Expert: Cooper P. Abrams III - 6/23/2010

Question
Hi,

I was reading through your answers and I had some questions.

My first question is, What is exactly wrong with Christian rock, pop, contemporary music? I truly don't understand what you have against it. I am a college student, and music is an expression of art and love to me. I was not allowed to listen to "secular music" growing up and have chosen for the most part to continue to listen to only Christian music when I have a choice. I love worshiping Jesus, I love singing praises to Him. I love the words in hymns and how they reflect the praise and passion to the Lord, but I also love contemporary worship music and how the lyrics truly fit what my heart cries out. I don't see what is wrong with singing contemporary worship music or even listening to Christian artists sing songs with Christian themes, but not necessarily worship music. When hymns were first written the lyrics were put to music of secular songs of that day.
I went to a fundamentalist baptist high school, and never understood why most of the songs sung were always hymns, or songs that were formed from hymns. Also what is your stance on Christians lifting up their hands in worship? I got strange looks, and was even told to stop it. I lift up my hands as a representation of surrender, and the Bible talks about lifting up holy hands?

Also my second question/response deals with your information given on "the speaking of tongues" and how it is not for the church today. I believe that you are entitled to your opinion, but I was shocked by how you said those who believe in the speaking of tongues including the Pentacostal Movement are misguided by false prophets. Seriously, how can you or anyone else receive the gift of the Holy Spirit in speaking in tongues if you don't believe in it? I have been raised in an A/G home and church for all of my life, the funny thing is that the time in my life where I have felt the most distant from the Lord, and most stifled in my growth in Him was when I was attending a fundamental bapstist high school. Those years were the years I felt so far from God because I was told that the things I experienced with the Lord and the Holy Spirit were not of God. Since I have gone on to college at an A/G university, my passion for the Lord has increased, I feel Him, and I know He never left me but I wasn't finding myself in Him because of the stifling in high school. I have experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit in speaking in tongues, I have received from others words from the Lord, I have seen healings. How can you say that these are not from God? Yes, 1 Cor. 13 does talk about tongues, knowledge, and prophecies ceasing...but that is when the perfect has come. You say the perfect was the end of the Bible, and that God doesn't have anything else to reveal. But how do you know that? I have heard it also preached that the perfect is the end of time, cause if you look around nothing is perfect except Christ. Also tongues is used as a prayer language "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." romans 8:26.
The Lord says judge not least you be judged. I know what my pastor teaches is sound scripture, he even talks about how preachers today water it down to get people in the church. My pastor is the real deal, but we also believe in tongues. I do not feel confusion or hurt over you not believing in tongues, but I do find it in you saying that my beliefs and my church are of the devil. How can you judge like that. I believe the same things as you do in regards to Christ being the lamb of God and my Savior. I was not surprised at all that you being a Baptist pastor did not believe in tongues today, but I was surprised my your callousness that all the teaches that I have grown up with are false.

Thank you very much for your time,
I will continue to keep serving and loving our Lord with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength.

Answer
Hi Rachael,
   Thank you for writing and your questions and comments.   As to CCM it would take a lengthy letter to explain the reason the problems with Christian rock music, etc.   In a nutshell rock music is worldly and is biblically not worship or praise unto the Lord.  I know personally of the origin of the music having been a teenager when it was born in the 50's.  It is not properly honoring the Lord to take something that is born in worldliness with a sinful origin, change the words to Christian words and offer it to the Lord.  Yes, the music does appeal to the flesh and it entertaining to many, but what is to be offered to the Lord should be separated unto Him alone.   It is God who determines what is proper worship and anything that has a sinful theme and origin such as rock music is not acceptable to Him.   That is clearly taught in the Old Testament.  True worship is not getting an emotional high, or having some emotional experience such as CCM gives, but is based in obedience, godly living which truly praises the Lord.  

    God says, "Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:17-20)

   If you are serious about this subject I would suggest you purchase the book "Music And Morals: Dispelling the Myth that Music Is Amoral" [Paperback]by Kimberly Smith ($11:00) at Amazon.com.

   As to the modern tongues movement I would suggest that you take your Bible and carefully read and follow the articles I have posted at http://bible-truth.org/Tongues-Main.html .   Each of these articles in detail explain what the Bible teaches.  This is not just my opinion but what God's word says and with your Bible you can read and research the subject for yourself.

   I fully understand that you are sincere and I do not question that at all, however, we are to worship the Lord in "spirit and truth."   Millions are being misled by the Charismatic/Pentecostal movement and are being robbed of true spiritual worship and of God's truth.   I only seek to challenge people to study God's word and not accept man's or church's teaching, but to accept "thus saith the Lord."   

  Again thank you for writing.  I do understand your situation and how you feel and I only wish you to have God's best and not some substitute for God's truth blessings.