The California Collection/TheCaliforniaCollection.cdr/his094/rock_4.arj/ROCK-4.TXT

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 C H R I S T I A N    R O C K - N - R O L L

   Just as there is no such thing as a Christian porno shop, (though
I have heard some claim such), there is no such thing as Christian
Rock-N- Roll.  The two words cannot mix. No more than God can have
any fellowship with darkness.

   There is such a thing as Holy music unto the Lord!  And though it
may have drums and guitars in the music, it's style and spiritual
quality will not resemble the world.  You will not find the smoke,
lights, dress and loudness of the music to be anything like the
world.  For Christians are a holy separate people unto the Lord.

   * * * * AMY GRANT * * * *

   But we go even deeper than that in our judgement of Christian rock
music.  For the music can be mellow and sweet to the ears, but come
straight from the pit of hell.  One example is the music of Any
Grant.  She has sold her royal birthright for the pleasures and
praise of this world.  And we have told her and her pastor so.

   As most will know that Any Grant's stage symbol is a leopard
jacket.  This is prophetic!  God is showing to all discerning
Christians what her true nature is.

   "Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spot?
Neither can you do good who are accustomed  to doing evil." -Jeremiah
13:23

   What must be judged here is not just the music's style but the
heart that sings it.  Noting also,  that if the heart is right, the
style will be also. For if a tree is good, so is it's fruit.

   * * * ATTRACTING THE WORLD * * *

   So many of you clamor that they are attracting people to Jesus by
using the world's music.  By becoming a Roman to the Romans.  What
wicked reasoning that is! What mis-use of scripture! Shall our church
sell Coors on the church parking lot to attract the non-believers?
Shall our Christian sisters dress like the world in order to pull in
the worldly?

   It is of the highest darkness to use such reasoning.  Jesus said,
"be careful that the light within you is not darkness"!  Peter says
that Christians who use worldliness to attract people to Jesus are of
the highest caliber of false prophets!

   "...Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty,
boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful
human nature they entice people who are just escaping from those who
live in error.  They  promise them freedom..." -2 Peter 2:17-19

   * * * * CHOICE * * * *

   You have a choice.  To hunger and thirst after righteousness.  To
avoid all music that is unholy.  To refuse to buy records of those
who have sold out to the world.  To call others not to go their
concerts. Or to compromise.

   It is our prayer that you will choose to listen to those who are
faithful in the land.  To those that show they love the Lord.  And if
there be not much music you can buy or listen to, then so be it.
Make "music in your heart" to the Lord instead!  He will be more
pleased with that, then the supporting of those who copy the world in
dress, hair and music.  God does not support hypocrisy, and neither
should you.

   "My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell
with me; he whose walk is blameless will minister to me. No one who
practices deceit will dwell in  my house..." -Psalm 101:6-7

   Only as we stand and speak up for what is holy in the Lord will
the steady downward trend toward the pit of hellish activity be
stopped.  Write KLTT and other stations that support such utterly
wicked groups as STRYPER.  Call your brothers and sisters to avoid
such concerts as Steve Camp,  Mylon LaFevor and Steve Taylor etc.
etc.. Put away the Any Grant albums.  "Touch no unclean thing" and
God will receive you.  Let the faithful be the only ones who minister
to you - FORGET HOW GOOD THEIR WORDS ARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's
what makes them so very wicked in God's sight.

   -Sysops Sound Doctrine BBS


   DRIVEN TO DARKNESS! BY DAVID WILKERSON (8-3-1987)

   "'To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to
this word, it is because there  is no light in them...And they shall
look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness; and  they shall
be driven to darkness.' -Isaiah 8:20- 22

   Last night I attended a Christian music festival.  I will never
forget what I saw, and can truly say was a heartbreaking experience.
Since leaving the concert I have been weeping for hours, groaning in
the Spirit, feeling the wrath of a holy God burning against what I
saw.

   I went to the festival because the 'star performer' featured last
night had been in my office just hours before, crying, telling me how
much he loved Jesus, how sincere he was, how he wanted to learn more
about holiness.  He told me my written messages convicted him.  His
words sounded right-his attitude seemed humble.  At his request I
went to hear him and his group because he assured me I would not be
offended.

   My heart is now so set on the massive human need in New York City,
and my great concerns now have to do with rescuing lost souls from
drugs,  alcohol and demon possession.  I DID NOT WANT TO GET INVOLVED
ANYMORE IN THE MATTER OF ROCK AND ROLL, HEAVY METAL, AND PUNK MUSIC
IN THE CHURCH. I felt I had said enough on the subject and I told the
musician so when he sat in my office. We have prayed together and I
hugged him when he left my office.

   I went last night with an open heart, full of love and compassions
- for him, for all Christian musicians, and especially for the 3,000
or so young people attending the festival.  I sat through two
devotional-type songs, then I sat attentively listening as the
musician testified about what he said Christ had done in his life. No
preacher anywhere could have spoken with more conviction and
sincerity-the words were right. He spoke of separation, of being
obedient to Jesus, of winning souls, of prayer, of holy matrimony [he
was married], of living a holy life.  I prayed as he spoke, 'Dear
Lord, maybe I misjudged this musician and his hard rock group. Maybe
you ARE doing something new in using the music the ungodly prefer, to
win them-to get their attention, to attract them so they can be
ministered to.  Lord, I am willing to rejoice in hearing You
preached, in any manner, from any group-if You are present in it-if
your Holy Spirit is blessing it.

   I was honestly questioning if my writings about the MUSIC OF
DEVILS in God's house were just old-fashioned prejudices or simply my
distaste for rock music.  Was it just so much fuss about nothing?
Yet something was not quite right.  There was an inner tug at my
heart making me ill at ease.  I reasoned, 'If Satan is camouflaged in
this somehow, if there is leaven of evil-it will be revealed.  Satan
always  reveals himself in one way or another.'

   Suddenly the singer yelled in the microphone,  'JESUS IS COMING -
HE IS GOING TO CRACK THE SKIES  - GET READY!' The song was entitled,
'CRACK THE SKIES'.  Suddenly smoke was billowing out of smoke
machines, the pounding beat was turned up to a frenzied pitch, eerie
lights began flashing, the musicians stood like phantoms rising from
a murky swamp.  It was ghostly, weird, strange-and the crowd went
wild-they seemed to love it.  At the same festival, a wild spiked
hair group had entertained-with painted faces, prancing about like
homosexual peacocks.

   At first, I couldn't believe what I was seeing on stage.  I said
out loud, 'This can't be happening at a Christian festival-they can't
do this to my Jesus!  These people can't be this blind-the leaders of
this youth ministry can't be so undiscerning!  Oh God-what has
happened to your church that its leaders, it people, can't see the
evil of this abomination?

   Suddenly I was on the ground, on my back, weeping and sobbing, and
groaning in t he Spirit. I sat up and took another look at the stage.
 I WAS HORRIFIED BY WHAT I SAY IN THE SPIRIT.  I SAW DEMONIC IMAGES
RISING FROM THE THAT STAGE!  I HEARD SATAN LAUGHING!  Laughing at all
the blind parents-the blind shepherds-the blind youth-the backslidden
church!  It was an overt manifestation of Satan-worse than anything
I've ever seen on the streets of New York.

   I stood to my feet, literally shaking with the fear of
God-consumed with a sense of His holy wrath against such wickedness.
I rushed into the crowd crying at the top of my voice-ICHABOD!  {The
glory of the Lord has departed!} ICHABOD!  I ran through the crowd,
pushing aside chairs, weeping, shouting at the top of my voice,
'Ichabod-this is satanic!  Stop! God is grieved!' I was mostly
ignored and I think most thought I was a crazy lunatic.  I doubt
anybody knew who I was-the musicians could not hear me, and the crowd
was too tight to allow me near the stage.  I wanted to get to a
microphone and cry like an Elijah- 'THIS IS VOMIT ON THE TABLE OF THE
LORD!  WHO ARE YOUR TEACHERS, THAT YOU COULD BE SO BLIND, SO
WORLDLY, SO DECEIVED!?  WHAT KIND OF BLASPHEMY IS  THIS?'

   I will not shut up this matter!  I will not be silent while
multitudes of our Christian youth are being deceived by
smooth-talking wolves in sheep's clothing!  True love demands that
the truth be told.

   What hurt my spirit the most, and what is so hard for me to
understand, is that this particular group, and many others, attend
Pentecostal churches.  The musician I refer to told me he gave up
drugs, drinking, evil sex and rock and roll performing when he got
saved.  He cut his long, feminine hair, he quit dressing like an
exhibitionist and began to change all his ways.  It was a pastor who
encouraged him to 'quit looking so square and use rock and roll to
reach the kids'.  A teacher, in his sixties, travels on occasion with
them, teaching them and encouraging them in their evil methods.
According to their teacher, rock and roll is going to be the 'normal
music in all Pentecostal and evangelical churches'.

   It's now the middle of the night and I can't sleep!  I can't stop
weeping inside.  I am shut in with God in my study diligently asking
Him to show me what is happening, because hours ago I saw a few
thousand young Christians, with uplifted hands, thinking it was
Jesus, when it was most assuredly the devil.  HAS THE CHURCH-OR WHAT
MAN CALLS THE CHURCH-SO BACKSLIDDEN THAT THERE IS NO MORE DISCERNMENT
WHATSOEVER?  Has God given up on some who are set on bringing
devilish practices into the realm of worship?

   NOW I WONDER-'WHO DARES TEACH SUCH JESUS-a Jesus who winks at
deception?  How blatantly they are mislearning Jesus Christ!  WHAT
JESUS ARE  THEY PREACHING?'

'But Ye Have Not So Learned Christ' [Ephesians 4:20]

   That is what Paul said in his letter to the Ephesians.  He was
warning them not to walk as some do 'in the vanity [pride] of their
mind' (Ephesians 4:17).  He warned of those learned Christ in a
perverted way, because their understanding was darkened.  They were
'cut off from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them,
because of the blindness of their heart' (Ephesians 4:18).

   Some teacher, some shepherd, had MISTAUGHT JESUS CHRIST to them.
The Christ they learned was not the Christ of God, the Lord of
holiness, the master of purity.  While they speak so sweetly of
Jesus, and weep when they mention the name, and tell of a hunger to
walk in the ways of Christ-Paul said of them, they 'ARE PAST FEELING
AND HAVE GIVEN THEMSELVES OVER UTNO LASCIVIOUSNESS [lustfulness], TO
WORK ALL UNCLEANNESS WITH GREEDINESS' [Ephesians 4:19].

   That is what I saw last night at the music festival-a group of
musicians who were pied pipers, leading many young people right into
the arms of Satan with their smooth words about Jesus, about
celebrating forgiveness-then with an energy of flesh and carnal
greediness hard to fathom-they put their stamp of approval on
paganism right out of the devil's treasury.  They were saying, by
their music and their worldly, ghastly performance-that Jesus and the
garbage of this world are compatible.  They wore two masks- one of
sincere followers of Christ, the other of performing clowns.  With
their faces lifted up to God, they cursed Him by their blasphemous
mockery.  Isaiah prophesied of such, '...they shall curse their king
and their God, and look upward' [Isaiah 8:21].  What they preach and
practice are two different gospels.

   They are deceived, and consequently they are deceivers themselves.
 They have MISLEARNED CHRIST!  They have been duped, manipulated and
cheated!  They should have had a pastor or teacher with enough Holy
Ghost discernment, with enough devotion to the true and holy Lord-to
WARN THEM TO SHOW THEM that God does not put up with holding on to
the old man and the old carnal ways.  Why didn't their shepherds
discern that these boys were walking in ignorance and spiritual
blindness, not understanding the true demands of Christ?  Why wasn't
their greed dealt with-not so much for money and fame, but a greed
that would not let go of the very thing that once led them into drugs
and emptiness.  It's all coming out now-that these groups are falling
on all sides, going back to the secular crowd, back to cocaine, back
to groupies-playing the part of hypocrites and gospel phonies.  Their
shepherds are so easily conned, because they are blind in every way.
Paul said it right, 'For it is a shame even to speak of those things
which are done of them in secret.' [Ephesians 5:12].  They very music
they perform drives them back to darkness.

   Now-it's probably too late!  They have rejected the reproof of
prophets and watchmen who really preach the truth!  They are like
those Paul warns about, who have become so lost in spiritual
ignorance and blindness, they are confirmed in their worldly ways!
They are so blind they believe they are honoring Christ and blessing
multitudes of youth the church 'can't reach'.

   Sin-Soft Preachers Are Driving This Generation Into Darkness

    '...they shall be driven to darkness...' [Isaiah 8:22]

   I blame their smooth talking, sin-soft shepherds.  Those same
shepherds must one day stand before Christ's judgement seat and
answer- not only for the musicians under their care-but for all the
Christian young people they in turn have hurt and destroyed.  Without
flinching, I declare that cowardly ministers, those who want to be
loved and honored rather than rejected for preaching truth, are
driving this generation into deep spiritual darkness.

   We would not be facing a generation of backslidden,
pleasure-loving, worldly minded youth in our churches-youth who do
not even know the commandments of a holy Christ-IF WE HAD MORE HOLY
BOLD PREACHERS AND EVANGELISTS WHO COULD TEACH AND PREACH THE TRUTH
OF CHRIST WITH PURITY AND AUTHORITY.

   I am not accusing all preachers and teachers- thank God for the
few who still do not cower to the crowd or compromise for the sake of
numbers and success.  Maybe the youth won't listen to those who cry
out against their lusting after the world-but when the judgements
accelerate-they will turn to the preachers of holiness for a sure
word from God.

   There is filth in Zion, and strangers have been exalted in the
house of God-by blind,  compromised, undiscerning Christian leaders.
They are calling evil good, and the counsel of a righteous God is
lightly esteemed.  Hearts are hardening, ears are closing, eyes are
being shut- because pride and flesh and ungodly entertainment is
grieving the Holy Spirit right out of His temple.

    Isaiah warned, '...their root shall be  rottenness, ...because
they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the
word of the Holy One of Israel.  Therefore is the anger  of the Lord
kindled against his people...' [Isaiah 5:24-25].

   Hell must be ecstatic at the spectacle of ministers not just
abdicating to the immoral music standards of the young-but actually
promoting.  Who brings these worldly bent groups into the church for
concerts?  Who encourages the youth to embrace the music of devils?
Who ridicules evangelists and prophets and watchmen who cry out
against it?  Who puts it on radio,  TV.  and who promotes the
concerts and festivals that are now degenerating into SATANIC
SHOWCASES? It is the pastors, youth ministers, Christian radio and
TV.  station owners and managers. They will all live to see the
wicked harvest of their soft gospel and compromise-as their very own
children fall away to the spirit of this age.

   Webster's Twentieth Century Dictionary defines whoredom as 'the
desertion of the worship of God for the worship of idolatry'.  A
whoremonger is ONE WHO PROCURES OR PROMOTES IT.  Any spiritual leader
who procures or promotes this idolatrous desertion of true worship is
truly a WHOREMONGER. And Paul state emphatically, 'No whoremonger,
nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hat any
inheritance in he kingdom of  Christ of God.' [Ephesians 5:5]

   Young people-don't listen to the whoremongers- listen instead to
the apostle Paul-who warned,  'Let no man [even preachers] deceive
you with vain [empty] words; for because of these things cometh the
wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.  BE YE NOT THEREFORE
PARTAKERS WITH THEM' {Ephesians 5:6-6}

Reprove Them!

   'And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but
rather REPROVE THEM' [Eph.  5:11]

   All spiritual work that is tainted with the least bit of darkness,
God calls UNFRUITFUL WORKS!  This refutes the big lie of the devil
being promoted by the pushers of the 'new wave' music, which argues,
'But it can't be of the devil.  Look at all the kids getting saved!
Listen to their wonderful testimonies.  They really reach the
youth-many are getting saved. They speak in a way the kids
understand-they  glorify Christ in their speech.'

   God never has judged a work by the results. No one is more
successful in holding converts than the Muslims.  No church is richer
than the Vatican.  The Jehovah Witnesses claim to be winning
multitudes to Christ.

   God judges everything by LIGHT!  That means,  by how godly, how
Christ-like-by how clear, how pure, how transparent it is.  He
repudiates and spits out of His mouth all that has even been part
dark.  John saw the Holy City descending out of the heaven from God,
having the glory of God. That is a holy people, a bride adorned and
prepared for the Bridegroom.  Its main characteristic is this: 'Her
light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone,
clear as crystal' [Revelation 21:11].

   Whatever is of God is CLEAR AS CRYSTAL!  It is holiness so pure,
it is translucent as pure jasper stone.  Those who are numbered in
this holy Zion, this New Jerusalem coming down from God-have all
STEPPED OUT INTO THE LIGHT!  There is no darkness in them at all-they
have been translated into His light!  They walk in the light-they
hate darkness-they reprove it wherever it appears.  The enemy has
come into religious circles to destroy what is pure and clear by
introducing a pagan element that creates a shadow or film.  If Satan
can inject the slightest degree of error, or evil leaven, he knows
the Holy Spirit will draw back because of a grieving. That is why no
mixture-no shadow of dark paganism must be permitted in Christ's
church.

   Also, the Bible speaks of EVERY SEED YIELDING AFTER ITS OWN KIND
[Genesis 1:12].  An evil seed produces evil fruit, often not
recognized until maturity.  The rock and roll "prophets" of this
generation are yielding a seed after their own kind-a seed that will
one day bring forth a fruit that will wither and die.  Jude makes
that very  clear, '...these feed themselves without fear: clouds they
are without water, carried about of winds; trees WHOSE FRUIT
WITHERETH, without  fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots."
[Jude 12].

   What of the good sounding testimonies, the sincere and convincing
sermonettes?  Paul has the answer.  'Now I urge you, brethren, keep
your eye on those who cause dissensions and HINDRANCES contrary to
the teaching which you learned, and  TURN AWAY FROM THEM...For such
men are slaves,  not of our Lord Jesus Christ but of THEIR OWN
APPETITES; and BY THEIR SMOOTH AND FLATTERING SPEECH THEY DECEIVE THE
HEARTS OF THE  UNSUSPECTING." [Romans 16:17-18 NAS]

   Oh how God's people need discernment.  Great deceptions about
every where, not only regarding the rock and punk music of the young,
but also in regard to new forms of worship and praise being promoted.
 Some of it is born of the Holy Spirit,  but much is born of the
flesh-and only those who walk in the light know the difference.

   There is a revival of worship and praise in he land today, and
much focus on prayer, intercession nd new revelation.  There is no
question about there being more and more Christians standing for an
hour or two-with great congregations singing and praising loudly.
There are smiles, laugher, joy, hand clapping, upraised hands,
dancing-never in modern times has there been a GREATER SHOUT IN THE
CAMP.

   Thank God for those in the camp who worship in Spirit and
truth-who can lift clean hands and who have pure hearts-who come
before His holiness with broken heart and contrite spirit.  If they
are walking in holiness , trembling at God's Word, repentant and free
from the bondage of sin- it is a glorious and acceptable offering
unto the Lord.  God does inhabit the praises of His people- but only
if those people are walking in practical righteousness.

   But There Is a Shout Which is Shallow and Meaningless!

   There is the shout of the overcomer and the shout of the
idolater-and we had better know the difference.  The Lord commanded
Moses to 'Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest
out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: they have turned
aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made
them a molten calf, and have worshipped it' [Exodus 32:7-8].

   As Moses and Joshua approached the camp of Israel, Joshua 'heard
the noise of the people as they shouted...' [v 17].  But it was not
the shout of those who had overcome the enemy.  The true shepherd
Moses, having come fresh from the very presence of God's
holiness-could easily discern that the GREAT SHOUT coming from the
Lord's chosen people was not pure.  Something as terribly wrong-it
did not ring of the holiness of God.

   Moses said, 'It is not the voice of them that shout form mastery,
neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the
noise of them that sing do I hear' [Exodus 32:18]

   That's all it was, MEANINGLESS, SHALLOW NOISE- but an abomination
in the ears of a holy God. They had no right to sing; their hearts
were lusting after an idol.  Their hearts were given to pleasure and
fun.  They stood before a golden calf-and it the name of the Lord
offered burnt offerings.  The people 'sat down to eat and drink  and
rose up to play..' [Exodus 32:6]

   I received many letters from Christians whom I know have come
through the school of Christ. They have come through much suffering
and spiritual warfare to a place in God where nothing else matters
but knowing Him in fullness.  They were driven by such deep hunger
for God, they began to thirst for Christ as 'the hart that panteth
after water'.  They tell me how out of place they feel in these great
assemblies where the shout in the camp goes forth.  It all looks
good, and on the surface sounds good.  But they can't enter in,
because they discern something is basically wrong.  They can't even
explain it-the Spirit of God within them will not let them partake of
it.  They discern some kind of unspeakable darkness-something subtle,
yet ominous about all the flesh that accompanies the singing,
shouting, and dancing.  It is almost too professional, too put on,
too carnal.  They leave, thinking to themselves, 'Is it me-is there
something wrong with me? Am I too judgmental? Why am I not
comfortable amidst all this singing and dancing?

   Those who have STEPPED OUT INTO THE LIGHT can easily discern the
shadow of darkness.  They will not be fooled by false shouting, false
dancing, false worship, or false praying.

   True Zion saints REJOICE WITH TREMBLING! {Psalm 2:11} They know
that gladness belongs only to the 'upright in heart' [Psalm 97:11].
They can sing and dance when t he Spirit moves them, but with David
they can say, 'Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah
REJOICED BECAUSE OF THY JUDGEMENTS, O LORD' [Psalm 97:8]. Zion
saints, 'GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD AT THE REMEMBRANCE OF HIS HOLINESS'
[Psalm 97:12]

   No punk or rock or phony shouting and praise for those walking in
the light.  They praise Him for both His goodness and because they
tremble at His great and terrible name.

   'The Lord is great in Zion; and he is high  about all the
people...Let the people  tremble...LET THEM PRAISE THEY GREAT AND
TERRIBLE NAME; FOR IT IS HOLY' [Psalm 99:1-3]

   For your information;
   David Wilkerson's messages are mailed free of charge.
   World Challenge P.O.  Box 260 Lindale, TX 75771
   For quicker response call: 214-963-8626