Rock Music and Violence

A concert held by the group "Guns N' Roses" (July 2, 1991 in St Louis, Missouri) ended when the enraged mob of 2500 youths staged a riot, resulting in 60 of their numbers being injured. The journal Rolling Stone informed that the participants in this concert, "developed into a furious uncontrollable mob, hurling bottles, destroying seats, ripping apart bushes, breaking and setting fire to instruments... This riot continued for over an hour before a squad of special police arrived to restore order. (Rolling Stone, Aug. 22, 1975 p 15). This type of violence is far from being an isolated incident.

Sometimes, this type of frantic behavior at rock concerts leads to killings. In a town called Jefferson-Township, (New Jersey), a youth named Thomas Sullivan stabbed his mother, Betty-Ann, to death in the basement of their house. Setting fire to the divan with the aim of destroying the house and killing his father and younger brother, he ran outside and committed suicide by slashing his wrists. All week long before this carnage, Thomas had been humming a rock song about blood and killing your mother. Police later established that Thomas was a talented student, outstanding sportsman and had belonged to the Scouts. He began to dabble in "hard metal" rock music and, before committing his crime, he confided to his friends that Satan appeared to him and ordered the killing of his family.

Different forms of violence are on the increase in rock music. For example in a song titled "I Kill Children" by rock group Dead Kennedy we hear "I kill children, I love to see them die. I kill children to make their mothers cry. I crush them under my car and I love to hear them scream. I feed them poison candy and spoil their Halloween. I kill children, I bang their heads in doors. I kill children, I can hardly wait for yours." In the album "Hell Awaits" the band Slayer has the lyrics: "No apparent motive. Just kill and kill again. Survive my brutal slashing. I'll hunt you till the end."

Iron Maiden's mascot is "Eddy" a dead man who kills with great delight. According to Satanist and brutal murderer Richard Ramirez (the "Night Stalker"), it was AC/ DC's song "Night Prowler" that became part of his motivation to murder 30 people. He said the song gave him "inspiration. "Night Prowler" contains the stanza, "No one's gonna warn you, no one's gonna yell 'attack!' and you can't feel the steel until it's hanging out your back, I'm your night prowler."

One study revealed that of the 700 most popular songs of "heavy metal," 50% speak of killings, 35% of satanism and 7% about suicide. Sheila Davis, professor of lyric writing at New York University, is convinced that "better give serious attention to the content of pop songs and to evaluate not only what lyrics are saying to society but, more important, what they may be doing to it" (USA Today, October 11, 1985, p. 10).

The National Council of Churches published their findings that the growing aggressive behavior of youths appears as the direct result of the violent content of contemporary films and music (USA Today, Oct. 11, 1985).

Parallel to the inner aggressiveness, this destructive feeling can appear directed against the music listener. Some rock music composers preach suicide - sometimes through hints and sometimes directly. For example, Ozzy Osbourne's song, "Suicide Solution" advocates suicide: "Suicide - this is the only way out..." In "Suicide's an Alternative" the following is sung: "Sick of life - it sucks / sick and tired - no one cares / sick of myself - don't wanna live / sick of living - gonna die / suicide's an alternative." "Sacrifice your life and commit suicide. By doing this in the name of satan, you will become immortal, just like him!" are some of the words sung in one of the "hard metal" songs dedicated to Lucifer.

Educational psychologist, Dr. Hannelore Wass, considered an expert on death and dying, indicated that while only 17% of teenagers listen to music containing manifestly destructive contents, among the youthful criminals this figure reaches 40%. Apart from this, nearly 50% of those interviewed acknowledged the possibility that these types of songs could really incline an unbalanced or grief-stricken young person toward suicide. Dr. Wass concluded that these detailed interviews with young people show the need for parents to watch what their children are listening to, and to pay attention to any emerging symptoms of abnormality. (Wass, et. al, "Adolescents' Interest" p. 186, sampled 700 adolescents. The themes were: homicide, suicide and satanism. Cf. Aerosmith's "Janie's Got a Gun").

Similar research prompted the National Education Association to conclude that nearly 6000 teenage suicides a year are brought about by the influence of nihilistic and fatalistic music (Information for Parents' Music Resource Center, Nashville, TN. 1990).

Dr. Morton Kurlan a Palm Springs psychiatrist whose patient, John McCollum, committed suicide after listening to an Ozzy Osbourne record, stated: "Sadomasochism, blood, and violence make big bucks for the producers of rock videos, but such things can push an emotionally suffering kid over the edge" (Arthur Lyons, Satan Wants You, New York, Mysterious Press, 1988, p.171). And it is well known that millions of contemporary young people are suffering from inner tumult. At this point it is worth considering that the estranged nihilistic and destructive contents of rock-style music actually reflects the disposition and lives of the rock stars. For example, the biography of Pink Floyd Saucerful of Secrets written by band's two former leaders gives vivid examples of the personal tragedy that can stalk the lives of those who glorify excess (Cf. The 1991 Elton John interview with David Frost). Authors Schwarz and Empey observe: "In talking with some of the musicians involved in satanism, as well as individuals they have consulted - researches, psychologists, and psychics - a pattern becomes clear. Like so many others who save chosen satanism over Christianity, they have a desire for immediate gratification and self-fulfillment. 'Money Control. Power. They want the fantasy of being able to live a special life with a lot of wealth,' said a psychologist whose practice includes some of the major names in the rock business. 'And they're willing to die young to pay it off. They see that by giving life early they can have everything ...'

The reality of this statement is obvious when you read the obituaries of rock stars. Many have died from alcoholism, drug abuse, or accidents resulting from their being under the influence of such products (Schwarz and Empey, Satanism: Is Your Family Safe? p. 154).

The very names of some "heavy metal" groups also known as "death metal," glorify death and speak of destruction. Here are some samples: "Blessed Death," "Carnivore," "Coroner," "Destruction," "Mace," "Malice," "Overkill," "Rotten Corpse," "Sacrifice," Violence etc. (Cf. Dave Hart, "Heavy Metal Madness," Media Update, July/Aug. 1989 p. 5).

Brown and Hendee noted that "several murders have been correlated with fascination for heavy metal music and that "another behavioral study found that violent music videos desensitized viewers to violence immediately after viewing."

A Tennessee psychiatrist informed a Senate committee that heavy metal music is "poison" for disturbed adolescents, not to mention substance abusers. It is "like throwing gasoline on the fire of hatred and resentment that's already burning," said Dr. Paul King, Clinical Assistant Professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Tennessee. According to King, more than 8o percent of his adolescent patients have listened to heavy metal for long stretches of time as a daily routine. They were familiar with all the words and wrote them in notebooks and on desks while class was going on (Wass, et. al., Adolescents' Interest, King, "Heavy Metal Music").

To a Christian there is no doubt that blasphemy, vulgarity, debauchery and rape espoused by contemporary rock music cuts right across God's plan for the salvation of people.

Research into the effects of music on behavior, intelligence, learning, pain tolerance and health have generated a number of interesting findings. This article describes the results of some of the more intriguing experiments and studies.

Music, Mice and Madness

A student named David Merrill devised an experiment to discover how music would affect the ability of mice to learn new things. Merrill had one group of mice listen to classical music 24 hours a day and another to heavy metal music. He then timed the mice as they ran through mazes to see if the music affected their speed of learning. Unfortunately, he had to cut the first experiment short because the heavy metal mice all killed one another. In a second experiment, mice that listened to Mozart for 10 hours a day dramatically improved their maze-solving abilities, while the heavy metal mice actually became worse at solving mazes than they had been at the beginning of the experiment.

Music and Violence

In a study of university students, participants listened to seven songs with violent lyrics, while a control group listened to seven songs without violent lyrics by the same artists. Afterwards, when asked to classify words as violent or nonviolent, those who had listened to violent lyrics were more likely to ascribe aggressive meanings to words such as "rock" and "stick." The American Psychological Society has also published a report stating that research has definitively proved the link between youth violence and violent media, including music.

Music and Suicide

On a stranger note, sociology professor James Gundlach found higher rates of suicide among those who listen to country music. However, Gundlach notes that the suicide link occurred only with older country music, which he believes is not as upbeat as today's.

working in constuction, I have worked around some that blast the rock music, I find after prolonged exsposure I am angry and agressive.  My Spirit feels unclean.

I know that if it does not please God, He knows who the author of rock is

Let me know when you two are done posting topics in which you guys take turns agreein with each other.

WHY,are  we susposed argue and disagree, those characters are gone.  The word is plain when it comes to music.

Actually, it's not. You people just make assumptions based on your emotions and second hand stories. Where are your reference points? Where's the actual scripture that states that any kind of music is evil? You never seem to have them. Probably because they don't exist.

what was lucifers position in heaven, what is his position now?

this is a tract on why rock is not for Christians

RELIGIOUS ROCK AND ROLL

There is a style of music which has been invading the Church of Jesus Christ which is godless, immoral, and which leads Christians into rebellion and compromise with the world. That style of music is "Christian" Rock an Roll. The term Rock & Roll was given to name a form of music in the 1950's. The style of music was evil from its beginning and it was appropriately given the name Rock & Roll. This name was given by the world and it stands for the practice of fornication by teenagers in the back seat of a car.

The primary axiom of music evaluation is that there is no such thing as amoral music. Music is either good or evil. God says we are responsible for everything we say, do, or think. The Bible says: "...That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment" (Matt. 12:36). "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad" (2 Cor 5:10).

The adherents of "Christian" Rock claim that their music is necessary in order to win the lost to Christ. However, they overlook the fact that God has ordained preaching to win the lost and not music. The Bible says: "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (1 Cor 1:21).

• Music has two purposes:

1. (To worship and glorify God.
2. To edify and build up Christians.

"Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Eph 5:19). "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" (Col 3:16).

Music is not necessary to win the lost but it is a form of worship and praise to God. Since music is a form of worship it is corrupted when mixed with carnality. The worship of God must be carried out with purity. The world can take clean music and make it unclean, but Christians cannot take unclean music and make it clean. (See Haggai 2:12-13)

We are commanded not to touch the unclean thing. This also applies to the music we listen to. The Bible says: "Be ye not unequally yolked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said I will dwell in them, and walk in them and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty".

The Word of God does not say we are to go out and borrow the evil ways of the ungodly and use them for "soulwinning", but rather we are commanded to come out and separate ourselves from evil. The Word of God states further in 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".

There are some people who say that "Christian" Rock can't be wrong because of all the people who go forward at the concerts. They also mention that these bands are popular because God is blessing them. However; so called results do not mean that God is behind it. The end does not justify the means (That is the basis of humanism). The Lord Jesus said that many will be deceived by false prophets and false Christs. "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold....for there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect" (Matt 24:11,12,24).

There may be sincere conversions at these concerts because God will always honour His Word no matter under what circumstances it is given. However, it is one thing to be saved, and another to grow and develop into a victorious Christian. The Lord Jesus warned in (Matt 7:15,21-23). "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves....Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity".

Another argument is that Jesus went out and mingled with sinners. However, the Lord Jesus never went into a den of iniquity nor did He copy the ways of the ungodly. "For such a high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;" (Heb 7:26). "I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world" (John 17:14).

• Do we take drugs to win addicts to Christ?
• Do we use foul language to witness to those who curse?
• Do we steal to identify with robbers?
• Do we draw lewd pictures to present Christ to the pornographer?
• Do we use carnal music to gain a hearing with the world?

The absurdity of the above methods is obvious. Therefore, we hope you can see how wrong it is to use carnal, worldly music to present a holy message to a Christless world.

"...Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good" (Rom 12:9).

"They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate" (Titus 1:16).

"Christian" Rock is destructive to the Church as it leads God's people into sensuality, compromise, and worldliness. If you sincerely love the Lord Jesus Christ and you are involved with this godless music, then why won't you obey the Lord and forsake this unclean thing???

What kind of hold does religious rock have on people when they refuse to give up their demonic music? How can a person profess that he loves God and at the same time embrace such evil? How low must religious rock sink before God's people wake up from their slumber?

"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him....For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works" (2 Cor 11:3,4,13-15).

"For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ....Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities....Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear; clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever" (Jude 4,8,11-13).

CONCLUSION

"For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things" (Phil 3:18,19).

"Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes" (Rom 3:13-18).

• When music has any of the following characteristics beware; you are in danger of the demonic:

1. Deliberate Sensuality: This includes sexual clothing, erotic movements, flirtatious come-on's designed to sexually tease, and breathy voice designed to arouse an audience.
2. Clothes that are not in line with Biblical modesty: This includes sexual, revealing clothes that suggest an unholy lifestyle.
3. Unedifying speech: This includes stories, jokes, or lyrics which have double meanings or have sexual overtones.
4. Extremely loud music: Thunderous decibel levels that impair hearing and drown out lyrics .

This booklet closes on a note of sadness. We mourn over the tragedy of the loss of discernment among the body of Christ. We have shown how this evil music has gradually infiltrated the church with the blessing of those in authority, until many congregations no longer know the difference between the sacred and the profane. We have shown throughout the history of secular rock and roll the decline and destruction of values of decency and morality in society. Will the church partake of this same downward slide? Will the church abandon its role of salt and light and put on the same garments of darkness and sensuality that the world wraps itself in? The unsaved are desperately hoping to see something different in Christianity. When a Christian lowers his standards and walks arm in arm with the lost down the same broad road, the unsaved can only laugh and sneer at the hypocrisy of it all. The fact that millions are perishing in N/A should cause us to examine our walk and methods of evangelism. We have nothing but love in our hearts toward those who sincerely want to reach a lost generation for the Lord Jesus Christ. However, when Christians seek to be conformed to this evil world rather than to God's standards of righteousness and holiness, it is a cause of deep concern. Consequently, we have endeavoured through this study to offer a brotherly reproof to those whom we feel have been misled. We ask only that the reader prayerfully consider the scriptures, the information, and the arguments in the text. Our prayer is that God would lead you out of the mud and filth of this world into a deeper walk with Himself through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(Copy and distribute this tract as needed)

By Alan Yusko and Ed Prior

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Do you have any proof for this, or are you ignorant enough to take someone's word for it?

Prove. It. I will say again, so you can hear me: PROVE. IT.

The scriptures listed under this does NOT ead to these ideals. All it speaks of is a specific way to worship God, not that there is only one type of "good" music. And Haggai speaks NOTHING about music. The point is, you just want to attack "Rock and Roll" because you don't like it. so you make it your agenda to attack it. What about love musci? Oh, that's ok because it speaks about "love", right? So "Wind Beneath My Wings", "Love Lifts Us Up", and other classics are evil by your standards, because they don't worship God. Yet, that's nowhere in this joke of a tract.  What about the cassics? Beethoven, Bach, you shoudn't listen to them either. And you can just forget about Country music. If any music is destructive, it's Country, with its' talks about cheating on your spouse, drinking, smoking, dancing, than anyother music out there. But I see "old-fashioned" Christians defending that music more than anyother.

  Why? Because it's whatthey're used to it. They grew up with it.

Oh. Please. You were actually ridiculous enough to post this? Every Pentecostal Church I've been to does this. It's time to grow up and get over it. Put away the Jack Chick garbage tract. You want to rumble around with me, dlubow? Stop posting garbage other people write, and start defending your views from your own mind. You talk to me, you put away the cut and paste crap. You're suppossedly a Preacher. A Preacher should be smarter than this.

I must agree to Linconvoy to some extent.

As to loud music.................some of our churches have the speakers on so loud that it actually hurts the ears!  Especially those who have to deal with hearing aids.

As to rock...............many countries have a beat to music and has been that way for centuries.  I am more concerned about the pictures on the cover of the album, and the lifestyles of the singers involved than the music. 

But, we must talk about music preferences vs. actual music.  We must not condemn other peoples tastes in music.  No, I do not like hard rock styles (Christian, that is), but, I do not like Country/Southern gospel (Especially Bluegrass) either.  I like more songs than the artists.

As to music mixing with violence.  Rap and Hip-Hop are more violent, sexual, and basically evil as to the lyrics...............very much so if compared to rock.  In fact, rock doesn't exist as much as "Pop" music is reigning more today.

Basically, it comes to styles.  My rule of thumb is................if the Christian music makes the listener want to worship God.................then fine by me.

to answer Mr L Prove is it pleasing to God