None of the members of the small congregation moved. An officer walked up to the pastor, grabbed the Bible he had been reading, and threw it on the floor. “We will let you go,” he said, “but first you must spit on this book of lies. Anyone who refuses will be shot.”

Another soldier grabbed a man by the arm and forced him forward. “Father, please forgive me,” he prayed as he knelt where the Bible had fallen and spat lightly on it.

“Okay, you can go.” Then the officer pointed to a woman. She too knelt by the Bible. She moistened the Bible just enough to please the officers.

A teenage girl suddenly stood up and walked towards the Bible. Tearfully, she knelt and picked up the Bible, taking the hem of her dress and wiping it clean. “What have they done to your Word, Lord?” she said. “Please forgive them!” The soldier lowered his revolver to the back of her head and squeezed the trigger.

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That you might love the Word, more than food, more than all riches, more than your life-

Matt

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Story from VOM www.persecution.com

To download the song for FREE click HERE

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PART FOUR:  STEVE CAMP

Thanks to those of you who have joined me in this conversation thus far (PART ONE, TWO, AND THREE). Hopefully by now you have seen the problem aptly addressed, and also my heart in the matter….that the Name of Jesus would be glorified, and that people would be truly ministered to through christian radio and the christian music industry as a whole.

We now we turn the corner in our agenda and ask the question, “So now what?”.

It is humbling and encouraging to know that I am (certainly) not the first person to be talking about these things. So before I offer you my own sentiments in the matter, I offer the wonderful sentiments of christian artist Steve Camp.

Steve Camp was a christian artist in the 80′s and 90′s and is now a pastor of a local church in Florida. He, like Keith Green and others (I seek to emulate), was known for His boldness and His uncompromising faith in the Word of God.

The following document, written by Steve in 1997 and entitled “The 107 Theses”, is extremely thoughtful and well-articulated.  Though some things in it might be disagreeable, I think EVERY CHRISTIAN MUSICIAN SHOULD READ THIS DOCUMENT. Take the time brothers and sisters.  It’s well worth it.

For His Namesake-

Matt

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INTRODUCTION:

Those of us who are privileged to represent our Lord Jesus Christ in the arts should be galvanized by mission, not by ambition; by mandate, not by accolades; by love for the Master, not by the allurements of this world.

A call for REFORMATION in the contemporary Christian MUSIC INDUSTRY: BY STEVEN JOHN CAMP

Out of love and zeal for Biblical truth and the desire to bring it to light, I come to you, brethren, burdened and broken over the current state of Christian music. I come–not out of a heart of condemnation, but out of convictions immersed in tears as one in desperate need daily of our Lord’s grace to be conformed to His image. I come aware of the depravity from which I have been saved and that my heart, apart from the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, is desperately wicked and eternally sick. Early in my own musical journey I wrote songs that neither represented good music or precise theology. My motives were vitiated; my actions were not godly; and my lips were unclean. The thirst for prominence and position made my heart prideful, judgmental and callused. But the Lord, out of His infinite grace and otherworldly love, broke me with His chastening hand to bring true repentance in my own life–and it’s that life of repentance, which is my greatest desire and my greatest failing. It is out of the crucible of those experiences that I am driven to speak with conviction on these issues.

This document is a call to Reformation-a clarion call to recover Biblical Christianity in the arts. Music is a powerful tool from the Lord Jesus to His church intended for worship, praise, encouragement, edification, evangelism, teaching, admonishing. And exhorting God’s people to holiness–with always our chief aim “to glorify God and worship Him forever.” But beloved, the serpentine foe of compromise has invaded the camp through years of specious living, skewed doctrine and most recently secular ownership of Christian music ministries. While I assert this, I recognize that there are godly men and women who love the Lord that work for these companies and record for these companies, but that’s not the issue here. The crux of the matter is that the overall nature of our industry has dramatically shifted. The Apostle Paul warns… “It takes only a little leaven to leaven the whole lump.” (1 Corinthians 5:6) When sin is tolerated it ultimately permeates and corrupts the entire church. What is pure today will inevitably be polluted tomorrow if we do not “purge out the old leaven…” (Ibid. 5:7) In the past several years there has been a non-so-subtle drifting away from Christocentric music to an anthropocentric music. Sadly this has resulted in various visible manifestations of spiritual sedition– where currently, the CCMI finds itself on a slippery slope sliding away at accelerated speeds from the Savior, the Scriptures and the church.

Contemporary Christian music originally began unashamedly declaring Jesus Christ as Lord. Within a few years His name was replaced by several generic titles filtering out the name of God ultimately to the non-specific cognomen, “Love.” This led to a multitude of synonyms: “The Man Upstairs”; “My Higher Power”; “Our Family Values Expert”; ad nauseam…ad infinitum. This Biblical illiteracy I’ve coined as theological ebonics – Biblical language diminished to cultural unintelligible chatter affirmed as profound, acceptable spiritual truth. Os Guinness is “spot on” when saying “[we have seen a change] from the emphasis on ‘serving God’, to an emphasis on ‘serving the self’ in serving God.” The object of faith is no longer Christ, but our self-esteem; the goal of faith is no longer holiness, but our happiness; and the source of our faith is no longer the Scriptures, but our experience. Christian music currently reflects this. We are producing a generation of people that “feel” their God, but do not know their God.

When Martin Luther stood at Wittenberg’s Door in the year 1517, he called for reformation from the recalcitrant Roman Church. Now is our turn, almost five centuries later, to sound the alarm in our generation. This time, to call the Christian Music Industry to reformation–back to the supremacy, sufficiency and Lordship of Jesus Christ. Genuine revival–a fresh return to obedience in Christ–is surely needed today, but that would be almost impossible given the current environment of our industry. Why? True revival is marked by repentance; true repentance brings restitution; true restitution demands that Christian music be owned and operated only by believers whose aim is the glory of God consistent with Biblical truth. This means that the current CCMI labels music return all the money they have received to their respective secular counterparts that purchased them and divorce alliances with them. The CCMI has gone too far down the wide road of worldliness and there is not the tenacity of character and the Biblical courage of heart and mind to do the right thing no matter what the cost.

These are serious times, brethren, that call for real answers. This is not a time for duplicitous people, proclaiming a diluted message, from disingenuous ministries. It is a time for those whose lives are tempered with the steel of righteousness, girded with the belt of truth, standing firm in the gospel of peace, raising high their shield of faith, guarded with the helmet of salvation, to wield the sword of the Spirit with a surgeon’s exactitude, praying always with all prayer and supplication, with all perseverance for all the saints in the Spirit. (Ephesians 6:10-20)

Will we champion again the manifesto of the Reformers: Sola Fide (by faith alone); Sola Gratia (by grace alone); Sola Scriptura (on the Word alone); Solus Christus (because of Christ alone); and Soli Deo Gloria (to the Glory of God alone)? Do we have the conviction of heart and courage of mind to do what’s just? Do we have the boldness to shout above the roar of the marketplace that the Emperor has no clothes? Will we leave our careers, our contracts, our carefully cultivated plans and press releases, our unequally yoked record companies to serve the Lord again with all our heart, soul, mind and strength? There is no gray in this–it’s a matter of obedience.

Oh brethren, “we have a name to be alive, but we are dead.” (Revelation 3:1) There is no greater love song to proclaim than the once for all sacrifice of Jesus Christ our Lord at Calvary, but yet others feel content to sing about the chaff of this world. What the New Testament church wrestled with the least is what our industry craves the most–money. How dare we think we can play politics with God, with His truth and with His church. We can’t negotiate with sin no matter what kind of capital is at stake–and that really is the issue here.

Let us “press on, that [we] which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of [us].” (Philippians 3:12) Let us “lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1) Let us fall on our faces before our Holy Lord, repent of our sin and return to our First Love. With lives bathed in His grace, let us provoke one another to love and good works. With undivided hearts may we leave the prodigal’s pigpen and come back to the Father’s house. Let us commit to prayer and fasting, seeking the Lord’s will with a broken, contrite and obedient heart. Let us return to our churches and to the faithful pastors/elders that shepherd us-submitting ourselves to their godly leadership. May we be students of His Word being filled daily with His Spirit. Let us come away from an industry that has all but abandoned Christ and forge, by God’s grace, what it was always meant to be … a ministry. Doing His work, His way, according to His Word, by His Holy Spirit.

Pray on this, Pounding on “Wittenberg’s Door”, let us come together to make history- to make Contemporary Christian Music…Christian again.

Yours for the Master’s use,

Signed: Steve Camp 2 Corinthians 4:5

PART ONE: TO DO ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD

1. All our works, both musical and written, must produce a high view of God-with our chief aim being to glorify God and worship Him forever. (Job 40:6-41:34; Psalm 29:1-2; Jeremiah 9:23-24)

2. This means we are to represent God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit in fullness of Trinitarian character and attributes revealed through the scriptures. (Romans 11:33-36; 2Thessalonians 2:13-14; Revelation 5:12)

3. This is paramount-for it brings glory to God to reverence Him in the totality of His worth and works. It elicits holiness and obedience in the life of the believer. (Psalm 96:9; 103)

4. Even in God’s redemptive plan for man.…salvation never begins with man and his need but with God and His glory. And no one ever lives greater than his or her view of God. (Ephesians 1:3-14; Hebrews 11:6; 1John 1:7)

5. “Whether, then, [we] eat or drink, or whatever [we] do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

6. We fail to glorify Him when we praise the servant through awards and accolades rather than exalt the Master. “I was but a pen in God’s hand and what praise is due a pen?” (Baxter) God will not share His glory with another. (Psalm 115:1; Isaiah 42:8)

7. We fail to glorify Him when we speak of God out of our own vain imaginings or recreate Him in our own image; instead of honoring Him by how He revealed Himself through His holy Word. (Psalm 50:21; 1 Corinthians 2:13-16)

8. We fail to glorify Him when we make money a prerequisite for ministry; some, to their own destruction, teach that godliness is a means to financial gain. “Freely you have received; freely give.” (Matthew 6:24-34, 10:8-10; Acts 3:6, 20:33; 1 Timothy 6:5)

9. We fail to glorify Him when we publicly honor with Him with our lips, but privately have hearts that are far from Him. (Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 15:7-9) 10. God cannot be glorified where sin is pacified; and He cannot be extolled where sin is entertained. To live in and tolerate unrepentant sin is to write Ichabod across the doorpost of our lives and industry- “the glory of God has departed.” ( 1 Samuel 4:21-22; 1 Corinthians 5:1-8)

11. We fail to glorify Him when pride struts like Nebuchadnezzar across the Babylonian palace of our accomplishments thinking our own hand has made us, our own hand has delivered us, our own hand has provided for us, our own hand has promoted us and our own hand has saved us. (Daniel 4:28-37; James 4:6)

12. We fail to glorify Him when we strive to please man rather than to please God. (Galatians 10: 1-10; 1 Thessalonians 2:4)

13. We fail to glorify Him when we speak and sing of the benefits of the gospel, but fail to proclaim the Gospel itself. (Matthew 4:17, 7:13-27, 9:13, 16:24-26; Luke 14:26-33; John 1:12-13; Acts 20:27; Romans 3-5, 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 2:2, 9:16; 2 Corinthians 4:5, 7:10; Galatians 1:6-8; Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 2:9-18; 1 John 2:22-23, 4:1-4, 5:1-3)

PART TWO: The authority and sufficiency of scripture-the hymnbook of Heaven

14. The highest worship of God is the preaching of His Word. (Luther) We cannot honor God more than listening to his Word with an obedient life. Music that is saturated accurately with the truth of God’s Word is worthy of worship to the Lord. (Romans 10:14-17)

15. There is only one inspired, infallible rule and authority for all matters of life and godliness and it is the sufficient, pure, perfect, inerrant Word of God. (Psalm 19:7-14; 2 Timothy 3:16)

16. For God has even “exalted His Word above His name.” (Psalm 138:2)

17. God’s Word is His ultimate revelation and is thoroughly accurate, comprehensive and exhaustive in all its parts, even as it speaks to theology proper (the doctrine of God), doctrine, ethics, religious practice, science, geography, history (redemptive and actual), or any other topic. (Psalm 12:6; 119:160; John 17:17)

18. All Scripture must harmonize (agree) with itself and thus interpret itself. Therefore, the greatest commentary and interpreter of Scripture is Scripture itself. ( 2 Peter 3:15-16)

19. Theology (the Word of God) and doxology ( a word of glory, a note of praise, or a saying ascribing worth) are inseparable. As David says, “Thy statutes are my songs, in the house of my pilgrimage.” His Word is our music, His lawbook is our songbook, and His statutes are our songs. (Psalm 119: 54, 172)

20. Scripture speaks to all of life-therefore, our music may speak to every aspect of living. However, it must be based upon and not contrary to God’s Word in principle, ethic, content and conduct. ( 2 Timothy 3: 16-17; 2 Peter 1:3-4)

21. For instance, Esther and Song Of Solomon are the only books in the Bible that never mention the name of God. Yet, they speak with absolute clarity about the sovereignty of God in the political arena and of the beautiful expression of physical intimacy between a man and a woman in the context of a faithful, committed marriage.

22. In this Biblical world-view where are those like St. Paul, engaging the unsaved on Mars Hill, explaining “The Unknown God” in the midst of worldly philosophy and beliefs? That requires wisdom, integrity, cognitive reasoning, and a profound understanding of God’s Word and unwavering courage to communicate the truth in love. (Acts 17: 16-34)

23. As artists we have a tremendous responsibility to exegete the times. We are teachers of God’s truth, through the arts, that are deserving of a more strict judgement. (Colossians 3:16; James 3:1)

24. Paul soberly proclaims, “we are not like, as so many, peddling the Word of God for profit….” ( 2 Corinthians 2:17a) To peddle means to make retail of, to huckster or to pawn something off as merchandise.

25. Isaiah 1:22 uses the same Greek word in the LXX as Paul uses for “peddling” when saying, “Your silver has become dross and your wine mixed with water.” Those who mix wine and water did so to cheat the buyer. It resembled real wine and had the aroma of real wine, but in actuality was nothing more than a watered-down substitute- a cheap imitation.

26. Paul sternly warns that there are many con men who by slick eloquence and deceptive speech huckster or corrupt the true Word of God as retail merchandise; they dilute its truth to suit itching ears, while representing it as genuine, to purposely deceive and cheat the recipient for the sake of financial gain.( 2 Corinthians 4:1-2; 2 Timothy 4:3-5)

27. As Paul admonishes he also affirms, “but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.” (2 Corinthians 2:17b)

28. We have been given a sacred trust and holy privilege to be a steward of the mysteries of God in music ministry. If our music does not square with the truth of God’s Word, it must be rejected and cannot be embraced as profitable for godliness, beneficial exhortation to the church or as an effectual proclamation of the gospel. Dare we take it flippantly? ( 1 Corinthians 4:1f; 2 Corinthians 4:5; 1 Thessalonians 2:13)

29. Artistic license may be enjoyed when describing personal testimonies or life experiences, but our music must conform precisely to Biblical truth when addressing the person of God and His character, the gospel of Jesus Christ or the working of the Holy Spirit. (Psalm 50:16-23; 1 Timothy 6:3-5)

30. We need artists who will balance their zeal with knowledge to invest their lives in the daily discipline of Bible study, and then, to write with the fire, passion and enthusiasm which that study has illumined to communicate the glorious language of the church-the holy Word of God. (Psalm 1, 119)

31. For if in our worship we pervert His Word, we pervert the truth about God. If in our music we distort His doctrine, we distort a right view of Him. If in our song we misrepresent the Scriptures, we misrepresent the Savior. And if in our ministries we twist His truth, we dishonor His character. (2 Timothy 2:15)

32. Failure here is costly-for it is tantamount to breaking the third commandment: “do not take the name of the Lord God in vain.” (Exodus 20:7)

33. We are to crave the Word (1 Peter 2:2); have a delight in, a longing for and love of it (Ibid.); preach, admonish, exhort, and teach its truth (2 Timothy 4:2); take it as our song (Psalm 119:54); hide it deep in our hearts (Ibid. 119:11); meditate upon it (Ibid. 1:2); obey it (John 14:15); proclaim it (Matthew 4:23); guard it (1 Timothy 6:20); hope it (Romans 15:4); be sanctified by it (John 17:17); desire it more than all the world’s delicacies and treasure it more than all the world’s riches (Psalm 19:10); to be hearers and doers of it (James 1:22); contend for it (Jude 3); rightly divide it (2 Timothy 2:15); never add to it or take away from it (Revelation 22:18-19); for it is perfect, sure, right, pure, clean and true (Psalm 19:7-9).

PART THREE: The Character of Christian Music

34. Our Creator God has given us music-psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to use for praise and worship, the proclamation of His name and attributes, to teach and admonish one another unto holy living and to provide thanksgiving for His worth and works ( 1 Chr. 16:7-36)

35. Genuine Christian music has as its ultimate aim the glory of God. Anything less than this will at the end bear the fruit of self-glory and is music not honoring to the Lord. “Blessed is he who sings when no one is in the auditorium”-for that checks motive (Miller) (Psalms 18:1-6; 105:3)

36. Music is used according to the Apostle Paul in Colossians 3:16 to encourage council, warn, correct, comfort and teach the Biblical truth. According to David in Chronicles 25:1-5 the Levites used music to prophesy, give thanks and praise to the Lord. It was music rendered in the house of the Lord for the service of the house of God.

37. The first song ever recorded in Scripture is in Exodus 15 as a song of deliverance written by Moses after God had delivered them out of Egypt and destroyed Pharaoh’s army at the Red Sea. It describes God’s glorious deeds, His inscrutable ways, His attributes and character, His preeminence as the only true God and His eternal reign as Sovereign Lord and King. (compare, 1 Chronicles 16:8-36)

38. Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs flow from a life where His Word richly dwells and out of the life that is filled, or controlled, by the Holy Spirit. (Col. 3:16-17; Eph. 5:17-20) 39. Life in the Spirit and life in the Word are identical bearing the fruit of godly music honoring to the Lord. ( 1 Tim. 1:18-19)

40. Authentically Christian music was never intended for casual use or purely for entertainment. ( 1 Chronicles. 23:5)

41. Christian music, originally called Jesus Music, once fearlessly sang clearly about the gospel. Now it yodels of a Christ-less, watered down, pabulum-based, positive alternative, aura-fluff, cream of wheat, mush-kind-of-syrupy, God-as-my-girlfriend kind of thing.

42. Christian music today lacks the power and authority that it once enjoyed for it has lost its identification with the Lord Jesus Christ. As Moses has said, ” The Lord is my strength and my song” (Exodus 15:2)

43. We are to sing a new song to the Lord. It is a song of the redeemed people of God. This new song is a different and distinctive song, a more glorious song, a purer, truer and more beautiful song than the world can ever sing. (Psalms 33:3; 96:1; 149:1; Rev. 5:9-10)

44. “In scripture, the word new is used more frequently in relation to song than to any other feature of salvation.” (MacArthur) New is not used to mean new in time, but new in character or of a different nature compared to what was old. (Isaiah 42:10)

45. Christian music stands separate from the world’s music for by definition it is Christ-centered music. Even the style is not neutral and music in and of itself is not amoral, but it is “the incarnation of the message.” (Horton) Both must honor and bring glory to the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Chronicles 15:16)

46. Therefore, when Christian artists today take the old song of the world, dress it up, modify it and say it now represents the person of Jesus Christ, a Christian message or describes the character of God, they fortuitously assault the gospel and diminish the gift that has been entrusted to them. This is inappropriate at best and sacrilegious at worst. We cannot pour new wine into old wineskins. (Psalm 137; Mark 2:22)

47. Music can be appreciated and used in two wonderful, yet unique ways: creatively and redemptive. (Psalms 150:96:9)

48. Creatively, it is enjoyed as part of God’s creation, celebrated and shared by Christians and non-Christians alike under God’s common benevolence- “the rain falls on the just and the unjust.” (Matthew 5:45)

49. Redemptively, it is used in the church corporately and individually as part of the totality of worship and praise to the One Triune God. (1Chronicles 25:1-8)

50. While God has created many expressions to communicate His truths, music is unique. It is the only art that has a place in heaven and will endure for eternity. The angels sing, the elect saints sing and someday, we will hear the Lord Jesus Christ Himself “sing praise in the midst of the assembly.” (Hebrews 2:12; Revelation 15:3-4)

51. Christian music is unlike the music of Babylon, the world, which near the end of the age will cease: “The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters, shall not be heard in you anymore.” (Revelation 18:22)

52. God promises to silence the song of the ungodly. “I will silence the sound of your songs, and the sound of your harps will be heard no more.” (Ezekiel 26:13)

53. Beloved, as Christian artists, may we sing of that which endures for eternity.

PART FOUR: The Character of the Christian Musician- Personal Integrity and Holiness

54. The Biblical model of the musician originated from the Levitical priesthood, as musicians were appointed by the Levites under King David’s command, to proceed in worship, with the priests, before the ark of God. It’s nature was prophetic to Israel and ecclesiastical in role, i.e., used in temple worship. (1Chronicles 15; 16; 23:5; 25:5-6)

55. They were able to teach and were skillful in craft. “The chief of the Levites was Chenaniah, the master musician, who gave instruction to the singers because he was skillful”. (1 Chronicles 15:22)

56. They served in the context of temple worship. “Of the thirty-eight thousand Levites who ministered in the Temple, four thousand were appointed to lead in worship, thanksgiving, and praise of the Lord.” The model is clear. Pastoral charge over the arts is essential. (1 Chronicles 23:5)

57. Those calling themselves Christians are characterized by new life in Jesus Christ-old things pass away, all things become new.(2 Corinthians 5:17)

58. The Christian singer has a triumvirate charge of service to the Lord Jesus: Sound doctrine, Christ-centered worship and holy living. These three pillars elucidate the foundation of true Christian music and ministry and godly character. (Psalm 119:54, 172)

59. Take away any one of theses pillars and the structure topples. For example, an obedient life given in worship to Christ absent of sound doctrine will be empty praise and on the path to error. (Colossians 3:16)

60. Secondly, the sound theology sung out of the beauty of holiness but lacking in heartfelt worship to Christ leads to pride or self-glory and the chastisement of the Father. (Hebrews 12:5-11)

61. Lastly, a powerful doctrine sung in glory to Christ with an impure life is noise to the ears of our holy God. Submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the obedience to the Word of God are marks of the worthy walk of faith. However, when Biblical standard are dishonored and unrepentant sin persists we must adhere to the instruction of the Word-stop the music until life is right. (Amos 5:23-24)

62. Godly character exhibited in response to sound doctrine is paramount in serving the Lord. To live privately what we proclaim publicly is the manifestation of genuine faith. That is why from the stockroom to the stage Christ-likeness should evidence our behavior. God has not called us to be successful but faithful. (2 Corinthians 6:3-10)

PART FIVE: Guarding The Trust- Accountability to The local Church

63. Music, by Biblical definition, is a ministry. (1 Chronicles 16:37,42)

64. Ministry is defined as service to God and His creatures as we employ our Spirit-given giftedness, according to the instruction of Scripture as good stewards of the manifold grace of God for the advancement of His Kingdom; that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 4: 10-12)

65. God has designed genuine ministry to be inseparable from the life and leadership of the local church. Any ministry that does not strengthen one’s commitment to the local church is inconsistent with the purpose of Christ. (Acts 2: 42-47; Hebrews 10:23-25)

66. There are five reasons why we should love and serve the church: Firstly, Jesus Christ promised to build the Church- therefore, my commitment should be to it. (Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:39-47)

67. Secondly, He purchased the Church with His own precious blood-therefore, I love those for whom He died. (1 Peter 1:19; 1 John 3: 14-16)

68. Thirdly, the church is the predominate agency through which God’s will is manifested on earth-therefore, it is the community with whom I labor. (Ephesians 1:9-10; Colossians 1:28-29)

69. Fourthly, the Church is the only earthly expression of heaven-therefore, we must daily grow together in conformity to the fullness of Christ.(2 Peter 3:10-14; Revelation 4:4-11; Ephesians 4:12-13)

70. Fifthly, the gates of Hades will not prevail against the Church-therefore, in light of the assured victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, our worship and toil is not in vain. (Matthew 16:18; 1 Corinthians 15:54-58)

71. In response to these truths and to insure a life of godliness and holiness and to guard against blind spots in personal issues, vocation and theology-submission to the plurality of godly leaders within the church is essential. (1 Timothy 3:1-7)

72. We are to obey, honor, and pray for the faithful pastors in the church who have been given this sacred trust. They are those who are instructed by the Lord to keep watch over souls as ones who will give an account. Woe to the shepherds who do not take their responsibility to shepherd the flock of God seriously. They dishonor the Savior. They disobey the Scriptures. They diminish their office and defame their calling. (Hebrews 13:7, 1 Peter 5:1-4)

73. In the case of a Christian being overtaken in sin, proper discipline must be exercised within the church to bring restoration and reconciliation (as prescribed in Matthew 18:15-20; Galatians 6:1-2; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15). This is to confirm repentance and to guard the purity of one’s life personally as well as the entire body of Christ corporately.

PART SIX: TO NOT BE UNEQUALLY YOKED WITH AN UNBELIEVING WORLD

74. The CCMI has committed spiritual adultery in joining itself with the wayward world in trying to forward the message of the gospel. This has and will prove to be fatal for Gospel music, as we know it today. (Deuteronomy 32:22-24; Psalm 1; Jeremiah 17:5-8)

75. We cannot partner with the believing world in common spiritual enterprise or ministry. To harness unbelievers and believers in a Christ-centered endeavor is to be unequally yoked. (2 Corinthians 6:14-16)

76. We must be separate from non-Christians in positions of ownership, authority or influence in the advancement of the gospel. (Ibid.)

77. The kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness are two mutually exclusive worlds; two opposing societies; two converse communities that are incompatible and incongruous with each other in regards to the faith. (Ibid.)

78. One is characterized by righteousness. Light, Christ, believers and the temple of God. Lawlessness, darkness, Belial, unbelievers and the temple of idols distinguish the other. One is based on God’s truth-the other on Lucifer’s lies. In matters of Christian faith and belief no partnership does or really can exist between these two realms. (Ibid.)

79. “To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being detestable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.” (Titus 1:15-16)

80. God is our Father and we, as His children, must disavow all praetorian religious and spiritual alliances with sin and Satan or we will forfeit the joy and blessing that flow from obedient fellowship in the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Cor. 4:17-18)

81. Satan’s number one assault on the church is to infiltrate with error. He doesn’t want to fight the church-he wants to join it. (John 8:44; 2 Cor. 11:12-15; 1 Timothy 4:1)

82. Undiscerning believers think it a profound ministry strategy to join forces with unregenerate people in forwarding the gospel. Unwittingly, they harness Jesus Christ, the Worthy One, with Belial or Satan, the worthless one, in an unholy alliance-the very essence of being unequally yoked. (2 Corinthians 6:15)

83. “Ephraim is joined to idols. Let him alone” (Hosea 4:17)

84. We are not, however, called to isolationism. We are called to be salt and light in the world. We are to be faithful witnesses of God’s mercy, love, and grace to the lost and dying. We are to cultivate personal relationships with unbelievers, love our neighbor and our enemy, serve them and share our faith with them. (Matthew 5:13-16; 40-44)

85. We are to be in the world but not of it-and this is our greatest challenge. Separation is not being divorced from our contact with the world, but from complicity and conformity to it. (1 John 2:15-17)

86. For instance, it is not unBiblical to consult non-Christian experts in matters of business, craft or trade (though whenever possible, Christian experts respected in these fields are preferable because of shared integrity), but we can never engage in intimate binding-indissoluble relationships, alliances, or partnerships that result in shared responsibility or authority for ministry purposes. (Deuteronomy 22:9-11; Philippians 2:14-15)

87. The promise of increased financial resources, wider distribution and a larger audience is not justification for the surrender or our spiritual autonomy. (Luke 4:4-12; Ephesians 5:8-12) 88. It is impossible for God to fully bless and use His children who are in compromise with non-believers. (Romans 8:7-8)

89. “Adulterers and adulteresses. Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4)

PART SEVEN: TO BE ABOVE REPRAOCH IN ALL BUSINESS ACTIVITY

90. If true reformation in CCMI occurs, it will mean that every facet of music ministry will ultimately be affected and undergo godly transformation. The need to recapture “the economy of God” in our daily business activities is not optional, but essential.

91. Honesty in business dealings, practice, relationships and all activities pursuant in our service to the church, the world and to the Lord Jesus is indispensable to effectively carrying out the calling and mission of Record Company Executives, Promoters, Agents, Managers, Artists, Publishers, etc. ( 1Peter 2:12-18)

92. To have a good name in the community-at-large is vital in handling of the lesser things: business, money, trade, etc., in order to be entrusted with the superior things: His word, the church and the souls of men. (Psalm 15:2-5)

93. To that end, we must purpose to have our yes mean yes and our no mean no. (Matthew 5:37)

94. To never sue a fellow Christian to resolve disputes, or risk damaging a witness or testimony to an unbeliever through civil litigation for requital. We will reserve the right to be wronged rather than wrong someone by demanding our rights. ( 1 Corinthians 6:1-7)

95. Exhaustive means to settle conflicts should be pursued through Christian arbitration as overseen in the context of the local church under duly recognized pastoral authority. (Ibid.)

96. We will purpose to keep personal relationships more important than business deals; family more valuable than commodities; and faith more precious than fortune. The struggle is maintaining an eternal perspective in the transitory moments. May our light so shine before men. (Psalm 90:12; Matthew 5:16; Ephesians 5:22-33; Philippians 2:1-5; 1 Peter 3:7)

PART EIGHT: Reclaiming Christian Music for Christ

97. To bring reformation to Christian music we must purpose, by God’s grace, to do several things. (2 Corinthians 13:7; 2 Timothy 2:1; Titus 2:12-13)

98. Fast, mourn, weep, and pray over the sins of our industry, the church and our personal lives. (Nehemiah 1:5-11; Isaiah 6:4-39; Daniel 9:4-9; Ezra 9:6-15)

99. Return to our First Love. (Matthew 22:37; Romans 5:5; 1Peter 1:8; 1John 5:3; Revelation 2:4) 100. Remember how far we have fallen. (Luke 15:11-32; Revelation 2:5)

101. Repent of our sins. This is a complete, decisive change of mind and action. (Jeremiah 51:45; Luke 16:11; Revelation 2:5,16,22; 3:3,19)

102. Repeat the deeds we did at first. “It is a reversal of the status quo, a deliberate repudiation of former sins and a complete return to the standards and will of God” (Thomas) (Ephesians 2:10; James: 2:14-26; Revelation 2:5)

103. Reform or be removed. The Lord promises to remove the lampstand from its place -unless [we] repent. God’s judgement always follows habitual, unrepentant sin. (2 Timothy 2:19;Hebrews 12:5-11; Revelation 2:6)

104. Renew your obedience to walk by, be-filled with, pray in, to not grieve or quench the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 5:18; Jude 20; Ephesians 4:30; 1Thessalonians 5:19) 105. Reconcile yourself to the local church. Place yourself, your family and your vocation under faithful pastoral instruction. (Hebrews 13:7, 17)

106. Pray for the leaders of every facet of our industry that they will honor the Lord Jesus with obedient lives in doing the right thing, consistent with Scripture, no matter what the cost personally or corporately. (Ephesians 6:18-20; 1Timothy 2:1-3)

107. Take a step of faith. Come away from the current industry model like Abraham venturing out into the wilderness with only the promise of God as his surety. Begin to build authentic Christian Music Ministry again. (Romans 1:17; Hebrews 10:38, 11:1, 6)

To download the song for FREE click HERE

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PART THREE:  SONGS

As a way of reminder, let me begin with some foundational premises:

I think theology is the most important thing in the world.  Theology, in layman’s terms is simply the study of GOD.  A.W. Tozer said “The most important thing about a person is what they think about when they think about God”.  I wholeheartedly agree.  Why?  Because how you view God colors everything about you.  If God is supremely loving but not Holy, you will abuse grace because grace will be trite.  If God is supremely Holy but not loving, you will live in utter condemnation.  If Jesus is safe, you will compartmentalize Him.  If He is not sovereign, you will live in unrest.  ETC. (I think you get the idea.)  This means, if we want to love people, we must give them God.  And not just God, but God as He is (according to the Scriptures).

One of the most influential things upon a people’s theology, equal if not greater than preaching (in my opinion), is music.  Songs….”christian” songs….are sermons people remember.  You forget a sermon in a couple weeks.  You remember a song forever.  Aristotle said, “give me a nation’s songs and I care not who makes it’s laws”.  Music matters.  Things with Jesus’ name tacked on them matter.  Theology matters.  And christian radio is hugely influencing the music people are aware of, and the songs that churches are singing.

Now to the issue at hand:

Mainstream christian radio is not giving people God, but a safe, condensed, and feminine version of God.  The songs are trite.  “Love” is celebrated more than the God of love and His demonstration of love (the cross).  Listen for 20 minutes and you will see.  But you might say:

Matt, stop freaking out.  What’s wrong with happy, encouraging, positive music?  Nothing at all.  It’s FANTASTIC.  Really.  However…

It has been said that a false prophet is defined as a false prophet…..not primarily because of the things they say, but because of the things they don’t say.  I think Joel Osteen is INCREDIBLY encouraging.  I mean, really, I do.  It’s amazing and I think encouragement is definitely his spiritual gift.  Most of the time, when I listen to him, there is not ONE THING WRONG with what he is saying.  But what is he NOT saying?  A LOT, and he should not be a pastor if he is unwilling to say those things.  Author?  Go for it buddy.  But PASTOR of the Church of Jesus Christ?  I’m not so sure.

The same goes for christian radio.  If we’re going to label it Christian, then let’s make it Christian.  Let’s stop mis-representing the Lord on such a large scale through an imbalanced presentation of Him.

Let’s list a few examples of what I mean by an imbalanced, or inaccurate view of who God is.  As a disclaimer, I would like to remind my readers of things I have said in previous posts; namely, that I don’t necessarily point the finger of blame at the artist here, but at the theological imbalance on mainstream radio as a whole.  The following are lyrics of songs that have been extremely successful in recent years on christian radio, and are a fair (in my opinion) presentation of what is regularly played:

“Hold Me”

I love, I love, I love, I love the way you hold me

I love, I love, I love, I love the way you, the way you hold me

VERSE 1:

I’ve had a long day I just wanna relax

Don’t have time for my friends, no time to chit-chat

Problems at my job, wonderin’ what to do

I know I should be working but I’m thinking of You and

Just when I feel this crazy world is gonna bring me down

That’s when Your smile comes around

CHORUS:

Oh, I love the way You hold me, by my side You’ll always be

You take each and every day, make it special in some way

I love the way you hold me, in Your arms I’ll always be

You take each and every day, make it special in some way

I love You more than the words in my brain can express

I can’t imagine even loving You less

Lord, I love the way You hold me

Whoa oh oh oh oh oh oh, oh whoa, I love the way You hold me

Whoa oh oh oh oh oh oh

-

I think this song is written to Jesus, but I’m not sure.  “Lord” in the chorus could easily be an explicative and then sung to a boyfriend or girlfriend.

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“Can’t get over You”

verse 1:

-

In this artists defense, they do say the word “Father” in the second verse, and “oh Lord” in the bridge, but this song also could be easily sung to a human being.

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“What Faith Can Do”

verse 1:
Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes and make a new beginning
Anyone can feel the ache
You think it’s more than you can take
But you’re stronger, stronger than you know
Don’t you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining

chorus:
I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

verse 2:
It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard
Impossible is not a word
It’s just a reason for someone not to try
Everybody’s scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It’ll be alright
Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing

-

This song doesn’t mention God or Jesus.  At all.

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“Free to be me”

verse 1

At twenty years of age

I’m still looking for a dream

A war is already waged for my destiny

But You’ve already won the battle

And You’ve got great plans for me

Though I can’t always see, ’cause…

chorus:

I got a couple dents in my fender

Got a couple rips in my jeans

Try to fit the pieces together

But perfection is my enemy

And on my own I’m so clumsy

But on Your shoulders I can see

I’m free to be me

verse 2

When I was just a girl

I thought I had it figured out

See my life will turn out right

And I’ll make it here somehow

But things don’t always come that easy

And sometimes I would doubt, ’cause…

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“Me And Jesus”

When there’s nowhere else to turn

All your bridges have been burned

Feels like you’ve hit rock bottom

Don’t give up it’s not the end

Open up your heart again

When you feel like no one

Understands where you are

[chorus]

Someone loves you even when you don’t think so

don’t you know

you got Me and Jesus

by your side through the fight

you will never be alone on your own

you got me and Jesus

-

Good news everyone.  We’ve got this guy.  Oh yeah, and Jesus.

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“This Is The Stuff”

verse 1:

I lost my keys in the great unknown

And call me please ‘Cuz I can’t find my phone

chorus:

This is the stuff that drives me crazy

This is the stuff that’s getting to me lately

In the middle of my little mess

I forget how big I’m blessed

This is the stuff that gets under my skin

But I gotta trust You know exactly what You’re doing

It might not be what I would choose

But this is the stuff You use

verse 2:

45 in a 35

Sirens and fines while I’m running behind

Whoa

chorus:

This is the stuff that drives me crazy

This is the stuff that’s getting to me lately

In the middle of my little mess

I forget how big I’m blessed

This is the stuff that gets under my skin

But I gotta trust You know exactly what You’re doing

It might not be what I would choose

But this is the stuff You use

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“You Are More”

verse:

There’s a girl in the corner

With tear stains on her eyes

From the places she’s wandered

And the shame she can’t hide

She says, “How did I get here?

I’m not who I once was.

And I’m crippled by the fear

That I’ve fallen too far to love”

But don’t you know who you are,

What’s been done for you?

Yeah don’t you know who you are?

chorus:

You are more than the choices that you’ve made,

You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,

You are more than the problems you create,

You’ve been remade.

-

This song tends to point to universalism….without faith in Christ as a precursor to being remade.

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“Someone worth dying for”

You might be the wife,

Waiting up at night

You might be the man,

Struggling to provide

Feeling like it’s hopeless

Maybe you’re the son,

Who chose a broken road

Maybe you’re the girl,

Thinking you’ll end up alone

Praying God can you hear me?

Oh God are you listening?

(Chorus)

Am I more than flesh and bone?

Am I really something beautiful?

Yeah, I wanna believe, I wanna believe that

I’m not just some wandering soul

That you don’t see and you don’t know

Yeah I wanna believe, Jesus help me believe that I

Am someone worth dying for

-

This song clearly emphasizes our worth, and not God’s grace.

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I realize that these are NOT the ONLY songs played on christian radio, and honestly, these songs by themselves are probably just fine and dandy.  However, and in holistic sense, the gospel and the glory of God seem to be lacking altogether on what is labeled christian radio, which is a very, very, very sad thing.

Please hear my heart:  I love the DJ’s who do christian radio and I love people who listen to christian radio.  That’s why I’m writing these posts.  I realize the Lord does not need me to defend Him.  He’s doing just fine.  But I do want to do my part…and pass the gospel on to the next generation.  I also realize that the explicit gospel of Christ may never be “popular”….but I’m forever hoping and fighting that it would be.

Writing that Christ might be treasured above all-

Matt

Young Pastor Kochanga, having preached only one sermon in his entire life, stood before the colonel, knowing that the man held the power of life or death over him.  He answered in a respectful, yet fervent tone.

“Sir, truth is never afraid.  Suppose your government would decide to hang all mathematicians.  How much would two plus two be then?  Two plus two would still be four.

“We have truth, as true as a mathematical equation.  We have the truth that there is a God, and He is our loving Father.  We have the truth that Jesus is the Savior of the world and wishes to save everyone, even you.  We have truth that there is a Holy Spirit who empowers men and gives them light, and we have the truth that there exists a beautiful paradise.

“Whatever whips and whatever instruments of torture you have, it will always remain so.  Two plus two still equals four.”

Kochanga was beaten almost beyond recognition and then was never seen again.

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Our lives are like a shadow compared to the substance of Christ.  We are here for a moment, and then we are gone (James 4:14)…..but Truth endures.   Yes, the Truth will endure…no matter how many lies Satan deceives us with….no matter how many poor sermons get preached.  If you tried for the rest of your life to disprove Christianity it would be like a toddler trying to push down an oak tree.  The tomb is empty and the Truth endures.

Do you share your faith like the Truth (Jesus) needs your help?  Like it (He) needs to be defended?  Or do you share it the way Spurgeon spoke of it:  “The gospel is like a caged lion. It does not need to be defended, it just needs to be let out of its cage.”

Do you share your faith at all?

It is not narrow minded to share the Truth brothers and sisters.  It is love.  We have it.  Or rather…it has us.  And to believe it is to share it.

Let the world wonder at your confidence.  Let them be dumbfounded by your peaceful disposition.  And let them be convinced by your love.

GO….and know the Truth will endure…no matter what you do.

Writing…a drop of rain in an ocean of Truth-

Matt

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Story from VOM http://www.persecution.com/

The questioner was Henry VIII, the king of England, who had unrestrained power in the land. The “criminal” who stood before him, charged with heresy, was John Lambert, a Greek and Latin tutor.

Lambert audaciously challenged his pastor for delivering a sermon that didn’t agree with Scripture. Because of this, Lambert was brought before the archbishop of Canterbury and later before King Henry. Quoting from the Scriptures and explaining the original Greek, Lambert presented his case to an assembly of bishops, lawyers, justices, and peers. The two sides argued strenuously back and forth until Henry, bored with it, presented Lambert with a final choice: “After all the reasons and instructions of these knowledgeable men, are you now satisfied? Will you choose to live or die? What do you say?”

Lambert took a deep breath and answered confidently, “I commend my soul to the hands of God, but my body I give to your clemency.”

“You must die,” Henry answered scornfully, “for I will not be a patron to heretics.” Convicted of heresy, Lambert was burned at the stake. Lambert was unbowed in his slow, torturous death.  Ablaze, He lifted up his burning hands in worship, declaring, “None but Christ! None but Christ!”

Writing that your soul might say with John Lambert, “None but Christ”-

Matt

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Story from www.persecutionblog.com

To download the song for FREE click HERE

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PART TWO: BECKY

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Meet Becky:

She’s a 38 year old soccer-mom with 3 kids.  She drives a mini-van, because if she didn’t, well where would she put all the crayons and goldfish?  She is a loving wife and mother and is actively involved at her church.  She lives in the suburbs but volunteers at the local food pantry.  Becky is pretty awesome.  And one more important detail about Becky…..she listens to christian radio exclusively.  Yep, that’s right.  And you actually already know her.

Becky isn’t one person of course…she is the prototype target audience created by the christian music industry for christian radio.  True story.  She’s been around about 6 or 7 years now.  Christian radio demographic research discovered that “Becky” is the one who is listening, so “Becky” is the audience they relentlessly target.  So here’s what happens:

Christian radio plays songs for Becky.  The labels know that in order to sell music, they have to get songs on radio.  Radio = Becky.  So the labels coerce their artists and bands to all write and record songs for Becky….songs that will make her feel good.  Songs that tell her she is good.  Songs that are “safe for the whole family”.  Songs that remind her of her snow-flake-ness and tell her to turn that frown upside-down.  Songs that focus on love and hope.  Songs that aren’t confrontational.  Songs that aren’t theological because man, that stuff is up in the clouds.  Songs that don’t talk about blood and crosses and depressing stuff like that.  Songs that focus on Becky and her busy life.  And if the artists or bands want to write songs for another demographic or another purpose, that’s fine, they can just make music somewhere else.  There is money to be made.

So, here we are.  Bands/Artists who want to be heard write songs for Becky.  Christian radio, therefore, is for the most part an altar where chipper, inauthentic, boring, unscriptural, untruthful, gospel-absent, ear-tickling, man-centered songs are offered to an idol named Becky.

I’ve been on a couple labels in my short musical career, and I testify that this is (sadly) how things work.

I love Becky.  I really do.  That’s part of the reason I’m writing this.  Becky needs to be ministered to just like I do and just like everyone else does.  But Christian radio/industry people: please MINISTER TO HER!!  Stop giving her what she WANTS….GIVE HER WHAT SHE NEEDS and that is the GOSPEL….or stop calling yourself “christian”.  There is NOTHING “christian” about telling someone who has cancer that they are ok.  Stop tickling her ears.  Becky is a human being who needs to hear the truth of Christ, not an object to use for your financial gain.  Woe to you.  And here’s a novel idea:  Why not target other people besides Becky?!?!  The gospel has no demographics!  Christ shed His blood for all people everywhere and you have mis-represented Him.  I pray with all my heart that the money tables in your temple would soon be overturned.

To the “Becky’s” out there and other christian radio listeners:  I don’t mean to sound overly dramatic, but christian radio has used you.  Beware of the subtleties of wolves in sheep’s clothing.  Be wise as serpents and gentle as doves and be careful what you support.  Be shrewd about what enters your ears/mind everyday.  Make sure you are feeding yourself Truth.

To Christian bands/artists out there:  don’t build your careers around money or Becky.  Don’t be a whore.  Build your career around what God is leading you to build your career around and the people he is leading you to minister to.  That’s what will last.

To christian Radio DJ’s out there: you have a sway and influence like not many in our nation have.  Use it for the glory of Christ and the building up of the Church.  I know many of you have the same convictions I do.  Live them out, or quit.  God will provide if you seek His kingdom first.

In my next post, I’ll be giving you some practical examples of what I’m talking about….specific songs, etc.

Writing for the sake of the Kingdom, Christian music, and “Becky”-

Matt

My answer is a resounding yes.

Martin Luther King Jr. fought and died, not simply for a cause he believed in, but for a cause his GOD believes in (Psalm 106:3, Micah 6:8, Zechariah 7:9, Matthew 12:18, Deuteronomy 16:20, Deuteronomy 27:19, Proverbs 28:5, Proverbs 29:7, Leviticus 19:15, Isaiah 1:17, Isaiah 10:1-2.)  MLK’s life was a cry for justice.  He was a preacher in word and deed, and his passion for human rights are historically unparalleled.  Where did this passion come from?  Let’s let Dr. King speak for himself:

From Letter from a Birmingham Jail (1963)

“I am in Birmingham because injustice is here. Just as the eighth century prophets left their little villages and carried their “thus saith the Lord” far beyond the boundaries of their home towns; and just as the Apostle Paul left his little village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to practically every hamlet and city of the Graeco-Roman world, I too am compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my particular home town. Like Paul, I must constantly respond to the Macedonian call for aid.”

“Of course, there is nothing new about this kind of civil disobedience. It was seen sublimely in the refusal of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to obey the laws of Nebuchadnezzar because a higher moral law was involved. It was practiced superbly by the early Christians who were willing to face hungry lions and the excruciating pain of chopping blocks, before submitting to certain unjust laws of the Roman empire.”

“There was a time when the church was very powerful. It was during that period when the early Christians rejoiced when they were deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society. Whenever the early Christians entered a town the power structure got disturbed and immediately sought to convict them for being “disturbers of the peace” and “outside agitators.” But they went on with the conviction that they were “a colony of heaven,” and had to obey God rather than man. They were small in number but big in commitment. They were too God-intoxicated to be “astronomically intimidated.”

“Was not Jesus an extremist for love — “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you.” Was not Amos an extremist for justice — “Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.” Was not Paul an extremist for the gospel of Jesus Christ — “I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.” Was not Martin Luther an extremist — “Here I stand; I can do none other so help me God.”   So the question is not whether we will be extremist but what kind of extremist will we be.  In that dramatic scene on Calvary’s hill, three men were crucified. We must not forget that all three were crucified for the same crime–the crime of extremism. Two were extremists for immorality, and thusly fell below their environment. The other, Jesus Christ, was an extremist for love, truth and goodness, and thereby rose above his environment.”

This is not the sound of a man who gave his life for ONLY racial equality.  This is the sound of a man following in the footsteps of his Lord….laying down his life for the sake of the weak, oppressed, and marginalized…..for the sake of the gospel….for the sake of the LORD.

He was murdered on April 4, 1968 by one antagonistic to his cause, James Earl Ray.  MLK died a hero, a christian, a martyr.

May we believers, like dr. King, not only know our doctrine well, but live our doctrine better.  Let us know the Truth, and let us fight that others may know it as well.

Writing that you might join the fight-

Matt

To download the song for FREE click HERE

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PART ONE:  WHY?

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Imagine with me: The apostle Paul, John the Baptist, the prophet Isaiah, St. Augustine, Martin Luther, and Hudson Taylor all sitting in a room together.  The year is 2012, and they’re listening to a mainstream christian radio station.  After listening for an hour, someone finally speaks up:

Isaiah:  um….

Paul:  wow.

Luther:  THIS IS CHRISTIAN?!?!

Augustine:  Did that song just say ‘God you are super neat’?!?

Taylor:  Haven’t heard a song about the cross yet.

John:  This is embarrassing.  (bites into a bug)

Over the next month or so, I’ll be writing a series of posts about the current state of the christian music industry, more specifically, the current state of that which spearheads it, namely christian radio.  By saying radio “spearheads” the industry, I realize I have begun with a proposition a small percentage of people could find disagreeable.  Certainly, there are a few christian artists who do not utilize radio and still have a good deal of influence (Lecrae, John Mark McMillian, Phil Whickam).  But for the most part, despite the rise of the internet, radio remains the key player in getting songs and artists ‘out there’.  If you don’t want to take my word for it, check it out for yourself HERE.  I will speak more to this later, but essentially, you can think of it this way: christian radio is to the christian music industry what the movie theatre is to the movie industry.  If a movie hits the theaters, you hear about it.  If it doesn’t, you usually don’t.

As you might have gleaned from the title, what will follow will be a hard, honest, word of rebuke.  I have no idea if anything I say in these posts will mean anything for the sake of change, but someone has to say it:  Mainstream christian radio is altogether banal and shallow in both a musical sense and a spiritual sense.  The songs are man-centered and the DJ’s and radio programmers are man-pleasers…..they play the songs that will attract the most listeners to their station, period.  Christian radio is like Joel Osteen in musical form….safe, happy, and untruthful.  It is the TBN of music…a large-scale, embarrassing presentation of Christianity to the world.  Now, before I continue, I would like to make some clarifying statements:

1.  All in all, my appeal is positive, not negative.  I’m not writing these posts for shock-value, or to simply complain about the way things are.  Anyone can complain about what’s wrong.  I’m writing this because I want for christian radio to be christian.  I’m writing because I care about the things that have Jesus’ name tacked on them….I’m writing because I care about people and the huge forming and informing effect music has on them.  I not here to just say what’s wrong…I’m here to say what’s RIGHT (and missing), namely, Christian radio playing songs that are Biblical, theologically accurate, Christ-exalting, gospel-proclaiming, artistically meaningful, and truly encouraging.

2.  To be fair, not ALL songs that are played on mainstream Christian radio are trite.  Just most of them.

3.  I am thankful for those few DJ’s out there who play Jesus-exalting, Bible-saturated songs, and I hope these posts are an encouragement for them to continue doing so.

4.  I don’t think that EVERY SONG played on christian radio should be a John Piper sermon set to music.  I’m just calling for SOME level of weight in what is labeled “christian” radio.

5.  Several of MY songs have gotten airplay on some major networks, which has been a tremendous blessing to our ministry and for which I am very thankful.

6.  By writing these posts, I am not saying that all christian ARTISTS who get played on christian radio are compromising, sell-outs.  Some definitely are, but I personally know many who are very genuine.  In theses posts, I am simply saying that the system is broken….and that radio in large-part “forces” christian artists to succumb to compromise.  MANY bands/artists whore themselves and their Lord all for the sake of getting a song on the radio, i.e. “making it”.

7.  Some might say that to do what I’m doing here is career suicide….if a christian radio network reads these posts (which I hope they will) they’ll never play my music again.  That may be true.  However (and I’m not trying to be overly spiritual when I say this), my goal isn’t to build a career, it’s to build a kingdom.  I care too much about this issue to remain silent.  Plus, I might be one of the few people who are currently in the “industry”, have some wherewithal, AND are crazy enough to say something.

So here we go!  I hope you’ll join me in what I hope is a great blessing to the body of Christ, and a conversation that will at least stir up some awareness and discussion.

Writing, jealous for His Name-

Matt

Read PART 2 HERE

But be careful.  God loves to answer prayers that are in accordance with His purposes.  (Phil 3:10)

Pray it with me.  It’s worth it.

Do What You Must

Do what You must almighty God
To make me more like Your Son,
Empty me of all envy and pride
And fill me again with love.

Whatever it takes I earnestly pray
To make me a man of Your Word,
Take me to the depths of sufferings deep
Lead me down the Calvary road.

I’ll take up my cross whatever the cost
If You grant the strength and grace,
I’ll follow you Lord, my Savior, my God
To highest of heights or grave.

My dreams and my plans I place on your altar
And to them I raise my knife,
You give and you take, my gracious Provider
You kill and you bring to life.

I ask not for health nor prospering wealth
But one thing I need and trust,
That I might become a man like Your Son
To this end Lord, do what You must.

Writing that you might not gain the whole world and lose your soul,

Matt

After they had been tried, found guilty, and sentenced to die, 26 Christians were marched to the place where crudely made crosses stood.

Almost 3 months earlier they had been arrested in Kyoto, Japan and been charged with following Christ.  One of them was Ibaragi Kun.  Seeing how young Ibaragi was, an officer took him aside and urged him to recant his faith to save his life.  Looking the officer in the eye, Kun said confidently, “Sir,it would be far better if you yourself became a Christian.  Then you could go with me to Heaven.”  (I imagine he was smiling as he said it.)  The officer stared, startled by the young man’s faith.  Finally Ibaragi broke the silence and asked “Sir, which cross is mine?”.

The bewildered officer slowly pointed to the smallest of the 26 crosses.  Young Kun ran to it knelt before it and embraced it.  When the soldiers began to nail his hands and feet to the cross he did not cry out in pain.  He courageously accepted the path that was laid before him.  The crucifixion of the 26 Christians on November 23,1596 was the beginning of an intense period of persecution in Japan.  In the next seventy years close to one million Japanese believers laid their lives down for their faith.  Many would embrace their own crosses to follow the example of young Ibaragi Kun: a mighty man of God, a martyr, a 12-year-old.

Writing that you might joyfully & willingly embrace your cross, because God embraced His,

Matt

Story adapted from “Extreme Devotion”, VOM.  http://www.persecution.com/