My mom sent me an email today about this Amazing Machine built entirely from John Deere products that will soon be on display at the Smithsonian. While the email was a hoax, the video is still really cool. Check out the hoax alert here:
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_amazing_music_machine.htm
In this article we are told that “it is an incredible 3D computer animation created by Wayne Lytle and his team at Animusic in Austin, Texas.”
So … enjoy the cool music and the fun video.
I just finished reading an article published in the January 2007 edition of “The Baptist Banner” entitled Opinion: “Christian” Rock and Rap. Before you go jumping to your own preconceived judgements, this doesn’t mean that I believe Baptist is a bad thing. I will tell you that I will not support “The Baptist Banner” any longer (through reading or financial support) due to the irresponsibility of publishing an article like the one I am going to talk about here.
The article’s basic premesis is that Rock and Roll and Rap music can never be considered Christian because of the style of music it is … no matter what the lyrics are. This is simply hog wash.
I am going to list the “items” that the article included to make a determination that all Christian Rock and Rap is bad. I will also include my brief (and sometimes very antagonistic) remarks with the items.
I would love to hear what you have to say about this topic. Post a comment if you want (in support or standing against.) 
Banner Article: (1) Rock music was born in the rebellion and darkness of the drug culture and the devil-worshiping crowd. Rap came on the scene in disco joints, which were originally places for homosexuals to congregate. The rock and rap performers openly state that their music is rebellion and sex! Having been born of evil seed, it could not be also something that has sprung forth from the heart of a Spirit-filled, God-inspired, Christian musician.
My Comments: While rap music may have been a part of disco, that’s not where it got it’s beginning. It began in the inner cities. Check out this Wikipedia article on it …
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hip_hop_music
And we all know where rock music got it’s start. Who could forget the king himself … Elvis Presley.
What’s sad, is that the same people who stand against Christian Rock and Rap are all about Country Gospel (which I love mind you). Check out this article that I found about the history of Country Music:
In the eighty plus years of country music history, its sound and style has changed dramatically, at least in some respects. In its earliest years, it was the honky-tonk sound from the likes of Ernest Tubb and Hank Williams that made up the genre of country music. Roadside pubs and meeting houses throughout Oklahoma and Texas were packed every Friday and Saturday evening with fans and curiosity seekers alike, anxious to listen to the fast-rising sounds of steel guitars and drums. Those pubs were popular though for more than just the latest craze in American music—the repeal of prohibition in 1933 also relaxed the minds of many when it came to public drinking; now the audiences could enjoy their favorite music and alcoholic beverages at the same time.
Banner Article: (2) Some “heavy-metal” rock groups call themselves Christians, however, they dress and act like the devil’s rock groups – weird and wild!
My Comments: The devil’s rock groups??? Do those groups have horns and pitch forks? How can a rational argument include a statement like this. This is definitely opinionated and judgmental. This is just a stupid statement to make.
Banner Article: (3) Using words from Scripture doesn’t necessarily make the music godly and Christ-honoring.
My Comments: He is right about this. But I believe (and know) many people sitting in our churches today singing hymns and praise songs that aren’t honoring God either. We all know that God looks at the heart and not the show that you put on in front of people. Goes to say that there are people singing rock and rap that are gaining an audience in front of God on a daily basis.
Banner Article: (4) The rhythms, beat, wildness, and body gestures of the heathenish rock and rap concerts cannot be to God’s glory – regardless of good words!
My Comments: I’ve been to many Christian rock and rap concerts. I have not experienced such movements as described above. I wonder if the writer of this article has ever been to one before placing such harsh criticism and judgment. I doubt it.
Banner Article: (5) Satan will go to any extreme to pollute the worship of God! His worship is to be done “in Spirit and in truth” and to be done “decently and in order.”
My Comments: I agree. But I’m sure that I disagree on this writer’s interpretation of “in Spirit and in truth” and “decently and in order”.
Banner Article: (6) Heathen ways of worship are despised by God, Who calls believers to “abstain from all appearance of evil.”
My Comments: First of all … what are “Heathen ways of worship?” In my mind, I see sacrificing humans and sexual orgies. I would never compare Christian rock and rap to this.
Banner Article: (7) Believers are to offer up to God in worship – offerings of “praise and thanksgiving…singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord.” Our music is to be an offering that is pure and spotless – holy, that is. God’s word to Israel: “And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean.” (LEVIT. 10:10) Israel’s priests disappointed God: “Her priests have violated My law, and have profaned My holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they showed difference between the unclean and clean…” (EZEKIEL 22:26) There is no way that, in good conscience, a believer can call rock or rap music “holy” and “clean!”
My Comments: Why is there no way that we can call rock or rap “holy” or “clean?” I believe I can do that with a very clear conscience. Because I firmly believe God is looking at the heart. Let’s not try to define “holy” and “clean” as “my way or no way.”
Banner Article: (8) Rock and rap music is offered on Satan’s altars. It is a desecration to offer on God’s altar music that is neither “clean” or “holy” – regardless of the fusing of it with godly words!
My Comments: What???? This is just stupid.
Banner Article: (9) Rock and rap music are addictive and such addiction has spread rapidly throughout Christendom.
My Comments: I wonder which lab they tested this in? And what did their control group look like? hmmmm ….
Banner Article: (10) Sincerity and “getting results” are not sure evidence that anything is holy or pleasing to God.
My Comments: Sincerity and “getting results” are a good start. I find that people usually don’t like these standards because they aren’t seeing sincerity or “getting results” in their churches. Are people be ministered to? Are people being saved? Are lives being changed? I say yes to all of these because I’ve seen it.
Banner Article: (11) The harsh, banging beat of “Christian” rock could not be motivated by the Holy Spirit! In fact, the same beat – with special emphasis on the drums – is what is used to call down evil spirits in many heathen cultures!
My Comments: How does a person know for sure if something is motivated by the Holy Spirit. And in the Psalms, we often read of how they praised God by the clashing of cymbals and the beating of drums.
Banner Article: (12) A “corrupt tree” cannot bring forth good fruit. The “fruit” of rock and rap music does not produce holiness and purity – or a hunger and thirst for Christ and His life-style!
My Comments: Wrong!
Banner Article: (13) “If any man love the world, or the things that are of the world (system), the love of the Father is not in him.” (I John 2:15)
My Comments: I totally agree because it is scripture. However, the author of this document is misusing Scripture to support his own Pharisaical view point.
Banner Article: (14) Believers are to be “ambassadors for Christ” (II Corinthians 5:19-20), and if they stand up for God and His things, they are on the side opposed to rock and rap music. God’s music soothes the soul and gives an inner peace, which the rock and rap cannot do – regardless of the words.
My Comments: Maybe rock and rap can’t do that for him, but for others, it can. And I don’t think God has ever told anyone he was opposed to rock and rap. I think it’s very dangerous to put words in the mouth of God.
Banner Article: (15) Legalistic rules will not help the situation. We must simply ask: “Does rock and rap music, which originated in Satan’s realm of darkness, please God when He hears it in His places of worship – or in any other places, for that matter?” After consideration of God’s Word and under the prompting of the Holy Spirit, the answer to that question is obvious: God abhors it! It would be well for every Christian to reevaluate their stand regarding music, and try to figure out from the Bible and by the leading of the Holy Spirit what kind of music is a God-pleasing offering of worship. It would seem that a God-inspired musician could come up with sounds and rhythms prompted by the Holy Spirit. Then, adding appropriate lyrics, there would be wonderful opportunities for Christians to be obedient to the command found in Ephesians 5:18b-19: “…be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”
My Comments: He started this paragraph correctly. “Legalistic rules will not help”. If he had started with that one, maybe he wouldn’t have submitted this stupid article to begin with. Have you ever read anything more legalistic.
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Why is it that people like this continue to think that only their style of music should be the standard. We are all made different. We have all been given different tastes. We each go through changes through our own lives. How about we respect that and stop being so judgmental about the stupid things … such as this … and we instead put our efforts toward spreading the Gospel … however God calls you to do that.
To tear down the lives that have been changed because of groups such as DC Talk or Petra or Kutless is simply irresponsible. It angers me … and thus, my blog.
Can’t wait to hear from you on this one.
Go with God,
Donald B
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