Christian prog vs secular prog

Music is a tool. It can be used for good or evil. Take for instance a scalpel. In the hands of surgeon it can save a life from death. In the hands of a killer the same scalpel can murder someone. Is the scalpel itself good or evil? No it is neither. It is just a tool. So in the hands of who posses it and uses it determines the effect that it has. Rock n Roll is not satanic in itself. It is a tool used by the devil to deceive millions of people. It is powerful and emotional. It brings out strong opinions in everyone. Christian Rock n Roll on the other hand is not good or evil it is a tool used by the church to reach people young and old with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It sways people to live for Jesus and to worship him in a way that is relevant to today's society. It is not a sell out. God never called us to be like the status quo. He asks us to be who we were created to be. God looks on the heart, not on the appearance. What matters is where we are at with Him.

- Christian Rock?, by Ric Llewellyn, published by Fundamental Evangelistic Association: This tract carefully details the Biblical screens any music must pass before it can be labeled as "Christian" (Eph. 5:18,19; Col. 3:16); i.e., the music must contain correct doctrine, and (a) its lyrics should be edifying, spiritually oriented, clear, conforming to biblical truth, and point our focus to Jesus Christ, (b) its score (the arrangement of the musical notes) should not overshadow the message conveyed by the lyrics, but should compliment it, and (c) its character (the "attitudes" in the music and of the performers) should be consistent with the purity of the message it claims to convey (reverence, worshipful, etc.). (Each of the above screens must stand on its own; i.e., one "good" aspect of the music's nature cannot sanctify any of the others.) (Please refer to Eph. 5:18,19 and Col. 3:16 at the end of this report.)

(a) Lyrics - Our spiritual songs must be sufficiently clear so as to convey the truth plainly, and must be consistent with biblical revelation (i.e., sound doctrine)-the words should focus upon the Lord Jesus Christ and encourage practical submission to God's order in all our personal affairs. Most contemporary Christian music can be rejected on the basis of lyrics alone-even when the lyrics are audibly clear, the predominance of false doctrine and/or the shallow view of the person and work of Jesus Christ is often appalling.

(b) Score - The meaning of the word psalms originally denoted a striking or twitching with the fingers (on musical strings); only later did it come to mean a sacred song sung to musical accompaniment (Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words). Our psalms, or the arrangement of the musical notes, is a vital ingredient of the all-encompassing term we call "music." This is because it is the area in which we are usually the most ignorant; i.e., medical research clearly supports the contention that musical tones and rhythms in and of themselves (i.e., without lyrics) can cause physical and "emotional" reactions over which the listener may have little or no control. Since the score of contemporary Christian rock music, with its syncopation and slurring of notes, is virtually indistinguishable from its secular counterpart, one has to wonder if spirituality is being eroded and carnality is being propagated. (One should always assess "Christian" music thusly: does it stir the flesh to "boogie," or the spirit to praise the Lord?)

(c) Character - Our hymns, or the character of the music, is its most obscure component. The character of much of what is called "Christian" music may best be characterized as charismatic, irreverent, universalist, socialist utopian idealistic, superficial religiousness, neo-evangelical, expressionistic, ostentatious, or in a myriad of other contexts (e.g.; What is the character of the music at a so-called Christian rock concert when whatever message is presented is punctuated by screaming guitars, smoke bombs, and a general atmosphere of frivolity?) And because the character of the music is not always readily apparent to the listener, it can have the most insidious effect on believers; i.e., tolerance or acceptance of false doctrine can arise from constant subjection to deficient and improper attitudes in music. The character of "Christian" music is easily adopted by listeners, which can then draw them away from the firm foundation of the Word. Music worthy of the name "Christian" ought to stimulate and simulate emotions compatible with true spirituality-the appropriate response to God and His Word.