HISTORIC ADVENTIST TRUTH
Just say NO!! To Rock-N-Roll

Home

Dressing up or down? | 911 and the Spirit of Prophecy | Biblical Test of a Prophet | The General Conference Inquisition | SDA'S AND ROME!!! DANGER | How do we support the work? | God's Love for you | The Plan of Salvation | Health Reform and Fast Food!! | Sun Worship - Sunday Worship | Sunday Laws | Just say NO!! To Rock-N-Roll | Who is Jesus? | Worship of Images? God said NO!! | NIV and the Jesuit Priest | NIV BIBLE- NEW AGE = CATHOLIC =DEATH | How to be saved!! | Bloody History | The Women Rides the Beast | The Mark of the Beast | What is the Vatican? | Feast Days | Meat Eating for SDA People | Secure with Jesus in the Last days! | How to keep the Sabbath | The Unholy Church | Ellen G White writings | POTLUCKS AND PRINCIPLES | Music and Moods | Dress Reform | TELEVISION TRAP | Judgement | ROME - NEW WORLD ORDER | The Popes Letter | Across the Gulf? | Godhead | End Times | What is Hell? | Apostasy | Nature of Christ | Who is Jesus? | Sunday Laws? | New World Order | What about Death? | Judgement of God | God's Health Plan | Contact Us | Links | God's Sabbath Day | Three Angels Message | 27 Fundamental Beleifs | Who Needs Meat? | Sabbath to Sunday?

Shocking - The GC was right!!

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST PHILOSOPHY OF MUSIC

The General Conference Committee at the Autumn Council (held October, 1972),
voted on certain recommendations concerning music in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The Executive
Committee of the Australasian Division endorsed these recommendations when it met in November, 1972, and
has since passed them on to the Union and local Conferences.

The subject of music in our church being a somewhat vexed topic at times, we feel we cannot do better than
to share with all our people this report of the general principles and recommendations voted upon by the
General Conference Committee. May we study it prayerfully, and in our worship and our pursuit of musical
enjoyment, always seek to uphold these standards. We quote the report in full:

"VOTED: That guidelines toward a Seventh-day Adventist philosophy of music be adopted as follows:
"The Seventh-day Adventist Church has come into existence in fulfilment of prophecy to be God's instrument
in the world-wide proclamation of the Good News of salvation through faith in the atoning sacrifice of God's Son
and by obedience to His commands in preparation for our Lord's return. The lives of those who accept this
responsibility must be as distinctive as their message. This calls for total commitment by each church member
to the ideals and objectives of the church. Such commitment will effect every department of church life, and
will certainly influence the music used by the church in fulfilment of its God-given commission.

"Music is one of God's great gifts to man and is one of the most important elements in a spiritual program. It
is an avenue of communication with God, and 'is one of the most effective means of impressing the heart with
spiritual truth.' ('Education,' page 169.) Dealing as it does with matters of eternal consequence, it is essential
that music's tremendous power be kept clearly in mind. It has the power to uplift or degrade; it can be used
in the service of good or evil. 'It has power to subdue rude and uncultivated natures; power to quicken thought
and to awaken sympathy, to promote harmony of action, and to banish the gloom and foreboding that destroy
courage and weaken effort.' - Ibid.

"Those, therefore, who select music for the distinctive purpose of this church must exercise a high degree of
discrimination in its choice and in its use. In their endeavors to meet these ideals, more than human wisdom
is needed. Turning then to revelation for guidance, the following general principles are revealed:
"The music should:
"1. Bring glory to God and assist us in acceptably worshiping Him. (1 Cor. 10:31.)
"2. Ennoble, uplift and purify the Christian's thoughts. (Phil. 4:8; 'Patriarchs and Prophets,' page 594.)
"3. Effectively influence the Christian in the development of Christ's character in his life and in that of others. -
Manuscript 57, 1906.
"4. Have a text which is in harmony with the Scriptural teachings of the church. - 'Review and Herald,' June
6, 1912.
"5. Reveal a compatibility between the message conveyed by the words and the music, avoiding a mixture of
the sacred and the profane.
"6. Shun theatricality and prideful display. - 'Evangelism,' page 137; 'Review and Herald,' November 30, 1900.
"7. Give precedence to the message of the text which should not be overpowered by accompanying musical
elements. - 'Gospel Workers,' pages 357, 358.
"8. Maintain a judicious balance of the emotional, intellectual and spiritual elements. - 'Review and Herald,'
November 14, 1899.
"9. Never compromise high principles of dignity and excellence in efforts to reach people just where they are. -
'Testimonies,' Vol. 9, page 143; 'Evangelism,' page 137.
"10. Be appropriate for the occasion, the setting and the audience for which it is intended. - 'Evangelism,' pages
507, 508.

"There is much that is spiritually uplifting and religiously valid in the music of the various cultural and ethnic
groups; however, the musical tastes and practices of all should conform to the universal value of Christ-like
character, and all of the gospel which calls for unity rather than uniformity. Care must be exercised that worldly
values in music which fail to express the high ideals of the Christian faith be avoided.

"The above principles will serve as effective guidelines in the choice and use of music for the varied needs of
the church. Certain musical forms, such as jazz, rock, and their related hybrid forms, are considered by the
church as incompatible with these principles. Responsible persons involved in the church's broad-ranging
music activities, either as leaders or performers, will find little trouble in applying these principles in some areas.
Certain other areas are much more complex and a more detailed discussion of the factors involved follows.

"1. CHURCH MUSIC
Music in the Worship Service

"Worship should be the primary and eternal activity of mankind. Man's highest end is to glorify God. As the
worshiper comes to the house of God to offer a sacrifice of praise, let it be with the best possible music.
Careful planning of every musical element of the service is essential so that the congregation is led to be a
participant and not a spectator.

"The hymns used for this service should be directed to God, emphasizing praise and utilizing the great hymns
of our heritage. They should have strong, singable melodies and worthy poetry, The pastor should take a keen
interest in increasing the quality and fervor of congregational singing, 'Singing is seldom to be done by a few.'
('Counsels on Health,' pages 481, 482.) Christian experience will be immeasurably enriched by the learning
and use of new hymns.

"Where there is a choir, meaningful anthems chosen from master composers of the past and present, sung
by dedicated and well-prepared musicians will add much to the service and assist in elevating the quality of
worship.

"Instrumental music, including organ or piano, should harmonize with the lofty ideals of worship, and be chosen
carefully from the best materials consistent with the ability and training of the player. The instrumentalist
responsible for accompanying congregational singing has an especially great responsibility to set the right
standard in all his contributions, be they preludes or postludes, offertories or other voluntaries, or
accompaniment of hymns. He is in a unique position to raise the level of worship music in his church. If in the
service there should be vocal solos or other special music, preference should be given to material with
Scriptural texts and music that is within the singer's range of ability, and be presented to the Lord without
display of vocal prowess. The communication of the message should be paramount.

Music in Evangelism.

"Music used in evangelism may also include gospel music, witness music, or testimony music; but there should
be no compromise with the high principles of dignity and excellence characteristic of our message to ready the
people for the second coming of Christ.

"The music chosen should:

"1. Direct the hearer to Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life.
"2. Prepare the way for the presentation of the message from God's Word, or continue its appeal, evoking a
response from the hearers.
"3. Be played and sung by those whose lives are consistent with the message they bear.
"4. Be a vehicle for the deep impression of Bible truth which will inspire a positive change in the life.
"5. Be presented in a carefully planned, orderly manner.
"6. Be simple and melodic, and presented without emphasis on personal display.
"7. Give precedence to the preaching of the Word both in emphasis and in allotment of time.
"8. Maintain a balanced appeal to the emotion and intellect and not just charm the senses.
"9. Be understandable and meaningful in content and style for the largest possible cross-section of the
audience.

Music in Youth Evangelism.

"In the field of youth witnessing, most of the above suggestions apply. Consideration also needs to be given
to certain aspects that are unique to this era.
"Young people tend to identify closely with the music of the contemporary youth culture. The desire to reach
these youth where they are with the gospel of Christ sometimes leads to the use of certain questionable
musical idioms. In all of these idioms, the element which brings the most problems is rhythm, or 'the beat.'
"Of all the musical elements, rhythm evokes the strongest physical response. Satan's greatest successes have
often come through his appeal to the physical nature. Showing keen awareness of the dangers involved in this
approach to youth, Ellen G. White said, 'They have a keen ear for music, and Satan knows what organs to
excite to animate, engross, and charm the minds so that Christ is not desired. The spiritual longings of the soul
for divine knowledge, for a growth in grace, are wanting.' ('Testimonies,' Vol. 1, page 497.) This is a strong
indictment of the way in which music may be put to a use that is in direct opposition to God's plan. The
previously mentioned jazz, rock, and related hybrid forms are well known for creating this sensuous response
in masses of people.
"On the other hand, we have many traditional folk music idioms which have been respected as legitimate
branches of the musical stream. Some of these are acceptable as vehicles for expressing the Christian
witness. Others, which might find acceptance in a Christian secular atmosphere, may be inappropriate for
bearing the Saviour's name. Still others may fall completely outside the Christian's experience. It must be
clear, then, that any form of 'folk' musical expression must be judged by the same general principles as all
other types discussed in this document.

"'Higher than the highest human thought can reach is God's ideal for His children.' ('Education,' page 18.)
Those who strive for this high ideal and who lead in youth witnessing will find guidance through prayerful study
of music by the aid of the Holy Spirit.

"In addition to the problem of rhythm, other factors affect the spiritual qualities of the music.

"Vocal Treatment- The raucous style common to rock, the suggestive, sentimental, breathy, crooning style of
the night club performer, and other distortions of the human voice should be avoided.

"Harmonic Treatment- Music should be avoided that is saturated with the seventh, ninth, eleventh, and
thirteenth chords as well as other lush sonorities. These chords, when used with restraint, produce beauty,
but when used to excess distract from the true spiritual quality of the text.

"Visual Presentation- Anything which calls undue attention to the performer(s) such as excessive, affected
bodily movement or inappropriate dress should find no place in witnessing.

"Amplification- Great care should be exercised to avoid excessive instrumental and vocal amplification. When
amplifying music there should be a sensitivity to the spiritual needs of those giving the witness and of those
who are to receive it. Careful consideration should be given to the selection of instruments for amplification.

"Performance- The primary objectives in the performance of all sacred music should be to exalt Christ rather
than to exalt the musician or to provide entertainment.

Music in the Home

"1. Music education and appreciation should begin early in the life of the child through:
"a. The introduction to great hymns and gospel songs in the informal, happy experience of family worship.
"b. The establishment of right listening habits through home audio equipment which includes carefully selected
music.
"c. Attendance with the family at music concerts with standards conforming to those outlined in this document.
"d. The proper example and influence of parents.
"2. Family singing and participation in family music instrumental ensembles should be encouraged.
"3. Experiments in writing poetry and song compositions might be encouraged.
"4. A home music library of wisely selected materials should be established.
"5. It must be recognized that Satan is engaged in a battle for the mind, and that changes may be effected
imperceptibly upon the mind to alter perceptions and values for good and evil. Extreme care must therefore
be exercised in the type of programming and music listened to on radio and TV, especially avoiding that which
is vulgar, enticing, cheap, immoral, theatrical and identifiable with trends in the counter-culture.

Music in the School

"1. In preparing and presenting music for religious functions, school administrators and teachers should work
with the students in a way that will uphold the musical standards of the church.
"2. Witnessing and folk music groups going out from campuses should receive sponsorship and guidance from
those appointed by the administration, be they music faculty members or others.
"3. Directors of radio stations on Seventh-day Adventist campuses and those who are responsible for the
selection of music played over institutional public address systems should choose music that is in conformity
with the philosophy of music as expressed in this document.
"4. Music teachers in school ensembles and in private teaching activities should make positive efforts to teach
music literature that may be used in church and in soul-winning activities.
"5. Because one of the primary objectives of school music appreciation courses is to teach discrimination in
the light of divine revelation, instructors in these classes on all educational levels are urged to include
information in the art of making qualitative value judgments in the area of religious music.
"6. Efforts should be made by the local church and Conference to close the culture gap. To this end the
trained music personnel of the schools should be used in musical training and activities so that the lofty ideals
of worship might be effectively promoted.
"7. Musical presentations in Seventh-day Adventist educational institutions should conform to the standards
of the church. This applies to local talent as well as to visiting artists, ensembles and music on entertainment
films.

"11. SECULAR MUSIC

"Music 'rightly employed,...is a precious gift of God, designed to uplift the thoughts to high and noble themes,
to inspire and elevate the soul.'-'Education,' page 167.

"The Seventh-day Adventist life-style demands that the individual Christian exercise a high degree of
discrimination and individual responsibility in the selection of secular music for personal use, solo, or group
performance. All such music should be evaluated in the light of the instruction given in Philippians 4:8 'Finally,
brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever
things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and
if there be any praise, think on these things.' He will also keep in mind the warning given by Ellen G. White
in 'Testimonies to the Church,' Volume 1, page 497;
"'I was shown that the youth must take a higher stand, and make the Word of God the man of their counsel and
their guide. Solemn responsibilities rest upon the young, which they lightly regard. The introduction of music
into their homes, instead of inciting to holiness and spirituality, has been the means of diverting their minds from
the truth. Frivolous songs and the popular sheet music of the day seem congenial to their taste. The
instruments of music have taken time which should have been devoted to prayer. Music, when not abused,
is a great blessing; but when put to a wrong use, it is a terrible curse.'

"The Christian will not sing songs that are incompatible with the ideals of truth, honesty and purity. He will avoid
elements that give the appearance of making evil desirable or goodness appear trivial. He will try to avoid
compositions containing trite phrasing, poor poetry, nonsense, sentimentality, or frivolity which lead away from
the counsel and teachings found in Scripture and in the Spirit of Prophecy.

"He will consider music such as blues, jazz, the rock idiom, and similar forms as inimical to the development
of Christian character, because it opens the mind to impure thoughts and leads to unholy behaviour. Such
music has a distinct relationship to the permissiveness of contemporary society. The distortion of rhythm,
melody and harmony as employed by these styles and their excessive amplification dulls the sensibilities and
eventually destroys the appreciation for that which is good and holy.

"Care should be exercised when using a secular tune wedded to sacred lyrics so that the profane connotation
of the music will not out-weigh the message of the text. Moreover, the discerning Christian, when selecting any
secular music for listening or performing which is not included in the above categories, will subject such music
to the test of the principles given in the general principles outlined in this Philosophy of Music.

"The true Christian is able to witness to others by his choice of secular music for social occasions. He will,
through diligent search and careful selection, seek out that type of music which will be compatible with his
social needs and his Christian principles.

"'There must be a living connection with God in prayer, a living connection with God in songs of praise and
thanksgiving.'- E.G. White, Letter 96, 1898 ('Evangelism,' page 498).?

Authorized by the Australasian Division- 1973.
 
Is this Christian?

"Abstain from all appearance of evil." 1 Thess. 5:22

Amy Grant's Video "That's What Love Is For"

FIG. 1
Amy is dressed in a red robe, (used in witchcraft rituals) flashing on the palms of her hand is a six-pointed-star A HEXAGRAM! The book Web of Darkness says the hexagram is:
". . . the most powerful and evil sign in satanism and of all the occult world. The hexagram is used mainly in witchcraft to summon demons from the underworld. The word hex which means to place a curse on someone, originated from this sign." (Sean Sellars, Web of Darkness, p.51)

FIG. 2
One of the main points in the transmission of spirits is the hand. The Bible says of the apostles in Acts 8:17, "Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost." In the occult., you place your hands on a Quija board as a medium. At a seance the sitters usually join hands to establish "contact". FIG 2. shows satanist, Richard Ramirez, who sacrificed at least 14 people to Satan, flashing a pentegram (five-pointed star) on his palm.

FIG. 3
The Web of Darkness (see FIG. 1) says, ". . .The hexagram is used mainly in witchcraft to summon demons from the underworld." As Amy flashes the "hex", a man dressed in black and wearing a black hat (you can see him in the background of Amy in FIG. 1) digs up a guitar from the underworld! (see FIG.'s 3 & 4)
FIG. 4
These music videos, do not just happen. Thousands of dollars go into their production. They are carefully planned and produced. And nothing happens by accident! Who put these occult images in?
 
Is this Christian?

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: " 1 Peter 5:8

The "Satanic Salute"

The Horned Hand
"The 'Horned Hand' is the sign of recognition between those who are in the occult. . ."
(Satanism in America
, p.42)

Anton LaVey, The Satanic Bible
Anton LaVey, founder of the Church of Satan and author of The Satanic Bible, displaying the "Horned Hand" (also called the "satanic salute" and Il Cornuto) with his left hand, on the back cover of The Satanic Bible.

A satanic ritual
Satanists making the "satanic salute" to an altar displaying the Goat of Mendes or Bahomet, to acknowledge their allegiance to Satan, during a satanic ritual.

Amy Grant
Believe it or not! Here's Amy Grant, on the Michael W. Smith, In Concert (Reunion Records, 1985) video tape flashing the "satanic salute"!

This is NOT the sign language for "I love you", where the thumb is openly extended.

Amy delibertely flashes the "satanic salute" at least two separate times on the video, displaying it for several seconds.

Is Amy Grant a satanist? Absolutely NOT!

But there is a definite spirit invoked in rock music, secular or Christian and it's NOT the Holy Spirit! And many times, people involved in rock music get "caught up in this unholy spirit"!

During a 1993 Ophrah Winfrey interview, Michael Jackson, explained the reason for some of his fithly sexual gestures during his concerts:

"It happens subliminally. IT'S THE MUSIC THAT COMPELS ME TO DO IT. You don't think about it, it just happens. I'M SLAVE TO THE RHYTHM."
(The Evening Star
, Feb. 11, 1993, p. A10)
Nothing about the lyrics! It's the MUSIC!

How can the Holy Spirit of the Bible use such wicked, fleshly music!

Regardless of the lyrics!

Is Amy Grant a satanist? Absolutely NOT!

But there is a definite spirit invoked in rock music, secular or Christian and it's NOT the Holy Spirit! And many times, people involved in rock music get "caught up in this unholy spirit"!

During a 1993 Ophrah Winfrey interview, Michael Jackson, explained the reason for some of his fithly sexual gestures during his concerts:

"It happens subliminally. IT'S THE MUSIC THAT COMPELS ME TO DO IT. You don't think about it, it just happens. I'M SLAVE TO THE RHYTHM."
(The Evening Star
, Feb. 11, 1993, p. A10)
It's NOT the lyrics! It's the MUSIC!

How can the Holy Spirit of the Bible use fleshly music!

"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these ARE CONTRARY THE ONE TO THE OTHER: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."
Galatians 5:17

Amy's album, House of Love includes the environmental-mother-earth song, Big Yellow Taxi, by new-age-priestess Joni Mitchell. Time magazine, (December, 16, 1974, p.63) tells of Joni Mitchells intimate relationship with a muse (a demon spirit) named Art. Joni says, "I feel like I'm married to this guy named Art, I'm responsible to my Art above all else." Some of the words to Big Yellow Taxi, "They paved paradise and put up a parking lot". How different from the words of the Lord Jesus in Luke 23:43, "And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. Of course, what's the Bible and Jesus got to do with "CHRISTian" rock?

Amy's latest album, Behind the Eyes goes even further to "exorcise" any Christian influence. Christianity Today (12/8/97), in article entitled, "Where's the Gospel?", writes:

"Amy Grant's latest album has thrown the Contemporary Christian Music industry into a first-rate identity crisis. . . Grant's newest release, Behind the Eyes, comes as no surprise given the course of her career since Unguarded (1985), the first of her albums to be distributed jointly by CCM label Myrrh in the evangelical market and A&M in the mainstream market. Previous "crossover" projects, however, had made at least some mention of God or Jesus. The complete absence of explicitly Christian lyrical content on Behind the Eyes has renewed a debate in the CCM industry about what constitutes Christian music." (Christianity Today, Dec., 8, 1997, "Where's the Gospel?")
CCM has gotten so far off the track, Amy, admitts in Christianity Today, she doesn't even know what Christian music is, "I DON'T KNOW if Behind the Eyes is a Christian record. Being able to label it Christian or non-Christian is not the point for me."

CCM is in such as worldly, compromising, money-making, confusing, mess it's "number-one-star" does NOT even know if her album is Christian! CHRISTian is a disciple of Jesus Christ! If it's not about the Lord Jesus Christ it is NOT CHRISTian! A music buyer for religious stores mentioned in Christianity Today, truthfully says of Behind the Eyes, "It's NOT a Christian album. A Christian album should be clear on the person of Christ, and these lyrics are not."

Christianity Today, makes a keen observation, as it emphasizes that, incrediably, some songs by secular performers are more Christian than CCM's! Christianity Today asks the following enlightening question, in reference to secular, Mary Chapin Carpenter's, "I Am a Town" "If Carpenter can sing, 'I'm a Baptist like my daddy, Jesus knows my name,' why does Grant have to be so discreet about her faith?" Very good quesion. . . Why does CCM have to be so discreet about their faith? Why does a supposedly Christian NOT want to sing about the Lord Jesus Christ?

The German reformer and musician, Martin Luther puts it bluntly - "whoever does NOT want to song and speak of it shows that he does not believe it". According to Luther they're NOT saved!

"We should praise God with both word and music, namely by proclaiming [the Word of God] through music. . .He who believes earnestly cannot be quiet about it. But he must gladly and willingly sing and speak about it so that others may come and hear it. And whoever does NOT want to song and speak of it shows that he does not believe it." (Don Cusic, The Sound of Light, p. 15)
Because of Grant's (and CCM's) obvious UNChristian lyrics, Christianity Today, writes:
"The Christian music industry has been unsure how to categorize Grant's latest offering, so much so, in fact, that the GMA and Christian Music Trade Association (CMTA) initiated a re-evaluation of existing guidelines for GMA Dove Award eligibility and sales chart placement."
Not to dare break their "compromising-wordly-commercial-track-record", GMA, did allow Grant's Behind the Eyes in the Dove Awards and "presto" Behind the Eyes was the 1998 Dove Award's, Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year!

Stan Moser, former head of Word Records (the man responsible for signing Amy Grant) and CEO of Star Song Records, was one of the pioneers and most important executives in CCM. And after 26 years in CCM, in November 1995, walked away from CCM. In an article in Christianity Today, titled "We Have Created a Monster" about CCM, Mr. Moser freely admits:

"But to be candid, I look at the majority of the music I hear today and think it's virtually meaningless." (Christianity Today, "We Have Created a Monster", May 20, 1996 p. 27)
Mr. Moser goes on to make this eye-opening statement:

". . .I would probably be more inclined to call the industry 'commercial Christian music,' rather than 'contemporary Christian music.'" (Christianity Today, "We Have Created a Monster", May 20, 1996 p. 27)
CCM artist, Michael Card, admits that much of CCM - is NOT Christian:

"The lyrics of a good number of the songs don't betray anything specifically Christian - they may have some moral message, but not a lot of the big songs are identifiably Christian. . . 'What happens to the message when we start getting the music to as many people as possible?' There is an essential part of the gospel that's not ever going to sell. The gospel is good news, but it is also bad news: 'You are a sinner, and you are hopeless.' How is a multimillion-dollar record company going to take that? That's a part of the message, too, and if that's taken out - and it frequently is in Christian music - it ceases to be the gospel." (Can't Buy Me Love, Christianity Today, May 20, 1996, p. 25)
Michael Card, makes this alarming statement about CCM:

"The direction and value system are getting worse faster than any of us can imagine." (Can't Buy Me Ministry, Christianity Today, May 20, 1996 (p. 22)

 

 The hour for joyful, happy songs of praise to God and his dear Son had come. Satan had led the heavenly choir. He had raised the first note, then all the angelic host united with him, and glorious strains of music had resounded through Heaven in honor of God and his dear Son. But now, instead of strains of sweetest music, discord and angry words fall upon the ear of the great rebel leader. Where was he? Was it not all a horrible dream? Was he shut out of Heaven? Were the gates of Heaven never more to open and admit him? The hour of worship draws nigh, when bright and holy angels bow before the Father. No more will he unite in heavenly song. No more will he bow in reverence and holy awe before the presence of the eternal God

Spirt of Prophecy Vol 1 - Chapter 3

Ellen G White

Pray for Gods Guidance