Christian Rock - Evil?

ricker said:

I think I already said that it is not a Christian book, but a fantasy/adventure one. If you want theology, read Sproul or MacArthur. I've read them, too.

Sounds like you must have read the books to have such great knowledge of what they contain. Everybody has an opinion and you are certainly entitled to yours.

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Its not just 'fantasy/adventure', it has a purpose and anyone who has a clue can see its purpose...

We had an American Indian in our church, married to a white woman much younger than he. They would have special music sometimes. It was just the guitar, very "down home" sort of. It was always wonderful to hear--one day I nearly fell off my pew--he had re-written some of the words--but they got up there and sang a Credence Clearwater Revival song, one of my favorites--Bad moon rising!! It was great, he just tweaked a few words here and there and low and behold, it came out a hymn!!

mmksparbud said:

We had an American Indian in our church, married to a white woman much younger than he. They would have special music sometimes. It was just the guitar, very "down home" sort of. It was always wonderful to hear--one day I nearly fell off my pew--he had re-written some of the words--but they got up there and sang a Credence Clearwater Revival song, one of my favorites--Bad moon rising!! It was great, he just tweaked a few words here and there and low and behold, it came out a hymn!!

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My wife and i will do that with certain secular songs that we like the melody of. I rewrote Leonard Cohen's 'Halleluiah' into a beautiful praise song.

mmksparbud said:

We had an American Indian in our church, married to a white woman much younger than he. They would have special music sometimes. It was just the guitar, very "down home" sort of. It was always wonderful to hear--one day I nearly fell off my pew--he had re-written some of the words--but they got up there and sang a Credence Clearwater Revival song, one of my favorites--Bad moon rising!! It was great, he just tweaked a few words here and there and low and behold, it came out a hymn!!

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thats exactly what I meant!!!

melodys are universal, the fact that a certain melody was first used in a secular song doesnt mean it cannot become something else...

I thought about gardening (dont ask me why, cause I dont know), imagine you have a beautifully arranged garden that leaves a nice impression, beautiful flowers and what have you, it reminds you of paradise. and then you can have the same thing in a dark and gloomy way (like in those horror movies).

thing is, both are gardens... their arrangments and choice of flowers, trees etc. can make all the difference...

EastCoastRemnant said:

My wife and i will do that with certain secular songs that we like the melody of. I rewrote Leonard Cohen's 'Halleluiah' into a beautiful praise song.

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Last Sunday in church I sang ""Amazing Grace" to the tune of "House of the Rising Sun" with the praise team. I think there were a few eyebrows raised until the lyrics started.

mmksparbud said:

We had an American Indian in our church, married to a white woman much younger than he. They would have special music sometimes. It was just the guitar, very "down home" sort of. It was always wonderful to hear--one day I nearly fell off my pew--he had re-written some of the words--but they got up there and sang a Credence Clearwater Revival song, one of my favorites--Bad moon rising!! It was great, he just tweaked a few words here and there and low and behold, it came out a hymn!!

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There's a Christian musical group called ApologetiX that specializes in that type of thing. They have reworked songs from popular artists covering a variety of genres of music with something mostly everyone should appreciate. I even have a couple of CDs by them. There are a couple of songs I can do without, but I really enjoy most of what they do, even some of the edgier stuff that doesn't venture out into the "metal" category. Some favorites are I Want in That Place (I Want it That Way) and Elijah (Elvira).

Actually, there is a lot christian about the books. I have read them a couple of times also and currently have them in audio books. J.R.R. Tolkein actually led C. S. Lewis to Christ, they were great friends and members of the same christian mens organization. The Chronicles of Narnia series are more evident in the Christian themes. You actually have innocent Aslan(the Lion[of Judah] to die for Peter's offense, and then is resurrected. LOTR series the theme is a bit more sutble but there, and you almost have to read the appendixes and subsequent books(The Simarillion, it has the actual story of the Creation of Middle Earth, etc.) to really see the Christian themes. But I really don't think it is that difficult to see the theme running through it....it is more on the level of the Great Cotnroversy with battles between good and evil for Middle Earth, etc.

I also find most who criticize the LOTR have never read them or seen the movies beyond the fact that there were wizards involved.......LOL!!! I wouuld tell you of another well known sci-fi/fantsy series that has strong christian themes, but I don't really want to be responsible for Reddogs needing a visit from the paramedics on Resurrection weekend and all.......LOL!!!

reddogs said:

Then you must have a clue that there is nothing 'Christian' about the story, it is basically more a glofication of evil and the undead and spiritualism with little if any redeeming factor, just a 'happy ending' thrown in for cover.

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This is what was done with quite a few of the now favorite hymns. Only no one is around who really remembers that, so it's ok for those songs. LOL!!

mmksparbud said:

We had an American Indian in our church, married to a white woman much younger than he. They would have special music sometimes. It was just the guitar, very "down home" sort of. It was always wonderful to hear--one day I nearly fell off my pew--he had re-written some of the words--but they got up there and sang a Credence Clearwater Revival song, one of my favorites--Bad moon rising!! It was great, he just tweaked a few words here and there and low and behold, it came out a hymn!!

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Princessdi said:

Actually, there is a lot christian about the books. I have read them a couple of times also and currently have them in audio books. J.R.R. Tolkein actually led C. S. Lewis to Christ, they were great friends and members of the same christian mens organization. The Chronicles of Narnia series are more evident in the Christian themes. You actually have innocent Aslan(the Lion[of Judah] to die for Peter's offense, and then is resurrected. LOTR series the theme is a bit more sutble but there, and you almost have to read the appendixes and subsequent books(The Simarillion, it has the actual story of the Creation of Middle Earth, etc.) to really see the Christian themes. But I really don't think it is that difficult to see the theme running through it....it is more on the level of the Great Cotnroversy with battles between good and evil for Middle Earth, etc.

I also find most who criticize the LOTR have never read them or seen the movies beyond the fact that there were wizards involved.......LOL!!! I wouuld tell you of another well known sci-fi/fantsy series that has strong christian themes, but I don't really want to be responsible for Reddogs needing a visit from the paramedics on Resurrection weekend and all.......LOL!!!

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Thank you for your insights. I wasn't going to say any more because when someone's mind is made up, it usually stays that way.

Ricker, you are generally correct that people have their preconceived thoughts on matters of religion but some are convicted and do move to another understanding... I guess that is the reason why we all still post on here.

Princess, it may be true that there is a whiff of the great controversy in Tolkien's and Lewis' work as well as many others but there is danger of mixing truth with error, light with darkness. There are themes in these types of stories that involve spiritualism and occultism. For the few that are possibly drawn to the truth through these stories, how many others are lead in the opposite direction.

The idea of 99% truth = 100% error is clearly demonstrated in some of the 'Christian' denominations we have. Jehovah's Witness' teach much the same as we do but have a few fundamental errors that cause there whole message to be tainted. The same with the Mormons, Catholics etc...

We must be careful in what we are taking in and pray for discernment that we may be aware of the seeds of error when they present themselves that we can avoid them like the plague that they are.

EastCoastRemnant said:

Ricker, you are generally correct that people have their preconceived thoughts on matters of religion but some are convicted and do move to another understanding... I guess that is the reason why we all still post on here.

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Your right, and I admit it! I just didn't want to belabor the LOTR thing when it was obvious Red hadn't read the books, consequently making any discussion of them academic at best.