Photo
to right: Rebecca St. James with a look of worldly pride (Proverb 6:16-17
declares that God hates a "proud look").
Please
realize 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 also to expose St. James as a bad
influence for Christian teenagers to follow.
Coming to Christ, or to Worldly Music?
Professed "Christian" artists like Rebecca St. James (real name, Rebecca Smallbone) are "SENSUAL, HAVING NOT THE SPIRIT" (Jude 1:19). So many Christian young people are being led away from a Godly life in Jesus Christ by imposters such as Rebecca St. James. The issue is not about Rebecca St. James; but rather, her music. It is disinheriting that hundreds of top Christian recording artists, who have millions of followers, never preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to their fans; while men who spend years in theological seminar are fortunate if they have influence over a few hundred people.
Rebecca's sensual sounding music sounds no different than the world's music. One of the great deceptions of the CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) industry is that ninety percent of their lyrics could easily refer to a girlfriend or boyfriend. The lyrics are so vague.
Christian young people are falsely being led to believe that Christian rock is "good" because it reaches out to worldly teenagers who otherwise wouldn't come to God. The truth is that if a worldly teenager is coming to Christian rock, they aren't really coming to Jesus Christ. Hence, most of the young people listening to Christian Rock don't know the Lord, and the artists couldn't care less if they ever do. If the singers did care, they would place the plan of salvation (the Gospel of Jesus Christ) on their websites for the fans to see. Do you know why the artists DON'T present the Gospel? It's because their "fans" would drop them in a heartbeat. Their fans aren't coming to Christ, but to worldly music.
There are millions of young people all across the world who listen to "Christian" rock (or pop, or whatever you want to call it), but they do NOT have salvation. I dare you to go ANY CCM artist's website and show me how to be saved, I mean a clear presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Here's Rebecca St. James' website. Good luck! Her music is as worldly as can be. Yet she bloviates about reaching others for God. How can ANY professed "Christian" entertainer, who knows that Hell will be the eternal home of all who die in their sins, fail to preach the gospel? It is tragic and hypocritical.
God Wants Us to Make Our Own Music, Not
Buy the World's
Rebecca St. James sings "You make me come alive..." to the most hideous rock-n-roll noise. It is not music by Biblical standards. The Word of God tells us to "sing melody in our hearts" to the Lord. Ephesians 5:19 reads, "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and MAKING melody in your heart to the Lord." Notice that the Bible tells us to MAKE melody in our hearts to the Lord. I realize that recorded music wasn't available in Bible times, but the Biblical principle hasn't changed. People go into the store and pay someone else to put a melody in their heart. But is it a melody unto the Lord, or to the flesh?
The Word of God NEVER tells us to sing hip hop, rock-n-roll, sensual, worldly sounding noise in our hearts. When you MAKE melody in your heart, it is to the Lord. This is NOT singing melody unto the Lord. The music of Rebecca St. James glorifies the flesh and worldliness, NOT the Lord Jesus Christ. Just because she mentions a few religious terms here and there in her music doesn't justify the use of the world's music. Rebecca St. James' music sounds just like the world's.
I am not saying it is wrong to buy music, what I am saying is that God instructed believers to MAKE and sing SPIRITUAL songs in their heart to the Lord. ALL music is of a spiritual nature. Rebecca St. James' music does NOT reflect the Spirit of God, but a sensual spirit of demonic origin. This is true of ALL rock music. Rock-n-roll music is a TYPE of music, not just a genre. Much of what is considered "Country music" today is nothing less than Devilish rock-n-roll.
Rock-n-roll is a fleshly rhythm that draws attention to the pride of life, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and to the world. It is the MUSIC ITSELF, not the worlds that is evil. CCM artists are utilizing the Devil's vehicle of rock-n-roll to make lots of money.
ALL rock music is of
the Devil, no matter what words you add to it. To say otherwise is to
also claim that it's ok for a preacher to use pornography to lure lost sinners
into the church to give them the Gospel. Any fool knows that would
be wrong. It's NEVER right to do wrong in order to get a chance to do
right. Christian rock is wrong, no matter what
some people may claim. Just as the Word of God teaches, "...the love
of money is the root of ALL evil..." (1st Timothy 6:10).
Works of Darkness
I'm not just speaking out against CCM, some of the old hymns of the faith taught heresy. Ever heard that song, "Old Time Religion"? The lyrics read, "Give me that old time religion... It will take us all to Heaven." Folks, that's damnable heresy! The only way to Heaven is through faith in Jesus Christ, the Savior (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). God is against teachings that focuses on religion instead of the Savior.
Then there's today's CCM "artists" who mock God by putting wishy-washy lyrics to the world's music. They have to do this or else no one would buy there music. Concerning the music of Rebecca St. James, ANY worldly person would feel comfortable listening to her works of darkness. And they are works of darkness! They will be burned up one day because they are not being made for the Lord, but for MONEY. I get lots of hate mail from fans of CCM who want to defend their musical gods, and that's what they are; but the Word of God cannot be changed, "Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD..." (Malachi 2:17). There is NO such thing as "Christian Rock, "it is all of the Devil, just as there is NO such thing as "Christian adultery" or "Christian stealing."
Rock music is addictive and does sound good; but we must never defend it as Christians. We must ask God to help us break away from Rock music's grip and replace it with something better.
Where's the Gospel?
In a Christianity Today review, Russ Breimeier, says concerning Rebecca St. James' album, IF I HAD ONE CHANCE TO TELL YOU SOMETHING...
"If I Had One Chance to Tell You Something proves that she hasn't lost her touch.
"God Help Me" starts the album and remains one of the most impressive because it clearly demonstrates her new songwriting approach. Dark, intense, and above all, honest, it's a prayer of vulnerability that stems from brokenness. St. James has gradually come to understand that Christian music doesn't always have to offer the answers—sometimes, it's more effective to simply be relatable, since these feelings are universal to Christians and non-Christians alike. Moreover, it's one of her most rocking songs ever, similar to Evanescence, early Plumb, or Alanis Morissette.
The answer to St. James' wordy album title is "You Are Loved (emphasis added)," a catchy tune with a Brit-pop flavor and a terrific sampled-string hook. Written while thinking about a childhood friend who has fallen away from God, it's a simple and sincere letter that shares God's love with any heart that's grown cold. The strong rocker "Beautiful Stranger" is inspired by St. James' work with Compassion International, expanding on the idea of serving Christ through "the least of these." Heavier guitars also elevate "Shadowlands," which draws its title from C. S. Lewis and is a typically good ballad expressing faith through the dark valleys of life."
You are loved? That's it? That's the ONLY thing you'd tell someone if you had the chance to speak to them? What about the Gospel of Jesus Christ? How about JESUS SAVES SINNERS! If I had a chance to tell somebody one thing, it would be that they MUST BE BORN AGAIN or else they're going to burn in Hell when they die (John 3:3-7; 2nd Thessalonians 1:8). Now that may not sound very loving, but it the Truth of God's Word. Tragically, many loving and loved people are going to burn in Hell one day because they placed worldly love over obedience to God (John 6:40; Romans 3:4; Romans 4:5).
On a website promoting Rebecca's music, the following is said concerning her album, IF I HAD ONE CHANCE TO TELL YOU SOMETHING...
"Musically speaking, Rebecca is in a new season, returning to her rock roots and creating a more epic sound. Her message focuses on urgency, vulnerability, and dependence on God in every aspect of life. She seeks to encourage and bring a fresh message to the Church through bold lyrics and energetic songs."
Again, where's the Gospel? There are many unsaved people who claim to "depend on God" in every aspect of life. James 2:19 clearly reveals that many people who believe in God are not saved, "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." St. James, just as all the other CCM imposters, propagates a wishy-washy form of godliness (2nd Timothy 3:5) with no real Biblical substance or Gospel message.
How can you truly tell anyone that you love them if you don't warn them about Hell? If you don't warn people, that sinners who die without Christ as their Savior WILL go straight to Hell, then you really don't care about them at all. St. James' claims that she loves serving God, but she is NOT serving God, she is serving Satan. How? By leading millions of young people into a Gospeless direction that never leads anyone to get saved.
If she were serving God (which she is NOT), then she would be obeying the Great Commission in Mark 16:15-16 to witness the Gospel to lost sinners, "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." The Bible says "preach the Gospel"! This command wasn't just for the Apostles (Proverb 11:30; Romans 10:25; 2nd Corinthians 5:11). All true believers are commissioned to be soulwinners.
Musical Heresy
In a ChristianityToday review by Russ Breimeier, we read...
'And then there's the tranquil ambience of "Lest I Forget," which focuses on the significance of Holy Communion (emphasis added) and could well become her next big original worship song since "Song of Love."'
Holy Communion? The Word of God does not teach anything about a "holy communion." In fact, sacraments are not taught in the Bible. These are damnable heresies of Satan intended to ADD baptism and the Lord's Supper to simple faith in Christ... a sure road to Hell. ONLY through faith ALONE in Jesus Christ can any person be saved (John 14:6). If you don't agree with that, then you can get mad at God because He said it.
It is wrong to ADD anything to the simple and plain teachings of the Word of God. You've listened to your minister or priest too long, but now you need to listen to the Word of God... "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" -John 3:16. I don't see anything about "holy baptism" in John 3:16. I don't see anything about "holy communion" either. In fact, it's not in the New Testament. Baptism and the Lord's Supper are only symbolic and do NOT bestow any graces or magical powers upon us.
Contemporary Christian Music is God's
Enemy
In an interview with "Jesus Freak Hideout," Rebecca St. James says, "Recently I've really enjoyed Switchfoot, I think they're just awesome and their new album's great." Switchfoot is one of the most worldly rock-n-roll bands on the planet, and they dare mock God by claiming to be "Christians." I dare you to go to their official website and show me ANYTHING which even HINTS that these men are Christians. You won't find it! They are heathens without God, turning God's house into a den of thieves.
They are using the name of Christ to make money, seducing Christian young people into their vile Devilish music. Where are "Christian" rock stars (gods) who give their music away for the Lord? There are none! I have never sold anything on my website and never will. I drive an old beat-up car. I can't afford a new car and probably never will, but that's ok,I'm serving Jesus. I will never sell the truth. Why? Because the truth should never be sold. If the Truth is what sets people free (John 8:32), then who am I, or you, or anyone else to sell the truth. CCM is so greedy that they will stoop to whatever level of worldliness necessary to sell their sinful music.
You can't sing most of today's CCM songs in your heart because without the words, the structure of the song falls apart. There is NO melody. You know as well as I do that NO ONE would dare sing Rebecca St. James' "I Thank You" in the presence of God in Heaven. Can you actually picture St. James, dressed in black leather, performing that song, in that horrid carnal noise, to the Creator of the Universe? If you can, you don't know the God of the Bible.
James 4:4 clearly warns us, "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." Do you think God is pleased by a young woman strutting around in black leather (like Rebecca St. James), singing music that sounds no different than the world's? Christian rock is a lie of the Devil. Christian rock is like a preacher trying to preach from a pornographic magazine, or a Christian woman trying to teach her children about God from a book on witchcraft. How can you reach lost sinners with the Devil's music? You can't! You may strike emotions and receive lots of sugar-coated fan mail from your worshippers, but are they being BORN AGAIN by the Spirit of Christ?
"Having a form of godliness, but denying
the POWER THEREOF"
I did NOT write this article to be unkind, nor to personally attack Rebecca Smallbone in any way. I simply wrote this article to warn Christian young people that St. James' music is NOT of God according to the teachings of the Word of God. According to an advertisement at bookchristian.com...
"Her passion is to worship God and serve others in need. Having just released her fifth studio album, Transform, Rebecca continues to touch the lives of millions of teenagers worldwide (emphasis added)."
"Millions of teenagers worldwide"! Do you see why it is so necessary to expose this ungodly woman. St. James' is leading teenagers into worldly music, and a worldly form of love, but where is the POWER THEREOF, "Having a form of godliness, but denying the POWER THEREOF: from such turn away" (2nd Timothy 3:5). What is the power? The Bible tells us in Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for IT IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION to every one that believeth..." God is warning us in 2nd Timothy 3:5 about imposters who talk with religious terms, call their music "Christian," claim to be "Christians," even sing about God's love; BUT THEY DON'T PREACH THE GOSPEL!!! "Let all who read this article take heed to the inspired Words of 1st Peter 1:15, "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation." There is nothing "holy" about Rebecca St. James' worldly music.
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." —John 3:3
