
      Theft By Deception:  The Rock that could steal our fold




"SATAN'S MUSIC" "NOTHING'S CHANGED"



       Sermon Outline - "Contemporary Christian Music"     
 I.   Music - "Sign of Apostasy" Exodus 32:15-29             
        A.    First rock concert in Bible                                     
        B.    Had all the signs of sin and apostasy                     
        C.    Result of their fall into sin - outward appearance of
              an inward problem.                                               
  II.   Music - "Broke the fellowship between the brethren"
                1 SAM  18:1-9                                                        
        A.   People might have had good intentions with their song
        B.   Contemporary Christian music is causing deep division 
             in the church.                                                
                            
  Ill.    Music - "Caused people to fall into idolatry" -                                                                 
                Daniel 3:10 & 11                                                      
        A.   All religions use music to call them to worship. What
             is the object of their worship?                               
        B.   Contemporary Christian music claims to be reaching
             people for Christ, but where is the phenominal growth
             in our churches and spiritual depth in our people.
        C.   Our heroes are not who they should be - look at the
             posters and records and things people are buying. 
 
 (The meat for this message is contained in this booklet.)     

     The devil has a way of deception which is called redefining
terms. He will give it another name so that it is not so offensive. 
For example: The devil calls a drunk a "problem drinker."
He calls a harlot  "a lady of the night or a prostitute." The
redefining of terms causes a person to accept something that
may otherwise be rejected.                                                   

    It is very clear to see that Satan is up to his old tricks again. 
The term I hear quite frequently now is Contemporary Christian
Music.  It is called contemporary music to Christians, and
it is called Rock and Roll to the world.  Even though the name
has been changed, the meaning is the same.  So for the sake
of true definition, Contemporary Music is nothing more than 
Rock and Roll.                                                                      

   Now these are a few quotations from the world about Rock 
and Roll.  "Rock Music is sex" (Andrew Oldham - Rolling  Stone).
"Rock and Roll is devastating to the mind" (Little Richard).  "We see 
Rock and Roll as a part of a communist plot to take over America" (Jerry 
Rubin, a communist revolutionary).  "Rock Music is easy to have sex to" 
(Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones).  "Rock and Roll has always been 
the devil's music" (David Bowie).  Now after statements like these are 
made, why would Christians recommend Gospel Music put to Rock and Roll.
 
   Here are some reasons:

1. If the devil can use Rock and Roll to reach people, why can't Jesus 
use the same tool?  Really the message is the most important thing.
  
   If that statement is true, read these lyrics and tell me if we should 
recommend this song for our young people:  "You can't believe the things 
I've done wrong in my life, without even trying, I've lived on the edge 
of a knife.  Well, I've played with fire and I don't want to get myself 
burned, too, I also think it's time to turn, before I burn in Hell!  Oh 
Burn in hell."

    Really and honestly isn't this a song that should cause young people 
to flock to our churches looking for salvation.  You are probably 
wanting to know the name of this New Christian Rock and Roll Band.  The 
truth that the group is not a Christian group.  The song is Burn in Hell 
by Twisted Sister. (Dee Snyder of the group says they make music that 
makes you want to go home and kill your parents.)

    Is there anything wrong with the message?  I'd have to say no!  So 
can I in good conscience recommend this group to our young people? No!

    Let me tell you something I've noticed in this New Rock and Roll.  
It is getting very religious.  Rod Stewart has a gospel song on one of 
his newer albums.  Iron Maiden quotes the Bible on the back of the album 
Number of the Beast.  Why?  Because Christians are now tagged as a 
market.

    Contemporary Christian music is a big business.  USA Today reports 
that it captures more of the record sales nationally than jazz and 
classical.  It is a $300 million a year business and two of the major 
record labels, A&M and Capitol estimate that there is potential for 3 to 
5 times more business than is now being done.
 

2.  The next reason some Christians recommend Gospel Rock and Roll is 
because it replaces secular rock.

    I do something kind of interesting sometimes in Christian schools.  
We will ask the students to make up questions, and put them on a piece 
of paper before chapel so they cannot be identified.  Then we answer the 
questions in chapel.  This is what a normal (not an exception) sheet 
looks like:
     1. What about Contempory Gospel Music?  Like Petra, Rez Band,
        Stryper, Amy Grant, etc.
     2. What about Lionel Ritchie, Air Supply, Phil Collins, Bruce
        Springsteen?
     3. Is there anything wrong with rapping music?
     4.  How about soul like Kool and the Gang?

    Do you see a pattern here? I do.  I see a lot of young Christians 
who still listen to secular music.  They have only added gospel Rock and 
Roll to their list.

    This is an old trick of Satan's.  The children of Israel did not get 
in trouble with God because they tossed Him out.  They only added other 
gods to their list.  See even the  wisest man to ever live fell to this 
problem.  Solomon never forgot God, he only took pagan wives who brought 
in their own gods.  You see a home cannot have more than one God.

     A modern day example is voodoo in South America.  Many of those who 
practice voodoo have also been baptized as Catholics.  The one danger of 
Christianity becoming popular is that pagan beliefs are added to 
Christian beliefs.  Deuteronomy 12:30 "Take heed to thyself that thou be 
not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from going 
before thee; and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How did 
these nations serve their gods?  Even so will I do likewise."  In verse 
31 it tells the children of Israel not to practice pagan religions lest 
they stoop so low that they offer their own children as sacrifice.  See 
God did not want them to add to His people a false god like Molech.

      Even today the devil doesn't mind if young people have Gospel Rock 
and Roll if he can slip in a few secular groups, too.


3.  It helps Christians relate to the world so they can win the world.

  Example:  The other night a Christian Rock and Roll artist came up to 
my table and said, "Look man these teenagers are not going to come and 
listen to a group dressed up in suits.  See we relate to them, we dress 
like rockers so we can reach them."  My reply was Huey Lewis and the 
News (a very popular secular Rock Group) dress in suits and they pack 
out stadiums with young people.  His friends all laughed as he ate his 
words.

    My point was not to embarrass him, only to show him that Christ does 
not say look like the world, and you will win them.  Quite the contrary, 
the Bible tells us to come out from among them and not be like the world 
in order to win them.  As a youth speaker I get to speak and reach 
thousands of young people.  I can tell you from experience, that those 
boys who have the rat tail hair cut are not the best soul winners.  Nor 
is the girl who has the wildest clothes and the strangest hairdo.  I'm 
simply saying if they are dressing like rockers to reach rockers, are 
they really reaching them.

     A young man once told me that he could witness to his friends so 
much easier if he were high on pot.  I told him that the Holy Spirit did 
not need a crutch.  Needless to say he did not win his friends.  He 
ultimately ended up in a mental institution.  His brain is now totally 
destroyed by drugs.  That thing he thought would help him utterly 
destroyed him.

   Conclusion

     My greatest fear is that after spending years of time and energy to 
warn young people of the destructive power of Rock and Roll, that they 
would be slowly led back into it via Gospel Rock and Roll.  The other 
day I read something in the USA Today paper that floored me.  It was an 
article about U-2, which has been classed as a secular Christian Rock 
and Roll Band and some Christian magazines have pushed them as being a 
safe group for our young people to go and see.  Many of these young 
people have been disappointed by the drugs and worldliness at U-2's 
concerts.  Now USA Today says U-2 is going to do a tour in the USA along 
with a singer named "Sting."  This did not bother me.  What bothered me 
is that thousands of uninformed Christians will pay to see this group, 
along with none other than Sting (from the group Police).  Sting is a known 
practicing occultist.  He says he has not seen such strange things since 
he started practicing the occult.  In his pictorial a statement is under 
his picture, "The best place to seek for god is in the garden you can 
dig for him there."  Just like Amy Grant they will lead our young 
people back into secular concerts.  And one day we will say it was the 
Rock and Roll that stole them from our fold.  2 Corinthians 11:14-15 
"And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.  
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as 
the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their 
works."

     This passage tells us that there are going to be those who will 
look righteous.  They will use the Bible, they will sound like they love 
God.  They will even use the name of Jesus.  They use terms like Lord, 
Master, God.  Now most people do not know that these terms are also used 
by those who worship Satan.  Ozzie Osborne says, "good night and god 
bless you".  Is he talking about Jesus Christ?  Ronnie James DIO's name 
has religious significance.  DIO means God in Italian.  If you turn his 
name upside down it spells DEVIL.  Prince dedicates his sexual songs to 
deity or god.  People have said to me that these men are Christians.  
Some have told me groups like Black Sabbath, U-2, Mister Mr., and others 
are Christians.  I would say that Satan is confusing people about 
Christianity.  In the 60's we had the Jesus People, but our churches did 
not grow from this movement.  Today people claim that thousands of 
people are becoming saved every night through contemporary Christian 
music concerts, yet as I'm going into about 100 churches a year, I'm not 
seeing a sudden boom on church attendance.  I'm not seeing a sudden 
growth in our Bible colleges and our Seminaries.  I'll tell you what I 
am seeing.  I'm seeing teenage boys with religious earrings in their 
left ears.  I'm seeing boys with the rat tail hair cuts.  I'm seeing 
girls with bleached hair punk hair styles.  I see those dressing like 
rock and roll.  This makes Christianity cheap.


             AMY'S CLAIM TO SHAME

     The Ladies Home Journal is not a magazine that I read on a regular 
basis, but in the December 1985 issue an article was shown to me by my 
wife.  This article was about Amy Grant, and her recent success.  The 
interview starts on a semi-religious tone:
  
    Amy: "My greatest desire is to tell people how my life has been 
touched by Jesus.  But as soon as I mention Jesus in an interview, 
readers turn off.  They go, 'What? No, no she's getting weird,'  So I 
think I won't say it - I'll just keep singing it."
    
     Now when Christians read this they say, "See, Amy is still getting 
the gospel out."  Well, if she is singing about Jesus, it is not on her 
new album.  The name Jesus is mentioned only once, and basically she 
says Jesus had His life on this earth, and she, too, has her own life to 
live.

     It is true that the name of Jesus Christ is offensive to the lost, 
because it is the only name by which a person can be saved,  According 
to Acts 4:12, Jesus gives a warning about denying Him:  "But whosoever 
shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is 
in heaven" (Matthew 10:33).  Amy does not want to be known as a prude, 
but she is not crude either.  I guess the half way mark between being a 
prude or crude is lewd.  And that is exactly where Amy is today.  For an 
example, Amy is asked this question by Ladies Home Journal:

  LHJ: "And what is her impression of Madonna, the material girl who was 
recently pictured in adult magazines wearing very little material?"

  Amy: "Madonna and I have a different emotional make-up, very 
different.  For one thing, I would want to be seen in naked photos; for 
another..."

  LHJ: "She breaks off and smiles.  Well, there was that one time last 
year she recalls slowly, when she took all her clothes off on what she 
thought was a nude beach in Africa.  The beach was deserted, except for 
some young native men who suddenly appeared and remained to stare."

  Amy: "My girlfriend and I wondered why the boys had their clothes on, 
so we swam way out in the ocean and stayed there.  Later we learned it 
was not a nude beach.  But no big deal.   It was a liberating 
experience.  It felt unbelievable crazy to take off all my clothes and 
play in the sun.  I've not had that much fun in so long..."

   It is interesting that David Livingstone went as a missionary to 
Africa, and told the natives to put their clothes on and Amy Grant, the 
new missionary, goes to Africa and is surprised to see the natives 
wearing clothes.  And they were surprised to see she wasn't.

    The Bible tells of a man who was naked.  This man was demon 
possessed.  As soon as Christ set him free, he sat at the feet of Christ 
fully dressed.  But you have to understand she is not a prude nor is she 
crude, she is only a little lewd.  See she is not a prude, she will even 
use vulgar language for a laugh.

  Amy: "I have a healthy sense of right and wrong, but sometimes, for 
example, using foul exclamation-point words among friends can be good 
for a laugh"

  "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners." 
(1 Cor 15:33)

   LHJ: "She draws the line at using drugs though.  As for drinking..."

   Amy: "Moderation is the key.  I love a nice glass of wine."

   Alcohol has destroyed as many if not more lives than drugs.  Teenage 
alcohol abuse is a major problem in our country.

    I could go on to tell you that Amy's favorite performers are not 
Christians.  As I speak on rock music around the country, I tell young 
people not to go to concerts because of Satan's influences, yet Amy goes 
and so many young Christians think it is alright also.  This gospel rock 
was started to give teens an alternative, yet we now see that Amy or 
many of the other gospel rock singers and performers do not use this 
alternative themselves.

     I must admit if you use the world as a meter, Amy would be very 
wholesome, but when you put her life next to God's standard she would 
not be a role model for Christians.

     Amy is not the first to be blinded by the glitter.  People like 
Willie Nelson, Stevie Wonder, the Oak Ridge Boys, the Gatlins (Larry 
Gatlin sings "If there is no Mogan David wine in Heaven he wants to go to 
hell"), and many more, started a church and left their first love.


        WHO IS THAT RIDER ON THE WHITE HORSE???

                 Rock for the King
             words and music by Mike Lee

 IN THE DAY OF THE WHITE HORSE, MANY WILL FLY UP TO THE SKY 
    Heaven awaits those who live for the King, This is what I sing

  OH, THE JOY WILL RISE WHEN WE SEE, THE RIDER OF THE WHITE HORSE,"
    We will rock - for the King, we will rock
    We will rock - for the King

  GET YOURSELVES READY TO TAKE TO THE AIR, SOON WE'LL BE THERE -  
    Those who live for the King, We're rockin' steady
    We'll never let go of the truth we know and He gives you new life

   OH, THE JOY WILL RISE WHEN WE SEE THE RIDER OF THE WHITE HORSE 
     We will rock - for the King We will rock
     We will rock - to the gates We will stand - stand up for the King

     Drink the water of life and you will never thirst - no
     Taste the laughter of joy as it builds inside you

    OH, THE JOY WILL RISE WHEN WE SEE THE WHITE HORSE AND... 
      We will rock - for the King
      We will rock - time is running out
      We will rock - shout it to the face of the crowd
      We will rock - let the people know - make it loud
      We will rock - the kingdom is at hand
      We will rock - it's time to make a stand

      Rock for the King

     There is a brand new group emerging into the field of Contemporary 
Christian Music by the name of "Barren Cross,"  You will notice we have 
printed the words to one of their songs written by the lead singer of 
the group.  We have highlighted for emphasis certain portions of this 
song.  You will notice in the first line the mention of  "The day of the 
White Horse," and again in the second phrase "Oh the joy will rise when 
we see, The rider of the white horse," again a few lines down this 
phrase is repeated and repeated again throughout the song, "Oh the joy 
will rise when we see the white horse,  We will rock - for the King We 
will rock,"

     We would presume that the song is speaking about rocking for the 
King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ.  But after closely 
studying the words of the song and comparing them with Biblical accuracy 
we see a point of great confusion and interest.  Please follow me as we 
turn to the book of the Revelation, Chapter 6, verses 1 & 2.

1. And I say when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it 
were, the noise of thunder, on of the four living creatures saying, 
Come.
2. And I say and, behold, a white horse; and he that sat on him had a 
bow; and a crown was given unto him, and he went forth conquering, and 
to conquer.

     You will notice that verse 2 speaks of a white horse and the rider.  
The one who is riding the white horse is said to have in his hand a bow 
and a crown and he is to go forth and conquer.  This at first glance may 
sound as if it is speaking aobut Jesus, but verse 1 tells us that Jesus, 
"The Lamb," opened the seal that revealed the sight of the rider on the 
white horse and Christ was not given a crown as the proclamation of the 
gospel began.  If the rider of the white horse in Revelation 6:2 is not 
the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ, as the song portrays, 
well who is He?

     You might say, "Well there is a place in scripture where Jesus is 
riding a white horse - isn't there?"  Yes, in Revelation chapter 19 
verse 11, the Bible says "And I saw heaven opened and, behold, a white 
horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in 
righteousness he doth judge and make war."  This is Jesus Christ, there 
is no doubt.  The problem is that in the song, the first few words tell 
us,  "Many will fly up to the sky in the day of the white horse." 
Revelation 19:11-16 is long after the rapture of the church when we, His 
children will meet Him in the air and also Rev. 19:14 tells us that the 
church, will follow Him also on white horses just prior to the "Battle 
of Armageddon."

     Therefore, there is no way for many of us to "Take to the air," 
when we see this rider on a white horse.  We will already be up there.

     Now you might say, "Oh that is just a song and a small error in 
interpretation on Barren Cross' part."  It is no small error to try to 
add or take away from the words of the book of prophecy.  Read 
Revelation 22:18 & 19.  Our children are listening to these songs and 
building their theology and beliefs on these words.  Let us be real 
careful to rightly divide the word, in all that we say, think, and do.  
Oh, and by the way, who is the rider on the white horse that will appear 
right after the rapture of the church?  Who is the king that the song is  
speaking of, the rider of the white horse in Revelation 6:1-2?  This is 
just another evidence of the subtlety of Satan to use Contemporary 
Christian Music to confuse and blind the eyes of innocent believers 
young and old.


                  HERE'S A BIBLE TRIVIA QUESTION


     What happened everytime the children of Israel tried to imitate the 
world?

A.  They won those heathen nations over to Judaism.
B.  They gave up all of their idols
C.  They fill on their faces before God.
D.  Israel fell into apostacy, witchcraft, and pagan worship, by which 
God always chastised them for it.

     The answer is D.  God has never used popularity with the world as a 
way to win the world.  One has to see that Satan's tricks are not new.  
They have been tried many times before and have been found successful.  
You as a reader will never find the term rock and roll in the Bible, but 
you can find that worldly influences have always been the down fall of 
Israel.

     Now many will use the argument that some of our hymns were bar room 
music in the 1800s.  That is true, but there is a big difference between 
their bar room music and our rock and roll.  Rock and roll is not only 
music, rock and roll is a lifestyle.  It's hair fashion, it's styles of 
clothing, it's rat tails for boys, it's posters for girls, it's tee 
shirts and buttons, it's earrings in the left ear for boys, it's the 
multi-colored hair for the girls, it's black gloves with the fingers cut 
out, it's bandanas, spikes, and leather, it's $2,000.00 stereo sets, it's 
$20.00 concert tickets, it's thousands of dollars for light shows and 
props, it's a lot more than music.

     Not only that, but the music of today is addictive.  Unlike Fanny 
Crosby, John Newton, John Wesley, rock music is played over and over all 
night long.  It's carried to school with loud ghetto blasters.

     It's simply MTV in the morning.
      Ghetto blasters at noon.
      And ear phones when the sun goes down.

         
                 IN CLOSING
                 ==========

     In the book of Acts, chapter 16:16-18, the Bible shows us a clear 
illustration of what we have been talking about in this pamphlet, the 
story is that Paul and Silas were in the city of Philippi when they were 
met by a young girl.  She followed Paul and his followers around and the 
Bible says that she kept saying as she went, "These men are the servants 
of the most high God, who show unto us the way of salvation."  Now at 
first you might say, wow, what good advertising. She was telling all she 
saw about these men of God and what their message was.  If you were 
going to be preaching at the local auditorium tonight in a revival 
service it would be great publicity to have someone advertising your 
meeting, but Paul was not too happy about this public relations attempt.  
The Bible says that after many days of this Paul became grieved.  Why 
did he get angry and upset?  The answer is right here and I neglected to 
tell you one thing, the girl who was advertising Paul's ministry was 
demon possessed.  Even though the message she was telling was good, 
there is no place in scripture where we are to mix the preaching of 
Jesus Christ and demons or the worship of the Devil.  The Bible tells us 
"What communion hath light with darkness, and what concord hath Christ 
with Belial?  Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel.  
Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord 
and touch not the unclean thing." 2 Cor 6:14-17.  Today in contemporary 
Christian music, we have self-proclaimed Christian artists traveling and 
playing of the same stage and on the same programs and albums as known 
occultists and Satanists.  Just recently Bob Dylan performed with the 
rock group Grateful Dead, the "Christian" group Stryper has traveled 
with Motley Crue and Metallica doing heaven and hell concerts.  On Mylon 
Le Fevre's new album he gives credits to Philip Bailey of the group 
Earth Wind and Fire and Jimmy Jamison of the group Survivor, both 
group's recordings you will find in every rock record store you go into.  
When we buy the so called contemporary Christian albums at our local 
Christian bookstores, some royalties from the sale of these albums are 
going right into the pocket of the rock stars who are appearing on the 
Christian albums so they in turn can give their money to promote 
Satanism and the occult.  What are the Christian book stores doing? 
Contemporary Christian singer, Kerry Livgren has an album on which, 
Ronnie James Dio of the group Dio is featured.  Interestingly enough if 
you find the logo "Dio" on any of their albums of advertising and turn 
it upside down you will see the word "Devil" in graphic letters.  Here 
is a letter from a young man, 17 years old, that we received at our 
office.  As you read it, keep in mind what originally peaked his 
interest in heavy metal rock music.

     My name is Tom.  Everyone in my family is saved.  I come from a 
good Christian home.  First, I just want to thank Stryper for giving me 
the desire for heavy metal.  Before Stryper I never thought I would be 
attending Ozzy Ozbourne in concert.  I was attending Word of Life 
summer camp when I realized what a strong hold that Rock N'Roll had on 
my life.  Well, at camp, on the last night I grabbed my Motley Crue - 
"Shout at the Devil" - and - "Theater of Pain" tapes and I started 
ripping the tape out and I walked across the bridge toward the fire, and 
I threw them in the fire.  It felt good to have finally been set free 
from Satan.  That same night, I called my home and I asked my mother to 
tear down my posters and flags.  After this happened, I found out that 
there were many, many people that were praying for me.  Since I've been 
here, I have devoted my entire life to Christ.  And these last few words 
are to the group, Stryper, thanks for nothing.

                                          Love in Christ, Tom

   (The group Stryper is a contemporary Christian heavy metal rock band)

     We could go on and on, but we want to close by asking you to take a 
minute and reevaluate your listening habits in the light of God's Word.  
Is what you are listening to honoring and glorifying and uplifting to 
the Lord or have you been deceived by the father of lies to believe you 
can mix the music of the world with the message of  the death, burial 
and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  For this is the true meaning of the 
Gospel as we see it in 1 Cor 15:1-4.  Have you ever trusted Jesus Christ 
as your personal Saviour and asked Him to forgive you of all your sins?  
Or maybe you have been born again by the blood of Jesus Christ,  but you 
have been stolen away from the life Christ would have for you by this 
contemporary Christian music.  If there is a decision about either of 
these two questions that needs to be made in your life, why not bow your 
head right now and talk to the Lord about it.  If we can be of any help 
to you please write us or call May the Lord bless you as you rightly 
divide the word of truth and walk in the way He would have you to walk.

                         ------------------

   Evangelist Dave Benoit, is president and founder of Glory Ministries, 
a nationwide ministry exposing the truth about rock music, holding 
seminars in local churches all across America.  Last year alone seeing 
over 2500 men and women, boys and girls accept Jesus Christ as their 
personal Saviour and thousands more rededicating their lives to Christ.  
Dave and his wife Debbie are the parents of two children and have given 
their lives totally to the ministry of evangelism in the local church.  
For more information about Glory Ministries in regards to the 
possibility of us coming to your church or to receive our newsletter 
every six weeks filled with factual and current information that will 
inform you and keep you in touch with what is going on, please write or 
call:
                           
     Glory Ministries
     P.O. Box 560919
     Charlotte, NC 28256
     (704) 342-0576

  "A MINISTRY THAT EXPOSES THE TRUTH ABOUT ROCK MUSIC"

