THE LORDS OF LAODICEA
by
Stephen T. Nieman

It has been the writer's intention in writing this thesis to expose the audacity of the Laodicean elitist in his efforts to use rock music as a format for the Gospel. The argumentations purported by the CCM adherents have been addressed in an empirical as well as rational manner. It is unfortunate, though, that both of these two methodologies are of no consequence when the enlightened masses' ears itch for affirmation for their world-saturated lifestyle. Nonetheless, the Biblical commandment of separation from world and its desires has been defended.

The writer has shown shown that "meeting people where they are at" with the Gospel simply means that as Christians we are to seek out people, regardless of their station in life, and present to them the message of hope in Jesus Christ. We are to understand that we have no merit of our own, but rather that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. (Eph. 2:8-10) We also understand that part and parcel of being a spiritually dead person is that there is an inordinate desire to fulfill the lust of the flesh. (Eph. 2:3; 4:22) We have then shown that grace can never purpose to use fleshly lust to draw a person into true faith in Christ Jesus. We have determined that this is a flawed view of Divine enablement, and its methodology must be shunned.

The charge that the Word of God should be delivered as broadly and as socially acceptable as possible so that God can use His Word in others hearts has also been proven an erroneous and Biblically baseless approach. Preparation from the Word is essential in God's plan in drawing people into a relationship with Him. In utilizing the parable of the sower in Matthew 13, we have noted that there were three of the four mentioned environments which failed to produce saving faith.

The first Gospel presentation fell by the wayside. The wayside is depicted as a place where the fowls of the air snatch the seed away from the hearer before he can respond. In the synoptic version of this parable in Mark chapter 4 we see that these fowls represent Satanic activity. The central theme of this thesis is that a rock concert, with its suggestive rhythms and pulse altering beat, is typical of the kind of place where the fowls might reside.

The second failed Gospel presentation was delivered on stony ground. Here we have a response to the presentation; but because there has been no preparation of the soil, the Gospel delivered in this environment failed to produce saving faith.

The third presentation of the Gospel which produced a pseudo salvation was delivered in an environment which is depicted as appealing to the cares of this world and its lusts. Again, there was an initial response to the message of salvation; yet, because the soil in which the seed was sown also contained the seeds of thorns and thistles, which are identified with worldly desires, we find again that this reception failed to produce saving faith. How unfortunate that each of these respondents can look back on a time when they accepted a semblance of the gospel. Imagine the confusion they experience when they practice a form of godliness but don't have the power of the Spirit of God in their lives.

The Gospel presentation which is represented as producing saving faith is the Gospel sown on the well- prepared soil. Note that in addition to the tilth of the soil, the success is also due to the lack of spiritual oppression, and the worldly desires and lusts in the presentation environment.

In this thesis there has been a thorough examination of the erroneous supposition that music is an amoral art form. This might very well be the most common of the elitists argumentations, yet we found it to be utterly baseless in both historical and contemporary musicology. We found that every dominant society in the ancient world considered music to have a distinct impact on its peoples character and that even the slightest change in musical styles was a warning to the leaders that the morality of the people was changing. Furthermore, we noted that nowhere in any of the confirmatory data we considered did we find the slightest hint that the lyrical content of a musical style was of any consequence. Overriding concern is always given to the character and morality depicted by a musical style. The data we scrutinized was so far-reaching and corroborative that it was clearly shown that the elitist is purporting a dialectic originating within the vacuum of his own self-serving opinion. We noted that the reason that a falsehood can be so easily advanced is the insistence of the Christian community of subjecting the clear commands of God's Word to their perceived good experiences and intuitive feelings. What we perceive works, and how we feel about it, are our interpretive by-lines. Unfortunately Gods Word tells us this self-worship is the most insolent of all forms of idolatry.

In examination of the postulation by the "enlightened lords" that the Scriptures are entirely apathetic regarding the restriction of particular musical styles, we have exposed again the depravity of this supposition. Consideration was given to the dialectic of this issue. Is our Lord truly unconcerned about the issue of music as is alleged? Or is it simply a foregone conclusion that the same principles of separation from the world and its lusts apply to the area of music as well? The writer assumed the position of the latter while rejecting in toto the attempt to strip the Word of its teaching on music. We found that 1 Corinthians chapter 14, and in particular verses 6-11 develop a precise musicology for the Christian. The Apostle Paul, writing under the direction of the Holy Spirit, relates an intimate relationship between confusing sign-gifts and confusion concerning what is "piped or harped." We are told that this confusion is a result of "so many kinds of voices in the world." Furthermore, the New Testament local church is commanded to consider anyone carrying a confusing message into the assembly of the local church to be considered a barbarian. A person entering into your local assembly bringing with them a confusing musical style is to be considered a foreigner, or rather someone who has no right of citizenship in the body of Christ. Whether the individual is truly saved or not is irrelevant. The CCM artist who mimics the lavish fads of the rock music scene and utilizes the seductive rhythms of the rock music culture emulates a confusion regarding what the grace of God teaches. (Titus 2:11-15) The confusion of his message marks him as a barbarian.

The topic of musical genre has been addressed. It has been noted that rock music encompasses a wide variety of styles within its genre, yet their commonality is found in the inordinate emphasis on the rhythm or beat. This again has been conceded on all sides, with even CCM artists proclaiming their admiration for these rhythmic qualities. The roots of this style of music are affirmed to be that of jazz and blues. This style of music won acceptance by the very basest of society. We have noted that the morality attached to this musical style was decried by even secular musicologists as abominable. It is altogether more unfortunate when we find secular musicologists proclaiming that rock music's dominant advantage is the "sexuality" of its rhythms. This is the affirmation used uniformly by secular writers, so it is conceded on all sides that the lyrical formula is entirely subservient to the power contained in the rhythm and beat of the music itself.

We then considered the biblical teaching regarding the flesh. The premium placed upon the flesh by Rock music styles and their artists are in reality a witness against their genuine spiritual character. The horror of this thesis, as well as many like it, is that it will fall upon the ears of "Christians" who insist upon their right to determine their own Christian ethics and morality. The commandments of God (1 Corinthians 14:37) are demoted to mere principles, which are to be applied individually among the brethren based upon each ones experiences and personal preferences. Dear brother in Christ, can you not hear the Spirit of God explaining to you what the will of God is for your life?