Rock Music: The Music
of the New Paganism

by Dr. Phil Stringer (Florida)

"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" (Colossians 3:16).

CULTURE AND MUSIC

Just as every culture develops its own religion (or is developed from a religion), every culture develops its own distinctive music. The new American culture of rebellion against God is no exception. In fact, some would say that the music developed first, and the rest of the new American culture came from the new music. The new music is rock music.

Allan Bloom comments on the role of rock music in American culture in The Closing of the American Mind. He says:

This is the significance of rock music. I do not suggest that it has any high intellectual sources. But it has risen to its current heights in the education of the young on the ashes of classical music, and in an atmosphere in which there is no intellectual resistance to attempts to tap the rawest passions. Modern-day rationalists, such as economists, are indifferent to it and what it represents. The irrationalists are all for it. There is no need to bear that "the blond beasts" are going to come forth from the bland souls of our adolescents. But rock music has one appeal only, a barbaric appeal, to sexual desire -- not love, not eros, but sexual desire undeveloped and untutored. It acknowledges the first emanations of children’s emerging sensuality and addresses them seriously, eliciting them and legitimating [sic] them, not as little sprouts that must be carefully tended in order to grow into gorgeous flowers, but as the real thing. Rock gives children, on a silver platter, with all the public authority of the entertainment industry, everything their parents always used to tell them they had to wait for until they grew up and would understand later.

THREE BASIC DRIVES

Every human being is motivated by three basic drives: physical, social, and spiritual. How one meets his needs and decides which drive is most important determines what kind of life he will lead.

Each part of music corresponds to one of these basic drives: melody is the spiritual part of music, harmony is the social, and rhythm is the physical. Any one of these three parts of music can be the dominant theme in a musical piece. Music in which the physical (rhythm) is dominant is called ROCK music. It was given the name "Rock and Roll" because of its ability to relate to physical movement. Margaret Sears, musical therapist says, "In rock, the rhythm, rather than the melody, ebbs and flows and has an hypnotic effect."

THE INFLUENCE OF MUSIC

It is important to remember that the influence of music is subtle and not always obvious to the one being influenced. Crowded restaurants play fast music to get their customers to eat faster. Very rarely does the customer realize he is hurrying to keep pace with the music. It is also important to not that music LEADS, it does not FORCE. Melodious music encourages spiritual growth but does not demand it. Rhythm-dominated music leads to physical response, but the listener does not always respond immediately and fully to the message of the music.

Plato recognized the importance of music when he said, "Musical training is a more potent instrument than any other." Henry David Thoreau recognized it when he prophesied the doom of western civilizations: "Even music may be intoxicating. Such apparently slight causes destroyed Greece and Rome, and will destroy England and America." Conductor Laszlo Gati of the Victoria, B.C. [British Columbia] Symphony warned:

I am really worried that one hundred or three hundred years from now when they try to analyze why the rest of civilization has demised the reason will not be the atomic bomb but the kind of music we have listened to!

ROCK MUSIC AND SEX

Rock musicians claim that rock music leads to sexual activity. Frank Zappa (Mothers of Invention) said, "Rock music is sex, the big beat matches the body’s rhythms." Mick Jagger (Rolling Stones) said, "Rock is sex and you have to hit them in the face with it." Mike Quarto (a rock music show producer) said, "The heavy rock music now in style motivates you internally, gives you a sensual feeling. A girl can be turned on by the music. It releases her inhibitions."

Any casual examination of much rock music will show that many of the lyrics are clearly obscene and suggestive. Rock musicians claim that the music itself has the same message. Who can argue with them?

ROCK MUSIC AND DRUGS

Yale sociologist Charles Reich feels that rock music is vitally connected with he drug scene. He said, "An enormous number of the young listeners had instruments or even bands and played the new music themselves, and both bands and listeners considered drugs to be an integral part of the music experience." Newspaperman Fred Sparks of the Detroit News agrees and said this about America’s rock groups, "They are guilty for all the revolutionary talk in this nation, they are guilty for all the drug abuse, and for much of the sexual immorality." Many rock stars are famous for their involvement with drugs, and drugs have led to the deaths of such rock stars as Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix. During the time that rock music has been prominent in our country, the drug menace has increased tremendously.

Musical therapist Adam Knieste warns:

Rock is not a harmless pastime but a dangerous drug on which our children are hooked; rock is more deadly than heroin because it is generally thought to be harmless and therefore does its damage unchallenged.

Rock music is the music of a physically oriented culture that ignores spiritual truth. Rock music is virtually connected with both the beginning and the continuation of the Culture War.

ROCK MUSIC AND REVOLUTION

Revolutionary Jerry Reuben said, "Rock and roll marked the beginning of the revolution." He also credited Elvis Presley with starting the sexual revolution -- the Culture War -- with his lewd on-stage behavior and the message of his music. The Beatles declared that their own music is "... capable of causing emotional instability, disorganized behavior, riot, and eventually revolution." Time magazine reported, "All rock is revolutionary." Billboard magazine declared, "Rock and roll has been feeding the fire of the second American revolution." The appeal of rock music to physical action, ignoring spiritual truth, inevitably leads to rebellious attitudes and self indulgence.

Rock musicians make no secret of how important they feel their music is. Mick Jagger said, "We are moving after the minds, and so are most of the new groups." Arthur Brown said, "Rock is the most underestimated infiltration of modern systems today." Rolling Stone magazine reported, "Rock and Roll is more than just music. It is the energy center of the new culture and youth revolution."

PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF ROCK

Another important matter related to rock music is the physical effect it has on hearing. The International Safety Institute of California, Pennsylvania measured the sound levels of hundreds of performances of rock music. They warn of the health hazard that such loud music provides. Most of these performances exceed the legal limit of 115 decibels for 15 minutes which is the maximum standard protecting industrial employees. For two years Mrs. Dorothy Retallock of Denver, Ohio played rock music to various plants, and the noise and vibration killed them.

One good way to judge rock music is to ask what the rock concerts and festivals have produced. Was Woodstock noted for its peaceful gathering of people serious about doing right, or for its nudity, immorality, homosexuality, and drugs? Are rock concerts places of spiritual refreshment for America’s young people, or places where drugs and alcohol flow freely and sin is glorified?

Christians have the Biblical responsibility to prove that the things they involve themselves with are acceptable to the Lord (Ephesians 5:10). What evidence is there that rock music is acceptable to the Lord? What spiritual blessing does it produce? What benefits does it provide? Any Christian who wishes to listen to rock music has the responsibility to answer these questions.

Galatians 6:8 warns that the person who sows to the flesh (the old Adamic nature) reaps of the flesh corruption. Just as daily vitamins over a period of time produce benefits, worldly, fleshly, physical music over a period of time will produce at least some forms of sinful corruption.

A Christian ought to have his spiritual drive controlling the physical and social drives. "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).

Because it is important that we concentrate our energies and thoughts on being right spiritually, we receive the command of Philippians 4:8, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." What we think about has the greatest influence in determining what we are like. The Bible says, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." Everything that influences our thoughts has the greatest impact on determining our spiritual character.

Recognizing the importance of music to the Christian, Johann Sebastian Bach said, "The aim and final reason of all music should be nothing else but the glory of God and the refreshment of the spirit." Every Christian should seek to increase his own personal purity by avoiding rock music and should encourage others to do so as well.

This is why the Bible puts such emphasis on the right kind of music:

• Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord (Ephesians 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 Colossians 3:16).

Dr. Phil Stringer is Executive Vice President at Landmark Baptist College, Haines City, Florida.