Christian Rock Music By S. Phillips  Rock music -- does it have a harmful, degenerative effect on those who listen to it; or is it actually quite harmless, as many would have you to believe? Does so-called Christian rock have any connection to the hard-driving beat that we hear coming from our radios, or is it something entirely different?  Harold Myra and Dean Merrill, in their book Rock, Bach and Superschlock (1972), defend Christian rock on the following three premises: 1) Rock music itself basically is harmless; 2) It is the lyrics to rock music that make it bad, not the music itself; so by replacing the "worldly" lyrics with "Christian" lyrics you make Christian rock acceptable; 3) Accepting rock music keeps you "up with the times" instead of back in the "dark ages."  Is the music behind rock 'n' roll (and Christian rock) basically harmless or does it have an effect that most do not suspect? Unfortunately, there is more to the rock beat than most care to admit. Since so-called Christian rock is based on the same music as rock, perhaps we should begin by looking more closely at the rock beat.  The rhythm of rock music is aimed at the physical and sensual emotional level - not at the spiritual. Man's physical functions, such as his heartbeat, respiration, pulse, speech pattern, and walk, are based on bodily rhythms. These are natural rhythms found within each of us; and in order for man to maintain a healthy emotional balance he should listen to music that combines rhythm with melody and harmony, as this type of music is conducive to emotional stability, feelings of alertness and peace, and a sense of balance and self-control. The problem that arises is that rock music does not produce these qualities. Instead, rock music contains harmonic dissonance and melodic discord and it emphasizes the hard, driving beat. The beat in many rock songs is actually just the opposite of our natural heart and arterial rhythm. In his studies, Dr. John Diamond discovered that the anapestic rhythm (two unstressed syllables followed by one stressed syllable) "heightens stress and anger, reduces output, increases hyperactivity and weakens muscle strength." In tests it was found that ninety percent of people show an instant loss of two-thirds of their normal strength when they hear this anapestic beat. Is this how the music really affects people? The following is taken from an article written by Randy Hammer in the Pensacola News Journal: They clung to his every word and move­ment. Emotional pandemonium swept the place. I've never seen anything like it. Springsteen looked, as one writer put it, like Charlton Heston before the Red Sea. And when he jumped onto the coliseum floor, the wave of fans parted as if Moses himself had given the command. It was a good thing no one passed a collection plate; Springsteen converts would have emptied their pockets. Four solid hours of electrifying rock 'n' roll left most of the crowd drained and senseless. When the music ended, it hurt a little. The audience sort of shook its head in stunned disbelief. People left the coliseum saying things like, 'I think I'm going to die.' And if they had, it would have been all right. . . . It was a night, a performance, a feeling beyond description. Some fans went as far as to say that a Spring­steen concert is the ultimate high."      The power that rock music has on the emotions is frightening when you realize how far reaching it is. The following is a report from a spectator at a Sly and the Family Stone concert: "After an hour or so, even I felt drugged. But 20,000 people, most of them high on marijuana, if nothing stronger, were rocking the whole building, swaying, standing on their seats, arms around each other. . . The crowd seemed hypnotized in thrall. It was part of a mass frenzy."_ (Readers Digest, July 1973, p. 173)   Rock's incessant, driving beat is similar to the drums used by primitive cultures in their demonic rites and dances. With a steady monotonous beat and a loud volume it can induce a type of hypnosis. In a report to the Canadian Association of Music Therapy (Calgary Herald, May 19, 1976), Dr. Walter Wright, an Ontario psychiatrist, compared rock to voodoo drums: "The tempo of the voodoo drums has been known to make a listener powerless to resist the music's pounding beat . . . At rock concerts when the tempo of the music hits a certain pitch it brings a psycho­logical response which the audience is powerless to resist."'  Jeremy Larner, in the New Sound, Yes states: "When a listener submits himself to the beat, he loosens his mind from its moorings in space and time…. The difficult world of external objects is blurred and unreal; only the inner pulse is real, the beat its outer projection. Earthly worries are submerged in a rising tide of exultation."' [Ira Peck, ed. The New Sound, Yes (Scholastic Book Services, 1966) p. 112]  Dr. Bernard Saibel, child guidance expert for the Washington State Division of Community Services, gave this report after attending a Beatles concert: "The experience of being with 14,000 teenagers to see the Beatles is unbelievable and frightening…. The hysteria and loss of control go far beyond the impact of the music. Many of those present became frantic, hostile, uncontrolled, screaming, unrecognizable beings…. This is not simply a release, as I first thought it would be, but a very destructive process.  Normally recognizable girls behaved as possessed by some demonic urge, defying in emotional ecstasy the restraints which authorities try to place on them."' (The Seattle Times, August 22, 1961, p. 1)   What do rock musicians themselves have to say about their music? The following excerpts are taken from Satan's Music Exposed by Lowell Hart (pp. 101, 102).  The Beatles: Our music is capable of causing emotional instability, disorganized behavior, rebellion and even revolution.  Spencer Dryden: Get them while they're young. Bend their minds.  Donnie Brewer of Grand Funk: We take the kids away from their parents and their environ­ment to where the only reality is the rhythm and the beat.  John Denver (folk and country-western singer): Rock music is a greater influence over the souls of men than primitive Christianity.  What does the rock music itself say? The following are lyrics taken from the rock opera "Jesus Christ Superstar." Christ says, "Can you show me now that I would not be killed in vain? Show me just a little of your omnipresent brain. Show me there's a reason for your wanting me to die. You were far too keen on where and how and not so hot on why…. Why then am I scared to finish what I started? What you started -- I didn't start. God! Thy will is hard. But you hold every card. I will drink your cup of poison, nail me to the cross and break me, beat me, kill me, take me now -- before I change my mind."' Herod says to Christ, "Prove to me that you are no fool -- walk across my swimming pool."' The Apostles say, "Always hoped I'd be an apostle…. Then when we retire we can write the gospels, so they'll still talk about us when we've died."' Mary Magdelene says, "I turn my head, I back away; I wouldn't want to know; he scares me so; I want him so; I love him so."'  Rock music lyrics can also encourage revolu­tion. Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones in "Street Fighting Man" says: Everywhere I hear the sound of marching, chargin' feet, boy-- The sound of fear and the time is ripe for rising in the streets, boy Cause, what can a poor boy do-- except sing in a rock 'n' roll band Cause sleepy London town is no place for a street fighting man   Elton John sings in "Burn Down the Mission": Behind four walls of stone The rich man sleeps It's time we put the flame torch To their keep.   Songs like "Imagine" by John Lennon are sometimes sung at Christian rock concerts, but nowhere in these lyrics is the Lord edified. Imagine there's no heaven It's easy if you try No hell below us Above us only sky Living for today Imagine there's no countries It isn't hard to do Nothing to kill or die for And no religion too Imagine all the people Living life in peace Imagine no possessions I wonder if you can No need for greed or hunger A brotherhood of man Imagine all the people Sharing all the world You may say I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will be as one   Mr. Myra and Mr. Merrill's premise is that this music is basically harmless. How can anything that can so affect your mind and body be perfectly harmless! Will putting Christian lyrics to this music suddenly change it and make it acceptable? No! The beat of that music will touch you regardless of what the lyrics say.  Maybe it is time that Christians take a closer look at the kind of music that young people are being subjected to every day. This music has worked its way into churches under the guise of Christian music and people are accepting it simply because the lyrics include the name of Jesus. Shouldn't we look beyond the "love and peace" lyrics and see what this music is all about?    The Above Taken From and Distributed By:  BIBLE BELIEVER'S BULLETIN P.O. Box 7135, Pensacola, FL 32534 (904) 477-8812   Dear Reader,    Have you considered your need of Jesus Christ as Personal Savior? The Bible says "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth" and salvation is "by grace through faith" without works of the law. Won't you today admit your need of deliver­ance from guilt and sin and trust Jesus Christ as your all sufficient Savior?
Are you saved? is not the place for you!   Click the "HELL" to find out.
Back to List

Bible Study Sunday School: 12:00PM
Sunday Morning Service: 10:30AM
Sunday Afternoon Service : 2:30PM