Home Back to Articles Page

The DeGRAFF FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH

State Route 235/ 100 East Miami Street

DeGraff, Ohio 43318

Phone: (937) 585-4463

James R. Roby, Pastor

Modernism Takes a New Form: Contemporary Music

By VICTOR E. SEARS

Forty years ago when I first entered the ministry, the word "modernism" was on the lips of every fundamentalist. The word had a connotation relative to the trends of apostasy as we saw them in many of the great denominations and such organizations as the Federal Council of Churches (now the National Council of Churches) and the World Council of Churches. Individual names such as Harry Emerson Fosdick, Harry Word, E. Stanley Jones, and others became synonymous with our exposure of modernism or apostasy.

Many great pulpiteers and Bible expounders became well known for their battle against modernism. Included among these were T. T. Shields, J. Frank Norris, Sam Jones, Harvey Springer, Carl Mclntire, Bob Ketchum, Bob Jones, Art Wilson, Noel Smith, Archer Weniger, Henry Grube, Major Edgar Bundy and a host of others too numerous to list. All of these men have been of my personal acquaintance and some have been very close friends.

They fought seemingly insurmountable battles against apostasy and unbelief in denominations and councils. These men were giants in their day. They fought those who would bring false doctrines into our churches and those who would attempt INCLUSIVE policies of fellowship between fundamentalists and modernists. The lines were definitely drawn so that people knew unequivocally the difference between fundamentalists, neoevangelicals, and modernists. Today these lines are fast becoming obliterated.

Now, there is a new form that modernism and apostasy has taken to creep surreptitiously into our churches and destroy their scriptural testimony. This time it does not come in the form of preaching or teaching, but rather in the carnal production of the MUSICAL program from many church platforms.

Much of the singing heard today by choirs and specials on the average church platform is what is known either as contemporary or as "soft rock" and is often backed with the sound of "canned music" that could be produced by the average dance or disco band at the corner HONKEY-TONK.

In my personal estimation, such noise or racket (certainly not music) is a polluting stench in the nostrils of a holy God. With its  sensual tones, jungle beat, arid night club presentation, it appeals to the FLESH rather than to the spirit. It motivates the CARNAL instead of the spiritual. The sad truth is that most of this new contemporary, soft rock, offbeat style of music was connived in hell, hatched among the charismatic crowd, arid printed in their publishing houses. Good fundamental Baptists and others that refuse the teachings of the charismatic crowd concerning tongues, signs, visions, and so forth are now singing their music in our churches and preparing our people for the world, the flesh, and the devil. It is the new TROJAN HORSE move of modernism to deaden our churches to spiritual truth. lchabod can be written over most of its lyrics and notes.

The sad part of this is that many  pastors are NOT AWARE of what is taking place. A lot of these musical arrangements (arranged by the charismatics) come in the form of "canned music" with the sound of drums, amplified guitars, plus other instruments with the OFFBEAT of the JUNGLE just like you would expect to hear in the HONKEY-TONK SALOON.

I have heard several people say that it carries the same beat  that they used to dance with before they were saved. Much of this so-called music cannot be distinguished from what Elvis Presley and other rock singers used. There is a sort of hippy-oriented "pop" flavor that is disgusting to any consecrated Christian and must be repulsive to Almighty God.

Too many soloists and groups singing such music put on the poise and style of Hollywood entertainers. Many of these "entertainers" wear clothing (or the lack of it) that is the same as worn in night clubs. Often men have long hippy-like hair arrangements that speak of the rebellion of this age and are a contradiction of 1 Corinthians 11:14 where it states: "Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?" Many of these "entertainers" would not go across the street to win a soul to Christ or attend a Bible study or prayer meeting.

The average musical group turns up the public address system so high that it destroys all hearing of the words and receiving of a message. I heard B. R. Lakin say in Orlando, Florida that "the average quartet, if they sang in an auditorium the size of a telephone booth, would want a public address system." This blatant, senseless roaring of a P.A. system is ridiculous beyond words. Its only ministry is NOISE, not even good-sounding noise.

The words of most of this contemporary music used in our churches is shallow, unscriptural, and even heretical. Someone said recently that "weak preaching always goes along with worldly music." That, I believe, is the truth. Just as years ago we preachers lifted up our voices against modernism as depicted by the National Council and World Council of Churches, so today we preachers need to "rise up like a tomcat spitting tobacco juice in a bull dog's eye" and start preaching against the modernistic evil of most contemporary and all rock music in our churches.

We used to say that the musical program of the church prepared the way for the pastor's sermon. I believe God holds the preacher responsible for what goes on on the  platform of his church.

Possibly we need to tie a knot in the tail of some of our song leaders. Some of them have gone far too worldly in their musical programs. Let's get back to the old time gospel hymns and singing that stirs the heart, brings glory to God, and draws us closer to Him. The old time hymns like "Rock of Ages," "The Old Rugged Cross," "Throw Out the Life Line," and "When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder" are still relevant in this dark Laodiciean age.

"Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls . . ."    -- Jeremiah 6:16