Modern Worship?

By David J. Stewart
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"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." ~James 4:4

Photo to Right: The apostate David Crowder Band.

       I recently received the following e-mail from a web visitor, inquiring about modern worship...

"I have been reading your site for a few days and have found much of it to be very interesting. I am curious after reading much of your stand on Christian rock, what is your stand on modern worship? If you are unsure of what I am referring to I am speaking of a lot of the contemporary worship that churches use and especially youth groups that incorporates guitars, bass, drums, etc. There are many popular modern worship leaders out there such as David Crowder Band, Chris Tomlin, Delirious? and many more. Some of them are big with Passion, a gathering of college students to worship and listen to speakers. I am curious as to what you think of these."

Ronnie

Modern Worship is of the Devil

In Zephaniah 1:5 we read, "And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham (Moloch)." The Israelites were worshipping Baal in the name of God.  Likewise today, many people have a FALSE worship in the name of God. I'm not saying that every church who uses electric instruments is worshipping Baal. What I am saying is that Rock music originated with the Devil's crowd, and is fleshly and carnal by nature. In rock music, the BEAT is often magnified above the message of the music. This is carnal worship and of the Devil. Many so-called church "worship services" are nothing more than a toned down rock concert. It's a shame that the great hymns of the faith are often viewed as ancient and outdated for today's modern Christian. Honestly, I wouldn't give you a dime for today's contemporary Christianity. It looks like a red and delicious apple on the outside; but inside it's rotten to the core.

Read the following quote about CCM groups Third Day and the David Crowder Band performing together...

"Fans of acclaimed band Third Day in nearly three dozen cities will get the chance to see their favorite rockers up close where they are, as the band has announced plans for its spring tour in support of their new Essential Records release Wherever You Are. Acclaimed worship band David Crowder Band will accompany Third Day on this leg of the 2006 tour, scheduled to begin in mid-February." -SOURCE (Ball State University)

Rockers? So-called "Christian" members of Third Day and the David Chowder Band are referred to by their fans as "rockers." Clearly, the fans of CCM recognize it as Rock 'N' Roll. Christian rock and modern worship are synonymous. Modern worship is a vehicle of apostasy. By the way, there is NO such thing as "Christian rock." It is a misnomer. ALL rock music is of the Devil. If God wanted to reach the world with worldliness, then He wouldn't have written the Bible the way He did. The Bible is the most offensive Book on the planet, and God chose to have It that way. No genuine Christian should ever endorse Rock music of any type. Christian rock is about as "Christian" as would be so-called "Christian porn."

Billy Sunday said...

"It would be a godsend if the Church would suffer persecution today; she hasn't suffered it for hundreds of years. She is growing rich and lagging behind. Going back." -Billy Sunday, The Need for Revivals, From Billy Sunday: The Man and His Message, by William T. Ellis, Philadelphia: John C. Winston Co., 1914

The church is in "code blue" condition today! So, to answer Ronnie's question... God is totally against the modern ear-tickin', back-scratchin', soft-soft, compromising, pink-tea and lemonade, Hollywoodized form of worship that never takes a Scriptural stand for God, and instead follows the sinful world.

There is a shady technique in use today in which dishonest people poll a neighborhood to see what sorts of activities the people enjoy, and then build a so-called “church” that meets those specifications. They downplay the religious parts, to avoid offending anyone. Quite often there is no cross, the building does not look like a church, and they keep the Bible in the back room under wraps. The heathen world has actually invented a new, contemporary religion that is based in contemporary marketing techniques and expressed in contemporary entertainment genres.

It is inherently narcissistic (i.e., Characteristic of those having an inflated idea of their own importance), because it is worship the way I want it, in ways that please me. In designing this sort of worship, we ask the question, "How would a congregation of secular people like to be entertained?" We never ask the question, "How would God prefer to be entertained?" In this sort of worship, the congregation has usurped the role of audience, a role that properly belongs to God. In effect, the congregation is worshiping itself!
 

Modern Worship is Worldly

The photo to the left is MxPx album cover, Let's Rock. 

According to Jesusfreakhideout.com...

Since their inception in 1992 as Magnified Plaid, MxPx members Mike Herrera, Tom Wisneiwski (who joined in 1995), and Yuri Ruley have made a lot of music. They have also gone on to become one of the most successful artists in the history of Christian music, smoothly making the crossover into the mainstream, setting the standard for what punk music is today."

"Setting the standard for what punk music is today?" Ironically, a woman wrote me, upset that I said Toby Mac looks like a "punk." You just read it for yourself folks, their own fans calls them "PUNKS." Toby Mac, MxPx, Pillar—they're setting the standard for "PUNK MUSIC!" They dress, sing and dance like street punks.

Look at the photo to the right. It's the so-called Christian Rock band Pillar and their album cover, The Reckoning. No one, and I mean no one, would ever think these young men were Christians by looking at them. They look like street punks! Whether they are or not, they look like punks.

When Jesus Christ saves a person, there's supposed to be a change that brings about a new look, a new attitude, and a new perspective on life— "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2nd Corinthians 5:17). I realize that many believers don't grow in the Lord like they should (1st Peter 2:2), and choose to live in Sodom like Lot did; but, those type of immature and worldly believers (if they're genuinely saved at all) shouldn't be idolized by today's teenagers. I don't condemn anyone, for the Bible condemns all of us as guilty, dirty, rotten, hell-deserving sinners. We're talking about role models here. Teenagers shouldn't have role models who look, sing and dance like street punks.

I am 100% against all modern worship bands and leaders, because they are all FRIENDS of the sinful world. James 4:4, "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." God has many enemies today in the CCM industry.
 

I Challenge You

Here's a challenge, and I triple-dog dare you to prove me wrong. Every CCM artist today, and don't miss this, refuses to speak out against the sin of homosexuality. I dare you to show me one website where a CCM artist blasts homosexuality.  You can't show me one. In fact, I dare you to show me even ONE mainstream Contemporary Christian Music Artist who presents the Gospel of Jesus Christ on their website. You can't. I mean a clear Gospel presentation which stresses the importance of NOT adding works to faith. I haven't even found a CCM website that presents any type of Gospel.  Plan to spend months looking.

Today's CCM fakes are all out to make a buck—fame, fortune, and prosperity—all from the Devil. Proof of this is the FACT that the CCM industry is very silent about sin and evil. I challenge you to find any CCM artist who exposes the sin of homosexuality. If they did, it would jeopardize their career in the music industry, and they KNOW IT! So they dip their sails in sinful compromise, saying that God only called them to be a singer, not a preacher. Since when did living a holy life, contending for the faith, and taking a stand against evil become only the preacher's job? You can't show me that in the Word of God. God expects ALL believers to obey Ephesians 5:11, "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." This applies to ALL Christians.
 

The Barren CCM Industry

Jesus said in Mark 4:18-19, "And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful." There's not a more unfruitful group of professed Christians in the world than the Modern Worship group, the CCM gang. It's apostasy. Amy Grant, queen of the apostate CCM world, even went as far as to spit on the Word of God by saying...

"I’m a singer, not a preacher. I’M NOT LOOKING TO CONVERT ANYBODY. I feel people come to hear my music, not to hear me talk" (Amy Grant, St. Petersburg Times, Florida, April 7, 1984, p. 4).

What a lame cop-out Amy. How could ANY professed Christian, who believes that there is a Hell, say that they're not concerned about lost souls. Amy's been choked by the riches and cares of this world, and she'll be a pauper in Heaven if she's even a Christian. Amy Grant has spent her life making light of sin...

"CHRISTIANS CAN BE SEXY. What I’m doing is a good thing" (Amy Grant, interview, People, July 15, 1991).

Amy Grant is a horrible influence on young Christian woman. Listen to more of Amy's unscriptural philosophy...

[The following is Amy’s own description of her actions before a crowd of 30,000 young people in Kissimmee, Florida, in 1978.] "We’re sitting there, I do my sound check. All these girls are in halter tops, great figures, everybody's wearing nothing, we’re in Floriday [her way of pronouncing Florida]. I’m eighteen, and I know what they’re thinking. I said, ‘I really want to know Jesus and I really want to love him except … my hormones are on ten, and I see you all … sitting out there getting chummy and praying together -- and WE’RE HORNY. MY FEELING IS, WHY FAKE IT? I’m not trying to be gross, I’m saying let’s be honest about what’s coming down’" (Bob Millard, Amy Grant, 1986, p. 103).

Amy Grant claims that God isn't big enough to solve everyone's problems...

"I’ve become disillusioned, and that’s why my lyrics are less idealistic. I’m realizing that the world isn’t a perfect place, and GOD CAN’T SOLVE EVERYONE’S PROBLEMS" (Amy Grant, interview, Family Circle, September 9, 1986, p. 24).

Whoa! Well, she's definitely disillusioned, I agree with that. Amy Grant is a classic example of just how barren the CCM gang is. They don't truly care about winning souls to Christ. All they care about is the praise of men. MOST of today's professed "Christians" are as lost as the city of Atlantis. Many people "think" they are Christians because they joined some organization, prayed a prayer, or because they simply decided to call them self one; but they've never come to the Savior as a hell-deserving SINNER, trusting upon the blood of Jesus to FORGIVE their sins. The CCM industry makes billions-of-dollars in profits exploiting Christianity. Where is their fruit? Where are the souls saved? All I see are hordes of worldly people idolizing their CCM gods.

 

Is it Wrong to Judge CCM Artists?

To condemn yes; to discern that their music is of the Devil, No. Certainly, no one has a right to focus upon the personal sins of others. However, the sins themselves should be exposed. I don't judge Amy Grant one bit, she's a sinner just like you, me and everyone else. Only a hypocrite would consider Amy more sinful than them self. In this respect Amy is correct:

"Let’s get real. Humanity is humanity. You want to know what my real black ugly stuff is? Go look in a mirror, and everything that’s black and ugly about you, it’s the same about me. … No one is ever changed because of judgment. … It doesn’t make one person more holy to point out the sin of another person" (Amy Grant, CCM Magazine, November 1999, p. 38).

Religious people are some of the biggest hypocrites in the world. There's a fine line between judging righteously and condemning someone. The Bible condemns ALL OF US. While it is true that all are sinners, it is not true that Christians have no right to judge sin. Jesus said in John 7:24... "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." So you see, why are supposed to judge, but with righteous judgment. When a member of the church at Corinth committed fornication and brought reproach upon the name of Christ, Paul rebuked them for their tolerance and lack of judgment in the matter. However, Paul didn't condemn the man nor look down upon him as being a worse sinner than himself...

"For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, HAVE JUDGED ALREADY, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus" (1 Corinthians 5:3-5). 

The Apostle Paul clearly admitted his own struggle with sin in Romans 7:15-18...

“For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.”

It is important to realize that the same Apostle Paul who rebuked the many sins of the church at Corinth, openly admitted that he himself struggled much with personal sins. Paul didn't attempt to justify his sins, he simply admitted that it wasn't easy to live right. The reason why Amy Grant is criticized so much is because of her public statements attempting to justify sin...

"CHRISTIANS CAN BE SEXY. What I’m doing is a good thing" (Amy Grant, interview, People, July 15, 1991).

The focus should not be upon Amy Grant; but rather, that immodest clothing is sinful. There's a big difference. Here are several Scriptures concerning judging sin; but not the sinner...

The Lord Jesus Christ said, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent" (Revelation 3:19). In Mark 6:17,18 John the Baptist was imprisoned for preaching against Herod's adultery. Was John wrongfully judging Herod? No, John the Baptist was taking a stand against sin, and doing what God expects every believer to do. John wasn't condemning Herod. John knew that he was as big a sinner as Herod. James 2:10 plainly states, "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."

Please don't misunderstand—God doesn't want us to go around pointing out everyone's sins, but when sin becomes obvious to the public, someone needs to speak the truth, to maintain righteousness. Those hypocrites who go digging and searching for other people's sins are evil, rotten and malicious.

America is in the mess it's in today because of lukewarm preachers who no longer preach against sin! Carefully notice that 1st Corinthians 5:1 reads, "It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you..." You see, sin had spread into the church, and was growing like a weed. Paul wasn't looking and searching for anyone's sins, he had simply heard about it.

Amy Grant has influenced millions of young women to dress immodestly, drink beer, listen to Rock 'N' Roll and forget about soulwinning. Her music is like the Trojan Horse—you think it's good on the outside, but it's an apple with worms. 

“Why isolate yourself? Your life isolates you enough. I’m isolated when I walk into a room and somebody says, She’s a Christian and NOBODY OFFERS ME A JOINT and all the coke (cocaine) disappears. . .” (Bob Millard, Amy Grant, p. 169)
 

“I'm not going to say too often that I like a cold beer while watching a football game. That might bother some of my fans.” (Greensville News, 5/4/94)

These are open statements by Amy Grant. No one went digging and searching for her sins. And so her statements require a response from the Christian community, because she is influencing millions of teenagers. Amy makes light of sin, doesn't care if anyone gets saved, and has been idolized in the secular world's top music lists. Something is very wrong with any professed Christian who is loved by the heathen world. 2nd Timothy 3:12 states, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." 
 

No amount of charitable contributions or good deeds can make restitution for one's apostate testimony. To succeed in the CCM industry, you have to be a closet Christian. I am not trying to be unkind to anyone, but the type of Modern worship being sought after by today's apostate believers is worldly!!!


Modern Fake Worship!
 

The title of the book to the left is very appropriate, MODERN WORSHIP FAKEBOOK. I couldn't agree more. Too many people today have churchianity without Christianity, and religion without truth. Should this be surprising when most of today's Christians are so caught up in their own lives that they don't have time for soulwinning? Modern worship is a joke! People are going to church to hear rock concerts, wishy-washy testimonies, sermonettes, and to experience the emotionalism of it all; but the world is going to Hell without Jesus Christ!
 

Modern worship is of the Devil. God does not honor any "worship" that incorporates the world's devilish rock music. The average modern worship service is no better than a 1970's Beegees concert. Something is very wrong with our churches today. As the church is becoming more worldly, the world is becoming more churchy. 


I wouldn't give you a dime for today's WORLDLY worship service. Do you think God is pleased by a group of people who sway back and forth to Contemporary Christian Music, crying and carrying on, talking about how great God is; but they never lead anyone to Jesus Christ for salvation? The Bible teaches that God would prefer a Bad-Attitude-Soulwinner over a Good-Attitude-Deadbeat any day (Matthew 21:28-31, the two sons). If we, as Christians, don't warn the wicked of the judgment to come, then who will??? God deliver us from this love, love, love type of apostate Christianity today that never lifts a finger to win lost souls to Jesus Christ, never preaches against sin, and is selfish and self-centered. 


The picture to the left is Norma Jean's "Christian" album cover for, Redeemer. Does this look very Christian to you?  It looks like something from the horror movie, The Birds. According to Jesusfreakhideout.com...
 

"The Longest Lasting Statement," a real ripsnorter as they go, is an awesome track with great lyrics, “Improvement is no redemption, and unbelief is no diversion. Drenched in blood, soaked in Grace/ take this body,” and is exemplary of Norma Jean’s way with words. I highlight tracks one through ten as fabulously hard, layered, and chaotic and the meat of the album.
 

Norma Jean's way with words? You're kidding surely? I agree that the song is "chaotic." This is the kind of garbage that is being sold to our young Christian kids today as "Christian music." There's nothing Christian about this trash. Jesusfreakhideout.com goes on to say...

"Redeemer sports the kind of music we all love: hard, heavy, chaotic, the kind of sounds that make your mum worry about you."

The kind of music that makes your mum worry about you?  What a horrible thing to say. That statement alone is proof that something is wrong with Norma Jean's twisted music. And those words came from one of her fans! I think these people are truly "freaks" in a bad sense of the word. Look at the above album cover once more—it looks demonic!  Miss Jean's music is "HARD, HEAVY, and CHAOTIC." Do you really think God would allow this type of heavy-metal Rock 'N' Roll garbage to be played before His throne, in the presence of the angels? No way!!! I beg you young person, flee from the evils of CCM. 

The Devil is a master of deceit, and music is his favorite deception. John Denver was quoted as saying, "Music is more powerful than Christianity." He was right. He was right because the carnal man, the sinful flesh, is far more responsive to worldly music than our soul is to the Truth of God's Word. The proof is in the fact that the CCM industry is making billions of dollars, and apostasy is increasing. CCM is more addicting than crack cocaine! Once a young person gets hooked on Rock 'N' Roll of any sort, it is almost impossible to recover. The only hope is in Christ Jesus!


You can keep your fake modern worship that is silent about sin, never leads anyone to Jesus Christ, allows women to dress immodestly, drinks booze, tolerates homosexuality, likes Harry Potter, is silent about abortion, sees no harm in going to Sin City, never baptizes any converts, etc. Most churches will donate a little pocket change to some poor mission somewhere, and then they smirk with contentment as if they've done such wonderful things for God.  Revelation 3:1 states, "And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write... I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead." 

Is your church dead?  It is if Christian rock is in your church. Most churches are DEAD to the Truth of God's Word, and are DEAD as far as soulwinning is concerned. Modern worship is DEAD WORSHIP. Phooey on emotional worship services that never cause sinners to repent and get saved. Phooey on modern worship meetings that never inspire believers to go door-to-door soulwinning (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 20:20). Phooey on modern fake worship that never causes people to humble themselves, pray, seek God's face, and turn from their wicked ways (2nd Chronicles 7:14).

 

Please understand that I don't condemn anyone, for the Bible condemns all of us as guilty, dirty, rotten, hell-deserving sinners. My salvation solely rests in Christ's righteousness, because of the precious blood that He gave for our sins. My intention is not to be unkind; but rather, to expose the demonic nature of so-called "Christian rock" and "Christian Hip Hop" music. The issue is not about the performers personally; but rather, about the worldly music they claim to sing in Jesus' name.


The world has no place in the New Testament church. This means that Relient K, Toby Mac, Avalon, Jeremy Camp, Dead Poetic, Demon Hunter, Newsboys, Whitecross, MxPx, Third Day, Passion, Delirious, Bride, The Almost, Disciple, Kutless, Inhale/Exhale, PFR, Emery, Robert Pierre, Chris Tomlin, Marsha Stevens, Further Seems Forever, Switchfoot, Soul P., New Life Worship, DC talk, Echoing Angels, Matt Redman, Katinas, Michael W. Smith, Lincoln Brewster, GRITS, Geoff Moore & The Distance, Thousand Foot Krutch, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Mercy Me HAVE NO BUSINESS BEING IN ANY NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH!  They are ALL friends of the world and; therefore, enemies of God (James 4:4).

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." —1st John 2:15-17

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