Exposing the dangers in music that distract the Christian from his Maker.

"Music Overview"
presented by Christian Berdahl

Questions:
Is music moral or amoral? Is it the lyrics or the music bed that matters most?

Sandi Patti
Music is a very powerful force. It has a way of breaking down barriers....

CCM Artist

Sandi Patti

But a lot of artists are taking that very powerful tool and putting negative, horrible lyrics to it, and those lyrics are getting into the hearts of the listeners and are shaping their values....
CCM Artist

Sandi Patti

Why cant we [i.e., contemporary Christian musicians] take that same powerful force music put positive lyrics to it and begin shaping values that way?
CCM Artist

David Meece
Basically you have to focus on the lyrics, and what the song is saying. That is my criteria to decide whether the song is right or wrong.
CCM Artist

David Meece
It has nothing to do with the music style. It has to do with the lyrics." What is the song saying? What are the words saying? As Christians, we can objectively judge it from that standpoint.

Professor Marshall McLuhan

"The medium is the message." That is to say, the music: its melody, harmony and rhythm, all by itself disposes man to virtue or vice by moving the emotions.

Professor Marshall McLuhan

Therefore, the way in which they move the passions should serve as a principle basis for judgment on whether any given piece of music is good or bad.

Brain Specialist, Dr. Richard Pellegrino

Trigger a flood of human emotions and images that have the ability to instantaneously produce very powerful changes in emotional states.
Billboard Magazine, Subliminal Power of Music September 1999

Brain Specialist, Dr. Richard Pellegrino

Take it from a brain guy, in 25 years of working with the brain, I still can not affect a persons state of mind the way that one simple song can.
Billboard Magazine, Subliminal Power of Music September 1999

Can music alone influence the listener?

Happy Fun Eerie Scary Tranquil Peaceful

Dr. Norman M. Weinberger

Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior at UC Irvine, research confirms that:
"...music can rapidly and powerfully set moods and do so in a way not easily attained by other means."

RH, April 21, 1885

If the thoughts are wrong, the feelings will be wrong; and the thoughts and feelings combined make up the moral character.

RH, April 21, 1885

RH, April 21, 1885

If the thoughts are wrong, the feelings will be wrong; and the thoughts and feelings combined make up the moral character.

RH, April 21, 1885

RH, April 21, 1885

When we decide that as Christians we are not required to restrain our thoughts and feelings, we are brought under the influence of evil angels, and invite their presence and their control.

RH, April 21, 1885

Robert Palmer
I believe in the transformative power of rock n roll, this transformative power adheres not so much in the words of the songs but in the music itself, in the sound and above all in the beat.
Rock & Roll An Unruly History, Robert Palmer

Did God create music to influence our thoughts and feelings?

Has Satan left music alone?

The Enjoyment of Music

"Rhythm is the element of music most closely allied to BODY MOVEMENT [fleshly, carnal], to PHYSICAL action. Its simpler patterns when repeated over and over [which is exactly what rock does] can have a hypnotic effect on us".
The Enjoyment of Music, Joseph Machlis p.19

Stress and Addiction:

"They also have shown that driving drum rhythms in excess of three to four beats per second will put the brain into a state of stress.

Regardless if the listener likes or dislikes the music. When the brain is in a stressful state, it will release opioidsa group of hormones that function like morphineto help return itself to normal equilibrium.

These opioids, when experienced often enough, can be addicting and the listener seeks for the high again. (This is why listeners tend to move from less to harder music.)

These steady drum rhythms release in the body gonadotrophins (sex hormones), which enhances sexual arousal.

Loud, booming bass music has a similar effect and its no wonder that adolescent males prefer these types of music: they are either stimulating a release of brain chemical, stimulating their hormones, or both!

Music serves a purpose! The history of the songs Messages to Young People 291 of the Bible is full of suggestion as to the uses and benefits of music and song. rightly employed, it is a precious gift of God, designed to uplift the thoughts to high and noble themes, to inspire and elevate the soul.

Renaissance 14501600
Means Rebirth: Many changes in the way music was created Composers concerned themselves with three areas of music: sacred, secular and instrumental

Renaissance 14501600
All similar in nature and shared: smooth, gentle rhythms and melodies with balanced phrases

1800s in America
Slaves from Africa were sold to white merchants in North America

They brought with them from Africa, their ritualistic religious practices known as voodoo, heavily wrapped around tribal drums

John H. Steele
The follower of Voodoo seeks to incorporate a LOA (lesser god) into himself by writhing and leaping through a dance, while drums bang out complex rhythms.

World of the Unexplained 1977, p 9,10

John H. Steele
When just the right rhythm is found for an individual LOA, the dancer takes it up, and the LOA enters his soul. The religion is strictly Dionysian (sensual)..."

World of the Unexplained 1977, p 9,10

Richard Hodges
The drummers often shuffle their feet or sway their bodies in dance like motions to assist them in maintaining contact with the main beat, especially when the rhythm is syncopated.

Richard Hodges
During these rituals that still take place in the Congo and Yorubaland, the intricate layers of the multiple rhythmic drumming are considered the primary source of occult power.

Richard Hodges
During these rituals that still take place in the Congo and Yorubaland, the intricate layers of the multiple rhythmic drumming are considered the primary source of occult power.

Actual Voodoo Samples from old to modern.

In the 1840s
A lot of Africans started turning to Christ and were allowed to have there own churches Some turned away from drums completely, others unfortunately incorporated them into their new faith

In the 1840s

They would sing the same hymns as the caucasians but with shouting and beating out counter rhythms on tambourines, gourds and logs Eventually bringing about the holy flesh movement

Congregants still sought for possession only now it was called the Holy Ghost

Aleister Crowley

Founded the religious philosophy of Thelema Wrote the Book of the Law States, Do What Thou Wilt Shall Be the Whole of the Law.

Aleister Crowley
He desired to use music to bring on the new age Desired to use an army of youth to indoctrinate with Do What Thou Wilt

Bill Haley and the Comets In 1954 they began writing hit songs. As a white band using black-derived forms, they ventured into rock 'n' roll. The 50s, 60s, 70s

Do What Thou Wilt

Well decide what
goes on

Well decide how

we dress

What we do What we smoke What we listen to

How we talk
How we act

Where we go

Do Your Own Thing

The Rolling Stones

Sympathy for the Devil

Lyrics
Please allow me to introduce myself I'm a man of wealth and taste I've been around for a long, long year Stole many a man's soul and faith

Lyrics
And I was round when Jesus Christ Had his moment of doubt and pain Made damn sure that Pilate Washed his hands and sealed his fate

Lyrics

Pleased to meet you Hope you guess my name

Shu Ching For changing peoples manners and customs, there is nothing better than music.

6th Century, BC

Anton LaVey
Picked up Crowleys torch and established the official Church of Satan

He wrote
The Satanic Bible

Crowleys, Do What Thou Wilt

is the Whole of the Law is the Church of Satans official philosophy and doctrine.

Lavey says: Lets get them to

a place where they forget their logic and just do what thou wilt.

"HI-TECH IN THE LOW FREQUENCIES"

DJ Lorin aka Bassnectar represents the wave of DJ success. Playing amazing sets to dance floors throughout North America and beyond, Bassnectar's shows have the future-primitive feel of all-out revelry resulting from the tribal unity of audience involvement.

80s = more sexual content, L&L 90s = explicit content 2000s brought us...

This will amaze you!

Marilyn Manson
I dont know if anyone has really understood what were trying to do to lure people in. Once weve got em we can give em our message.
Hit Parader Oct. 1996

"Hopefully, I'll be remembered as the person who brought an end to Christianity."

Spin, August 1996

Marilyn Manson
If somebody kills themselves because of our music, then thats one less stupid person in the world.

Raise your kids better or Ill be raising them for you.

RIP Magazine, February 1995

1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31

Prove all things, hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil. 1 Thes. 5:21-22

1 Thes. 5:21-22

What kind of music glorifies God?

There are five criteria that a song must pass before we allow it into our Christian ears.

Free Cards

Meaningfulnot trivial Untaintednot worldly S piritualnot carnal Inspirationalnot degrading Clearnot confused/disguised

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Stan Moser
Former Head of Word Records (Amy Grant) CEO of Star Song Records Pioneer & Executive of CCM

55

Stan Moser
"To be candid, I look at the majority of the music I hear today and think it's virtually meaningless. There is a growing chasm between CCM and the church
Christianity Today May 20, 1996

Stan Moser
between what's actually happening in the real world of ministry, or even in the music ministry of the church, and what we're doing in CCM."
Christianity Today May 20, 1996

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In their efforts to reach the people, the Lord's messengers are not to follow the ways of the world.

Gospel Workers 357

Untainted

Time Magazine:
Writes that CCM performers are indistinguishable, except for their lyrics, from their secular counterparts.

Untainted

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Anthony Campolo Writing about the Creation Festa Christian

"Being in the back room with many of these famous groups before they go on stage is absolutely frighteningthe ego trips they are on and the language they use, to hear their hate for others
music festival

Spiritual

Anthony Campolo Writing about the Creation Festa Christian

music festival

when show time comes, however, they go out on stage with 'Hey, aren't we together in Jesus Christ and the love we share, etc."'
Christian News Encyclopedia, Vol. 5

Spiritual

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Audio Adrenaline and DC Talk

An extremely loud and incessant heavy bass beat was the predominant trademark for both bands for the entire evening.
The Christian Conscience Magazine

65

Audio Adrenaline and DC Talk

The musicians of Audio Adrenaline stirred-up the crowd as they thrashed their heads around, and bounced around the stage to their hard rock music, there was virtually no self-control near the stage. This crowd was "high" on the loud music. The Christian Conscience Magazine

Meaningfulnot trivial Untaintednot worldly S piritualnot carnal Inspirationalnot degrading lear not confused/disguised C

CCM Magazine editor, John Styll, complained that...

Some Christian songs today are so veiled in terms of spiritual content that their meaning is lost to all but the most imaginative.

1T p. 506

Music is the idol which many professed Christians worship. Satan has no objection to music, if he can make that a channel through which to gain access to the minds of the youth.

1T p. 506

Anything will suit his purpose that will divert the mind from God... He works through the means, which will exert the strongest influence, to hold the largest numbers in a pleasing infatuation, while they are paralyzed by his power.

"The human mind shuts down after three or four repetitions of a rhythm, or a melody, or a harmonic progression." Furthermore, excessive repetition causes people to release control of their thoughts. Rhythmic repetition is used by people who are trying to push certain ethics in their music.

Dr. Ballam

God Likes it All

"Worship has nothing to do with the style or volume or speed of a song. God loves all kinds of music because he invented it all -Rick Warren, Pastor -Willow Creek Church

God Likes it All

fast and slow, loud and soft, old and new. You probably don't like it all, but God does!"
Rick Warren, Pastor -Willow Creek Church

75

Child Guidance Pg. 540

There has been a great change, not for the better, but for the worse, in the habits and customs of the people in reference to religious worship.

Child Guidance Pg. 540 The precious, the sacred things which connect us with God are fast losing their hold upon our minds and hearts and are being brought down to the level of the common things.

Child Guidance Pg. 540

The reverence which the people had anciently for the sanctuary, where they met with God in sacred service, has largely passed away.

Child Guidance Pg. 540

Nevertheless God Himself gave the order of His service, exalting it high above everything of a temporal nature.

In the greater history of the church there are screaming examples of when pagan music, idols and customs were allowed into the church to build a bridge to the pagans.

Unfortunately, the pagans always won over the church not the church winning over the pagans. Pagan musical tentacles have reached all the way down to our day. I hope you are like me and dont want anything pagan mixed with our worship of God.

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(How)

Mar Pg. 234

A bedlam of noise shocks the senses and perverts that which if conducted aright might be a blessing. The powers of Satanic agencies blend with the din and noise, to have a carnival, and this is termed the Holy Spirit's working. . . .

Mar Pg. 234

The Holy Spirit never reveals itself in such methods, in such a bedlam of noise. This is an invention of Satan to cover up his ingenious methods for making of none effect the pure, sincere, elevating, ennobling, sanctifying truth for this time. . . .

No encouragement should be given to this kind of worship.

Mar Pg. 234

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 8:1

Romans 8:1

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