Should Christian listen to Christian “Rock”?
Pastor Scott Snyder
There is probably no greater debate in Christianity than what music can a Christian listen to. The purpose of this
article is not to discuss every type of music or to tell each Christian what kind of music they can and cannot listen
to. I know that there is great difference of opinion of what music Christian can listen to; there is music that we use
for worship in our church and there is music that we would not use for worship in our church, but that does not
make it bad music. But we must apply Biblical principles to what we listen to even secular music.
This is an article about music that is called “rock”.
There are some that say a Christian can listen to any music; especially if it can be used to give the gospel of
Jesus Christ and possibly see people come to know Christ. Rick Warren of Saddleback Church takes this view in
his book Purpose Driven Church and in his Christian walk. In fact, he states that one of his greatest thrills was
singing “Purple Haze” a Jimi Hendrix song at a Christian concert.
The first music director: The Bible tells us that Satan himself was the director of music in heaven. In the book of
Ezekiel 28:12-17 there is a description of the “King of Tyre,” which all Bible Scholar agree is really a picture of
Satan. In verse 13 there is the phrase, “pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.” The idea
here is that Satan had a “musical purpose” created in him at his creation. Knowing that Satan was created with a
musical purpose, it is not difficult to believe that Satan would find a way to use music against God’s purposes.
Understanding this is of great importance. Because if this is true it would imply that all music is not “neutral” or
“good.”
Do you know what the word “oxymoron” means? It is putting together two things that are completely different and
could not possible go together. Let me illustration the word, a fat skinny person is an oxymoron. It is not possible
to be a fat person and also be a skinny person at the same time. “Christian Rock” is an oxymoron. They cannot
possible go together in truth. A Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 11:1) the sinless Son of God (2 Cor.
5:21), the second Person of the Trinity (Matt. 28:19), the One that shed is blood on the cross that we might have
eternal life (1 Peter 2:24). The word “Rock” comes from the term “Rock-n-Roll.” A disk jockey named Alan Freed
from Detroit MI, decided to name this new music after a term used for “pre-marital sex in the back seat of a car-
hence, the term “rock-n-roll” was coined.
If this is true, one could easily say that “Christian Rock” (Music) is the daughter of “Secular Rock” (Music). But
maybe you are in agreement with the “Christian Rock” Band “Petra,” who in the lyrics of one of their songs state
that:
“God gave rock ‘n’ roll to you,
Put it in the soul of everyone,
If you love the sound,
And don’t forget the Source,
You can turn-a-around,
You can change your course.”
I would agree with this much, God gave us music. But God did not give us “Christian Rock Music.” Man gave us
“Christian Rock” music, not God. There are many illustrations of things God gave us, like sex, God gave sex to
Adam and Eve the first couple and set one demand for it; it should happen in the confines of marriage. Were
they become “one flesh” (Gen. 2:24). But man has distorted the uses of sex for personal pleasure. It is now
“acceptable” for pre-marital sex, homosexuality, and many other perverted uses of sex.
So if God gave us music and man gave us “Christian Rock” how can for tell which we should listen to? Here is a
list of guidelines that should help us with our music and can very easily be applied to our entertainment choices
also.
1 Does the music have as its purpose the goal to glorify God? (1 Cor. 10:31)
2 Does it help us glorify God with our bodies or does in unleash unbiblical impulses and responses? (1 Cor.
6:19-20)
3 Does it help us maintain separation from the world or does it blur the distinctiveness of the Christian
lifestyle and message? (2 Cor. 6:17)
4 Does it help us think biblical thought or does it bring a spirit of rebellion to my thought life? (Phil. 4:8; 2
Cor. 10:5)
5 Does the artist look more like secular rock musicians or like Christ like individuals? (Rom. 12:2; 2 Tim. 4:
10; Jam. 4:4) Just a thought - Would you allows one of your children to marriage one of these “Christian Rock”
musicians?
6 Does the clothing and speech of the artist help me with modesty and edifying speech or does it hurt my
modesty and speech? (1 Tim 2:9; Eph 4:29)
You still want to argue for the uses of this music?
1 What about all the people who come to Christ through listening to “Christian Rock?” If a person is saved
because of “Christian Rock” they are not saved, you are saved by “faith through grace in Jesus Christ.” (Eph 2:8-
9) So called results do not proof that Jesus is behind it (Matt 7:15, 21-23).
2 Jesus went out and mingled with sinners so should we? Jesus never went into a den of sin, nor did He
ever copy the ways of the world (John 17:14; Heb 7:26).
3 We have to use this rock music because it is the only the youth of this generation can be reached? The
Bible answer this directly in 2 Cor. 6:14-17.
4 What about the church father, Martin Luther, who took tavern songs of the day and fit them with Christian
words, thus sanctifying the Devil’s music for church? The difference between sacred and secular did not exist as
it does today.
A good response to the argument against Christian rock is - "Our music cannot be like the music of the world,
because our God is not like their gods. Most of the world’s music reflects the world’s ways, the world’s standards,
the world’s attitudes, the world’s gods. To attempt to use such music to reach the world is to lower the gospel in
order to spread the gospel. If the world hears that our music is not much different from theirs, it will also be
inclined to believe that the Christian way of life is not much different from theirs."
Some Concluding thoughts on Christian Rock – I know that a two page article is not the answer to the question,
“Should Christian listen to Christian Rock.?” But I also know that we must start some place to answer this difficult
question. For the Christian the Word of God must be are starting and ending place. I also know that some
people are going to say I can listen to any music I want and it will not hurt my relationship with the Lord; this is the
view that many fellow brothers and sister “in Christ,” saved people have taken. Including many Pastors of some
very large churches. But because one person does something does not make it pleasing to God. Sadly many
Christian’s will judge the effectiveness of music based on the yardstick of the flesh, instead by the yardstick of the
Spirit through the Word of God; let us not be one of those the judges by the flesh.
Attached to this article is a list of Book and Web sites.
One final thought – Is there a difference between acceptable church music and acceptable home music? Yes, I
belief there is a difference. Church music is of a much narrower focus. At home, songs that are little more fun,
less worship oriented, even secular, can be song and not hurt are Christian testimony or are relationship with the
Lord. These songs, should still meet the requirement of good music.
Bibliography
All books in bold can be borrowed from Pastor Snyder’s library:
Blanchard, John. – Pop Goes the Gospel. – Evangelical Press, 1983
Ellsworth, Donald. – Christian Music in Contemporary Witness. – Baker Book House, 1979
Fisher, Tim. – The Battle for Christian Music. – Sacred Music Services, 1992
Fisher, Tim. – Harmony at Home. – Sacred Music Services, 1994
Garlock, Frank and Kurt Woetzel. – Music in Balance. – Majesty Music, 1992
Godwin, Jeff. – Dancing with Demons. – Chick Publications, 1988
Godwin, Jeff. - What’s Wrong with Christian Rock? – Chick Publications, 1990
Lucarini, Dan. – Why I left the Contemporary Christian Movement, - Evangelical Press
Marrs, Texe. – Ravaged by the New Age. – Living Truth Publishers, 1989
Martin, Liberty. – A Study of Biblical Music Principles, - Ambassador Baptist College
Osbeck, Kenneth. – The Endless Song. – Kregel Publications, 1987
Peck, Richard. – Rock: Making Musical Choices. – Bob Jones University Press, 1985
Pickering, Ernest. – The Kind of Music that God Honors. – 1988
Robbins, Larry. – Music Why We Do It This Way, - Tri-City Baptist Church
Sweatt, Danny. – Church Music: Sense and Nonsense. – Bob Jones University Press, 1981
Tame, David. – The Secret Power of Music. – Destiny Books, 1984
Web Sites:
www.av611.org
www.FreedomMinistries.org.uk
www.cyberhymnal.org
www.sharperiron.org/category/christian-living/music/