Hidden Darkness: What the Bible Says about Rock Music
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22
I remember having a vision once while a couple was being prayed over. I saw in the vision of what is known as ”The three wise monkeys”, sometimes called the three mystic apes. Together they embody the proverbial principle to “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil”. If you are familiar with the picture, you will recall there is one monkey who is covering his eyes, another covering his ears, and the last one covering his mouth. When I prayed further into this vision and asked God for more clarification, He explained that this picture is a representation of much of the church today. The extreme “Grace” doctrine has caused them to cover their eyes to the evil things they witness, cover their ears to the evil things they hear, and to cover their mouths to speaking out against such evils. As with this picture, in the Western world the phrase is often used to refer to those who deal with impropriety by turning a blind eye.
In a Ecumenical Church Age Movement that says “everything is permissible” based on 1 Corinthians 6:12 and to each their own; plenty of other messages in the Bible give clear warnings. As in the Message to the church in Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-29), there are limits to tolerance. The main criticism of the angel of Thyatira is that he has tolerated something—and someone—that should not be tolerated. The verses go on to further warn in Verse 23, “And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.”
The word “kill” in this verse is the Greek word “apokteinó”. It is not only used in describing the physical killing of the body…
Every year here in the United States 1500 children are arrested for murder or manslaughter
Since 1986, there has been a rise of 1,740 percentage points of children that have been treated with knife and gunshot wounds here in the United States
Over 190,000 abortions are performed on teens each year
Every two hours and 11 minutes someone under the age of 25 completes suicide
For every suicide completion there are between 50 and 200 attempts.
…but also used in multiple places in the Bible to express the killing of the soul and described in Strong’s as ”to deprive of spiritual life and procure eternal misery”.
Over 10 million teens have tried cocaine
Killers show no remorse in their violent attitudes including:
Bullying, threatening, beating, theft, larceny and vandalism etc.
Killing of others as well like Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris killed 1 teacher and 12 students in Columbine High School massacre incident that took place in the year 1999. Twenty one people were injured in this incident.
Other incidents like Bath School Disaster, Virginia Tech massacre and University of Texas massacre are the other few examples of dreadful school violence.
Pastor Joe Schimmel & Terry Watkins bear witness to how they were pulled into rock music and it’s way of life before being saved. They know the love for rock music people have. But also know the source and effects of rock music. They have spent thousands of hours researching rock music. Much of their research data is shared in this article.
Although the Bible does not specifically speak out about Rock N Roll music itself, it does speak very clearly about the fruits being produced by this music as well as many other forms of music today.
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 2 Timothy 3:1-5
And what does the Bible say about letting such things into your house?
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 2 Timothy 3:6-7
Just seeing the women who faint left and right at these concerts and literally declare how they worship these singers and music groups should make us take heed. Jesus himself warns us concerning the last days.
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. Luke 21:34-36
What Harm Can There Be
The Bible and Rock Music
The music industry would like us to believe no harm can come. At the Gammy Award ceremony subsequent to the Columbine massacre, after giving out awards to Rock and Rap artists for music promoting violence, Michael Green the President of the Accordion Academy made the following statement, “Let’s not forget, that the arts are a compelling solution to teen violence, but certainly not the cause of it.”
Some of the facts:
The Columbine incident was preceded by eight other school shooting within only a 2 year time frame.
During a prior media interview Dylan Klebold boldly displayed his favorite T-shirt, and clearly the god he worshiped. It was a T-shirt for the music group KMFDM, a German rock band whose initials stand for Kein Mehrheit Fur Die Mitlied (No Pity For The Masses).
Drawings of Satan, demons and bombs where displayed throughout Eric Harris’ website, but on the front page of the website where the words from songs by KMFDM “Son of a Gun.” The very words expressed the events themselves that day at Columbine. And the very video pictures that go with the song display many of the haunting images of that fatal day.
Other declarations on Eric’s website included: “What I don’t like I waste”, “I have come to shake your faith.”
In one KMFDM songs they state, “Our records have stickers with a warning…’cause they’re no good for kids…KMFDM forwards the ultimate sound and a message from Satan if you turn it around.”
Another favorite band of the Columbine killers included the german industrial group Rammstein. When they learned about what had happened during Columbine they defended their lyrics by stating, “there is no lyrical content…that could have possibly influenced such behavior.” They declared that their music was all about love, “love in all its shapes and variations.” Yet the lyrics to one of their very own songs “Weisses Fleisch (White Flesh) graphically depict the very killing done at the school that day with the opening verse professing, “You in your schoolyard, I’m ready to kill” and further exclaims how he is “…getting more and more excited by your screams…my sick being screams for redemption…there is no god in my heaven!!”
Additional musical influences included Marilyn Manson. Besides Satanism, drugs, homosexuality, self-mutilation, suicide and murder, Manson’s message is the destruction of Christianity. He quotes himself, “Hopefully I will be remembered as the person who brought an end to Christianity.” At many of his concerts he would come on stage carrying a Bible, only to mock it and destroy it on stage.
Most of the targets of Columbine were Christians. Cassie Bernall and at least one other girl were shot to death after being challenged to profess their faith. They shot Rachel Scott in the leg and asked, “Do you believe in God?” She answered, “Yes.” They retorted, “Than go be with him now,” and shot her in the head. In a video they made before the Columbine incident, Klebold and Harris spoke of their hatred of Christ and Christians.
The youth of our country are under attack. And while it cannot be said that Rock or Pop music are the sole cause of these problems and issues, it definitely plays a vital and undeniable role in the deterioration of the moral, emotional, spiritual, and psychological strength of our youth today.
If you are concerned regarding the hold that Rock, Rap or other music has on a loved one, we recommend you watch They Sold Their Soul For Rock N Roll, which not only reveals the nature behind these groups, but gives you the lyrics embedded within the music they sing.
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 1 Corinthians 15:33
Brain specialist Dr. Richard Pellegrino declared in an article written after the Columbine massacre that music has an uncanny power to “…trigger a flood of emotions and images that have the ability to instantaneously produce very powerful changes in emotional states.” “Take it from the brain guy. In 25 years of working with the brain, I still cannot effect a person’s state of mind the way that one simple song can.”
Dr. Paul King, medical director of the adolescent program at Charter Lakeside Hospital, in Memphis, TN, says more than 80% of his teen patients are there because of rock music. Dr. King says, “the lyrics become a philosophy of life, a religion.”
While millions of young people listen to music for several hours a day, a Barna Research Group found that mothers spend less than 30 minutes a day with their children and fathers less than 15 minutes.
According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry the troublesome lyrics of these types of teen music:
Advocate and glamorize the abuse of drugs or alcohol
Present suicide as a “solution”
Display graphic violence
Dwell on the occult with Satanism and human sacrifice
Describe harmful sexual practices, incest, and a devaluing of women
Hidden Darkness: Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing
If you take time to view the documentary mentioned above, They Sold Their Soul For Rock N Roll, you will see how many of these rock bands are very blatant about what they profess and who they serve, Satan. We see their fruits through their immoral lifestyles. But what many are not aware of, or not taking time to seek God concerning are the so called Christian Rock or Christian Pop bands infiltrating the church. Are they wolves in sheep clothing.
I recently went to a Christian Music Festival in the Phoenix area. I don’t know all the new bands coming on the scene in the Christian arena. So some of the bands I had heard of, but many of them I hadn’t. About halfway through the performances, the lead singer of a band called Red came on stage to start his music set. The stage went black, an interlude of climatic music began to play and then a spot light came upon this lead singer. As I recall he was dressed in black and had red makeup covering his face, or at least that is how it appeared to me (lights may have played some role in this illusion). The cameras did a close up and as the lights came upon him and the words to his music the crowd began to scream not unlike that of a crowd in any of the secular satanic crowds we mentioned above. The area we were in were filled with youth groups from various churches. The woman with me and I immediately got up and left the stadium, our spirit inside up very disturbed.
As I researched more into this group concern arose even more inside me. This “Christian” classified rock group not only had the name Red, which is supposedly standing for the blood of Jesus, if you search the internet you will see that the logo of their name has what appears to be a side lying devil’s fork as the “e”. They admittedly have written songs inspired by Dante’s Inferno. A quote from one of the artist’s in the band says, “”We’re pretty big fans of Slipknot. We reference some of their music writing our records, you know some of the kind of things they do with their music. It’s funny, too, because in a lot of ways people ask us, ‘Why do you like these bands that that are kind of just outright evil?’ and we’re just like ‘What?’ I watched one of their newest videos which began with a shot of the crowd as they began playing the song. All you can see throughout the crowd is kids holding up the “satanic salute” also known as the “horned hand“. It is made by, making a fist and extending the first (index) and last (pinkie) finger. The satanic salute is displayed by satanists to acknowledge their allegiance to Satan. Anton LaVey, displays it on the back cover of The Satanic Bible. The satanic salute is popular in rock music. At one point in the video, the lead singer gets on his knees and bends over chanting the words I worship you, I worship you, I worship you. Then he begins to rise up with this same “horned hand,” and continues with his worship.
The most disturbing thing that happened that night, was running into a couple and their kids from a former church I had once attended. They said they specifically came to see this group, because their oldest son was so in love with this group. We caution parents to take a hard look at what their children are becoming involved with in music and entertainment. According to a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics, Impact of Music, Music Lyrics, and Music Videos on Children and Youth; Parents often are unaware of the lyrics to which their children are listening because of the increasing use of downloaded music and headphones. Research on popular music has explored its effects on schoolwork, social interactions, mood and affect, and particularly behavior. The effect that popular music has on children’s and adolescents’ behavior and emotions is of paramount concern. Lyrics have become more explicit in their references to drugs, sex, and violence over the years, particularly in certain genres.
John 10:10 says the thief (Satan) comes to kill, steel, and destroy. If we don’t take a stand and fight for our children, who will. We can take them back by being proactive.
Take an active role in monitoring the type of music to which children and adolescents are exposed and be aware of the music they purchase.
Research the lyrics to the songs by typing “music lyrics” into an internet search engine.
What kind of things are displayed in the music videos associated with the groups they are listening to?
What kind of witness do they portray, is there any mention of Christ during a concert or even Christian values being talked about?
Become familiar and active in knowing the music industry’s parental advisory warning or explicit content labels. These are a black-and-white logo and should be located on the front of the CD, cassette, album, videocassette, or DVD.
Most music groups have their own website. And believe it or not, most are very open and even will flaunt the influential music groups or idols behind their own choices in music. Performers should serve as positive role models.
The example I gave above seemed very blatantly not Christian to me and if you know the signs to look for, you can avoid getting involved with these kind of groups. But here some comments about very popular artists that you would never think there was issues with.
“Amy Grant’s latest album has thrown the Contemporary Christian Music industry into a first-rate identity crisis. . . Grant’s newest release, Behind the Eyes, comes as no surprise given the course of her career since Unguarded (1985), the first of her albums to be distributed jointly by CCM label Myrrh in the evangelical market and A&M in the mainstream market. Previous “crossover” projects, however, had made at least some mention of God or Jesus. The complete absence of explicitly Christian lyrical content on Behind the Eyes has renewed a debate in the CCM industry about what constitutes Christian music.“ (Christianity Today, Dec., 8, 1997, “Where’s the Gospel?”)
“Smith, who listens MOSTLY to SECULAR MUSIC, would like to see DC Talk expand its vocabulary. ‘not EVERYTHING has to be about GOD.’ he says.”(Flint Michigan Journal, March 15, 1996, P.B19)
Not surprizingly, Toby McKeehan, blatantly says in USA Today, “Sometimes, being labeled a Christian band, we consider that a NEGATIVE. . .”
Toby McKeehan told Billboard magazine, “Our goal has ALWAYS BEEN to be out there on a mainstream level,. . .” (Billboard, Nov. 11, 1995)
“If you weren’t familiar with Michael W. Smith’s standing in the world of contemporary Christian music, you might attend one of his concerts and come out none the wiser.“ (The Birmingham News, Feb. 12, 1993 p. 5c)
Over and over you can read commentaries on how there is no difference between Christian Rock & Pop today to Secular Rock & Pop.
Amy Grant “PLAYS” Joni Mithchell
Petra “PLAYS” Argent (ditto KISS)
77′s “PLAYS” Led Zeppelin.
DC talk “PLAYS” Doobie Brothers, Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, REM, et. al.
Audio Adrenaline “PLAYS” Edgar Winter
Point of Grace “PLAYS” Earth, Wind and Fire
Jars of Clay “PLAYS” Ozzy Osbourne
Rez Band rvieYS” the Who, Jefferson Airplane
Holy Soldier “PLAYS” Rolling Stones
Rachel, Rachel “PLAYS” Kansas
Deliverance “PLAYS” Black Sabbath
MXPX plays Buddy Holly
To learn more about the songs from these former rock groups and many others and their messages behind the songs being brought back to life by “Christian” artists read Christian Rock Blessing or Blasphemy by Terry Watkins.
Another alarming message can be read in an article entitled Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing. Containing additional cultic signs infiltrating the Christian community and the satanic influences behind them. In this article you will find information concerning a Michael W. Smith youth club called Rocketown. The staff of Rocketown have consistently represented this place to be a Christian-oriented “Safe Haven” where Christian parents can send their kids for wholesome and uplifting entertainment. Yet, Rocketown has hosted a long list of overtly satanic rock bands which feature pornographic, hardcore obscenity-laced lyrics in their songs. The posters advertising these groups say all there is to say with grotesque ‘demon-child’ depictions, zombies and other blood and gore types of depictions. These can all be seen in even more details at Only The FACTS.
God’s Thoughts on Entertainment
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Colossians 2:8
I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. Psalms 101:3
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. Romans 8:5-12
Signs of Demonic Influence of Music
With all the easy access to any music out there, how can a parent know if their child or someone they know has been negatively influenced by this music. Mark 5:1-9 describes seven signs of a person who is being influenced by demons.
They are fascinated with death. The demon-possessed man dwelt amongst the tombs in the graveyard. Death is a fascination to these people. This is why they listen to Death-Metal music and watch violence ridden movies. Look at the Goth culture displayed so frequently now not only in movies, but within your own home on television. Thoughts of suicide, abortions, partying wild and sensually into the night.
They are out of control. Many teenagers nowadays laugh in their parents faces, and are out of control. They are lawless.
They get their days and nights mixed up. They want to stay up all night and sleep all day. The demon-possessed man roamed in the caves and mountains, day and night. Every Rock-N-Roller is like this, staying up to party all night. God made the daylight to work and the nighttime to rest.
They cut themselves. Why would anyone want to hurt themselves? Marilyn Manson cuts himself, sucking his own blood in his concerts, ripping apart Bibles and cursing God. Many teens carve the name of their boyfriend or girlfriend in their skin. Tattoos are forbidden by God.
They are obsessed with Jesus Christ. This is why they wear crosses around their neck. The demon-possessed man ran and fell at Jesus’ feet to worship Him, but it was false worship, mocking the Savior. This is why Satanist, Ozzy Osbourne, wears a cross around his neck. This is why Marilyn Manson rips apart Bibles in concert, being obsessed with Christianity.
They wear no clothes. Everybody who goes to spring break in college is hooking up with demons. They go to Florida or Mexico to take their clothes off and live for Satan. God said for you to be clothed in modest apparel (1 Timothy 2:9).
They do not abide in any house. They do not want to live at home. The demon-possessed man dwelt in the wilderness and caves, but would not stay at home. So many teens want to move out and get their own place. They ought to be at home with mom and dad until they find the right Christian man/woman.
The demon possess man was wild and out of control, naked, cutting himself, and acting crazy. This is scene played over and over in the media of today and is encouraged through many of the lyrics in music we are discussing. Our children make idols of these and other Hollywood celebrities who are getting high on drugs, in and out of rehab, in and out of sexual relationships, blaspheming the God of the Bible, wearing crosses around their neck, and eventually dying of massive drug overdoses legal and illegal.
Demonic influence is a DOOR.
At some point in his youth, Brian Warner (leader of the Marilyn Manson band) opened a door to demonic influence. At some point, Ozzy Osbourne allowed a door to open. In most cases that door is stapled, barred and locked shut. As long as the door stays closed, other spirits cannot influence you. But once that door opens, and an evil spirit enters into your life, it’s almost impossible to be delivered from it. Alcoholism opens that door. Smoking marijuana opens that door. Immoral sex opens the door. Rock music opens the door. Harry Potter opens the door. Hellivision opens the door. Wickedness opens the door. Hypnotism opens the door. Only the power of God can deliver a soul enslaved to demonic influence. Praise God for the saving power of the gospel (Romans 1:16).
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
The good news in Mark 5:1-12 is that deliverance is possible. For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit…and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs.”
For those who have had extensive involvement in demonic activities as described above including the actual practice of worshipping Satan, it would be advisable to seek the counsel of a pastor of a spirit filled Christ centered church involved in the deliverance ministry. Keep in mind that you have power over all demonic principalities in the name of Jesus once you have accepted Christ as your personal Savior and are covered by His blood.
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Topic: What the Bible Says about Rock Music
Related Topics: What The Bible Says about Fornication; What the Bible Says about Witchcraft; Yoga; Tattoos; Body Piercing; Forgiveness; Repentance; Healing; Scripture Prayer for Healing; Scriptural Prayer for Protection
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Hidden Darkness: What the Bible Says about Rock Music