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Post by adonijah on Jun 12, 2006 23:14:31 GMT -5
We are to be in the world, not of the world. To many times "Christians" are trying to mock the world to entice the lost. Salvation is not a sales gimmick. Jesus is the one truth. When He taught, He gave the words of the Father. He did not attempt to make it palatable. Weather we preach, teach, sing or whatever we are to "Preach Christ and Him Crucified"
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Post by Watchman on Jun 13, 2006 11:31:04 GMT -5
So very true. We must always remember that friendship with the world is emnity against God, and that just because something is labled 'Christian' does not make it so.
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czygyny
Contributing Member
Ears to hear!
Gardening in Babylon
Posts: 6
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Post by czygyny on Jun 23, 2006 12:22:13 GMT -5
You blessed folks don't know me well, I haven't posted much of worth-but I want you to understand that I often like to (gently-at least I hope that is the way it is always taken) challenge people on their beliefs. I am something of a wild-sheep, a bit bold and strong minded (for a 'ewe' ) and I have been immersed in the most devilish of careers-advertising-for 25 years. I am also sure of my salvation in Yeshua, who has called me out, chosen me to awaken from my worldly slumber, and I am determined to be found faithful (by His blood, His will, and His direction in my life). I view Christian rock as a 'milk' ministry for babes in the Word. It is palatable for people who are not mature. I have found some of the songs very edifying in times of crisis in my life. I make no apologies for listening to many of the more popular artists in Christian music. I am finding out, however, that as I 'come out of her', this world of Babylon, that I am finding this music less and less helpful and uplifting. One thing that helped me wean myself from the popular group 'MercyMe' was the video of their concert where the keyboardist flashed the devil's 'horns' hand signal to the camera. Immediately I was convicted in my heart to steer away from them. Their music is very seductive, and I am understanding more and more that much of this music is calculated to be seductive to the human ear and heart. Where does one cross the line? If it has a drum beat it is evil? Is an acapella group like Take6, evil? Or is all we have to listen to are old hymns sung in heavy vibrato, accompanied by an old wheezy church organ? Now, I am trying to be a bit facetious here--but do you get my point? I have been involved with music for all of my life. I played many instruments in school and have a wide and varied taste in music. I just don't find the width and breadth of style in 'sacred' music that I could enjoy. None-the-less, I predominately listen to sacred music, music that glorifies YHWH and edifies my heart, following the lead of the Spirit as It takes me. Will I be castigated by believers for listening to classical music? Accapella music? Jazz? I hope not. I am attentive to the ministrations of the Spirit, and am always checking my 'garments' to see if they've become smudged with the world. Perhaps I just haven't grown enough, yet, to dismiss all this music as 'evil', and of no worth. If so, I invite the Spirit within to convict me, today. I am on a journey home to a place I have never been before, to a Father I have never met, and a Bridegroom who expects an unblemished bride. Yikes, how short of the mark we all fall!
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Post by Watchman on Jun 23, 2006 15:23:39 GMT -5
"Will I be castigated by believers for listening to classical music? Accapella music? Jazz? I hope not. "
It is my hope and prayer that none of the information we present is in a manner which makes people feel that they are being made 'less than', or that we 'judge' in a way that causes the individual to loose faith.
We are all (hopefully!) on the same narrow path, some a bit further along, some only getting started. Each of us must be convinced of our iniquity by the Holy Spirit- and when this occurs we must bring forth the true fruit of repentance. This is the 'work' of our walk with Christ.
I personally have witnessed the overt satanism and occultic influance in what is today known as 'Christian Rock'. I have also been led by the Spirit to the understanding that Satan had a counterfeit for EVERY good thing of God, and it is clear to me that Satan has full control of the entire world, and infuences us on every level through what we allow to be communicated to our minds by external sources. He is going about 'like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may destroy'.
I pray we will come boldly to the throne of grace, and stand unashamed before Christ on THAT DAY! Boldness in faith comes only through holiness.
Our lives must be about perfecting holiness in the fear of Yahweh, through this we will obtain the crown of righteousness, and receive His promise of eternal life! This is an awsome understanding that has caused men, myself included, to turn away from the world as is possible, then to strive for an even more perfect seperation. 'Christian' rock has it's roots in paganized abominable churchianity, and it does not glorify Jesus Christ in TRUTH, nor does it edify the Body of Christ. We must seek to be full of light, with no part dark. GLORY!
The truth of the matter is that we need to be in constant prayer and worship Yahweh from a humble and contrite spirit. As we do this, as we seek His Kingdom and His righteousess, He will open our minds to what we need to gain / remove from our lives. He will lead us to truth in all things.
Take a look at Romans Chapter 14. This is Paul expressing how we should conduct ourselves as those who follow in the footsteps of Yeshua. It is my prayer that we correctly proclaim Christian liberty as the Servants of the Most High God!
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Post by adonijah on Jun 25, 2006 11:59:10 GMT -5
For me, It's not the way the music sounds, or the genre that bothers me. Its the point of the "saved" trying to look like the lost, just as though Christians have to prove to the secular world that they are not "loosing" anything in becoming a Christian. "See, we got all the same stuff." How many times has a "Christian" group like P.O.D. had a salvation message or an invitation at the end of their concerts. We are commanded to spread the Gospel. If a group can come forward and sing the true gospel and be an example of correct doctrine then I'm all for them. These Groups, weather we are talking about "Christian" rock or rap, have to realize they have put themselves under the microscope the day they went into the spot light. You can't go around singing, talking, and acting like the world and expect to get the right message across.
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meek
Contributing Member
Posts: 1
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Post by meek on Oct 12, 2006 16:31:01 GMT -5
When I hear Contemporary "Christian" music, I am reminded of what Yahshua said to the Pharisees:
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. Matthew 23:27
Music is an art, it is many times an EXPRESSION of deep feeling, an outlet for pent-up emotions and frustrations. When we sing of "Wonderful Times" and the "Happiness & Joy of the Lord" -- we are painting a picture of hypocrisy for all to see, and putting our God's name on this, and making a PROFIT on this as well!! Do we really think He *winks* at this?
I, for one, would rather listen to P.O.D. than drippy, sappy, fake "all is well in Zion" music. Because ALL IS NOT WELL IN ZION! We are living in a wicked and perverse time, and if we are living right, living the way we ought to live -- with the kingdom of heaven in our sights -- we are not going to have an easy time of it. This life sucks big time.
An "altar call" is not anyone's ticket to heaven. It is a life that exemplifies the Love of our Heavenly Father to ALL people, not only knowing and acknowledging Yahshua as the Only Begotten Son of God who died and was raised on the third day to offer us the free gift of salvation -- for the devil KNOWS this sure enough -- but DOING AS HE SAYS.
I have heard more truth in the lyrics of so-called "evil" rock music than I have ever heard in church. Many see through the hypocrisy & lies which are the mainstay of our apostate religion today. Ever listened to the lyrics of these "evil" songs?
Can anyone guess this artist?
"There's no money, there's no possessions Only obsessions, I don't need that **** Take my money, take my obsession
I just want to be heard, loud and clear are my words Comin' from within man, tell 'em what you heard It's about a revolution in your heart and in your mind You can't find the conclusion, life-style and obsession Diamond rings get you nothing but a life long lesson And your pocket-book stressin' You're a slave to the system, working jobs that you hate For that **** you don't need It's too bad the world is based on greed Step back and stop thinking about yourself Start thinking about
There's no money, there's no possessions Only obsession, I don't need that **** Take my money, take my possessions Take my obsession, I don't need that ****
Cause everything is nothing and emptiness is in everything This reality is really just a ***** up dream With the flesh and the blood that you call your soul Flip it inside out, it's a big black hole Take your money, burn it up like an asteroid Possessions they are never gonna fill the void Take it away and learn the best lesson The heart, the soul, the life, the passion
Present yourself press your clothes Comb your hair and clock-in You just can't win Just can't win The things you own, own you"
While mainstream televangelists and "so called" Christian music stars are singing about Yahweh's physical blessings on this earth (which are actually NOT the treasures we are supposed to be storing up) some of those "evil" sinners are coming to grips with their own wickedness and crying out to a God that has never been shown to them -- for those that are "claiming" to be representing Him are busy riding around in fancy cars and plastering their faces all over His message.
They assure everyone that "life will be just grand" as long as you ask Jesus into your life, and when life's troubles hit and they don't experience the neverending peace & prosperity that was promised to them - the mainstream lies -- they then turn away from God, which is in direct contradiction to the truth that following in the steps of Yahshua is NOT politically correct nor is it profitable and peaceful.
Now, if Yahshua came today, who do you think He would come to? Who would he "hang out with" -- oh, that's right, we already have an account of that in our bibles:
While Yahshua was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Mark 2:15-17
"I got a candle And I've got a spoon I live in a hallway with no doors And no rooms
Under a windowsill They all were found A touch of concrete within the doorway Without a sound
Someone save me if you will And take away all these pills And please just save me if you can From the blasphemy in my wasteland
How did I get here And what went wrong Couldn't handle forgiveness Now I'm far beyond gone
I can hardly remember The look of my own eyes How can I love this a life so dishonest It made me compromise
Someone save me if you will And take away all these pills And please just save me if you can From the blasphemy in my wasteland
Jump in the water Jump in with me Jump on the alter Lay down with me
The hardest question to answer Is why
Why
Someone save me if you will And take away all these pills And please just save me if you can From the blasphemy in my wasteland
Someone save me Someone save me Somebody save me Somebody save me Please don't erase me"
***
I say he who is righteous among us, cast the first stone. Rock music or drums or electric guitars will not cause anyone to burn in hell. It is what comes out of the man that we will be judged on. Does Yahweh not hear the cries of those whom He loves?
***
"I walk into the room you don't have to scream i can hear you bad trip, the needle sticks you get your kicks from confrontation i try to make it past i don't wanna get into it right now can't this family have one day to get away from all the pain
and through the night i see the light shining from the neighbor's windows i dream of life where i'm safe in a home where i am not alone some day i will lay me down on the grass where everything is greener it always seems so good on the other side
i'm sick of all the heat you can taste the hate in the air running through this family, uncomfortably it's burning me is anybody there in your eyes there's nothing to see just because your dreams have died don't drag me down, i've still got mine
neighbor boy runs up to me, his eyes all black and blue i say what happened to you boy, he said my daddy flew off the hook cos i was playin too loud i guess he couldn't hear the tv he said son i'm a teach you a lesson and then he .... and then he....
maybe it's not so good on the other side maybe it's not so good on the other side but it always seems so good, on the other side it always looks so good .... it always seems so good"
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Post by Watchman on Oct 21, 2006 10:23:46 GMT -5
Thanks for the input. Here are some verses I want to share with you that have to do with part of what you wrote:
"I say he who is righteous among us, cast the first stone. Rock music or drums or electric guitars will not cause anyone to burn in hell. "
Abstain from all appearance of evil. 1 Thess 5:22
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Matthew 7:18
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. James 4:4
Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 1 John 2:15-17
"It is what comes out of the man that we will be judged on. Does Yahweh not hear the cries of those whom He loves?"
Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart. Psalms 44:21
YHWH [is] far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous. Proverbs 15:29
But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Matthew 5:28
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, 'Be ye holy; for I am holy'.
And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning [here] in fear: forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, [as] silver and gold, from your vain conversation [received] by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, [see that ye] love one another with a pure heart fervently: being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
For all flesh [is] as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: but the word of the Lord endureth for ever.
And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. 1 Peter 1 13-25
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