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Nothing Sacred: Epilogue
(8/8/2005)

No single raindrop believes it is to blame for the flood

2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it (the return of Christ) will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.

Well, it appears that the pot has been soundly stirred concerning the melding of the CCM and secular music cultures. The subject prompted another article by Christianity Today entitled “Sticking Up for Crossover Artists” which stated:

“Last week, we posted a somewhat controversial rebuttal from Jim Pruitt, "Have Crossover Artists Sold Out?" Pruitt made some strong statements in his article, claiming that Christian artists in the mainstream are ‘more carnal than spiritual.’

We thought Pruitt's essay might spark some reader response, and sure enough, it most certainly did, prompting more letters than perhaps any article we've ever run in our five-plus years online.

Most readers disagreed with Pruitt, but a few thought he made some valid points…”

Although the vast majority disagreed vehemently with me, I had several e-mails encouraging me to stand firm. One that I was particularly humbled by was from Steve Camp (profile, website, blog). Steve is one of the elder statesmen of CCM and a great man of God whom I hold in very high regard.

So at least a few more people are thinking about the issue.

In Nothing Sacred: Part II - A Look Behind the Curtain of the “Crossover” Phenomena, we looked at the mechanics of how Christian bands are getting secular airplay. We discovered that it really is just a matter of Christians partnering with the world in order to gain the clout necessary to get airplay on major radio networks. Nothing supernatural…just a willingness to compromise that was never there until recently fueled by the mega-dollars currently being pulled in by the CCM industry.

We shouldn’t be surprised by any of this. The Word of God says that Jesus will not return until there is a great awakening in the world spurred by Christians who are willing to bravely engage the culture of the world in new and exciting ways. Oh wait, I may have gotten that wrong. What 2 Thessalonians 2:3 says is “let no one in any way deceive you, for it (the return of Christ) will not come unless the apostasy comes first.” So according to Biblical prophecy, it says that there will be a great falling away from the faith across the world before He returns. What we’re seeing in CCM is just one symptom of a ubiquitous disease deepening across the globe:

You know it’s hard to blame Christian musicians for “going secular” when you see so much of Christian culture acting just like the world. “Christian” radio stations sell advertising to anyone with the money to pay for it. You can even “sponsor” a Bible verse! Isn’t that special!
The huge Christian event Mega Fest was recently held here in Atlanta by T.D. Jakes and company. I watched part of it on TV and was staggered by the fact that they expected over 175,000 people to attend and they had simultaneously rented out the Georgia Dome, the World Congress Center, and Phillips Arena. Some of the “musical guests” that performed included secular music stars Chaka Khan and Gladys Knight. Judge Mablean Ephriam of the TV show “Divorce Court” taught a seminar for couples. Looks like the only real qualifications for this event designed to help Christians to grow and mature was that they be famous and have made a lot of money. After all, God wants to “prosper us”, right?
An article in the August 2005 issue of Readers Digest was entitled “Selling Faith.” Here’s are some of quotes from it:
“Believers who once steered clear of the corrupting influence of popular culture are now having God endorse everything from rock music and teenage movies to sports equipment.”

“The market for Christian merchandise is growing between 4 and 8 percent a year, according to Britt Beemer of America’s Research Group, and accounts for more than $4 billion in annual sales.”

“When does religion become just another brand? Is God honored or mocked by marketing strategies that imply His personal endorsement?”

“Who’s to say what defines art as Christian, anyway? Until fairly recently, Christian music literally had to have a certain number of ‘Js per minute’ – mentions of Jesus. Now, however, that standard has been relaxed to include any music that holds to a Christian worldview.”

“A lot of conservative Christians don’t like the fuzzy line that’s been drawn between believers and nonbelievers. They want to be able to tell the secular from the sacred, Young says. But more and more young believers ‘enjoy obliterating the lines and appreciate the mystery in that and feel it gives a lesson in not judging.’”

“In this age of market evangelism, the ring of a cash register can be sacred music.”

At this writing, the 4.9 million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church is preparing to vote on whether to ordain gays who are not celibate and whether to bless same-sex unions. The 1.3 million member United Church of Christ voted this past July to endorse same-sex marriages.
With churches who can’t preach the Gospel because they have no concept of what it is…churches that would rather focus on social issues than the Word of God and His Spirit…churches that invite famous personalities to drag in the masses and to be role models for their flock…churches who are more interested in generating an emotional frenzy and calling it God…how can we expect Christians to be anything more than carnal, compromising, lemmings rushing obliviously over the cliff of their own destruction?

With CCM wanting the secular audience and willing to compromise anything to get it and with secular artists now being tempted by the money being made in CCM…with people denouncing the church and looking instead to the emotional buzz they get from the “worship” concerts they get from CCM artists…with those same CCM artists having no understanding of what the Gospel is and seeking to have the world and Christ too….how long will it be before you see Aerosmith giving their “testimony” at the Crystal Cathedral and sharing how they kicked their drug habits? How long before you see bands that don’t even pretend to be Christian playing Christian concerts and tours? How long before you see corporate logos on church pulpits or projected on the screens above the altar? We’re already seeing popular secular tunes being used in “worship” services.

Compromise doesn’t happen all at once. It happens a little at a time and Satan makes sure that there is sound reasoning to go along with it. Although Satan is better known for his “I want it right now” approach, he is also subtle and can take the long view. He knows that if he can get us shortsighted humans to just bend a little here and there, over a period of years and decades he can completely undermine us. If you were in CCM 25 years ago and somehow traveled in time to today, you would be utterly in shock as to how compromised CCM has become. It’s the old story of the frog and the boiling water. Drop a frog in boiling water and he’ll jump right out. But if you drop him in cool water and turn the heat up slowly, he’ll just sit there and cook.

But we sit on our hands and quote the numbers of CDs sold and the number of people who say that our music has changed their lives and say that our success is an indication of God’s approval and blessing.

Revelation 3:17-20 “Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,’ and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.”
The Word of God is clear that there will be a great falling away before He returns. We are seeing this in every area of the church including CCM. God is not interested in our rationalizations or in how successful we think we are. Our “worship” means nothing when were are living in adamant disobedience to the fundamental principles of His Word. Please, please, please revaluate what we’re doing in the light of God’s Word before it’s too late. CCM was and can be again a great witness to the world and something which brings glory and honor to His name. But unless we acknowledge our sin and repent, the judgment of God will surely fall on us.
Isaiah 1:13-16
Bring your worthless offerings no longer,
Incense is an abomination to Me
New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies--
I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.
I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts,
They have become a burden to Me;
I am weary of bearing them.
So when you spread out your hands in prayer,
I will hide My eyes from you;
Yes, even though you multiply prayers,
I will not listen
Your hands are covered with blood.
Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;
Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight
Cease to do evil