To the reader

Before you read this article, we would like to clarify a few points. The tract below was written in response to a visit by Rodd and Marco to Ballymena, N.Ireland, and their participation in a youth mission there.

Having been somewhat alarmed by the content of some of Rodd and Marco's material, it was decided to write to the youth pastor and senior pastor of the Church in which the mission was to take place, and also to the artists themselves, expressing our concerns. Sadly, we only received a reply from the senior pastor, who in a very courteous manner told us that while the main stress of the ministry in the church was in preaching the Gospel, he felt that it was quite legitimate to engage our culture in other ways.

We then decided to take the matter further, and wrote to other ministers in the area, once again expressing our concerns to them.

We feel that the matter was handled in a loving and discrete manner, and that in the light of God's Word, it was quite proper to bring our concerns to the Body of Christ.

Athough the mission has ended, we feel it important to highlight the ministry of these two men, and have therefore included this article on our website.

For more on the subject of Biblical discernment and judgement, please see the article "Is it Right: To Judge, To Expose Error and To Call Names?"

"A Youth Mission With A Difference"

The above title appeared in the Ballymena Guardian on 8th May 1996, advertising a Youth Mission which is planned for First Ballymena Presbyterian Church in July of this year. The article which followed gave details of the events that would take place during the mission and of the main speakers at this "multi-media" event, Rodd Christensen and Marco Palmer.

Many will probably be asking, "Who are Rodd and Marco, and what type of ministry are they involved in?" The aim of this article is to answer those questions.

Rodd and Marco are a Christian "comedy" duo originally from the United States, but now living on the East coast of Scotland.

While in the US they were involved in drama ministry, but decided to relocate in the UK some four years ago due to the greater opportunities which exist here for spreading the Gospel in schools.

So just what type of ministry are these two involved in, and how appropriate is it for conveying the message of the Gospel?

In Cross Rhythms magazine, Issue 30, December/January 1996, page 14, Marco Palmer said;

This is a very praiseworthy statement, yet in the same article we are told to look out for a forthcoming "ditty" about the Resurrection called "Boom, Boom, Shake the Tomb", obviously inspired by the song "Boom, Shake, Shake the Room" by secular star Fresh Prince.

Worldly emulation seems to be a common theme throughout their work, contradicting the teaching of Scripture that Christians should be different from the world and the unsaved. (2 Corinthians 5:17, Ezekiel 22:26).

For example, the title of their 1994 album "Jurassic Church", distributed on the Kingsway label, derives from the recent blockbuster film "Jurassic Park".

Contained on the album is the song "God’s World" a "Christian" parody of the secular film and MTV series "Wayne’s World". On the song we hear the following lyrics;

The song continues with some "Believer’s Rhapsody" an obvious copy of part of the Queen song "Bohemian Rhapsody". The music is identical to the infamous Queen anthem, but the lyrics have been changed -slightly. Freddie Mercury and friends in Queen sang; "Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me" whereas Rodd and Marco "Christianise" the song by changing the words to; "Beelzebub has lost his hold on me".

Another track on the album is "Radio Hell FM", a "humorous" fantasy of what a radio station in Hell might sound like.

The Bible speaks much of Hell as a place of torment, "..where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:48). Although Rodd and Marco urge their listeners to accept Christ into their hearts in order to escape Hell, surely the awfulness of that place where lost souls are tormented eternally in its flames, should not be made light of in any way (Luke 16:23,24).

Rodd and Marco may have gained many friends in pro-CCM circles and participated in such festivals as Summer Madness and Spring Harvest, but at the end of the day we must consider whether or not their ministry matches the Word of God (1 Thessalonians 5:22, 1 John 4:1).

The Bible teaches that through the preaching of the Cross, the unsaved will be brought to Christ (1 Corinthians 1:21) irrespective of age, class or condition. We are, as Paul suggests in 1 Corinthians 9:19 to become "..servant unto all, that I might gain the more." At the same time however, we must maintain our separation from the world "For God hath not called us unto uncleanness but unto holiness" (1 Thessalonians 4:7).

Rodd and Marco’s ministry seems to mix the message of Christ with images of worldliness that the believer should be distancing him/herself from daily, eg. Rock Music, MTV etc. Paul instructs us in Galatians 5:1 that we are to "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage".

Our main concern for the mission in Ballymena is how the message of Christ will be presented, and what perception of the Gospel those attending will have as a result. What about those unsaved young people, seeking to be free from the bondage of Rock music, MTV, Queen, Fresh Prince etc? How will they react when they come to the mission seeking freedom only to find that Christians are involved in the very things they long to be delivered from?

What about those young Christians, seeking to serve the Lord with reverence and godly fear, how will they be affected when they come into contact with images they left behind when they came to Christ, and which they are seeking to rid from their lives day by day? Such a "multi-media" event may attract young people, but will it encourage them to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ?

It is our desire and prayer to see the unsaved in this land come to the realisation that "..all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), that "..Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3), and would in repentance of their sins, in faith, turn to Christ alone for Salvation.

While we would strongly encourage any outreach in the Gospel, we feel that on this occasion those involved with the Mission should prayerfully consider, in the light of God’s Word, the ministry of these two men, and how appropriate it is to convey the message of Salvation to the youth of Ballymena.

The ministry of "Rodd amd Marco" Examined

To the reader

"A Youth Mission With A Difference"