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Can God Use Rock Music?

by Keith Green

Introduction

This is a hard article for me to write, mainly because I'm afraid people will think that my opinions would have to be prejudiced by the fact that I am involved in (what has come to be known as) "contemporary Christian music." As you might guess, the title of this article is no new question to me. Since I myself have been somewhat "guilty" of using the medium of rock, I have heard just about every opinion about it - and have received no limit of warning, exhortation, and outright rebuke from many a well-meaning soul. Since I take my negative mail very seriously - always reading each negative and corrective letter as a possible word or warning from God - I have had to listen closely to each argument - praying and thinking the whole thing through with eternal values in mind.

Although I have always wanted to address this subject publicly, I have only just answered the questions privately, seeking to avoid controversy. But now I believe the time has come for me to openly tackle this question, mainly because the Lord has been teaching me so much lately about motives and how they are the bottom line in just about everything!

Please realize that these are just my opinions, I am certainly no authority on scriptural truth - or music (except maybe my own). These are just some of the answers I have come up with after many years of studying this question with fear and trembling before the Lord. But like everything else, you should seek the Lord on your own for answers to difficult questions. I only hope to give you some things to think about.

The Prevailing Opinions

There seem to be two different and widely opposite schools of thought concerning whether or not God can use something as questionable as rock and roll as a tool for evangelism, or even (forgive me!) in worship.

One line of reasoning believes that rock and roll, whether secular or "so-called gospel," should not ever be listened to, or used as a medium by Christians. The reason given is simply that it is "of the devil." There are many statistics and "proofs" used by adherents to this position to prove that rock music itself is the direct cause of everything from drug abuse to teen-age pregnancy. And most people who hold this view are sincerely convinced that anyone who indulges in the use of rock music in any form cannot truly be used or blessed by God.

The other school of thought is the one that believes that God can redeem and use anything - and just because rock music is so prevalent in the world doesn't mean that God's people can't use the same medium to reach those still lost in that world. After all (the people who defend this position say), "Christians are supposed to be "in the world, and not of it!"¹ and didn't Paul say that he "became all things to all men that he might save some?"²

The View From Here

Of course, I have always leaned toward the second school of thought, but I think that sometimes this group has taken things a little too far, doing a lot in the name of "freedom" that I believe is grievous to the Lord, because it tends to stumble a lot of little ones. We should not forget that Paul also said, "Do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh."³

It is because of these abuses of freedom that I have chosen to remain silent on this issue. I have not taken up my pen to defend the "Christian rockers" because frankly, I have been just as much offended by most of what I've heard and seen as any sweet ole Christian grandma who accidentally stumbles into a blaring-loud gospel concert.

It isn't the beat that offends me, nor the volume - It's the spirit. It's the "Look at me!" attitude I have seen in concert after concert, and the "Can't you see we're as good as the world?" syndrome I have heard on record after record. Jesus doesn't want us to be as good as the world, He wants us to be better! And that doesn't mean excelling them in sound, style, or talent - it means surpassing them in value - in our motives for being up there on stage, in our reasons for singing our songs, and especially in who we're singing for! If there's anything wrong or worldly at all about so-called "Christian rock," it's the self-exalting spirit and attitude that comes across so loud and clear in many of the records and concerts today.

(Please don't get me wrong. I do not want to appear self-righteous, or to be saying - "All those musicians and artists should have such exemplary attitudes and motives as I do!" Believe me, I have struggled over these same things myself for many years, and these are things that the Lord has taught me for my own life and public ministry.)

But What About All Those "Jungle-Rhythm" Stories?

You've probably heard one of those stories about the missionary family that was stationed near a tribe of cannibalistic, voodoo warriors? Well, as the story goes, the missionary had a couple of teen-agers who just loved to listen to "Christian rock." And one day, as they were playing one of their albums up real loud, a witch doctor came running out of the jungle and said, "Why are you trying to call up devils with that music? Don't you realize that those are the same rhythms we use to contact demons in our rituals?" I've heard this story many times, and in many different forms, but it always seems to prove that, "There you have it! Rock and roll is a product of hell - even if it is called "gospel rock!"

Now, I've always joked to myself that this story must have been started by some craggy old missionary who'd been out on the field for 20 years - and when he arrived back in the states, he just about died when he heard the latest gospel music. (Either that, or the witch doctor who came out of the jungle was a recent graduate from a conservative seminary!)

But seriously, I highly doubt that this story is true - and even if it is, it doesn't mean that all "music with a beat" will make your family need an exorcist. What we need to look into now is this question: Is there such a thing as "evil music"? To that question, I would have to answer a definite, "Yes!" but my reasons for calling some music "evil" may surprise you.

What Is Evil Music?

"I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything is unclean, to him it is unclean."⁴

I do not believe that any kind of music is "evil" in itself. I mean, that there are no such things as rhythms or chord structures or melody lines that were born in hell. The idea that the devil has invented certain styles of music so that he could capture the innocent young souls of today's youth is not only without foundation, but is the same kind of ridiculous tale that was told to young people by the church as recently as a generation ago - that "masturbation could cause blindness." Why try to scare the poor little guys into doing what's right? Why not deal with the real problem - selfishness!

The suggestion that there is such a thing as intrinsically⁵ "good music or evil music" seems preposterous to me. I have been involved with almost every aspect of music my whole life, and I have witnessed the various effects it has had on me and other people - and I have to say that I have never once seen a case where music was the direct cause of sin or wickedness in a person's life.

On the other hand, I have seen music be used as a tool for selfishness and egotism in people's lives (as well as my own). I have also seen it be used to create sensual moods by people with lust and manipulation on their minds. I have seen rock groups that were admittedly worshippers of Satan, and were open practioners of black witchcraft, who employed music as a tool to mesmerize their audiences. Yes, I must admit that it would appear to the casual observer that anyone involved with rock music could at least be charged with "guilt by association."

But all the examples I mentioned above have to do with the motives of the heart, not the music itself! That is why I believe that music, in itself, is a neutral force. Let me give you a better example.

Take a knife for instance. With it, you can cut bread, carve a roast, loose someone who's been bound by ropes, or you can do harm and even kill somebody. In other words, you can be creative and productive, or you can be destructive and murderous. The knife itself, when put in an atmosphere of hoodlums, becomes a weapon. But put it in a kitchen, and it becomes a tool that's useful, even necessary, for the preparation of nourishment for your family.

As another example, let's look at "David's dancing." The Bible says that King David was "dancing before the Lord with all his might!"⁶ But today, people dance in bars and discos, and then afterwards, many indulge in alcohol, drugs, and illicit sex. Does that mean that dancing produces a desire for drugs, sex, and alcohol? You and I both know that yes, movement of the body can excite someone. But someone has to have wicked desires to start with to have any outer stimulation increase those desires. I have seen Christians "dancing in the Spirit." I have also seen Christians dancing in the flesh. It wasn't the dancing that was evil, or the music they danced to, but the attitude and motive of their heart.

Should Mexicans Learn English?

Now, we don't make the people of Mexico learn English before we preach the Gospel to them, do we? The only reason that I have ever used contemporary music at all in my ministry is because I believe it is the "language" of the young people. After I have received piles of letters saying things like, "I never would have listened to what you had to say, unless I had first been attracted to the music!" - I am convinced that the only way to reach those who love music is in their own language!

Have you ever heard the stories of how John and Charles Wesley took many of the popular "drinking songs" of their day and put Christian lyrics to them? And it didn't matter how much success they had in reaching sinners using these tunes - most of the people in the church absolutely deplored their methods!

And then the Salvation Army came along, and had the nerve to put hymns to marching music - and then proceeded to play and sing these "lewd songs" (as the traditional church of their day called them) out in the streets on Sundays! They even followed in the Wesley brothers' footsteps, taking tunes from the drunk-filled taverns, and "converting" them into worshipful choruses, or ringing appeals for people to surrender their lives to Christ! And never have there been so many "common people" converted in England than through the unorthodox efforts of those early "Salvation Soldiers."

Oh, how harmless those melodies would sound now to our grandparents' ears. But their grandparents thought that the devil himself was on the loose with music-demons!

There are those today who still believe that we should use only nice, "wholesome" music to reach young people. Otherwise, (they say) we are only appealing to their sinful rebellion, and we will later find that any conversions resulting from the use of rock music were not really authentic after all. One well-known evangelist recently went so far as to say that, "No one has ever gotten a blessing from contemporary Christian music!"

This kind of reasoning is as narrow as that of the early missionaries to China. They thought that the best way to "Christianize" the people would be to teach them their European standards of dress and living, and thus "civilize" the heathen - as well as convert them. But a young and zealous missionary by the name of Hudson Taylor changed all that - he knew that the only way to reach people was with the truth of the Gospel. And he knew that it was wrong to add any cultural or "outward" conformity to the precepts of truth he so earnestly believed. And so he discarded his European clothing, and began to identify with the people he was trying to reach by dressing like them and adopting their customs. Although he was initially ridiculed and shunned by his fellow missionaries, his ultimate success proved that God was indeed leading him.⁷

Placing People Under the "Law"

It seems that Paul had these same "cultural" problems in the early Church, with those Jewish believers who wanted new converts to first embrace the Jewish law and customs before they could be considered Christians.⁸ I believe that trying to change people's musical tastes, before we allow them to hear the truth, is just as wrong as it was for the Jews to try to push circumcision on the Gentiles as a necessary prerequisite for eternal life. The Bible is clear that we should put no stumbling blocks in the way of people receiving God's precious gift of salvation!

Conclusion: It's All In the Motives!

I am convinced that the potential of reaching people for Jesus through the media - whether it be records, radio, movies, or television - is monumental, simply because these are the things that have, and continue to hold, people's attention. I truly believe that Christians who are completely sold out to God, using these tools, can bring people to their knees in repentance and lead them into the waiting arms of the Savior. But if their lives are not sold out - if their motives are mixed, and their hearts divided - then I only see ridicule and shame brought to the Gospel. And since this is the case so much of the time, it makes it hard and shines a bad light - even on those whose hearts are clean, and whose motives are pure.

I also want to say in closing that yes, I do believe that the Holy Spirit is grieved by a lot of what is being passed today as "music ministry" and "gospel music" - not so much by the beat or content, but by the lack of commitment and anointing. But just because people with darkened hearts still use rock music as a medium for rebellion and self-exaltation, doesn't mean that the same style of music can't be used by people submitted to God to capture the attention of sinners; and lead them away from self - and to the throne of Christ!

After all, don't many cults use the same Bible that we cherish as God's Holy Word, and yet distort and twist the meaning "to their own destruction"?⁹ And didn't the devil himself quote Scripture to Jesus? As you can see, a wicked heart can pervert even the most holy and beautiful of things. And in the same way, God can take even the filthiest of vessels and use it for His glory.¹⁰ (Just look at you and me!) Believe me, if your heart is right, then your music will be right too. But if your heart is full of selfishness and pride, then even if you sing the sweetest hymn, your song will work death and not life. For...

"A good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, brings forth what is good, and an evil man, out of the evil treasure, brings forth what is evil, for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart."11

Footnotes:

1) John 17:11, 15-16.
2) I Corintians 9:22
3) Galatians 5:13
4) Romans 14:14
5) Good or evil in itself
6) II Samuel 6:14
7) Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret, by Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor; Moody Press, Chicago, IL 60610.
8) Galatians 5:1-1

Keith Green, 2/21/2007

Feedback: (page 1 2 3 4)

	Michele Hess (Guest)	10/22/2008 11:44
This is all its about. I love Jesus and desire That He be seen in me. I love to talk about Jesus and have always been shut down but only because of ignorance, I listened. Since I was a an 8 year old child I have listened to Keiths music and identify his love and passion for God and couldn't understand why others even Christians didn't feel like jumping out of their skin with excitement.His lyrics explain my heart his passion to get others to understand moves me. I want to share Gods love to a new level and want to say thank you for obedience and breaking the hardened ground.
	Bruno Trimarchi	11/11/2008 21:33
I agree, having the right motive is very important. However I am not convinced, that the Rock and roll beat esspeccilly Heavy Metal. beat isnt bad. I am glad to hear that God used his His Body to bring salvation to many through many styles of Music. I believe God can use anything even if it is a dirty rag. I am still wondering if CHristian Rock and Christian Heavy Metal is ordained of God or if its a dirty rag that God uses in spite of us and our bad Choices..If any one has any insights into my unanswered question. I would greatly appreciate it. Also most of these Christian Rock Concerts have a ticket price to them. Also what about the Dove Awards is that of God. What does the bible say about compareing ourseves with each other, and giving each other awards. Isn tthe distribution of awards to be done at the judgement seat of Christ. pleaae leat me know what you think about this matter thank you and God bless you all Bruno
	Ryan (Guest)	12/10/2008 16:09
This helped me so much. It gave me a bit more clarity on my stance. Being in a "Christian Rock" band myself I needed a position, and biblical stance on what God has called me to do. May God bless whoever put this up! May God also Bless all of us on either side of this debate. For the whole point of our life was to find Christ and live a life for God!
	Daniel Burnson (Guest)	01/11/2009 17:37
To Bruno Trimarchi: The article itself answers your question, but let me take it further. Specifically, let's consider Heavy Metal and Rap. Take all the words away (some would say that you can't understand them anyway), remove the human aspect entirely (the musicians and the songwriters), and consider just the music itself. Would the music be an influence in a person's life for good or bad? The answer is no. Music just stimulates emotions, invokes certain feelings. Feelings or emotions are like music, neither good, nor bad. For example, Christ Himself turned the tables in the Temple twice out of anger, but His actions were righteous, not evil. Also, God is described as a jealous God, but isn't God the definition of holy? He (Christ) is the standard of righteousness, having lived a perfect life on Earth! Therefore, music itself does no good nor harm. Now, put the words back, and the people playing the music and the people writing the lyric and ask the same question. The answer is now yes! Of course! It is the people and the lyric who make music good or evil, though context could turn good intentions to evil ro vice-versa. What music says and how musicians live is probably one of the most powerful influences on our young people today. So here is my personal message to Christian musicians who want to influence lives for good. Remember your calling. Your life is the ultimate filter that listeners filter your words through. If you love God, you will love your neighbor as yourself. That is the definition of a child of God (1John 1). If you live a life of obedience, your words become powerful, but if you think that your ministry is music only, you've been fooled by the devil himself. Obediently living the way Jesus layed out is the most powerful message you can give. So use your music to catch their attention, and hit them with the truth that you are living. Your success isn't measured by how many people hear your message, but whether you fed the hungry, gave the thirsty something to drink, invited the stranger in, clothed the naked, etc (Matthew 25:31-46). Now go and live the life that Jesus called you to, and all things will fall into place. You will be as happy living in a box as you would be living in a palace, for all you care about is God's purpose and His Kingdom come! I hope that answered your question. Daniel Burnson
	Daniel Burnson (Guest)	01/11/2009 17:56
I forgot the second part. Awards are merely evidence of a job well done, right? So to recieve an award is not a bad thing. To make earthly rewards your driving purpose, however, is bad. Actually it is this that ruins the lives of many Christians (musicians or not). Success and a comfortable lifestyle has made many so-called believers fall into the snares of the devil. Many "Christians" are unwilling to give up their freedom in that area, failing to realize that complete freedom and victory over the enemy can only come when we submit ourselves to God, and lay our lives (House, car, job, family, etc.) down and follow Him. Then we will realize that God has a much better plan than we do, and we were only making a mess of things anyway. Believe me, it is EXTREMELY difficult to surrender these things (especially the family), but once we do and seek His kingdom and His righteousness, He promises to take care of us. He will never leave you nor forsake you. You can trust Him. The Dove awards seem fruitless to me. It seems like exactly the opposite of what a Christian should do. But I am not the judge of that. So seek His kingdom and His righteousness, not your personal success and recognition. It is not bad to be recognized as one who is good at their job, but after all is said and done, none of the earthly praises we recieved will matter. Hope this helps, Daniel
	Bruno Trimarchi (Guest)	03/02/2009 23:43
I have a problem with the dove awards beacause I am under the persuasion that on God can know can know if someones work is good or not. When we give awards to popular singers in the dove awards simply because they are liked by the masses, are we not playing God. Didn t paul say that we should judge nothing before the time. Some people use wood, hay, and stubble to build the church, while others use Gold, Silver, Precious Jewels, to build the church. I corintians chapter 3 and that God who knows the secrets of mens hearts will give to every man acording to his works. My point is that Paul said to judge nothing before the time when the secrets of men hearts will be revealed. So thats why I have a problem with the Dove Awards because how can we know the secrets of mens hearts. I put my faith in God as the altimate judge of all those music ministry and I dont vote for any of them, because only can really knows thier hearts and what they are worth of. Please corect me if you feel like I am wrong. truly Bruno
	Gejoe D (Guest)	03/13/2009 04:14
Daniel Burnson has given an excellent reply. By the way iam not sure who is giving Dove awards ? Who is behind that award - is it a secular body or Christian body ? Just let me know that,then i would be able to comment on that... Thanks, Gejoe
	Bruno Trimarchi (Guest)	04/30/2009 12:31
Its a Christian Organization
	creagan (Guest)	05/14/2009 18:38
Im a believer who appreciates all styles of Christian music. Sometimes I even listen to Christian heavy metal. For a long time i questioned wether this pleased God or not. I finally came to the place that I realized it was a form of entertainment. It doesnt bother me to listen to someone scream about Jesus but I will not watch a lewd beer commercial. As a matter of fact I dont even have cable for reasons like that. But if my Christian heavy metal offends another brother ill leave it out of the cd player. Something to think about, if you were standing before God, Would you rather be listening to someone scream about Jesus, or have a tv on?
	Kevin K (Guest)	06/01/2009 13:09
Hello family of God! I am so greatfull that William Booth and Wesly and Keith Green took what satan ment for evil, and turned it around for Good! I mean Satan lies to us and tells us that alot of music is his....Keith Quoted the verse...how much more do we need! Jesus said that "nothing" is impure of itself! That means drums and instruments etc! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!! All music even with an ill motive even satan's own is him twisting Gods gift around...lets just untwist it like Booth did! Let us be willing to do for the truth what others will do for a lie!! Sing skillfully with a loud noise! Light is so much greaqter than darkness....! The only way we loose is if we belive a lie and not Christ! Nothing is unlean, and like God said to peter, "Dont call common or unclean what the Lord has cleansed! Let us walk in the path of good men, those men that bear fruit, fruit that remains....and let us not require musical circumcision of those who are coming to know Christ....! He will right his law on thier hearts...i mean ,, our God is a consuming fire....Just listen to that verse and listen to 3rd day sing about it! It is fitting! Very comly if you are a KJV guy!God is the Rock of Ages, and there is no Rock like our God! One day the Consuming Fire Himself will sing a song that is fitting of a Conquering Loin who has overcome the world and saved his bride with a mighty hand! And he will roar out of Zion!!! And everyone who loves him will be glad! Let us never prasi any sports star more than our king! Let us never have any joy that is greater than the Joy that he gives us...and let us naturally praise him from a clean heart and redeemed mind! Shouts of Joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous of the Lord!!! Be exalted oh God above the heavens! By the way a verse to consider on the dove awards.... "Give honor to whom honor is due" Like Wesly or Booth etc! Or even Paul....its OK to approve of the good, just look at his ending of Romans! Double honor for those who labor well etc...just give all of the glory to God for his work in thier lives....When we compare flesh to flesh now....thats different Oh that men would praise the Lord for his wonderfull works toward the Children of men and in the children of men our brothers in Christ...they are his body!.....Oh praise him for what he does in us!! let the people praise him!!....let the high prasies of God be in thier mouth and a 2 edged sword in thier hand! Let the children sing a new song, and let the old ones tell of all of his wonderfull deeds that he has done! Let every good thing overcome every evil thing, and let us Cry "Hosanna" (in the original "Oh Save!!!) When you are save and know it you cant but cry the same!!!! A cloud of witnesses chears us on...... Save Lord! !SAVE! Amen!

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