Is Christian Rap or Rock back for the youth? Or is it a tool to save lives?

Back? Has it ever left? I listened to Christian "rock" growing up and as a college student. . . loved it. It helped me. I am not much of a rapster, but don't have a problem with Christian rap.

 

Would "stripping for Jesus" be OK if the girl had "Jesus Saves" tattood on her butt?

 

It all depends on what you believe about salvation and how a person is drawn to the Lord.

 

I like Ray Buchanon's CD...

It has been edifying to me.

 

We need to go to the Bible and see what it says is the power of salvation, and how people are truly drawn to obey the gospel. What any of us "thinks" is really irrelevant if our opinion is out of alignment with the word of God. Then we can ask, "how does _______ fit in with what the Bible says?"

Sgt. Fury

 

It is the selling out of the church - to the world.

When the idol of the pagans enters the church - the idol corrupts the church rather than the church cleansing the idol

 

I think what Billwald means is (and I know where this leads before even going there, but oh,well) an objective observer may have difficulty watching the modern "Christian Rock" concert in view of Titus 2:11-14 (esp. the part about soberly, righteously, godly, and peculiar). my experience has been that Christian kids do Christian rock because they don't want to be sober or peculiar. I only hazard to walk in this discussion because of verse 15. :thumbs:

 

I agree with Bob. Error is not diluted by truth. Truth is diluted by error.

Rom 1:16 tells us that the gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation of both Jews and Gentiles, and 1 Cor 1:18-21 tells us that it is by the preaching of the gospel that people will be saved.

The ideas that men come up with to make a profit under the guise of "spreading the gospel" are just that - men's ideas. Just like seemingly anything people choose to do for whatever reason takes on an air of godliness as soon as they call it their "ministry". Please.

2 Pet 2:1-3 speaks of the false teachers that would creep into the church bringing false doctrine with them, and leading many away from the truth, even to the point of speaking evil of it. And notice in 2:3, that "...through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you..."

Follow the money...

 

I didn't mean to include every musician either. But the scriptures do not authorize preaching the gospel through music.

I would agree that many "Christian" artists are very sincere in what they're doing, in that they have a desire for people to be saved and hope that what they're doing will help make that happen.

But sincerity is not enough on it's own. We must worship in spirit (sincerely) and in truth (according to God's word).

I could be sincere in my plea that people offer an animal sacrifice to atone for their sins, but it would be for nought because the New Testament does not authorize the offering of animal sacrifices to deal with sins.

Again, I did not intend to imply that all religious musicians and songwriters are only in it for the money. Lots are, but not all. My point, however poorly made, was that music (of any style) is not the way that God has authorized to spread the gospel. Preaching is.

 

Yeah, I'm not sure what was going on there. Music soothes the savage beast, I guess. A couple things to keep in mind, though, are that:

1. David was not delivering the gospel of Christ,
2. This took place under the Mosaic Law,
3. This is not something we see repeated in either Old or New Testaments.

Under the NT, the music commanded through the apostle Paul must be able to teach and admonish (Col 3:16) as we speak to one another (Eph 5:19). There is simply no musical instrument but the voice that can do this.

Additionally, the congregational singing commanded under the NT is done among Christians, who have already responded to the preaching of the gospel. While it is true that doctrine is referred to in many hymns, very few if any encompass the facts, promises, and commands of the gospel of Christ.

On the other hand, many sermons contain all of these elements, instructing the lost on how to be saved, and the saved on how to remain faithful.

 

Sgt Fury,

They dont "authorize" the preaching of the gospel through a microphone, either. Do we do away with microphones?

The scripture says "let everything that as breath, praise the Lord."

Musicians have breath.

And God certainly approves of praising the Lord with Musical instruments...

Do you approve of "praising the Lord" with music, as long as the gospel isnt included?

And for the record, most contemporary groups that I have seen share the gospel with words during the time in between songs.

God bless,

Mike

 

Hmmm, another thread with someone nitpicking what might be sin instead of worrying about what IS a sin.

Let me just say: Christian rock/rap, bleck. CC and Southern gospel are more to my taste.

Now let me say this:

Isa 55:11So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

If the Word is going out, the form it takes is less important than the result it will bring and the results are NOT our responsiblity.

 

Sorry...incorrect interpretation (your interpretation is sounding mighty Church of Christ-ish).

If you're going to be consistent, then no singing at all would have to be your practice...because singing isn't mentioned. It says nothing about "singing," so thus by your logic, we can't do it.

 

Is preaching central to worship? You bet. Is it an essential way to communicate the Gospel? Yup. Is it the only way, e. g., is God limited to it? Nope. See Romans 1:

If God can reveal Himself through creation, then that in and of itself takes us beyond the spoken word.

 

Creation is sufficient evidence to prove that God is, but we cannot learn how to be saved from nature. Only the word of God can tell us that.