Independent Baptist Music Wars Copyright 2014 by David W. Cloud Tis edition July 14, 2016 ISBN 978-1-58318-179-9 Published by Way of Life Literature PO Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061 866-295-4143 (toll free) - [email protected] www.wayofife.org Canada: Bethel Baptist Church 4212 Campbell St. N., London Ont. N6P 1A6 519-652-2619 Printed in Canada by Bethel Baptist Print Ministry 2 CONTENTS Te Spirit in Which Tis Book Is Written ......................5 Why We Are Opposed to CCM in Brief .......................11 Contemporary Worship Music Permeating Fundamental Baptists ...............................................13 Next Generation Rocking at Lancaster .........................32 Frank Garlock’s Warning against Vocal Sliding ..........35 We Use Protestant Hymns, Don’t We? .........................40 My Experience with Rock Music ...................................46 End-Time Apostasy .........................................................49 Te History of Contemporary Christian Music ..........55 Why We Are Opposed to Contemporary Christian Music ...........................................................................69 Contemporary Praise Music and the Internet ...........156 How to Keep Contemporary Music out of the Churches ...................................................................158 Separation is the Only Protection ................................167 Questions Answered about CCM ................................169 3 Independent Baptist Music Wars 4 Te Spirit in Which Tis Book Is Written Tis book is not written in the spirit of defending old music. We don’t believe that good Christian music stopped being written when Fanny Crosby died or that rhythm is wrong or that Christian music should be played only on pianos or organs. Tis book is written in the spirit of deep concern for the truth. When I was converted in 1973 from a “hippy” background, I fell in love with God’s Word. It was thrilling to know that Jesus Christ is Almighty God and the Bible is His compassionate revelation to needy mankind. From almost the very day I was saved in a motel room in Daytona Beach, Florida, I shared the attitude and philosophy described by the Psalmist. “Terefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way” (Psalm 119:128). Te Bible is the divinely-inspired Word of God. Everything it says is right, and everything that is contrary to it is wrong. Te Psalmist not only loved the truth; he hated error. Tis is the spirit in which I approach the subject of Christian music. It is not a “legalistic” spirit, as has been slanderously reported in this age of apostasy; it is a godly, scriptural spirit. 5 Tis book is written in the spirit of judging doctrine and practice and fruit, not hearts. Te Lord alone can judge the hearts of men, and it is before Him alone that the child of God will stand to give account for his earthly life. On the other hand, He has given His people the task in this present life of proving all things (1 Tessalonians 5:21), of being Berean Christians (Acts 17:11), of watching out for false teachers (Matthew 7:15; 24:11, 24), of guarding against unsound doctrine (1 Timothy 1:3), of marking and separating from error (Romans 16:17), and of earnestly contending for the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3). We cannot judge men’s hearts, but we can and must judge doctrine and practice. Tis book is written in the spirit of marking and avoiding end-time apostasy. One of the fundamental principles of my Christian worldview, derived from the Bible, is that apostasy will increase throughout the church age and will explode in its last hours. “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1). “Tis know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come” (2 Timothy 3:1). “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (2 Timothy 3:5). “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13). 6 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but afer their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:3-4). “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swif destruction” (2 Peter 2:1). “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time” (1 John 2:18). My responsibility as a child of God living in this age is to mark and avoid this apostasy, which means that I must live in great caution. I must not be gullible when it comes to Bible teaching and practice. I must understand that Satan has infltrated the Christian faith with his ministers and fables in an attempt to undermine the truth and lead people astray. I must understand that the enemy is very subtle and clever and that error will be disguised. I am warned by Christ Himself that some end-time error can deceive the very elect, if possible (Mat. 24:24). I must test every preacher, every singer, every theology, every movement with God’s Word in dependence upon the Holy Spirit’s enlightenment. Tis is the spirit in which I have approached the Christian music issue ever since I was saved. Tis is not Pharisaism. It is biblical Christianity. It is not carnality; it is wisdom. According to the apostle Paul, the one who judges all things by God’s Word is spiritual. “But he that is spiritual judgeth all things...” (1 Corinthians 2:15). 7 Tis book is written in the spirit of humility. I don’t think of myself as being better than the CCM musicians I mention in this report. I am just a sinner saved by Christ’s amazing grace. I am under no delusions of spiritual grandeur. I know exactly what I am spiritually apart from the grace of Jesus Christ: a zero with the rim rubbed out! Te Lord being my witness, I don’t want to exalt myself; I want to exalt Christ and His Word. Contrary to what many think, I would not be pleased to see only “fundamentalists” in heaven. I will not be shocked to fnd people there that I have warned about in this life. In fact, I believe there are many saved people involved in the Contemporary Christian Music movement. In heaven, believers will have unity, because God will straighten us out! But in this present life we must judge one another’s teaching and practice by God’s Word and let the chips fall where they may, even to the point of separation. If we don’t do this we are disobedient to God’s clear commands. “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them” (Romans 16:17). Tis book is written in the spirit of caution. Te Lord being my witness, I don’t want to take away anyone’s liberty in Christ. Romans 14 teaches that if Scripture doesn’t forbid something, there is personal liberty before God. If I were not convinced that Contemporary Christian Music is unscriptural and spiritually dangerous, I would not oppose it. 8 Repeatedly through the decades I have begged the Lord to give me wisdom so that I don’t preach my own opinions and exalt them to the place of absolute truth, and I trust that God has helped me. Tis book is written in the spirit of serious research. My warnings against Contemporary Christian Music are not half-cocked “cheap shots” and are not something that I have merely borrowed from other people. I have done a massive amount of research into secular rock and “Christian rock.” As a foundation in music, I played frst section clarinet for six years in large, award-winning junior and senior high school bands. I took private music lessons most of that time, was chosen to take summer workshops at a university, and was invited to play in a city symphony orchestra. As a foundation for understanding the essence of rock music, I lived the rock & roll lifestyle for many years before I was saved. Rock is not merely music; it is a philosophy and a lifestyle, and I understand that at the most intimate level. Tis is the sixth book I have written on music, totaling 2,100 pages. ● 1974, Mom and Dad Sleep while the Children Rock in Satan’s Cradle (60 pages) ● 2000, Rock Music vs. the God of the Bible (420 pages) ● 1998, Contemporary Christian Music under the Spotlight (650 pages) ● 2006, Contemporary Christian Music: Some Questions Answered and Some Warnings Given (190 pages) ● 2011, Te Directory of Contemporary Worship Music (525 pages) 9 ● 2014, Independent Baptist Music Wars (285 pages) ● 2014, Southern Gospel Music (30 pages) I have also published many DVD presentations on music, including the eight-part series Music for Good or Evil, currently available from Way of Life Literature. I have spent countless hours researching contemporary Christian music. I have read most of the books supporting CCM. I have listened to hundreds of contemporary songs and studied the lyrics. I have analyzed the most popular artists and bands. I have attended services at many of the churches that are most infuential in contemporary worship, such as Saddleback Church, Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, the Vineyard in Anaheim, Mars Hill Church in Seattle, International House of Praise, and Willow Creek Community Church.