Requiem for a Rock Musician

The Remnant Newspaper ^ | May 15, 2004 issue | Jacob Michael

[Land of the Irish]

Ping

[Dajjal]

"Marxist Minstrels" bump

[Maximilian]

Really good article, a lot better than I expected. I was afraid it would be cringe inducing, but actually it was excellent, and this kid shows a lot of intellectual development and maturity for someone his age.

The same things that he says about rock music could be applied to a wide range of secular pursuits, although rock is perhaps the purest example. Just because you're good at something doesn't mean that you should pursue it. It's a much greater sacrifice for someone to give up something so substantial for the sake of their soul.

Another good point is that those who think they don't need to separate themselves from "the world" are fooling themselves. Even before you fall into other sins, it is already the sin of presumption to believe that you can be near to occasions of sin without suffering spiritual damage.

[drstevej]

ONLY VISITING THIS PLANET
Larry Norman

Alice is a drag queen
Bowie's somewhere in between
Other bands are looking mean
Me I'm trying to stay clean
I don't dig the radio
I hate what the charts pick
Rock and roll may not be dead but it's getting sick
All over the world disc jockeys sound the same
And every town I play is like the one from where I came

The rolling stone are millionaires flower children pallbearers
Beatles said "all you need is love" and then they broke up
Jimi took an overdose janis followed so close
The whole music scene and all the band are pretty comatose
This time last year people didn't wanna hear
They looked at Jesus from afar
Now they call Him "superstar"

Dear john
Who's more popular now?
I've been listening to some of paul's new records
Sometimes I think he really is dead

It's 1973 I wonder who we're gonna see
Who's in power now I think I'll turn on the t.v.
The man on the news said china's gonna beat us
We shot all our dreamers and there's no one left to lead us
We need a solution we need salvation
Let's send some people to the moon and gather information

They brought back a big bag of rocks
Only cost thirteen billion
Must be nice rocks

You think it's such a sad thing when you see a fallen king
Then you find out they're only princes to begin with
And everybody has to choose whether they will win or lose
Follow God or sing the blues and who they're gonna sin with
What a mess the world is in I wonder who began it
Don't ask me I've only visiting this planet

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Even before you fall into other sins, it is already the sin of presumption to believe that you can be near to occasions of sin without suffering spiritual damage.

Good point. That presumption sounds like a cousin to spiritual pride.

[AskStPhilomena]

The dangers of rock music are obvious - but how many realize the problems with watching television, which promotes the same, mind-numbing subliminal filth.
The effervescent Mr. Michael Matt had plenty of pertinent points on both rock music and television in an editorial from a couple of weeks ago:
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/remnant/hip.htm

[Smocker]

Interesting article, thanks for posting. Incidentally I just bought Matt's book this Saturday.

[jude24]

Larry Norman? Egads.... him, Keith Green and Charlie Peacock are like the titans of early Christian rock.

Personally, I'm a Caedmon's Call kind of guy. I don't know if you're familiar with their style -- it's almost country, which is okay with me (now), but the depth of their lyrics continually astounds me. They even quote Augustine in one of their CD's.

[drstevej]

I listen to very little Contemporary Christian Music. We recently had Jeremy Camp do a concert at our church. I missed it but my 17 year old son said it was excellent.

As an old gezer, I remember the Pat Terry Group and Larry Norman.

[jude24]

Get a Caedmon's Call CD. You'll like it.

(iTunes has four of their albums; I'd suggest Back Home, 40 Acres, or In the Company of Angels. Long Line of Leavers is good, but has a little "quirky" sound.

[P-Marlowe]

Get a Caedmon's Call CD. You'll like it.

Get a "Third Day" album. You'll LOVE it.

[drstevej]

jude recommends a CD, you recommend an album, are either available on eight track?

[P-Marlowe]

jude recommends a CD, you recommend an album, are either available on eight track?

If its made out of plastic and spins in circles as it plays music, it is an album.

Buy it here:

[jude24]

What's an eight track? (Just kidding; I've heard of them, but never seen one.)

For almost as long as I can remember, we've had a CD player.

[HarleyD]

Wow! A Larry Norman fan. I especially liked "UFO" and "He's the Rock That Doesn't Roll". Now I know that I found my place in the Reformation! :O)

I hadn't listen to much music since Larry Norman until my son (11) asked to get a CD player. Since I didn't want him listening to the likes of Madonna and Britiny Spears I picked up some Christian CDs for him. He likes MercyMe, FFH and Third Day the best. I like Avalon and the late Rich Mullins.

I try to steer him away from secular music and Christian music is a great alternative. Plus he goes and tells all his friends about these Christian artists and, whenever possible, we take them to concerts so that's a bonus.

[HarleyD]

See above to drstevej. Should have posted to both of you as well. At least you seem to appreciate something a little more heretical than a Gergorian chant. ;O)

What's a eight track?!? Indeed!!!!!!

[HarleyD]

Interesting that he was raised in a "Baptist" home where he watched movies, played cards, drank beer (when of age of course). Later he says that he was a Catholic playing in bars.

One must wonder when the conversion took place and was it at the bar? Now we know where all the priests hang out. :O)

[P-Marlowe]

Here's where this whole CCM thing started.

Does anyone still have any of theses?

[HarleyD]

My wife and I were big fans of Children of the Day. However, after our last COTD Christmas tape broke I discovered they had disappeared entirely from the scene. I can't find a CD of their work anywhere.

I did recognized many of the albums including Honeytree and Chuck Girrade (sp?). Brings back fond memories. Unfortunately I don't have any of them anymore. Most of my stuff were on cassettes that were lost over time.