24 July 2022 PM – 1Peter 1:14-16 – Music22 – Scott Childs
Introduction: Play music clips from former IB churches.
When I was in Bible College, a wise preacher told us that, “Toleration leads to compromise, and compromise leads to apostasy.” Many churches have tolerated CCM, compromised to use CCM, and this led to their apostasy (not rejecting God, but much of what they once held dear). Read 1 Peter 1:14-16.
Transition: This evening, I want to show you four dangers of CCM.
1. CCM is Subtle
a. It captures unsuspecting victims
1) Christians become accustomed to hearing rock on TV, radio, in the shops, at work, etc.
2) Numbed by rock music, mild CCM with religious words seems to be a good alternative.
3) The CCM backbeat and sensual delivery appeals to the flesh.
4) The taste for mild CCM subtly leads to harder rock CCM.
5) A desire to attract more people and to see the church grow motivates preachers to accept CCM.
b. It begins with small tweaks in music style
1) The backbeat appeals to the flesh.
2) Breathiness, slurring, and intimate styles creep in.
3) Projected CCM gradually replaces hymnbooks.
4) Singing becomes a singer-focussed performance, Charismatic hand waving, sensual dancing and rousing entertainment rather than spiritual songs of reflective praise to the glory of God alone. Crowds applaud the singers and musicians and neglect God’s glory.
c. It naturally promotes change
1) Casual dress to be less offensive soon replaces old-fashioned conservative dress.
2) Rock equipment is needed for the performances.
3) The stage must be darkened, lights dimmed, spotlights installed, to better entertain.
4) Hip-swaying that naturally follows the backbeat gradually leads to sensual dancing.
5) Women begin to play a greater part in the singing, teaching and preaching.
6) The church name must become generic to avoid offending anyone and to attract more people.
7) Worshipful hymns, sung to straight rhythms, that focus solely on glorifying the Lord with no emphasis on the singer, are set aside.
8) The pulpit will become obsolete and be replaced with a music stand, as the music and entertainment become the reason for gathering, not the preaching of God’s Word.
9) Doctrine will not change – or will it? Yes, doctrine will always be dubbed down to accommodate the carnal crowd. People do not like to hear about sin, separation, and eternal damnation.
2. CCM is Appealing
a. It appeals to the world
1) One reason that churches are adopting CCM is because unbelievers enjoy it. It is so much like their secular rock music that they feel right at home with it.
2) It appeals to the world because it is worldly and fleshly. As I pointed out in the sermon “Distinguishing Spiritual Music”, in 4|4 time, backbeat music emphasises the 2nd and 4th beats (e.g., one, TWO, three, FOUR, one, TWO, three, FOUR). That rhythm is appealing to our flesh. It makes a person feel like dancing in a sensual way.
b. It appeals to carnal Christians
1) A carnal Christian is opposite to a spiritual Christian. The spiritual Christian is a Romans 12:1-2 Christian. It takes work to maintain a spiritual walk with the Lord. We have all been carnal more than we want to admit.
2) CCM appeals to our carnal flesh. Our carnal flesh likes the beat, the sensuality, the dancing and the atmosphere of CCM.
3) CCM may produce a spiritual buzz, but it never promotes true spirituality in a Christian.
c. It appeals to ignorant Christians.
1) Some Christians just have never been taught the difference between straight rhythm and backbeat rhythm music. They wrongly think that the type of music one listens to is up to personal preference.
2) They have not learned that singing with breathy sounds, sliding up and down notes, and using whispery intimate sounds are all fleshly.
3) Because they are musically ignorant, they are easy prey for the CCM movement.
3. CCM is Erosive
a. It erodes biblical separation
1) God’s call to “come out from among them and be ye separate” is not popular today.
2) CCM erodes modest dress standards. To mimic worldly musicians, many of the women singers wear short skirts, tights pants, or low necklines.
3) CCM naturally promotes dance (not the leaping and twirling dance of the Bible, but the hip-swaying sensual dance of the ungodly).
4) CCM erodes man’s view of a holy God. Does a CCM performance resemble Isaiah’s vision of the throne room of God, where he fell on his face and the angels praised God’s holiness? (Isa 6) No, not in the least.
b. It erodes doctrinal purity
1) To accompany CCM, preachers modify the Bible doctrine they preach. They redefine right and wrong.
2) They avoid or calm the topics of sin and judgment to keep from offending anyone.
3) Women often take lead roles in leadership positions in churches, contrary to the Bible. Some even allow women to preach.
c. It erodes textual fidelity
1) The KJV and NKJV come from the majority Greek text. These Bibles are often replaced with Bibles translated from the minority critical text, such as the ESV or NIV.
2) CCM and Bible translations from the critical text work together to make church appealing to everyone.
4. CCM is Deceitful
a. It deceives regarding God’s clearly warns against worldliness
1) (Romans 12:2) “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
2) (Ephesians 5:11) “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”
3) (Titus 2:11-12) “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”
4) (James 4:4) “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
b. It deceives regarding God’s urging to Christlikeness.
1) (Matthew 5:16) “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
2) (1 Corinthians 15:58) “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
3) (1 Peter 1:14-16) “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
4) (2 Peter 3:18) “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”
Conclusion: Read Deuteronomy 31:16. Moses’ heart must have broken! I plead with you to believe that CCM is dangerous. Do not listen to it personally. Do not tolerate it in our services. If you do, it will lead to compromise and eventually to some degree of apostasy.
