Music

[Bryan]

I am not so certain about Alice Cooper. He is still quite worldly on stage isn't he? Somehow these rumours (if it is indeed a rumour, I've been wrong once before ;) ) get started and Christians are quick to pick them up and slow to let them go.

http://www.jesusjournal.com/jj_testimony/cooper.html

I've read serveral interviews with Cooper in the last couple years. His conversion is legit.

 

[JM]

I am not so certain about Alice Cooper. He is still quite worldly on stage isn't he? Somehow these rumours (if it is indeed a rumour, I've been wrong once before ;) ) get started and Christians are quick to pick them up and slow to let them go.

http://www.jesusjournal.com/jj_testimony/cooper.html

I've read serveral interviews with Cooper in the last couple years. His conversion is legit.

Doesn't Paul talk about putting off the old man...I mean its important to walk a different way once your saved. Is Cooper doing that?

 

[Heidi Mighty Mo]

Heidi Mighty Mo,

I personally don't like it, however, when a Christian group takes a secular song and changes the words - I think it is rather dumb myself.

A couple of hymns were once bar tunes, as you probably know.

Yes, I do know that, thankfully I didn't know them before the words were changed to hymns! :

 

[AVBunyan]

Music
I am against Christian music that sounds like the world only because most of the world’s music is just what it says…of the world and this whole world lieth in wickedness according to John the apostle.

When you get into music it gets touchy – kind of like Bible versions. But this has been a concern of mine for I believe today the Christian music has gone down, down, down. The reason I feel I have the right to comment on music is because I struggle and understand the pull of music being an ex-rock, club musician before I was saved. Music was my “salvation†before God saved me. I feel this has showed me some things about music – not much, but some.

There are so many verses that speak of us being separate from the world:

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

2 Cor 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

2 Cor 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

1 Cor 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Some of the above and more may be stretching a bit I think the principle is there.

A few of points here:

1. Sound Christian doctrine will help govern what kind of music should go on in a worship service and in your personal lives. Your view of God will determine the kind of music you listen to.

2. I agree, Christian music can be light and uplifting but not to the point where emotion and feelings take over. The music should be for the spirit not the body. It should refresh the spirit not move the body.

3. Both the music and lyrics should conform to sound scriptural principles. This idea is ok as long as the lyrics are ok is dangerous thinking. You should be able to take the lyrics out and it should still sound different from the world. You take the words out of many of the songs today and you’ve got a worldly song.

4. In my worthless opinion, the motives of many of the modern writers of Christian music are suspect. The old writers (Wesley, Newton, Watts, etc.) wrote out of a true Christian experience where God was the center of the hymn. Today God-centeredness has been substituted with human emotions and man-centered feelings. The old writers talked of their unworthiness and put their hope in deliverance in God – today it appears to be of man’s great thoughts and praises towards God – sounds good but the emphasis is put back on man and not God. Understand I am not saying all modern writers are guilty of this.

5. When you are hanging upside down after being tortured for your faith then I believe the old hymns (It is Well, How Firm, The Old Rugged cross, etc.) are the ones that will get you through not P.O.D., DC Talk, Southern Gospel, etc.

6. Just because we like it and it sounds good doesn’t make it good to listen to. Let’s get honest here. I happen to like Starship Trooper (Yes), The Closer I Get To You (Roberta Flack), George Benson, Chestnut Mare (The Byrds), old Neil Young stuff, etc. Because I happen to like it doesn’t mean I listen to it. If the above songs come on somewhere I kind of like them (unfortunately) but I DON’T FEEL COMFORTABLE LISTENING TO THEM AND I ASK GOD TO FREE ME FROM THEM!

7. Finally, I firmly believe that our Lord and his apostles would not be singing or playing most modern, contemporary Christian songs today.

Many may not agree with the above points and that is fine. I know the trend is for more contemporary music, even in Independent Baptist Churches. I’m not here to condemn all modern music. I am just saying we have to be real careful. The devil is sharp and I believe he was the first “Choir Director†before he fell so he knows something about music and how to counterfeit Christian music.

Now, I know that was long and probably boring to most. I will not separate over this but I feel it is something to seriously look at today. Before WWII German people were playing March music and Wagner, etc. – they were preparing for war. In the U.S. they were playing Swing music with the Benny Goodman Band, Jazz, etc.! Germany almost whipped us and if it wasn’t for God’s providence they might have! What am I saying, music can affect how you live. The old Christians were more militant than we are today – we are more like Chocolate Soldiers! We, as saints, best be real careful as to what we listen to – for we are in a spiritual battle for our souls, families, churches, and nation!


By the way - does anyone know of sites that speak of ex-rock muscians getting truly saved - I'd love to see if any of the old crowd got truly regenrated!!!! What a work of the grace fo God!!!

 

[Pearly Gator]

By the way - does anyone know of sites that speak of ex-rock muscians getting truly saved - I'd love to see if any of the old crowd got truly regenrated!!!! What a work of the grace fo God!!!

Do a search for;

Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad)
Glen Cambell
Alice Cooper

 

[Heidi Mighty Mo]

All throughout history, Christian music has mirrored that of the world in style. If you like Honeytree, Evie, Sandy Patty, Bill Gather, etc... they sound just like certain secular singers/groups of their time. What about the now popular Celtic style worship? You know what the Celts were into back before St. Patrick came along don't you. So, does that make that style of music, even though it is good worship music, evil?

Another interesting point is that most people who are against Christian rock will find it ok to listen to Classical music. How much of that music is Christian? Don't forget Tchaikovsky was a homosexual. Does that mean it will drag me down spiritually if I listen to it?

I have been in Ballet all my life and I know and love classical music, but there is a lot of Christian rock that I find more uplifting than some classical.

 

[Vic C.]

Don't forget Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night fame and Kerry Livgren of Kansas. Oh and I think Alice Cooper has back-slidden. :-?

Chuck...
“I’ve been singing, performing and recording for over 40 years. I’ve always been grateful for my voice and my life as a musician. I look at it as a gift from God. It has afforded me the opportunity to touch so many people in such a beautiful way. Music has brought me joy, inner peace and comfort that I thrive on. I feel very blessed to be in the game again.â€Â
http://www.negron.com/Bio.htm

Kerry...
"The path that I have chosen now has
Led me to a wall
And with each passing day I feel a little
More like something dear was lost
It rises now before me, a dark and
Silent barrier between All I am, and all that I would ever Want to be ... *
1976, Don Kirshner' Music,: Inc. (BMI)"

Such were the thoughts of Kerry Livgren, lead guitarist/composer of the secular group Kansas. They are his thoughts no longer, he became a Christian a little over a year ago. We contacted Kerry and asked him to explain exactly what had happened, here is our conversation......
http://www.cornerstonemag.com/pages/show_page.asp?438
(note, this article is rather old...but good anyway)

 

[AVBunyan]

Heidi said:

Another interesting point is that most people who are against Christian rock will find it ok to listen to Classical music. How much of that music is Christian? Don't forget Tchaikovsky was a homosexual. Does that mean it will drag me down spiritually if I listen to it?

Excellent point!!! - I also like some Classical but again I have to be real careful - Bach and Handel are safer than most. Some of Wagner seems interesting to me but his music was about a lot of devilish things so I don't have a peace about his music either.

In answer to your question - anything not of God can drag us down spiritually - it may be slow but it still goes down.

Good point Heidi - the devil is sharp isn't he? :wink:

 

[Heidi Mighty Mo]

Thanks, Rebekah! :D

 

[Vic C.]

Thanks, Rebekah! :D

:o RBG, your name is Rebekah? :-? For some reason, I thought you were a male. BTW, how many Rebekahs do we have here? hehe :-? 8)

 

[Heidi Mighty Mo]

OOPS!!! I am blushing and there is no one here to see me! :

I didn't look at that name close - I saw the "Re" and read Rebekah. SOrry!!!!

I feel like such a dope! :

 

[Vic C.]

hehehe.....Case closed!

nm, RBG. :

 

[AVBunyan]

Name change

On my new name:

Funny stuff - I figured that's what happened :D

 

[Heidi Mighty Mo]

Whew! Thanks REDEEMEDBYGRACE!


Everybody note: I got it right that time! :