
The audience went wild. Young girls screamed and tore at their hair, while the boys rocked their hips rapidly to and fro, moving to the staccato-like sounds of the band.I have been regularly attending and enjoying concerts of this type (actually most of them were probably harder music) for about five years now. In all that time, I have yet to witness young girls screaming and tearing at their hair. Don't get me wrong, I've seen people getting pretty into the music, and the screaming part is occasionally accurate (especially when there's a "cute guy" in the band.) But, I have yet to see girls tearing out or even at their hair. Now, afterwards my own hair is often sweaty and tangled and combing it out can be a painful experience, but I doubt that's what Marrs is talking about here.
Second, I'm curious as to the exact meaning of "staccato-like." Is Marrs saying that the band sounded like they were playing the notes short and clipped, but actually weren't? If so I'd be interested in learning this technique. Okay, I admit it, I'm having a little fun with Marrs' apparent difficulties with the English language, can you blame me?Suddenly, an older and wiser man, who had come to observe, bolted out of his seat and commenced to shout, "Ichabod, Ichabod (the glory is gone)! Look, there are demons coming up from the smoke!" The man's name: David Wilkerson, highly respected Christian evangelist and author of the best-selling book, THE CROSS AND THE SWITCHBLADE.
Uh-oh! Value judgement! Note that Wilkerson is "older and wiser" than those around him. This may be a true story, but do not forget, this is a true story as told by Texe Marrs. As the Bible says, "It is not only the old who are wise,/not only the aged who understand what is right" (Job 32:9 NIV). If Marrs just wants to tell this story, he should leave little bits like that until his analysis or conclusion.The crowd didn't seem to notice. They were partying and no "stodgy old fundamentalist Christian evangelist" was going to spoil their good time. Their favorite Christian rock group, Mylon LeFevre and Broken Heart, was on stage pounding away and they were in ecstasy.
First of all, lets get some terms straight. A lot of people misuse the word fundamentalist and many of them unknowingly. I myself was surprised when I found out the actual definition of this word. A fundamentalist (at least for a Christian) is simply someone who believes the Bible to be literally true. That's it! By that standard, I am a fundamentalist. So, Marrs can take Wilkerson down off of that particular pedestal.Now, let's talk about the crowd's reaction. I love C. S. Lewis' writing. I would like to model my essays after his non-fiction. But, the man has been dead for several decades, and I have never seen a picture of him. You're probably wondering what the heck this has to do with this concert. The point is this, how many people, even devoted Christians, would recognize David Wilkerson on sight? I know I wouldn't; I have no reason to. So, to most of the people in this crowd this was probably just a conservatively-dressed older man, not generally something you see at a concert like this, but not too strange.
Also important, if the music was as loud as Marrs would like us to believe (which, I admit, it likely was) there is no way anyone standing more than a couple of feet away could hear him clearly, much less make out what he was saying.So, let's examine this incident again. You're at a concert of a band you enjoy when some guy you don't know from Adam suddenly stands up and starts yelling. You hear something about demons and smoke, but you really can't make out what he's trying to say. What would you do? I know what I'd probably do, look at him kind of funny and get back to enjoying the music.
David Wilkerson, shocked and dismayed, left the concert hall, tears in his eyes and a burden on his heart. God had revealed to him the awful truth about "Christian" rock. In fact, there is evidence that Wilkerson has done just that. He recently joined a group (I hate to refer to it as a cult, but that's the only word that comes to mind) who, similar to the "Christian Scientists" (who, strictly speaking, are neither Christian nor scientists (Discuss! Discuss!)) believe that medical treatment is against the will of God and will not allow a member to seek help from a doctor. This is both un- Biblical and dangerous. I heard a sickening story from a person who was once a member of the Christian Scientists of a man who died horribly because of this type of thing, from what was (initially) the easily treatable problem of a burst appendix.If David Wilkerson can be so dangerously wrong in other areas, why should we believe he's right on target in this area? It is quite possible that he's just as wrong about rock music as he is about this group he joined. And it's also possible that he's doing just as grevious damage to the kingdom of God by fighting what God wishes to use.
But how would this truth get out because, through rock music, Satan has already conquered many churches which were once thought to be bastions of Christian example. Many pastors, youth leaders and other church officials are too frightened to oppose the rock invasion, too afraid to make waves. Some are so delighted to see young people "involved" in "Christianity" through rock music they haven't stopped to analyze just what is actually going on.Another interesting side note: You see that phrase,
"at enmity with the world"? Notice how Marrs does not provide a reference there? Can you guess why? Because no reference exists! I used a Bible search program to go through both the Old and New Testament in search of that little phrase (in the KJV, which Marrs was almost certainly using), and it is nowhere in the Bible! Interesting that one of the most well-known verses in the Bible, John 3:16 says the complete opposite, "For God so loved the world." Worse yet, this is not the only instance --- in this very essay — of Marrs misrepresenting the Bible. Not having contacted him about this (for two reasons, first, I don't know how and second, I'd be rather frightened to speak with this guy) I don't know if this is willful or ignorant, but it hardly matters. If he won't be careful in handling the Word of God, why should we trust him with anything else?The #1 "Christian" rock group is Stryper. Take a look at the reverse side of their million seller album, To Hell with the Devil. Notice the Satanic symbols. There is the upside-down crescent moon which to occultists is the sign of the witchcraft goddess, Diana. You'll also discover the tiny splotch of black blood.
Okay, the number one Christian rock group was Stryper, about nine or ten years ago. This just goes to show how horrendously outdated this essay is. You'd think if these people really cared about us "poor, decieved Christian rock fans" they'd bother to stay up to date on the topic, but they don't.Now honestly I admit, compared to Texe Marrs, I must know next to nothing about Satanic symbols. (You know, I wonder why he knows so much about them.) But the moon, I would say, is a fairly neutral symbol. I mean, if Marrs is right here, then Lucky Charms must be Satanic, after all, it contains crescent moons, and they are quite often upside-down. And you thought it was just the sheer amount of sugar that made the cereal unhealthy for your kids. No, Satan himself is destroying their body when they eat this evil food! It's a good thing we have Texe Marrs to warn us of such horrible dangers.
Now, I admit, I haven't examined the cover of this album. I am really not willing to expend the effort to search out a ten or twelve year old album just to refute this guy's claims. But, I have to wonder about this "tiny splotch of black blood." In my experience, blood is usually red. I understand (although I could not personally verify this) that inside of the veins leading back to the heart, oxygen-deprived blood is a bluish-purple. When blood clots, it can become dark red or brown. But I have never in my life seen black blood. In fact, the only reason we have to believe this is supposed to be blood --- is because Marrs told us so. It's just as likely it was meant to be a spot of paint or ink or coffee or just about anything else. Why did Marrs assume it was blood? Because it was convenient to his cause.Not convinced? Ummm, no. Then examine the cover of this decadent group's latest album, In God We Trust. The question is, in which god does Stryper trust? Stryper's records are produced by Enigma Music Company (Enigma means "mystery") which also produces secular Satanic rock albums. The cover of one of Enigma's current top secular albums, titled Poison, features a young man with demonic looking paint on his face. Vilely, he unleashes a nine inch long bloody red tongue that sticks straight out of his mouth.
Okay, if you're going to talk about Stryper, talk about Stryper, not their record company. I wouldn't be surprised if Stryper had a contract which extended from their days as Roxx Regime (if you don't know about that, we'll get to it soon.) If that's true, then they are simply carrying through on a business deal, and to do otherwise would be dishonest.Now, even though this is a completely different topic, let's talk about the cover to that Poison album. First off, that person's tongue cannot be nine inches long simply because that would be longer than the album cover. Although this may seem tangential, it emphasizes the point that Marrs likes to play fast and free with the facts, even the Bible. Now I have a long tongue, if I stretch my tongue all the way out, I look rather like the one guy from KISS. Does this make me Satanic? No! God made me this way. There is nothing inherently Satanic about a person with a long tongue, strange maybe, Satanic no. Besides, please note, this is about Poison's album, it has absolutely nothing to do with Stryper.
Stryper was a secular heavy metal rock band before they and their record company decided to make money off the gullible and deceived Christian community. The members of Stryper were then called Roxx Regime by heavy metal fans.Yes, Stryper was once known as Roxx Regime, and used to be a secular band. But there's one important fact that Marrs fails to mention. The band changed their name and their focus after they got saved. Saying they were trying to take advantage of Christians is like saying Paul became a Christian because he knew that he could achieve fame that way easier than remaining a Pharisee. There is very little more arrogant than judging someone else's motives. Exactly how does Marrs know why they changed? Did he bother to ask them? I somehow doubt it. I guess he is able to see into people's hearts; funny, I thought only God could do that.
Their present costumes consist of black leather garb with yellow accents. One of the members of Stryper sometimes has a large round button or disc protruding from his fly, evidently to signify and bring attention to his private parts. The group is unisex. All have long, feminine-looking hair, in disregard of the Bible's admonition against it, and all wear heavy feminine makeup and rouge.Unfortunately, I have not been able to find pictures of the band, so I cannot comment on their appearance. I would point out though, that God said "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (I Samuel 16:7 NIV). So, why exactly does God care so much about the way Stryper dresses? Oh, and about the hair, please consider another essay of mine What Does the Bible Say About . . .
Stryper's atrocious behavior is not unusual on the tumultuous "Christian" rock scene. At a concert in Los Angeles, the popular group Petra played to a packed audience. A young Bible student who attended told me that after the concert the Holy Spirit convicted him and he began to cry out and sob in repentance. "I'll never go to another Christian rock concert—never!" He promised God, "Lord, I know you don't want me to straddle the fence—you want me far away from the fence on your side of it."I don't know exactly what this paragraph is supposed to say about the "atrocious" behavior of Chrisitian rock musicians, but I'll deal with what it does talk about. I have personally met one Christian, and heard of others, who are reminded of their old life by Christian rock, because of the similar sound it has to secular rock. So, they feel convicted to stay away from it. That doesn't make it off limits for me, though. I became a Christian very young, and don't have a past like that to deal with. And yes, something can be wrong for one person, but not for another. In I Corinthians 8 and Romans 14, Paul talks about eating meat sacrificed to idols, how for a young believer who doesn't understand these matters, it would be wrong, not because there is anything inherently wrong with it, but because they think it's wrong. Paul told the more mature believers to respect this and not eat idol meat in front of one of these people. The same applies here; I would never play my favorite Five Iron Frenzy music around one of those people, because I wouldn't want to cause them to stumble, not because it's wrong.
Tragically, to confuse and deceive young people, Stryper actually distributes tiny Bibles at its concerts.Oh my! Those horrible, evil men! Distributing Bibles at concerts? How dare they? Yes, this is obviously a tool to decieve the masses of people less spiritually discerning than Texe Marrs.
If Stryper was truly the servent of Satan that Marrs wants us to believe, they would never in a million years give out Bibles! Why? Because, as Marrs and many of his associates seem to have forgotten, God made a promise in Isaiah 55:10-11 that:God said his word would not return to him without accomplishing his will. Satan knows that, so he'll do his best to keep you away from the Bible. He certainly wouldn't allow his servants to hand them out!
- As the rain and the snow
- come down from heaven
- and do not return to it
- without watering the earth
- and making it bud and flourish
- so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater
- so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
- It will not return to me empty,
- but will accomplish what I desire
- and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (NIV)
But God is not mocked. Jesus prophesied that at the Last Day, before His throne will come those who will boast of the many things they had done in His name. Then those who have attempted to use God for commercial gain and for vain glory will hear Jesus pronounce this momentous and shattering judgment: "Depart from me ye workers of iniquity. I never knew you."
Yes, he will say that (or the equivilant in the language of heaven, whatever that may be) to those who attempted to make money off of Christianity. I firmly believe he will also be saying that to those who attempted to use Christianity (or their twisted version of it) to control others for the purpose of soothing their own egos.Another band I have never heard of. To any critics of Christian rock out there who happen to be reading this, if you want us to listen, please make at least a passing effort to be up-to-date. Since I've never heard of this band, I can't say a whole lot about them. If the lead singer really does dress this way, there is no excuse for it. But, please remember, standards of modesty differ, to Marrs, revealing might mean anything above the knee, I don't know.
Rez, which features a mother goddess type woman with serpentlike stringy hair standing on a Satanic circle on one of their albums; and Daniel Band, whose logo is a Luciferic bolt of lightning inside a Satanic circle. There's also the offensive thrasher group, Vengeance, whose lead song is "Human Sacrifice"; and Tempest, whose newest album pictures a Satanic 6-pointed star (the hexagram) and lightning bolt on its jacket cover and features such unholy lyrics as these: "When you hear our music being played/Do you like the sound of my scream?"Okay, on the cover of Rez's album, is it a mother goddess, or a
"mother goddess type woman"? And what exactly is a "mother goddess type woman"? That term is more than a little vague, oh well. You know, I was not aware that a circle is a Satanic symbol. Did any of you know that? I guess I'd better get rid of the "Satanic" computer I'm using, because the buttons on the front are circles. I was also unaware that lightning bolts are Satanic. Doesn't God demand of Job in Job 38:24 where the lightning bolts are stored? I always thought God was saying "I control all this, not you." But, apparently Satan controls the lightning and God was hoping to find out from Job where it's kept so he could get it. At least, if Texe Marrs is right that's the only interpretation I can think of.I haven't heard of a band Vengeance, but I have heard of Vengeance Rising. This might be the group Marrs is talking about, I'm not sure. The song title, "Human Sacrifice" was probably talking about the crucifixion, which was, literally, a human sacrifice. Judging a song by the title is an incredibly shallow practice. According to those standards, Dante's Inferno must be satanic, because the title is about hell.
I was also unaware that a six-pointed star is a satanic symbol. I know that an inverted five-pointed star (a pentagram) is satanic. The only six-pointed star I can think of with well-known symbolic meaning is the Star of David, which certainly isn't a satanic symbol.I'm also unclear on what is so unholy about those lyrics. They don't blaspheme God or contradict the Bible. Some people may consider them unpleasant, but, as Marrs and his fellow Christian rock critics seem to be unaware, there is a difference between unpleasant and unholy.
Consider White Cross, which admittedly uses backmasking in its productions;
I don't seem to recall where in the Bible it says "thou shalt not backmask." Perhaps this command is in Marrs' version, which in at least two other places differs from any other Bible I've ever seen.Allies, whose album entitled "Virtues" favorably depicts on its cover a red Soviet-type flag composed of a Satanic triangle within a circle;
Again, even though I've looked, I have not been able to find this album cover. I am curious, however as to exactly what a "Soviet-type flag" is. If it's a Soviet flag, then it's a Soviet flag. If it's not a Soviet flag, then it isn't. How is a flag "Soviet type"? Oh, and we have another satanic symbol here, a triangle. I wonder if the circle it's in is satanic, too.Why don't I list what symbols Marrs defines as satanic just so we can be clear on exactly what is and isn't satanic. So far circles, lightning bolts, the star of David and triangles are satanic according to Marrs. You know, if he threw squares or rectangles in there, we could have big trouble. I mean, we wouldn't have anything left to draw!
and Saint, whose producer, Morada, is a New Age-oriented recording company with a pyramid logo. Saint offers our young people such tunes as "Legions of the Dead," "Abyss," and "Vicars of Fate."Again, he's judging just by the title. I cannot imagine what useful information you can expect to get just by hearing the title of a song. But, to do my best here, I'll try to guess what these titles might mean (which is more than Marrs bothers to do). "Legions of the Dead" is quite possibly about the fact that we are surrounded every day by people who are spiritually dead without Christ. "Abyss" might be about a person's struggle with depression.
There's also Bloodgood, whose vocal singer, Les Carlsen, parades around the stage wearing an imposing black costume with red feathers and red gloves.That costume doesn't really seem particularly imposing to me. Silly maybe, imposing no. Was Marrs frightened by Big Bird as a kid?
Bloodgood aggressively belts out such amplified tunes as "Eat the Flesh," "Vagrant People," "Alone in Suicide," and "Self-Destruction."Uh-oh, they're not only playing evil music, they're playing amplified evil Music. If a small band of any type, Southern Gospel, folk, rock, whatever is going to play in front of a large group of people, they're going to need amplifiers.
How many times do I have to say it? You can't judge a song strictly by its title. Think about it, "Old Rugged Cross" if you go strictly by the title, it must be about a beat up instrument of execution by torture. "Eat the Flesh" is probably about communion, where we eat the broken body and drink the spilled blood of Christ. That's the same kind of thing that got people all worked up against Jesus in John 6. "Alone in Suicide" could just as easily be condemning suicide as condoning it.Its record company, Frontline, uses for its logo two Satanic triangles colored aqua, the color of the Age of Aquarius, the astrological water bearer. The cover of Bloodgood's "Detonation" album depicts a monstrous, fiery sphinx-like image with a volcano-like eruption spewing from its head and a guitar in its distorted hands.
The return of the satanic triangles! You know, I must be a satanist, 'cause aqua is my favorite color. This is ridiculous, he makes a jump from a color to a symbol for no reason at all. Oh and by the way, the constellation Aquarius is just that, a constellation; if its association with astrology makes it satanic then every single star in the sky is satanic. There is no logical connection at all.I've seen the cover of that album, and there's nothing evil about it. There is a big difference between strange or unpleasant and evil.
I further uncovered the startling fact that, from his prison cell, this young man was communicating with young girls who had written to him because they saw him on television and "thought he was handsome." He masterfully instructed two young girls to participate in a local teen Satanism group and to read Anton LaVey's THE SATANIC BIBLE.
So what does this have to do with "Christian" rock? Simply this: the convict made it clear to his youthful new prospects that there was only one rule they must obey regarding music: They could listen only to "Christian" rock!!You know, this is a very interesting story. I wish I could see the details for myself. But I can't, because Marrs does not give us any of the necessary details to look this up for ourselves. There are no names, places or even dates. You'd think with convincing evidence like this, he'd want to back it up as strongly as possible. So why doesn't he give us any of this information? Think about that.
"Christian Rock" is a plague in our midst. God help the evangelist, pastor, deacon, or other church leader responsible for bringing this abomination before God's people and offering it up as a sacrifice to the Lord. Surely, the blood of our youth will be on the hands of those who, by so doing, aid Satan.
Rock music cannot be redeemed, sanctified, and made useful for the Church. Its roots are evil, its father is the devil himself. Rock's rhythm and beat induce rebellion and anger in the breasts of young people. Satan is adept at making surface and temporary changes in a youth's life so that parents will believe the lie that "Christian" rock is different from other rock music.What reason is Marrs giving us to believe him here? None but his own rambling. Why can't rock music be useful to God? Because he said so! I personally need more reason than that.
He says Satan often makes temporary improvements in a person's life to decieve those around him. Where is his biblical evidence? After all, if Satan is so good at this, he must have been doing it for a long time. If this is such an important tactic of Satan's, why doesn't God inform us of it in the Bible?Don't fall for this lie. The ultimate result is that the young person (or the adult!) who listens often to "Christian" rock will eventually turn bad. Rock is rock. Period. The whole purpose of church music is to honor the name of Jesus Christ. Rock cannot possibly do so, for it honors its author, the devil, alone.
You know, I think he may be right. Mars Hill, a youth ministry nearby, bases much of its outreach on Christian rock concerts. So far, I've seen teens get off of drugs, sacrifice their time to help younger kids in the Kids' Club, go on mission trips all over the world, collect coats for the homeless and tons of other things. Boy, Satan sure is getting the victory in that place! (In case you didn't catch it, that was sarcastic.)Satan has found a magnificently effective method to bring new souls into his foul kingdom. Take your basic Satanic rock band, dress it up with a few "Christian" ornaments, and embellish it with rhythm, sound and fury. This is a recipe for disaster...and for death.
Remember, those "'Christian' ornaments," include quoting scripture. Yes, I know that Satan quoted scripture in his temptation of Jesus, but that was only a single sentence, not whole passages of Scripture like in many Christian rock songs. If you want to see a few examples of that, check out What's Christian Rock Saying?I attended the August 9 program of the week-long, annual Christian music extravaganza called "Praise in the Rockies" in Estes Park.
From the perspective of a senior citizen who considers himself to be a mature, "spirit-filled" Christian, the scene in the auditorium of the YMCA Campground was as close to Babylon as I want to get.The artificially produced smoke, the flashing lights and gyrating accompanists created an atmosphere like unto many nightclubs I have frequented in the past. The music, supposedly "Christian," so glorified the performer and masked the Savior that I could only say, "God have mercy on them."
So, Babylon is going to be a smoke and lights show, huh? I wonder what the Bible has to say about that.Babylon is described in Revelation 17-18 (I'm assuming this person is referring to the prophetic Babylon and not the ancient empire). There, Babylon is described as "Mother of Prostitutes" (Revelation 17:5) wearing "fine linen, purple and scarlet" (Revelation 18:16) where "the merchents of the earth grew rich/from her excessive luxuries" (Revelation 18:3). Babylon thrived on "cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble; cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and bodies and souls of men" (Revelation 18:12-13). (That's funny, I don't see strobe lights or smoke machines listed in there.) This seems more related to greed and self-interest than with anything done on stage. Babylon is the city where anything from fine clothing to a woman's body can be bought and sold.
From this description it sounds like a suited Wall Street businessman likely has more in common with Babylon than a rock musician, or any other kind of artist. The only way I can see fitting musicians into this at all is that in 18:22 it says, "the music of harpists and musicians, flute players and trumpeters will never be heard in you again," but first, those instruments aren't commonly used in rock music anyway, and second, those same instruments are mentioned in Psalm 150 as praising the Lord, so that can't reasonably be taken as a condemnation of them anyway.Many in the audience were parents with small or teenage children. I wondered what they thought as they heard and saw that which they had tried to protect them from in their homes.
What I observed there, in that beautiful setting in the Colorado Rockies, maybe is best described as Christian entertainment at its best and Christianity at its worst.Fellow believers, if that is Christianity, we are in big trouble. The Scriptures admonish us to be not conformed to the world system, but to be transformed.
Jesus told His listeners, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." A personal observation during my 31 years as a born-again Christian: Quite often, if a sinner is "saved" through music, he will seek to be fed by music. If he is saved by hearing the unadulterated Word of God, he will be satisfied to be fed by that Word.You know, for a while, I was mainly fed by Christian rock music. Of course, I was only 12 or 13 at the time and not too likely to engage in deep Bible studies anyway. Now however, I read my Bible just about every day and have over 400 verses memorized and in review. This is probably as much, if not more, Bible knowledge as this person or Texe Marrs possess. And all the while enjoying Christian rock.
Oh, and note those quotes around the word saved. The implication: if you got saved at a Christian rock concert, you're not really saved. You'd better head to the nearest ultra-conservative church that teaches that rock music is evil and get your sorry soul saved. You may have said with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believed in your heart that God raised him from the dead, but if it happened at a rock concert, sorry, it doesn't count.Now, why doesn't Marrs give us examples? If this as common as he wants us to believe, it should be easy. But he lists the lyrics to not one song. Again, all we have to go on is his word. Now, if you want to see the lyrics to a few songs that clearly glorify God, go here. A fair trial requires evidence, not just hearsay.
I have heard several Christian rock songs that talk about death. But most of them are asking the question "do you know what's going to happen to you after you die?" If Christian's aren't allowed to talk about death, then we might as well stop witnessing, because there's nothing we can say.Another fact that stands out is that while rock and CCM entertainers proclaim Jesus and Christianity, for the most part their lifestyles and language do not bear witness that they are born again Christians. Vulgarity and profanity among these young men and women is commonplace. The tongue is a revealer of character, and it is their unbridled, ungodly tongue that exposes the separation of these entertainers from Christ.
Yak yak yak. More talk with no facts.One group that is widely known for its filthiness is The Call. In one issue of Harvest Rock Syndicate, a "Christian" rock magazine sold in some Christian and Bible bookstores, the interviewed leader of The Call spouted filthy cuss words as if they were normal to Christians. Incredibly, in that same interview, this same individual insisted he and the other members of the group were true-blue Christians. To prove it, he said they had printed up and signed The Apostles Creed and sent a copy to every Christian radio station in America.
What interview? Please, give us details, where can we look this up?There is a difference between taking the Lord's name in vain and swearing. While the one is definitely a sin, the other is rude, and perhaps unbecoming to a Christian, but the Bible doesn't say it's sin. Standards of this kind vary; some people don't like the word suck when used in its slang, non-literal sense, I personally don't mind it.
Also, isn't Marrs contradicting himself here? Earlier he said that the bands were careful to talk about God in their interviews because "they know their comments will be printed for all to see" (as if their lyrics aren't available for everyone to see and hear.) Now, if they're careful to mention God in their interviews, wouldn't they be careful not to swear. Which is it Marrs?Given the above facts, it should come as no surprise to us that Michael Been, the singer/songwriter of The Call and self-professed follower of Christ, played a featured supporting role as the Apostle John in the horribly blasphemous movie, The Last Temptation of Christ.
Nearly every Christian fundamentalist leader in America opposed this movie, from James Dobson and Marlin Maddoux to D. James Kennedy, Hal Lindsey, and Ted Baehr. But Michael Been, leader of a "Christian" rock group, enthusiastically played the role of John in The Last Temptation of Christ!Been is not alone among rockers and CCM'ers in his defiance of the real Jesus Christ. Chris Willman, a contributing editor of CCM magazine, the top publication in this poisonous music field, not only admitted he went to see the movie, but actually praised and applauded the movie. According to Willman, though the movie does not agree with "orthodox theology," it still has great value:
We caught the film at a preview screening at Universal and felt that...its the first thing that has forced the average American Joe to think about who Jesus really was and is... (CCM, Sep. 88, p.14).Since the movie in question portrays Jesus as a fornicator and as more man than deity, Willman's comments in CCM take on bizarre dimensions. Willman not only endorsed the movie but he spitefully took a stab at Bible-believing fundamentalists in the process, snidely remarking that The Last Temptation of Christ is "the movie fundamentalists love to hate."
I haven't seen this movie, so I can't say anything about this part one way or the other.When exposed for their vulgarity, "Christian" rock and CCM stars and their record companies swiftly go into action to control the damage. After Steve Camp let out a filthy curse word during an interview, his ministry covered up by sending out an "apology" to anyone who wrote and complained. Soon the furor died down.
Amy Grant, the premier superstar and reigning queen of the rock and CCM world, also is given to profanity and even crude sexual language. "That's the way she is," goes the official explanation of her record company, "she's very frank."Jesus was frank, too, but he never used vulgarity and profanity.
I would love to see Marrs present a case in a criminal court. He'd talk on for hours, but never get around to presenting a single piece of evidence. You'd think if this problem were as common as he claims, he could give examples, but he doesn't. I'm a subscriber to 7ball magazine. I've got about ten or twelve issues with the rest of my magazines in my room. Never in any one of those have I seen a swear word, neither crude language nor taking God's name in vain. I wonder where all this profanity is.