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Pop-Idiom Music
In Worship and Evangelism
by Dr Peter Masters
Dr Peter Masters is minister of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, London,
England (C.H. Spurgeon's church) and has kindly granted us permission
to reproduce "Pop-Idiom Music" here. If you have any questions
or queries about this article, please feel free to write to Dr Masters
at the address given below, or
contact us at Freedom Ministries.
Section 7
Can 'Worldly' Things be Modified for Christian Service?
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Why should pop-idiom music be
classified as 'worldly'? Is it not possible
to adapt it for the Lord's use?
It is beyond controversy that much
of today's pop-idiom music has its
roots in a deliberate attempt to arouse
and inflame sensual feelings.
Leading exponents of pop-music
themselves say that it began as the
brainchild of the alternative society, as
an expression of discord, violence,
lawlessness, indulgence, sex, the unnatural,
and so on. It was originally
designed and conceived to be a bombardment
of the senses, an arousal of
fleshly feelings and instincts, and a
technique for blotting out reason,
accountability, self-control, love,
beauty and anything spiritual.
As such, it is intended to carry off its
hearers into a form of ecstatic,
emotional or intensely pleasurable
experience far from reality, and to
command passionate engagement of
their whole being. In this it is undoubtedly
successful, and captures an
immense following of 'worshippers'
to be one of the worst manifestations
of idolatry in our age.
But what of the more diluted, milder,
muted renderings of Gospel-pop? If
we draw back a little from the extreme
just described, can we not safely
moderate the volume, mellow the
sound, subdue the rhythm, and modify
the cruder body-movements? Can we
not 'Christianise' the modern idiom?
Can we not adapt and harness the culture
of a godless age to the service of
God?
Paul answers, 'No!' - and states
emphatically in 1 Corinthians 10. 19-20
that even when something is not itself
evil (like wholesome meat) if it is
openly identified with evil rites or
with ungodly, worldly practices, then
it becomes wrong for believers
because of its associations. Speaking
of things which are morally acceptable,
but tainted by associations, Paul
declares -
All things are lawful for me, but all
things are not expedient: [i.e. not fitting
not in place] all things are lawful
for me, but all things edify not (1 Corinthians 10.23).
At the risk of labouring the point, we
must make clear that some particular
activity may be technically moral, but
if it is currently besmirched by godless
and worldly associations, those who
truly love the Lord and stand loyal to
Him must avoid that activity as far as
possible and they must certainly never
engage in it to represent the Lord.
Therefore, even if it were possible to
produce a purified, modified version of
today's carnal, pop-idiom music, it
would be wrong for Christians to use it
in worship and witness because of its
unhallowed, worldly associations.
1 Corinthians 10 gives us several
examples of how seriously these
matters must be taken as it reviews the
errors of the generation of Israel which
was led by Moses out of Egypt, but
which failed to enter the promised
land. The Bible says that their failure
was recorded to provide lessons for us;
they typify us; they represent us. We
read in 1 Corinthians 10. 5 that - with
many of them God was not well
pleased: for they were overthrown in
the wilderness.
The early Israelites were punished
by God because of their refusal to
separate from 'worldliness'. They
desperately wanted the pleasures and lifestyle
of the 'world' around them, and
even polluted their worship with the
practices of those nations.
These articles remain
© Copyright Dr Peter Masters 1983
The Metropolitan Tabernacle
Elephant and Castle
London SE1 6SD
England, UK
who should be consulted before any further copying, storing or distribution, either
in whole or in part is made by any means.
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