(*) CCM
Romans 10:9
Harbor, WA 98277) - The following article by
Victor E. Sears first appeared in the Baptist Bible Tribune 18 years ago
under the title "Modernism in a New Form." It is
reprinted from The Fundamentalist Digest, Nov.-Dec. 1997 (Don Jasmin,
Editor, P.O. Box 2322, Elkton, MD 21922).
Victor Sears "was one of the early motivating figures in the Baptist Bible
Fellowship (BBF)." Writing in the Feb. 13, 1981, issue
of the Baptist Bible Tribune, R.O. Woodworth, former national
representative of the BBF, made the following comment about
Sears' article:
"Perhaps as much as any issue confronting Baptist Bible Fellowship, Brother
Sears is concerned about the 'hippy' music
creeping into our churches that antagonizes so many of our people.
Compounding the problem is the music program in many of
our schools. Consequently there is much liberal support for contemporary
music which Sears calls 'gospel garbage.' In an article
'Modernism in a New Form,' carried by the Baptist Bible Tribune recently,
which incidentally received wide acclaim, he points
out that the invasion of contemporary music into our churches will cause
irreparable harm unless it is checked."
Sadly, these warnings have been ignored by many Baptist Bible Fellowship
preachers. Dr. Jasmin, editor of the Fundamentalist
Digest, remarks: "In the BBF, contemporary Christian music not been checked
in many churches. Consequently, the BBF
movement has drifted aimlessly toward the New Evangelical orbit. Pastors,
if you don't want the next generation in your church
to become apostate, exercise oversight over your church music program NOW!"
MODERNISM IN A NEW FORM
By Victor E Sears
Forty years ago when I first entered the ministry, the word "modernism" was
on the lips of every fundamentalist. The word had
a connotation of such organizations as the Federal Council of Churches (now
the National Council of Churches and the World
Council of Churches). Individual names such as Harry Emerson Fosdick, Harry
Ward, E. Stanley Jones and others became
synonymous with our exposure of modernism or apostasy.
Many great pulpiteers and Bible expounders became well-known for their
battle against modernism. Included among these
were T.T. Shields, J. Frank Norris, Harvey Springer, Carl McIntyre, Bob
Ketchum, Bob Jones, Art Wilson, Noel Smith,
Archer Weniger, Henry Grubs, and a host of others too numerous to list. All
these men have been very close friends.
They fought seemingly insurmountable battles against apostasy and unbelief
in denominations and councils. These men were
giants in their day. They fought those who would bring false doctrine into
our churches and those who would attempt inclusive
policies of fellowship between fundamentalists and modernists. The lines
were definitely drawn so that people knew
unequivocally the difference between fundamentalists, neoevangelicals, and
modernists. Today these lines are fast becoming
obliterated.
CCM MUSIC--THE NEW FORM OF APOSTASY
Now there is a new form that modernism and apostasy has taken to creep
surreptitiously into our churches and destroy their
Scriptural testimony. THIS TIME IT DOES NOT COME IN THE FORM OF PREACHING
OR TEACHING, BUT
RATHER IN THE CARNAL PRODUCTION OF THE MUSICAL PROGRAM FROM MANY CHURCH
PLATFORMS. Much of the singing heard today by choirs and specials on the
average church platform is what is known as
contemporary or as soft rock and is often backed with the sound of canned
music that could be produced by the average dance
or disco band at the corner honky-tonk.
In my personal estimation, much noise or racket (certainly not music) is a
polluting stench in the nostrils of a holy God. With its
sensual tones, jungle beat, and night club presentation, it appeals to the
flesh rather than to the spirit. It motivates the carnal
interest instead of the new nature. The sad truth is that most of this new
contemporary, soft rock, offbeat style of music
was conceived in hell, hatched among the charismatic crowd, and printed in
their publishing houses.
BEWARE: CHARISMATIC MUSIC IS TAKING OVER OUR CHURCHES!
Good fundamental Baptists and others that refuse the teachings of the
charismatic crowd concerning tongues, signs, miracles,
and so forth are now singing their music in our churches and preparing our
people for the world, the flesh and the devil. It is the
new Trojan Horse move of modernism to deaden our churches to spiritual
truth. Icabod can be written over most of its
lyrics and notes. The sad part of this is that many of our pastors are not
aware of what is taking place. A lot of these musical
arrangements (arranged by the charismatics) come in the form of "canned
music" with the sound of drums, amplified guitars, plus
other instruments with the offbeat of the jungle just like you would expect
to hear in the honky-tonk saloon.
MUSIC THAT SOUNDS LIKE THE WORLD
I have heard several people say that it carries the same beat and swing
that they used to dance with before they were saved.
There is a sort of hippy-oriented "pop" flavor that is disgusting to any
consecrated Christian and must be repulsive to Almighty
God.
Too many soloists and groups singing such music put on the poise and style
of Hollywood entertainers. Many of these
"entertainers" wear clothing (or lack of it) that is the same as worn in
nightclubs. Often men have long hippy-type hair
arrangements that speak of the rebellion of this age and are a
contradiction of 1 Corinthians 11:14 where it states: "Doth not
even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame
unto him?" Many of these "entertainers" would not go
across the street to win a soul to Christ or attend a Bible study or prayer
meeting.
The average musical group turns up the public address system so high that
it destroys all hearing of the words and receiving of a
message. I heard B.R. Lakin say in Orlando, Florida, that the "average
quartet, if they sang in an auditorium the size of a
telephone booth, would want a public address system." This blatant,
senseless roaring of a PA system is ridiculous beyond
words. Its only ministry is NOISE, not even good-sounding noise.
SHALLOW HERETICAL LYRICS
The words of most of this contemporary music used in our churches is
shallow, unscriptural, and even heretical. Someone said
recently that "weak preaching always goes along with worldly music." That,
I believe, is the truth. Just as years ago we
preachers lifted up our voices against modernism as depicted by the
National Council and World Council of Churches, so today
we preachers need to "rise up like a tomcat spitting tobacco juice in a
bull dog's eye" and start preaching against the modernistic
evil of most contemporary and all rock music in our churches.
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PASTORS TO OVERSEE THE CHURCH'S MUSIC PROGRAM
We used to say that the musical program of the church prepared the way for
the pastor's sermon. I BELIEVE GOD HOLDS
THE PREACHER RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT GOES ON THE PLATFORM OF HIS CHURCH.
Possibly we need to
tie a knot in the tail of some of our song leaders. Some of them have gone
far too worldly in their musical programs. Let's get
back to the old time gospel hymns and singing that stirs the heart, brings
glory to God, and draws us closer to Him. The
old-time hymns like "Rock of Ages," "The Old Rugged Cross," "Throw out the
Lifeline," and "When the Roll is called Up
Yonder" are still relevant in this dark Laodicean age. "Thus saith the
Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old
paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for
your souls..." (Jer. 6:16).
--
Roman Catholicism VS Bible/Jesus
(They do NOT Teach the same thing!)
Get the facts at Http://members.xoom.com/soulwinner/catholic.htm
Benny Hinn?
Http://members.xoom.com/soulwinner/benny.htm
Kenneth Copeland?
Http://members.xoom.com/soulwinner/copeland.htm