Message from Russia about Christian rock music
Bill Rawlins
Moscow, Russia - The head of the Unregistered Inion of Churches in Russia
and an elder of the same group have sent an "Urgent Message to the churches
of America from... the Persecuted Church in Russia."
The letter, from Peter Peters and Vasilij Ryzhuk, was printed in
CHRISTIAN INFO NEWS, a monthly newspaper from British Colombia, Canada:
"For 30 years we have suffered intense persecution, and now freedom
is bringing another harm to our churches. This damage is coming from the
Christians in America who are sending rock music and evangelists accom-
panied by rock bands.
"Our young people do not attend these meetings, because we have all
committed not to participate in secular entertainment.
"This is a great burden on our hearts. Many come with Bible in hand
and rock music. We are embarrassed by this image of Christianity. We do
not know what words to use in urging that this be stopped. We abhor all
Christian rock music coming to our country.
"Rock music has nothing in common with ministry or service to God.
We are very, very against Christian Americans bringing to our country
this false image of 'ministry' to God. We need spiritual bread; please
give us true bread, not false cakes. It is true that rock music
attracts people to the church, but not to godly living.
[Some paragraphs omitted because I'm tired of typing...]
"...Even the unbelievers recognize it is unholy music and they
cannot understand how American Christians can be so much like the world.
We can give you the conclusion that after Russian unbelievers have
attended the rock concerts where Christ's Word was preached, the people
were very disappointed and disillusioned with Christianity.
"We call this 'music from hell'. We urge all Americans to stop
giving money for the organization of such concerts in Russia. We want
only traditional Christian music in our churches. This is the unanimous
decision of all our leaders."
--
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// Bill Rawlins <w...@atlanta.dg.com> //
// Data General Corp "My views are my own" //
// Norcross, GA //
==========================================================
John R Laplante
>From THE SCROLL, Parker, Arizona
>
> Moscow, Russia - The head of the Unregistered Inion of Churches in Russia
> and an elder of the same group have sent an "Urgent Message to the churches
> of America from... the Persecuted Church in Russia."
> "Rock music has nothing in common with ministry or service to God.
> We are very, very against Christian Americans bringing to our country
> this false image of 'ministry' to God. We need spiritual bread; please
> give us true bread, not false cakes. It is true that rock music
> attracts people to the church, but not to godly living.
> "We call this 'music from hell'. We urge all Americans to stop
> giving money for the organization of such concerts in Russia. We want
> only traditional Christian music in our churches. This is the unanimous
> decision of all our leaders."
Well, if you put the unregistered churches in America, they would probably
be somewhat more "liberal" than, say, Bob Jones. That's always been my
perception, so I'm not at all surprised at this declaration that
Christian rock is "music from hell."
Here we go again. Evaluate the argument and decide. I've decided that
"musical traditionalists" are wrong in condeming anything "contemporary."
I've argued here before that we need to evaluate this argument that
"if it ain't a I-IV-V chord progression, it's satanic" (with apologies and
credit to AJ Whitman). I think it can be defeated, and we need not
resort to calling those who propose it "narrow minded," as if that
were sufficient. In the same manner, I don't think that we should buy this
argument just because it comes from the persecuted church. They can be
wrong as those in the west.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
john r la plante graduate student, Ohio State University
jr...@osu.edu political analysis done while you wait
jason 'Think!' steiner
with some of the request. (you heard right.)
the Russian church has been isolated for a long time and is in dire
need of -serious- study materials. we take for granted that we can
go to a local bookstore & buy as many Bibles, concordances or whatnot
as our little hearts desire. that's not the case there.
i -don't- agree at all that any music that sounds like "rock" is bad.
(as if i had to say that...) however, before we spend money to send
tours over to the CIS it might be a good idea to evaluate whether we
shouldn't be sending other stuff instead.
if i want good music that makes me think, i'll listen to Christian
rock. if i want to grow i'll go to church, study my Bible & get
involved in discipleship. if people are asking for one it does little
good to give them the other.
jason
--
would you could you should you cross thru if i could wipe my eyes a blinding
compromise another pinky shave enlightens the brow now cow to die another day
if you prefer outside be blessed sir ostracize better bastard now forgotten
well instead of favored son of hell in hopes to open eyes - scaterd few, U
,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`,` jste...@anwsun.phya.utoledo.edu ,`,`,`
Rob Halsey
>In article <1992Oct8.2...@rambo.atlanta.dg.com> w...@atlanta.dg.com (Bill Rawlins) writes:
>>From THE SCROLL, Parker, Arizona
>>
>> Moscow, Russia - The head of the Unregistered Inion of Churches in Russia
>> and an elder of the same group have sent an "Urgent Message to the churches
>> of America from... the Persecuted Church in Russia."
>> "Rock music has nothing in common with ministry or service to God.
>> We are very, very against Christian Americans bringing to our country
>> this false image of 'ministry' to God. We need spiritual bread; please
>> give us true bread, not false cakes. It is true that rock music
>> attracts people to the church, but not to godly living.
[rest of article deleted]
> Well, if you put the unregistered churches in America, they would probably
> be somewhat more "liberal" than, say, Bob Jones. That's always been my
> perception, so I'm not at all surprised at this declaration that
> Christian rock is "music from hell."
> Here we go again. Evaluate the argument and decide. I've decided that
> "musical traditionalists" are wrong in condeming anything "contemporary."
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>john r la plante graduate student, Ohio State University
>jr...@osu.edu political analysis done while you wait
I, for one, am definitely in favor of music that is not "traditional",
be it Christian or otherwise. In this case, however, we need to look
carefully at Paul's words to the Corinthians. He said don't do anything
that might make a weaker brother stumble. In Russia, it appears that we
definitely have a weaker brother, as the church has only been "free" for
a short period of time. Maybe it would be best that they get
established in a firm foundation before we export our music over there.
Just call me Mr. Devil's Advocate...
--
Rob Halsey | "I will love him and hug him, and squeeze
(rhal...@calvin.edu) | him and pet him, and pet him and squeeze
Calvin College Phi 33 | him and I will call him George!"
Grand Rapids, MI 49546 | -Looney Toons (tm)
John R Laplante
>
>the Russian church has been isolated for a long time and is in dire
>need of -serious- study materials. we take for granted that we can
>go to a local bookstore & buy as many Bibles, concordances or whatnot
>as our little hearts desire. that's not the case there.
>
Good point. As someone said, maybe we're dealing with the "weaker
brother" (on the other hand, maybe we are the brother in error). They
definitely need serious study materials a lot more than ... well,
fill in the name of the famous christian artis you don't like. In
fact, I've often wondered if I really _should_ be accumulating
Christian music -- isn't there a better way to spend the money?
And what's the purpose of this anyway? Just a christian mirror of
the secular pop culture?
>
>if i want good music that makes me think, i'll listen to Christian
>rock. if i want to grow i'll go to church, study my Bible & get
>involved in discipleship. if people are asking for one it does little
>good to give them the other.
Aha! "makes me think." Almost goes without saying in this group --
we benefit from music that makes us think, but most of it doesn't.
Maybe I was too harsh on the Russians. I've been around this
"rock is evil" stuff too long .... (and I don't even listen to it...)
(unless you want to count old petra, i suppose).
urmv...@memstvx1.memst.edu
> I, for one, am definitely in favor of music that is not "traditional",
> be it Christian or otherwise. In this case, however, we need to look
> carefully at Paul's words to the Corinthians. He said don't do anything
> that might make a weaker brother stumble. In Russia, it appears that we
> definitely have a weaker brother, as the church has only been "free" for
> a short period of time. Maybe it would be best that they get
> established in a firm foundation before we export our music over there.
>
> Just call me Mr. Devil's Advocate...
I must agree with you on this. I have been known to get so frustrated at
both arguments against Christian rock and condemnation of what is called
"secular" music. I listen to some weird stuff, ya see. But I would rather
die than offend my precious brothers and sisters in the provinces. You can't
understand this request of theirs by comparing it to similar statements by
brethren on this side of the planet. The people have been forced to live for
decades in a literal hell, meaning separation from God. They lived in a
spiritual void by force. There are still people there who have no idea that
there is a God, much less a God who loves them and yearns to be their God.
I know this because I've been there. I've met these people. When you walk
up to an elderly woman in Moscow and show them an apologetic and try to tell
them that you want to give them this book, they can not believe that you
are actually wanting to give this to them. You have to stand there for minutes
just to convince them that it is free. They have never experienced freely-given
love, unconditional love, agape. What I'm trying to say is, don't even try to
understand this request of theirs. They aren't trying to put their $.02 down
on some backbiting discussion. For one thing they can't afford it. They don't
even need music, IMHO. Just say "Ixous Kristos," and you have an instant
crowd of people who truly desire to know who Christ is. The written word is
the most effective means of evangelism there. One book will fall apart long
before it passes through its last pair of hands. Just keep the music over
here, OK. I beg of you, just do it, PLEASE!
Richard Vance
URMV...@memstvx1.memst.edu
Piet van Oostrum
of rock music (I don't agree with their opinion by the way), I would like
to share that the real problem might be the general attitude from
westerners (not only Americans) towards East European christians. I have
heard complaints from Rumanians about Western christians coming there
without regards for the traditions and attitudes of the people. If we want
to help these people we have to be careful not to offend them. I have heard
story about people coming in shorts to the major of a city to ask
permission for evangelistic meetings, something which is just not done in
Rumania. If you go to the major you must be dressed decently (i.e. what
they consider decent). Similarly people have been trying to set up western
style evangelistic campaigns which just give a cultural clash. As long as
the message is not at stake we will have to adapt to their ways. Too many
people come there without even asking the churches how to do things, and
thinking our way is the best for them also. This has given western
christianity a bad reputation.
--
Piet* van Oostrum, Dept of Computer Science, Utrecht University,
Padualaan 14, P.O. Box 80.089, 3508 TB Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Telephone: +31 30 531806 Uucp: uunet!mcsun!ruuinf!piet
Telefax: +31 30 513791 Internet: pi...@cs.ruu.nl (*`Pete')