WQCK - The Artist

"I have often wondered how anyone could defend the spirituality of such music as is often aired on WQCK. It has been my opinion in times past that such people would naturally possess a wrong attitude of heart. Why? In my estimation, to seek and justify immodesty, sensuality, wholesale rebellion, and brazenly worldly entertainment would logically and Scripturally [James 4:4; 1 John 2:15] reflect deeper spiritual problems. The contemporary music industry abounds with such examples and it will not be difficult to document these unspiritual discrepancies even among the most respected 'stars.'"

The following information is not careless innuendo but rather documented fact. Much of what you will read are quotes taken directly from the artist's own mouth. No honest man could possibly read the following expose' and doubt or deny that these individuals display OBVIOUS compromises in the music, the ministry, and the lifestyles they openly promote. Let us remember, although some of these individuals are very young, they are also some of the most influential spiritual leaders of this current generation. I think we can both agree that those who hold positions of leadership and influence should be held to a higher degree of spiritual accountability [1 Tim. 2:1-12]. The church has been extremely unwise in not seeking to provide oversight for these individuals and deficient in communicating the absolute demand for conformity to Biblical standards of conduct in life and ministry.

The fruit of my findings could fill DOZENS of pages. However, I will only profile three artists who I believe accurately portray the whole of the Contemporary Christian Music community. Incidentally, these three artists represent some of the most recognizable names in the CCM industry. Their music, philosophy, and life are typical of the current trends in "Christian music ministry." Furthermore, all three of the artist who we will examine in the following pages are routinely given air-time on your radio station.

I also offer irrefutable evidence that many of the Christian artists who are daily heard on WQCK are deeply involved in the sinful ecumenical movement that has currently swept through evangelical Christianity [see my brief Scriptural condemnation of this practice under the ECUMENISM heading].

Finally, under the heading of Friends of The World, I document the mixture of "Contemporary Christian Music" with secular rock music and show how this alone, according to the Bible, proves that these individuals are brazen enemies of God.

The queen-bee of Christian rock is Amy Grant. Amy's song, "Baby, Baby", was unprecedented in Gospel Music history topping the chart as the number-one spot on Billboard magazine. Is the secular world "turning on" to Jesus? Not hardly. . . this is what a leading magazine had to say of Amy's video Baby, Baby , "There's saintly Amy cuddling some hunky guy, crooning "Baby, Baby" into his ear and looking pretty SLEEK AND SINFUL. . ." [1] After all, Amy confesses, "I'm trying to look SEXY to sell a record . . ." [2]

The Bible says in 2 Timothy 2:22, "Flee also youthful lusts:", but Amy says, "Petting happens . . . As a teenager, when I gave part of me to someone, I knew I was just going to flirt, HAVE A LITTLE FUN." [3] Again, Amy says, "I have a healthy sense of right and wrong, but sometimes, for example, using foul, exclamation-point words among friends can be good for a laugh." [4] Amy says, "Why isolate yourself? Your life isolates you enough. I'm isolated when I walk into a room and somebody says, She's a Christian and NOBODY OFFERS ME A JOINT and all the coke (cocaine) disappears. . ." [5] Husband Gary Chapman confessed in People magazine (July 15, 1991 p. 72), of a six-year cocaine and marijuana addiction. Amy also says, "I remember years ago — the first time I smelled anybody smoking a joint at a concert, I WAS THRILLED. . it meant to me that obviously this person is not affected by the church peer pressure." [6]

Amy's album, House of Love includes the environmental-mother-earth song, Big Yellow Taxi, by new-age-priestess — Joni Mitchell. Time magazine tells of Joni Mitchell's intimate relationship with a muse (a demon spirit) named Art. Joni says, "I feel like I'm married to this guy named Art, I'm responsible to my Art above all else." [7] Some of the words to Big Yellow Taxi, "They paved paradise and put up a parking lot". How different from the words of the Lord Jesus in Luke 23:43, "And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise." Of course, what's the Bible and Jesus got to do with "CHRISTian" music?

Amy's latest album, Behind the Eyes goes even further to "exorcise" any Christian influence. Christianity Today, in article entitled, "Where's the Gospel?", writes:

"Amy Grant's latest album has thrown the Contemporary Christian Music industry into a first-rate identity crisis. . . Grant's newest release, Behind the Eyes, comes as no surprise given the course of her career since Unguarded (1985), the first of her albums to be distributed jointly by CCM label Myrrh in the evangelical market and A&M in the mainstream market. Previous "crossover" projects, however, had made at least some mention of God or Jesus. The complete absence of explicitly Christian lyrical content on Behind the Eyes has renewed a debate in the CCM industry about what constitutes Christian music." [8]

CCM has gotten so far off the track, Amy admits in Christianity Today, that she doesn't even know what Christian music is "I DON'T KNOW if Behind the Eyes is a Christian record. Being able to label it Christian or non-Christian is not the point for me." [9]

"I want to play hardball in this business. I want to be on the same level professionally with performers in all areas of music. I love to hear Billy Joel, Kenny Loggins, and the Doobie Brothers. Why not? I aim to bridge the gap between Christian and pop." [10] Amy Grant

CCM is in such a worldly, compromising, money-making, confusing, mess — it's "number-one-star" does NOT even know if her album is Christian! A CHRISTian is a disciple of Jesus Christ! If it's not about the Lord Jesus Christ — it is NOT CHRISTian! A music buyer for religious stores mentioned in Christianity Today, truthfully says of Behind the Eyes, "It's NOT a Christian album. A Christian album should be clear on the person of Christ, and these lyrics are not." [11]

Christianity Today, makes a keen observation, as it emphasizes that, incredibly, some songs by secular performers are more Christian than CCM's! Christianity Today asks the following enlightening question, in reference to secular, Mary Chapin Carpenter's, "I Am a Town" — "If Carpenter can sing, 'I'm a Baptist like my daddy, Jesus knows my name,' why does Grant have to be so discreet about her faith?" Very good question. . . Why does CCM have to be so discreet about their faith? Why does a supposed Christian NOT want to sing about the Lord Jesus Christ? The German reformer and musician, Martin Luther puts it bluntly:

"We should praise God with both word and music, namely by proclaiming [the Word of God] through music. He who believes earnestly cannot be quiet about it. But he must gladly and willingly sing and speak about it so that others may come and hear it. And whoever does NOT want to sing and speak of it shows that he does not believe it." [12]

Because of Grant's (and CCM's) obvious UNChristian lyrics, Christianity Today, writes:

"The Christian music industry has been unsure how to categorize Grant's latest offering, so much so, in fact, that the GMA and Christian Music Trade Association (CMTA) initiated a re-evaluation of existing guidelines for GMA Dove Award eligibility and sales chart placement."

Not to dare break their compromising-wordly-commercial-track-record, GMA, did allow Grant's Behind the Eyes in the Dove Awards — and "presto" — Behind the Eyes was the 1998 Dove Award's, Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year!

Stan Moser, former head of Word Records (the man responsible for signing Amy Grant) and CEO of Star Song Records, was one of the pioneers and most important executives in CCM. And after 26 years in CCM, in November 1995, he walked away from CCM. In an article in Christianity Today, titled "We Have Created a Monster" about CCM, Mr. Moser freely admits:

"But to be candid, I look at the majority of the music I hear today and think it's virtually meaningless." [13]

". . .I would probably be more inclined to call the industry 'commercial Christian music,' rather than 'contemporary Christian music.'" [14]

"The lyrics of a good number of the songs don't betray anything specifically Christian - they may have some moral message, but not a lot of the big songs are identifiably Christian. . . 'What happens to the message when we start getting the music to as many people as possible?' There is an essential part of the gospel that's not ever going to sell. The gospel is good news, but it is also bad news: 'You are a sinner, and you are hopeless.' How is a multimillion-dollar record company going to take that? That's a part of the message, too, and if that's taken out - and it frequently is in Christian music - it ceases to be the gospel." [15]

"The direction and value system are getting worse faster than any of us can imagine." [16]

One of the most disturbing performers is Michael W. Smith. The "idol" of screaming young Christian girls, "His concerts draw hundreds of thousands of fans each year, mostly teenage girls who scream out their AFFECTION FOR HIM non-stop throughout. . . . To his fans, Smith is the "absolute greatest there is, BAR NONE . . ." [17] THE ABSOLUTE GREATEST THERE IS, BAR NONE? —Can any honest person who has remotely read the Bible — possibly believe God the Holy Spirit is involved in Smith's idol-worshipping music? What a mockery of the Lord Jesus Christ, who "made himself of no reputation" (Philippians 2:7). Compare Smith to John the Baptist who said in John 3:30, "He must increase, but I MUST DECREASE". Or the Apostle Paul in 1 Cor. 4:13, ". . . we are made as the FILTH OF THE WORLD, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day."

John 12:43, "For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."

Inside Music magazine, interviewing Michael W. Smith, said, "There's also the influence of such groups as Alan Parsons in your music. It's especially noticeable on the first record, the Michael W. Smith Project (named after Alan Parsons's album, The Alan Parsons Project)." [18] And Smith's reply? "DEFINITELY!" C'mon Smith! Alan Parsons is among the most occultic in rock! Alan Parsons has songs titled: "Lucifer", the blasphemous "Genesis Ch 1 v32" (there is no Genesis Chapter 1 verse 32!). Alan Parsons, album, Eye In The Sky on the cover (and back) is the Eye of Horus (also called the Eye of Lucifer). Not surprisingly, Smith also has an album titled, I2(EYE). Of course, the name of Jesus is nowhere to be found.

Michael W. Smith's album, Change Your World, has 2819 words — the name of Jesus occurs — ZERO!

Michael W. Smith's album, I'll Lead You Home, has 2046 words —the name of Jesus occurs — ZERO!

Compare that to the Apostle Paul (a REAL Christian) in just the first chapter of 1 Corinthians:

verse 30 Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and

The party-line of the Christian rockers is they're trying to reach the young people with the gospel of Jesus Christ by using rock as a tool. But how are they going to reach them with the gospel of JESUS CHRIST when they won't even mention HIS NAME?

Here's what a secular reporter in the Birmingham News wrote after watching a Michael W. Smith concert:

"If you weren't familiar with Michael W. Smith's standing in the world of contemporary Christian music, you might attend one of his concerts and come out none the wiser." [19]

After a two-hour performance, there is not even enough of God for the lost world to even know these "so-called CHRISTian stars" are Christians! What a pitiful excuse for ministry! Shame on you Smith! Many of these young people are from broken homes, shattered lives, facing tremendous peer-pressure, begging for something REAL and you will not even mention the ONLY REAL HELP in the universe! Shame on you!

"The people coming into the concerts are ready to rock. They come out and want to have a good time. Some people need to get out there and preach to them. Ask them for a decision at the end, but that's not my calling. The kids I see are just ready to kick it out and have fun." [20]

The Bible is very clear! A Christian should be separated from the world. Paul says in 2 Cor. 6, "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, . . ." Ephesians 5:11 says, "And have NO FELLOWSHIP with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." These Christian stars not only fellowship with "the unfruitful works of darkness" but guess who produced and played on Michael W. Smith's album "I'll Lead You Home" — Patrick Leonard! In case you don't know who Patrick Leonard is, he's also the producer for the queen of slut — Madonna!

As far as Christian sanctified living which the Bible commands, here's what Smith has to say:

". . .you're always going to have those very, very conservative people. They say you can't do this; you can't do that, . . . you can't drink; you can't smoke; . . . It's a pretty bizarre way of thinking." [21] Michael W. Smith

Of the ten commandments — eight were "THOU SHALT NOT..."! Unfortunately, many respond to such observations with, "But, why keep bringing up the Bible — what does that have to do with it?"

Smith, one of the most popular Contemporary Christian Musicians, is interviewed in the May 1998 issue of CCM magazine. The unscriptural mind-set found among the majority of these musicians is evident throughout the interview. Consider the following excerpt:

"If Jesus was here today physically, I'm not really sure He'd be in the churches," he says in soft, measured tones. "He'd be hanging out at the bars, with the desperate and the lonely. And I don't think He'd be going in and preaching--I think He'd be going in and befriending people....For so many years it was like [groaning in mock tones], 'Oh, a Smitty concert. Preaching. Altar call. Fire and brimstone.' A lot of people put me in right-wing, blow-up-abortion-clinic categories. They think all Christians think that way, and it's not true. So when they see my show, they say, 'He's legit. I like that. He's not that right-wing guy. But he's spiritual, and he's got something to say--and he said something that deeply affected me tonight.' That is what you hope for." [22]

Michael Smith is trying to justify his worldly methods and music. His "cross-over" music albums and concerts are designed to appeal to both the "saved" and the unsaved. Smith says he's not sure Jesus Christ would be in churches. This is nonsense, of course, for it was Jesus Christ who founded the church (Matt. 16:18) and who taught the Apostles to make the churches the center of the fulfillment of the Great Commission (see the book of Acts). This is not to say that the Lord Jesus Christ is pleased with all churches today. He prophesied that there would be great numbers of false teachers who would lead people astray into error and false churches (Matt. 7:15; 24:3,4,11,24). The Apostles of Jesus Christ made the same warning (1 Tim. 4:1-4; 2 Tim. 3:13; 2 Pet. 2:1; 1 John 2:18-19; 4:1). Christ and the Apostles prophesied a great apostasy, or turning from the one true faith, but they also prophesied that true churches would continue until Christ returns (Matt. 28:18-20). It is true, therefore, that the Lord Jesus Christ would not be in many of the churches which exist today, because they have rejected His Word, but it is not true that the Lord Jesus would reject all churches. He promised to be with the true churches until the end, and we can be sure that He is.

Smith also says he doesn't think Jesus would be preaching. This statement makes us wonder whether Smith has read the Bible. Christ befriended people, but he also preached, and he preached continually. Many of his sermons are recorded in the Gospels. When Matthew summarized the ministry of Christ, he said, "And Jesus went about all Galilee, TEACHING in their synagogues, and PREACHING the gospel of the kingdom..." (Matt. 4:23). Luke summarized his ministry in these words: "And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, PREACHING and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him" (Luke 8:1). Jesus Christ was a Preacher! The Apostles and early Christians followed in Christ's footsteps by preaching wherever they went: "Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where PREACHING the word" (Acts 8:4). The term "preach" appears 141 times in the New Testament, 37 times in the Gospels alone! The man of God is instructed to "preach the Word" in season and out of season (2 Tim. 4:1-2). We are told that God has chosen to save men by the foolishness of preaching (1 Cor. 1:21). The passage in 1 Corinthians chapter one reminds us of why Contemporary Christian Musicians are so often opposed to biblical preaching. The unsaved hate biblical preaching. The preaching of the cross is foolish to the proud unsaved mind, and it brings the world's reproach upon the preacher. The world did not love the Lord Jesus Christ, and Christ warned:

"If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you" (John 15:18,19).

It is possible to "minister" in a compromised, worldly manner so that the unsaved world thinks one is "cool" or "spiritual," but it is not possible to obey the Bible and follow in the footsteps of Christ and the Apostles and the prophets of old and have the unsaved world think one is cool! The Lord Jesus Christ said:

"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you" (Matt. 5:10-12)

Jesus also warned: "Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets" (Luke 6:26).

Smith said the world enjoys his rock music and enjoys the fact that he does not preach hell fire, and so the world counts him "spiritual" and "legit" but not preachy. The term "spiritual" as understood by the world or even by the religious crowd today is meaningless. The world has no idea what true spirituality is. The world does not measure "religion" and "spirituality" by the Bible, but by its own feelings and desires and philosophies. The unregenerate world hates the preaching of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ and the true preaching of the Bible because it pronounces that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and boldly declares God's condemnation upon all who refuse Christ. It hates the preaching of the true Gospel because it says man's own righteousness, his very best religious, do-good efforts, is as filthy rags before a holy God. The world hates the preaching of the Gospel because it says there is none righteous, no not one. It hates the preaching of the gospel because it warns that every person who is not born again will not see the kingdom of God but will be tormented forever and ever in the lake of fire. Yes, the world hates preaching because it says Jesus Christ alone is the way, the truth, and the life, and there is none other name given under heaven whereby men must be saved and every other way is false. The world hates the preaching of the true Gospel because it demands that a man give up his life for Christ's sake and the Gospel's, because it demands that a man come out from among the heathen and be separate, because it demands that we be holy as God is holy. For the world to count someone as spiritual is meaningless from a biblical perspective. The world thinks the pope is spiritual and Native American Indians are spiritual and New Age gurus are spiritual and Hindu mystics are spiritual and Hollywood entertainers are spiritual.

The "Christian Rap" band D(ecent) C(hristian) Talk are currently at the forefront of another wave of "crossover" in the BILLION dollar-a-year Contemporary Christian Music industry.

Founding member Toby McKeehan says he and the other Talkers aren't in it for the money though:

"We didn't get together to be stars. We share the same call - to use the stage to let people know about Jesus." [23]

Toby Mckeehan says, "Music is our tool. Our MESSAGE is CHRIST." [25] Remember that last statement — "Our message is CHRIST".

Here's how Dallas Morning News describes a DC Talk "Freak Show" concert: "As teenagers' shrieks filled the Dallas Convention Center moments before DC Talk took the stage Friday night, one of the relatively few grown-ups in the sold-out crowd observed, 'This is just like the BEATLES.'" [26]

The Beatles were some of the most blatant, ANTI-CHRIST performers the world ever heard!

The press officer for the Beatles, Derek Taylor, said, "They're COMPLETELY ANTI-CHRIST. I mean, I am anti-Christ as well, but they're so anti-Christ they shock me, which isn't an easy thing." [27]

Paul McCartney said, "We probably seem to be anti-religious. . . none of us believes in God." [28]

John Lennon, in his book, A Spaniard in the Works, portrays Jesus Christ as, "Jesus El Pifico, a garlic-eating, stinking little yellow, greasy fascist bastard catholic Spaniard." [29]

Lennon also made that infamous statement, "Christianity will go, it will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue about that. I'm right and will be proved right. . . .We're more popular than Jesus now." [30]

Ray Coleman quotes John Lennon as saying, "I've sold my soul to the DEVIL." [31]

And DC Talk is "JUST LIKE the Beatles"! Don't laugh . . . Guess which song DC Talk used to open their "Jesus Freak" concerts? Believe it or not — the song "HELP" by the anti-Christ BEATLES!

You'll never guess the song DC Talk uses toward the close of their "Jesus Freak" concert? Amazing Grace? Blessed Assurance? OH NO! They do a cover of Kurt Cobain and Nirvana's "All Apologies"!

Kurt Cobain is one of the worst ANTI-CHRIST blasphemers since John Lennon. Kurt Cobain decorated his home with blood-splattered baby dolls hanging by their necks! The inside of Nirvana's album, In Utero, which is the album DC Talk got "All Apologies" from, is pictures of chopped up babies! Cobain ran around his neighborhood spray-painting "ABORT CHRIST" and "GOD IS GAY". Cobain's first band was called "Fecal Matter". [32] Incidentally, Cobain later committed suicide. Not willing to be satisfied with JUST singing Cobain's "All Apologies" — DC Talk drags the wonderful and holy Lord Jesus Christ into their "rock 'n' roll" "FREAK AND FILTH" show! One part of the song says "Everyone is gay" — so DC Talk changes it to "Jesus is the way"!

NO CHRISTIAN following the Lord Jesus Christ would be listening to Nirvana! On their song "Stay Away" they sing "God is gay"! DC Talk not only listens to, but ACTUALLY sings a song by a group that say's "God is a homosexual!"

"Smith, who listens MOSTLY to SECULAR MUSIC, would like to see DC Talk expand its vocabulary. 'not EVERYTHING has to be about GOD.' he says." [33]

Not surprisingly, Toby McKeehan blatantly says in USA Today, "Sometimes, being labeled a Christian band, we consider that a NEGATIVE. . ."

Toby McKeehan told Billboard magazine, "Our goal has ALWAYS BEEN to be out there on a mainstream level. . ." [34]

DC Talk's video "Jesus Freak" is one of the most popular Christian video's ever recorded. But, how "Christian" is it? "Jesus Freak" was directed by an Englishman named Simon Maxwell. And who is Simon Maxwell? Simon Maxwell is video director for the satanic and blasphemous Nine Inch Nails! DC Talk openly admitted to watching one of Nine Inch Nails videos, and liked Maxwell's style. "We had seen some of Simon's work with Nine Inch Nails", says DC Talk vocalist Toby McKeehan. "HIS STYLE APPEALED TO US." [35] Have you seen the "ultra-blasphemous" video "Closer" by Nine Inch Nails? It shows a monkey crucified on a cross! DC Talk openly admits to watching this kind of blasphemy!

"If you think I WORSHIP SATAN because of something you see in the 'Closer' video [with its images of a crucified monkey]- great!" [36] Trent Reznor

Let us consider for a moment the popular trend among "Christians" to fellowship, endorse, and in some cases worship with Roman Catholics. Is this Biblical? Can Roman Catholicism be defined as Christian?

Roman Catholicism is a pagan imitation of Christianity that is based on unscriptural principles. Even a modest examination of its teachings will confirm this fact. Doctrines such as purgatory, praying for the dead, praying to Saints, the Mass, the exaltation of Mary, the infallibility of the Pope, confession to priest, salvation through an elaborate scheme of works/rituals/and sacraments, and many others are all HERESY! The entire system of Roman Catholicism promotes IDOLATRY! There is much evidence to support the idea that this false church is the GREAT HARLOT described in the book of Revelation, chapter seventeen. This demon-inspired institution literally holds millions around the world in bondage. South Louisiana is a prime example of her spiritual mastery, as multitudes follow her vain traditions in hope of eternal life. Are we so foolish to believe that God does not hate Roman Catholicism? Should we not hate error? Should we not be angered with deception? Isn't it only logical to conclude that if we truly love men we must therefore also hate what traps them in darkness?

Psalm 119:104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

TRUE SPIRITUALITY HATES WHAT DESTROYS THE SOULS OF MEN! Have we forgotten the Reformation? Were our Protestant forefathers mean-spirited deceivers? Without exception, the Puritans, as well as the great revivalists prior to the mid-twentieth century believed the Roman Catholic institution to be one of the greatest spiritual evils on planet Earth. Men like Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley, Charles Spurgeon, and Charles Finney all held this position. They boldly proclaimed the errors of Rome and would have nothing to do with it! I ask you, were men of such spiritual caliber deceived? If Rome has not changed, and she hasn't, how can we justify forsaking the paths forged by the reformers and revivalists? Have we forgotten that men lost their lives so that the Word of God might be noised abroad and that souls might be freed from the tyranny of Rome? Does martyr's blood mean anything to us in this hour of gross spiritual accommodation? Have we thrown all honor for the truth to the wind? We cannot Scripturally justify fellowshipping with such error. Hear the Word of God...

Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

1 Cor. 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

1 Cor. 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

2 Cor. 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

2 Thes. 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

2 Thes. 3:14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

1 Tim. 5:22 ...neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.

HOWEVER, THE "CCM" CROWD, MANY WHICH YOU GIVE AIR-TIME TO ON WQCK, HAVE BOLDLY DEFIED OR IGNORED THESE SCRIPTURES!

Kathy Troccoli has been nominated five times as the Gospel Music Association female vocalist of the year. Her 1995 album, Sounds of Heaven, spawned five No. 1 singles. She is a national spokesperson for Chuck Colson's Prison Fellowship. In an interview with CCM Magazine in 1997 she said: "But I'd been very judgmental toward the Catholic church for years, and I've recently been able to go back to it without having a chip on my shoulder. I now have a much greater capacity for--as the album says--Love and Mercy." Troccoli preaches an ecumenical, non-judgmental, anti-fundamentalist philosophy:

"To me it's very simple: if the world doesn't see God's love in us and our love for each other, they're never going to want what we have. Our dogma and legalism strangle the love of Christ right out of us" [37]

This sounds good to many ears, and there is no doubt about the importance of Christian love; but it is impossible to obey the Bible without being deeply concerned about doctrine ("dogma") and obedience to the details of God's Word ("legalism").

Jude 3 explains that God has given one faith to His people and that faith, as recorded in the New Testament Scriptures, is to be preserved and contended for until Jesus returns. It is absolutely impossible to obey Jude 3 and be ecumenical and non-judgmental at the same time. The chief thing which divides denominations is doctrine.

Troccoli's 1997 album, Love One Another, has an ecumenical theme: "Christians from all denominations demonstrating their common love for Christ and each other." [38] The recording of the title song involved 40 CCM artists: Amy Grant, Gary Chapman, Clay Crosse, Sandi Patty, Michael W. Smith, Carman, Tony Vincent, Jonathan Pierce, Mark Lowry, Phillips, Craig and Dean, Aaron and Jeoffrey, Jaci Velasquez, Lisa Bevill, Scott Krippayne, Sarah Masen, Babbie Mason, Sara Jahn, Carolyn Arends, Vestal Goodman, Paul Vann, Billy and Sarah Gaines, Tim Taber, Sarah Hart, Peter Penrose, Janet Paschal, Beverly Crawford, Phil Joel of the Newsboys, Kevin Smith of DC Talk, Tai Anderson of Third Day, plus the members of Out of the Grey, Beyond the Blue, 4 HIM, Christafari, and Audio Adrenaline.

Like most CCM songs, this one is owned by a secular corporation. It is copyrighted 1996 by Sony/ATV Songs, Tree Publishing, Pants Down Music, and Radioquest Music Publishing. The song talks about tearing down the walls of denominational division.

"Look around the world today/ There is anger there is hate/ And I know that it grieves His heart/ When His people stand apart/ Cause we're the only Jesus they will see/ Love one another, and live as one in His name/ Love one another we can tear down walls by His grace" ("Love One Another").

The broad range of participants who joined Kathy Troccoli in recording "Love One Another" demonstrates the ecumenical agenda of Contemporary Christian Music. The song witnessed Catholics, Pentecostals, Baptists, etc., yoked together to call for Christian unity. The New Testament repeatedly warns of widespread apostasy among those who claim to be Christians, yet the ecumenical movement ignores apostasy and calls for almost unqualified unity among professing Christians. While there is little doubt that God is grieved by some of the divisions among Bible-believing Christians, it is not true that the heart of God is grieved by all divisions within Christianity, because there are divisions He Himself has commanded. He has commanded that His people separate from those who follow doctrinal error.

Phil Keaggy made a commitment to Christ in an Assemblies of God church in 1970, but he has not rejected Roman Catholicism. Note the following statement from a 1995 interview:

"... the Gospel is preached in many Catholic churches, and the truth is known there. ... Over the years, I've been a part of many nondenominational churches and denominational churches, but I have even a higher regard and respect for my Catholic upbringing, because I believe it planted the seeds of faith in me. And I read books that give me a greater understanding of the Catholic faith today. I'm not a practicing Catholic, but I believe that I'm a true believer who responds to the truth that is there. Because it's ancient tradition; it goes way back. I think Martin Luther had some great ideas, and showed us that we're saved by grace through faith, but he was a Catholic when he posted all that up! ... I have great fellowship with my Catholic brethren today. I have some dear friends across the country that I've made. That's a whole other subject; but I think when the Lord looks at his Bride, he doesn't see the walls that we use to divide ourselves from each other. He sees one body, and that body is comprised of his children, those who he bought and paid for with his blood ... I love the liturgy; I think liturgy with the Spirit is one of the most powerful ways of communicating the life of God to us" [39]

It is true that Catholicism can plant seeds of faith in God which can sometimes be watered by the Gospel, but to say that Catholic churches preach the Gospel is completely untrue. Any Catholic church which preaches the true Gospel is preaching contrary to what Roman Catholicism teaches in its official proclamations. The Catholic Church plainly states that salvation is by grace PLUS works and sacraments. Not only does the Catholic Church deny the Gospel of the grace of Christ by its formal declarations, but in many other ways, as well. The all-sufficiency of Christ's once-for-all atonement is denied by the Catholic Mass, which alleges to be a continual re-offering of Christ's sacrifice. The all-sufficiency of Jesus Christ is also denied by the Catholic priesthood, which alleges to stand between the believer and Christ. The all-sufficiency of Christ is further denied by the Catholic sainthood, which alleges to mediate between men and God. Keaggy says he loves the Catholic liturgy, but it is contrary to the Bible. There is no mass in the Bible. The Lord's Supper is not a sacrifice or a priestly ritual, it is a simple memorial meal (1 Corinthians 11). In fact, there are no sacraments in the New Testament Scriptures. Sacraments are supposed to be channels of grace, but the ordinances of the New Testament churches are not channels of grace but are symbols and reminders only.

When Keaggy says that God does not see differences between churches and denominations, he is discounting the importance of sound doctrine. The Lord Jesus Christ warned that there would be many false teachers who would lead many astray from the truth (Matt. 7:15). He warned that as His return draws nearer, the false teachers would increase (Matt. 24:11,24). The Apostles likewise warned of a great apostasy or turning away from the true New Testament faith, of the rise of many false teachers, of the creation of false churches (1 Timothy 4; 2 Timothy 3-4; 2 Peter 2; 1 John 2,4; Jude; Revelation 17). If God sees all denominations as a part of His one body, where are the false teachers? Where are the false churches? Where is the spirit of antichrist?

In a joint interview with Religious Broadcasting, Keaggy further emphasized his ecumenical philosophy and his view that Roman Catholicism is a legitimate expression of Christianity:

"I think also the unity that is so necessary in the body of Christ is important. I admire Charles Colson. He got a lot of flack for writing the book, The Body, and being associated with Catholics. I was raised Catholic and my mother's influence was powerful in my life. I came to the Lord when she passed away. She sowed the seeds in my life for me to become a believer. There are divisive voices out there. People who thrive on disunity are the ones [to whom] you've got to say, 'I'm not going to contend with this, I'm not going to argue, I'm just going to go about my business.'" [40]

The Christian life would be much simpler if one could follow Keaggy's advice and not get involved in contentions about doctrine and Christian living, but faithfulness to the Word of God does not allow it. God requires that His people "earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints" (Jude 3) and reprove the unfruitful works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11). The Apostle Paul, looking back over his life, said that he had fought a good fight (2 Timothy 4:7) and instructed Timothy to fight the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12). There is doctrinal fighting to be done. Most of Paul's epistles contain warnings about false doctrine. In his Pastoral Epistles, Paul warned of false teachers and compromisers BY NAME 10 times (1 Tim. 1:20; 2 Tim. 1:15; 2:17; 3:8; 4:10,14). Obedience to such commands does not allow me to follow Keaggy's New Evangelical advice. Keaggy's unscriptural ecumenical philosophy is perfectly at home, though, in the world of Contemporary Christian Music.

Michael W. Smith performed at the Catholic-sponsored World Youth Day in Denver, Colorado, in 1993. Smith and guitarist-songwriter Billy Sprague performed with Catholic Kathy Troccoli at a concert in November 1985 in Tampa, Florida. The concert was sponsored by Youth for Christ and the First Assembly of God of Clearwater, Florida. [41] Smith and Amy Grant are among the CCM artists who have had interviews published in the Roman Catholic youth magazine YOU. [42] Kathy Troccoli was the backup singer for Amy Grant before she began her own recording career in 1982. In 1994 the Catholic St. John's University gave its highest award, the Pax Christi, to Grant (Houston Chronicle, May 7, 1994). Pax Christi is the radical International Catholic Peace Movement.

Margaret Becker claims to have had a religious experience which has made her more appreciative of her Roman Catholicism. In a 1994 interview she said she began mixing faith with her music and gained a greater appreciation for her own faith, Catholicism. "Now, I'm taking that knowledge with me back to the church of my youth. Becker declared: "The familiar prayers and practices are very rich and touch me in a different, more intimate way." [43] She is ecumenical and moves in a wide range of denominational forums. For example, she was scheduled to appear at the First Assembly of God in Warrenton, Virginia, in September 1993. That same month she was featured in a "Margaret Becker Youth Fest" at a large Baptist Bible Fellowship church, Riverdale Baptist Church, Riverdale, Maryland. She was scheduled to appear at a Church of Christ in Converse, Indiana, in March 1994.

Rich Mullins died in an automobile accident in 1997. At the time of his death he was taking the final steps to enter the Roman Catholic Church. He was attending mass at least weekly, and the night before he died, Mullins talked on the phone with priest Matt McGinness to corroborate that he was ready to say his first confession and be confirmed. McGinness describes the conversation as follows:

"There was a sense of urgency. He [Mullins] told me, 'This may sound strange, but I HAVE to receive the body and blood of Christ.' I told him, 'That doesn't sound strange at all. That sounds wonderful.' Rich finally sounded like he was at peace with his decision." [44]

Mullins' music reflected both his ecumenism and his Catholicism. The last project he completed was called Canticle of the Plains and was based on the life and legend of the Catholic St. Francis of Assisi. The song "Creed" on Mullins' Songs album contains the words: "I believe in the Holy Spirit/ One Holy Church, the communion of Saints." This, of course, is from the so-called Apostles Creed, but Mullins sings the words in a Catholic context. On the booklet accompanying the CD the lyrics to this song are superimposed on a photo of a Catholic Madonna.

On the literature accompanying the CD, the lyrics to this song ("Alright ok uhhuh amen") are superimposed on a picture of a Catholic Madonna holding a Rosary. The Rosary is a prayer to Mary as the Queen of Heaven.

The very popular Sandi Patty moves freely in ecumenical circles. She has entertained audiences as diverse as Billy Graham crusades, Jerry Falwell meetings, Southern Baptist Convention annual conferences, and Pope John Paul II masses (she performed at a papal mass in Los Angeles in September 1987).

Sheila Walsh frequently "performs" in charismatic-ecumenical settings. Together with roughly 20,000 Roman Catholics, she participated in the North American Congress on the Holy Spirit & World Evangelization in New Orleans in 1987.

When Pope John Paul II visited the United States in January 1999, many well-known Contemporary Christian musicians joined hands with hundreds of thousands of Catholics to welcome him. Featured at a Catholic youth rally connected with the Pope's visit, were DC Talk, Audio Adrenaline, Rebecca St. James, Jennifer Knapp, The W's, and the Supertones. [45] According to Music and Entertainment News, Jars of Clay was also scheduled to appear, though other reports did not mention them. [46] Knapp said she was excited about joining the Pope to "build on the unity of faith." [47] DC Talk's Kevin Max praised the Catholic youth for coming out to hear the Pope, describing John Paul II as "someone with something of substance to say." A large group of nuns and Dominican priests "danced with abandon" at the Supertones rock music. Each attendee received a rosary with instructions about how to pray to Mary. This event portrays how Contemporary Christian Music is helping create the end times, one-world apostate "church."

"Is it not an absurdity to give to a man a thing which he is sworn to hate, curse, and destroy? And does not the Church of Rome hate, curse and destroy liberty of conscience whenever she can do it safely? I am for liberty of conscience in its noblest, broadest, highest sense. But I cannot give liberty of conscience to the Pope and to his followers, the Papists, so long as they tell me, through all their councils, theologians, and canon laws, that their conscience orders them to burn my wife, strangle my children, and cut my throat when they find their opportunity! This does not seem to be understood by the people today. But sooner or later, the light of common sense will make it clear to every one that no liberty of conscience can be granted to men who are sworn to obey a Pope, who pretend to have the right to put to death those who differ from him in religion." Abraham Lincoln

"The Roman Catholic Church is a counterfeit... of the worst and most diabolical kind... a form of the antichrist... to be rejected and denounced....." D. Martin Lloyd-Jones

"It is the bounden duty of every Christian to pray against the Antichrist, and as to what Antichrist is no sane man ought to raise a question.

If it be not the Popery in the Church of Rome there is nothing in the world that can be called by that name. It wounds Christ, robs Christ

of His glory, puts sacramental efficacy in the place of His atonement, and lifts a piece of bread in the place of the Savior.... If we pray

against it, because it is against Him, we shall love the persons though we hate their errors; we shall love their souls though we loathe and

"John Foxe was an eyewitness and earnest historian of this fierce persecution [Bloody Mary's Inquisition]. His book Foxe's Book Of Martyrs gives detailed accounts of many public trials and executions. After Queen Mary's demise a copy of that classic was chained to every pulpit in England to make it available to all [lest they should forget martyrs blood]."[48] Dave Hunt

The Bridge FM exists to unite genders, races, denominations, and generations through music, ministry, prayer, and social outreach. [49] WQCK Mission Statement

"Never had the Church so much influence over the world as when she had nothing to do with the world!"[50] L.E. Maxwell

I have browsed many, many web sites of the musicians who are regularly aired on WQCK. What I found was a shocking, yet common practice among these artists - they readily admit to enjoying and even being inspired by secular rock music. Many of them do cover songs of their favorite worldly musicians. The Bible says...

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

1 John 2:15-16 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Allow me to pose this question to you. Would you agree with me that the music of Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, and Jimi Hendrix is worldly? If you say yes, as ANY TRUE CHRISTIAN would, then you find yourself in a perplexing dilemma. Why? Because you must also agree that DC Talk and many other popular CCM stars are enemies of God. You may ask, "How can you say this?" Because they have befriended the world by listening to, being inspired by, and performing their songs. You will either admit this or endorse secular music as acceptable to God. You can't have it both ways. You cannot condemn secular rock-n-roll and at the same time defend these compromising "Christian" musicians who are inspired and entertained by those you condemn. To do so would be hypocritical, illogical, and cowardly.

"Any spirit that permits compromise with the world is a false spirit. Any religious movement that imitates the world in any of its manifestations is false to the cross of Christ and on the side of the devil." A.W. Tozer

Using this spiritual logic we may also conclude that the following musicians are also brazen enemies of God according to James 4:4 and 1 John 2:15-16: Because...

Amy Grant plays Joni Mithchell. Petra plays Argent (ditto KISS). 77's plays Led Zeppelin. DC talk plays The Doobie Brothers, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, and REM, et. al. Audio Adrenaline plays Edgar Winter. Point of Grace plays Earth, Wind and Fire. Jars of Clay plays Ozzy Osbourne. Rez Band plays The Who, and Jefferson Airplane. .Holy Soldier plays The Rolling Stones. Rachel, Rachel plays Kansas. Deliverance plays Black Sabbath. MXPX plays Buddy Holly. Phil Driscoll plays The Beatles. And the list could go on and on and on.....

"We are so worldly-minded we would rather be indecent than different...until we personally take ourselves in hand we need not wonder at the false doctrine, the modernistic ministry, the poor church discipline (or none), and the corrupt practices in the church. The whole root of our ruin is found in worldliness." [51] L.E. Maxwell

"RELIGIOUS ROCK... The music of devils in the CHURCH!" by Alan Yusko and Ed Prior

[1] People magazine (July 15, 1991 p.71).

[2] Rolling Stone, (June 6, 1985 p. 10).

[3] Bob Millard, Amy Grant, (New York, 1986, p. 30).

[4] Ladies Home Journal (December, 1985, p. 100).

[5] Bob Millard, Amy Grant, (New York, 1986, p. 169).

[6] Bob Millard, Amy Grant, (New York, 1986,p. 30).

[7] Time magazine, (December, 16, 1974, p.63).

[8] Christianity Today, (Dec., 8, 1997, "Where's the Gospel?").

[9] Ibid.

[10] Time (Mar/85).

[11] Christianity Today, (Dec., 8, 1997, "Where's the Gospel?").

[12] Don Cusic, (The Sound of Light, p. 15).

[13] Christianity Today, ("We Have Created a Monster", May 20, 1996 p. 27).

[14] Ibid.

[15] Christianity Today, (Can't Buy Me Love, May 20, 1996, p. 25).

[16]Christianity Today, (Can't Buy Me Love, May 20, 1996, p. 22).

[17]Inside Music, (Jan/Feb 91).

[18] Ibid.

[19] The Birmingham News, (Feb. 12, 1993 p. 5c).

[20]CCM, ( June 1986).

[21] The Birmingham News, (Feb. 1993, p.1b).

[22] CCM magazine, "Michael W. Smith Engages Culture," (May 1988, p. 38).

[23] People, (January 24, 1994, p.8).

[24] Ibid.

[25] The Birmingham News, Aug. 9, 1996 p.2h).

[26] Dallas Morning News, (April 27, 1996).

[27] Saturday Evening Post, (Aug. 8, 1964).

[28] Hit Parader, (Jan 1970, p.15).

[29] A Spaniard in the Works, (p.14).

[30] San Francisco Chronicle, (April 13, 1966, p.26).

[31] Coleman, Ray, (Lennon p.256).

[32] Des Barres, Pamela, (Rock Bottom, pp.54-55).

[33] Flint Michigan Journal, (March 15, 1996, p.b19).

[34] Billboard, (Nov. 11, 1995).

[35] Ibid.

[36] People, (Feb. 6, 1995).

[37] CCM Magazine, (June 1997).

[38] Dave Urbanski, "Chatty Kathy," CCM Magazine, ( June 1997).

[39] Phil Keaggy, cited by Tom Loredo, "Phil Keaggy in His Own Words," Way Back Home, (December 1995).

[40] Saran E. Smitha and Christine Pryor, "Integrity Times Two: Michael Card and Phil Keaggy," (Religious Broadcasting, National Religious Broadcasters, July-August 1995).

[41] St. Petersburg Times, Florida, Religious Section, (Nov. 9, 1985, p. 3).

[42] The Fundamentalist Digest, (May-June 1992).

[43]The Fundamentalist Digest, (May-June 1994).

[44] Terry Mattingly, "Rich Mullins--Enigmatic, Restless, Catholic".

[45] CCM Magazine, (April 1999, p. 12).

[46] Music and Entertainment News, (http://www.theenews.com/news/slug-12599_dctalk-pope.html).

[47] CCM Magazine, (op. cit.).

[48] Dave Hunt in 'A Woman Rides The Beast'.

[49]The Bridge Web Page (Statement of purpose).

[50] Born Crucified, (p. 41)

[51] Born Crucified, (p. 35)