Re: The Holiness of Rap Debate

[snipped the whole thing because of a pounding sinus headache]

I think I made you blow your stack, eh, Joy?

As we've discussed this subject, from every possible perspective,
personally, socially, theologically, anthropologically, linguistically,
etc., I've wondered what it is that causes us to have such differing
views. My pastor brought something to mind that, quite frankly, hadn't
even occured to me. It has to do with the way we have been taught to think.

I'm a didactic thinker, as most everyone in my age group, and older are.
We were raised in an atomsphere of absolutes; to understand and respect
absolutes; to reference and test everything by absolute truth, facts and
verifiable knowledge.

Most people younger than I are dialectical thinkers.

Raised in a world that rejects absolutes as intolerant, and bigotted,
dialectical thinkers crave personal philosophical investigation to find
their answers. All things become relative, and are subject to
interpretation for the purposes of personal application.

That's how must modern Bible study groups are facilitated:

"John, tell us, what does that Scripture mean to you?"

Everyone gets a different meaning and the facilatator's job is to force
the consensus that all meanings so derived are valid.

Conversly, the didatic thinker is concerned only with what the scripture
says, right or wrong, black or white, yea or nay, not with what it means
to them in some subjective "spiritual" way. Perhaps, that's why I loath
paraphrased Bibles like I do.

When I study the Bible, I ask myself "Am I living as this Scripture
instructs, submitting to it's absolute authority, or am I rebelling
against it; catering to my flesh?"

As far as the music is concerned, although the basic components of music
are not "evil", in and of themselves, for they have no inherent ability
(or will) to effect change on their own; What is constructed from those
components however, does; being constructed by an entity that does have
the ability and will to effect change.

Yes, I do believe in living a seperated life, as a Christian. I believe
the Scripture is clear on that. Paul teaches in I Corinthians 10:21, "Ye
cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be
partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils." All of
Creation became corrupt as a result of Mankind's sin. Nothing is untouched
by Sin's stain.

Yes, I do see a difference between the things of the world, including it's
music, and the things of God. Can worldly knowledge tell the difference
between the two? Not really, for the things of God are spiritually
discerned, although, as I mentioned earlier, an unregenerate spirit can
respond to the things of God, such as Godly music, if God initiates the
response.

I can tell the difference between God's music and the world's music, even
if I'm unable to draw a schematic of precisely how I tell the difference.
Being a didatic thinker makes me wish very much that I could. It is,
however, something that is spiritually discerned. David said that he had
hid God's word in his heart, so that he might not sin against God. If one
neglects that, there's nothing for the Holy Spirit to bring to the
forefront of one's mind, when testing of a "spiritual insight", a
teaching, preaching, doctrine, or a piece of music, becomes necessary.

Texe Marrs relates an incident of spiritual discernment that is
heartbreaking, although, I already know that many readers will just blow
it off:

"The concert hall was filled with excited teenagers and young people,
anxiously milling about and cracking jokes. Then the hall lights went dim
and laser lights began to flash on stage. A bizarrely dressed group of
rock musicians went into action, heavy metal guitars blasting out a
vicious beat. Eerie green smoke was released and quickly enveloped the
stage.

"The audience went wild. Young girls screamed and tore at their hair,
while the boys rocked their hips rapidly to and fro, moving to the
staccato-like sounds of the band.

"Suddenly, an older and wiser man, who had come to observe, bolted out of
his seat and commenced to shout, "Ichabod, Ichabod (the glory is gone)!
Look, there are demons coming up from the smoke!" The man's name: David
Wilkerson, highly respected Christian evangelist and author of the
best-selling book, THE CROSS AND THE SWITCHBLADE.

"The crowd didn't seem to notice. They were partying and no "stodgy old
fundamentalist Christian evangelist" was going to spoil their good time.
Their favorite Christian rock group, Mylon LeFevre and Broken Heart, was
on stage pounding away and they were in ecstasy.

"David Wilkerson, shocked and dismayed, left the concert hall, tears in
his eyes and a burden on his heart. God had revealed to him the awful
truth about "Christian" rock. But how would this truth get out because,
through rock music, Satan has already conquered many churches which were
once thought to be bastions of Christian example. Many pastors, youth
leaders and other church officials are too frightened to oppose the rock
invasion, too afraid to make waves. Some are so delighted to see young
people "involved" in "Christianity" through rock music they haven't
stopped to analyze just what is actually going on."

I included this because I feel just like Wilkerson did that night. What
sort of music drives "Christian" kids to act this way? What would
motivate them to flash the "Horns of the Moon", to hang their tongues
out and scream, wild-eyed, at the top of their lungs, as though they were
posessed? Is that worship? Is that witnessing?

No; It's blasphemy.

I plan to discuss this whole thing with my pastor this evening,
concerning the wisdom of this whole thread of discussion. He's almost
20-years my elder, and, well, if the Holy Spirit, after study and prayer,
convicts us that I'm wasting my time here, and/or casting my pearls before
swine, I doubt I'll return.

You all seem like a nice bunch of folks, too; even Bob Weigel.

Peace,

Mike