The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Christian Metalcore

Unfortunately your analogy between what Augustine's thoughts were in regard to the teaching of pagan philosophers and music is irrelevant. You are trying to compare apples and oranges. There is "true truth", i.e., objective true which has been given by God. This is the standard by which all teaching must be measured. However, with music "style", this is something God did NOT create. God created the sounds, tones, ability to hear, etc., with which man has put together in various arrangements and called "music". There are certain configurations which are expressive of the nature and attributes of God and thus are said to "glorify" God. The "intent, motive" of the composer has little to no bearing upon what is God glorifying. The result of the composition, its structure, complexity, harmony, dissonance, meter, etc. as can be determined objectively and the effect that it has upon one's mind and soul are to be the determining factors of whether or not it is suitable for a child of God to listen to and/or to be used in the worship of God.

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I believe that Christian men can lay hold of some things of this world and use them to bring the truth of the gospel to people who are dead in sin.

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Yes, this is certainly possible and something which if it wasn't possible, we would as Christians be in serious trouble, as life itself would be nearly impossible. The question is, however, what "things of this world" are we ALLOWED to use and which are ordained of God for our use in bringing the Gospel? Let's be very clear on one thing, shall we? The effectiveness of the Gospel to save sinners is NOT dependent upon any "thing", method or person. As Paul has written, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Rom 1:16). And Peter wrote, "having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which liveth and abideth." (1Pet 1:23). The salvation of the worst of sinners is to be seen NOT in the use of "things" but in the working of the Holy Spirit through the preaching of the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ. We simply do not NEED "things" to help God the Spirit save sinners. God has been saving His elect for millennia quite nicely and never lost one, and without the aid of "things" being added to the Gospel.

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A preacher standing before a room of punk teenagers is not going to be well accepted and may even cause all of those people to leave. But a band of people who are on their level, preaching to them in words they can understand and accepting them in hopes that God may save some...that is a biblical mindset.

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A preacher standing before a room of punk teenagers may indeed be rejected. Would you really expect anything less? Isn't this the normal reaction that one should expect when you have darkness and light in the same room? There is no desire or need of "light" to those who are in darkness (Jh 1:5; 3:19; Eph 4:17-19; 6:12; et al). It isn't just "punk teenagers" who would have a natural aversion, even hatred, of a man who represents the true God and speaks His truth. ALL who are born into this world are born with a natural hatred of God and all that pertains to Him. So, if you bring in a "punk band" and these teenagers who are naturally haters of God and all that is good and right, have no hostility toward those in the band, doesn't that tell you something? It should tell you what the Scriptures speak of in many places....... "For 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." (1Jh 2:16) Bringing in something which is sinful to attract sinners is certainly not condoned by God and certainly cannot be seen as being compatible with a Gospel which would have those who would be reconciled to God, REPENT; a turning FROM sin and BELIEVE on a Saviour Who was cursed and punished for the very sins they are reveling in. God doesn't love people the way the are. He hates the way they are and has sent forth His Son to suffer in the place of them for what and who they are.

Choosing whether or not to eat Alberta beef or to drink a glass of wine is certainly a matter of personal preference. But choosing to sin or not sin is NOT a matter of personal preference. The issue, once again is that the Scripture does NOT teach that there are "things" (anything) which are "Amoral". Everything that exists is either good (glorifies God) or it is bad (opposes God). It is also true, that men may take that which is good and use it for evil. Further, men may partake of that which is good and which has even been enjoined by God and it can become something which should be abstained from. This is the situation with the use of things "indifferent" (Adiaphora) to which Paul addresses the churches concerning the Weak and Strong.

You are going to first show that "Metalcore", "Punk", "ska", "Rock & Roll", etc., etc., is "good".... i.e., that each form of music is expressive/reflective of the nature and attributes of God. Further, you are going to have to show that the affect of this music upon the mind, body and soul of those who hear it brings people more in line with what God intends for mankind to be; i.e., does the music promote the being conformed into the image of Christ? As much as I have a dislike for the "What Would Jesus Do?" mentality and its total distortion of biblical truth concerning sanctification, morals, etc... there is some merit in asking the question whether or not the Lord Christ would be involved, approve, etc. of an activity, thing, etc. Thus, we might ask if it is plausible that the God-man, Christ Jesus would be part of a "Punk Band"? Is it actually conceivable that the Lord of the Universe would get on a stage and bang upon a guitar, gyrating to the beat of "music" played at 110 decibels, and scream into a microphone to an audience in order to help them accept Him as Lord and Saviour?