Just Venting

[bleechers]

I just left the Contemporary Music forum... and I had to deal the same 2 tired and worn out mis-statements...

1. For some reason, Christians think the parables were given to help the unsaved understand truth. The most recent poster actually stated that they were given for those who were truly seeking truth. CCMers constantly use this to defend "say little to nothing" bands.

I am absolutely puzzled by this as Jesus very clearly states just the opposite! The parables were not only given so people would not understand, they were given as a judgment against those who had rejected truth.


2. CCMers continue to equate a desire for artists and music wanting to be called Christian to actually be Christian with a demand that Jesus be mentioned every 5 words and that sinners be screamed at.

This is a red herring. It's a false argument technique whereby you create a strawman and easily knock him down. It is along the lines of the "I like them 'cause they don't shove God down people's throats" that we looked at in the other thread.

For some reason it is continually argued that if we clearly state the gospel or if we clearly relate Christianity that some people will be turned off... well, no kidding! Hey, if things get really bad they might even stone you or perhaps crucify you... gee that'd prove you were a real failure.


These two arguments are REPEATEDLY abused in CCM.

The phrase "ashamed of the gospel" comes to mind, but I won't go that far... yet.

 

[CrystalBrooke]

it'll be ok *pats you on the back*...some ppl will never listen.

 

[Ave Maria]

I hope this isn't off topic but why did Jesus give the parable to make people not understand. I never really understood why He did that.

 

[BT]

You are free to vent here brother! We support you 100%!

 

[bleechers]

I hope this isn't off topic but why did Jesus give the parable to make people not understand. I never really understood why He did that.

In short , this is very consistent with the way God has worked throughout history. In the Proverbs, God says that He will laught at the calamity that will come upon sinners because He had pleaded with them and they refused to heed His counsel.

This is how God has dealt with individuals and nations through all the prophets.

Jesus' teachings and offering of the Kingdom to Israel was repeatedly mocked and He was rejected (see Matt 12). So He states clearly that He would speak in parables that those who refused to understand would continie to not understand (He quotes from Isaiah in Matt 13).

Paul continues this way in the epistles. We are commanded to refute and rebuke heretics, but if they will not listen (they are merely disputers and not true seekers) we are to reject them.

When Paul's message was rejected by the Jews, he turned to the Gentiles, etc.

Again, this is very consistent all through scripture.

 

[bleechers]

I am neither a phophet nor the son of a prophet... but...

Posted today in the Contemporary forum, another example in an ever-growing list of examples:

I agree with the people who have said that they don't need to be pushing their faith down people's throats, but based on this interview, they sure seem to now be making an effort to hide it.

emphasis mine...

I'm telling you, the CCM world is infected with several, self-reproducing red herrings!

Outside of my solo recording work, I am in the Praise Band at church. I am so thankful that I work with some young people overtly committed to the gospel and to separation... but even there, a few of these red herrings ocassionally raise their ugly heads.

Four months I have labored on the CCM board and they seem to repeat the same bad doctrines and false arguments again and again and again and again... I've asked multiple times for somebody (anybody!) to defend these doctrines... a few have tried... ALL of whom used the parables as their defense.

After I showed one guy what Jesus had to say about His use of the parables, he said to me that he couldn't argue with the Bible... but he still believed that God prefers "subtle" and "positive" messages over the clear pronouncement of God's word (i.e. "shoving God down people's throats"). The kicker: all I ask is that these so-called "Christian artists" give at least one, short gospel message per show. A couple of minutes out of a couple of hours... you'd think I was asking them to commit suicide from the reactions I get.

It is VERY frustrating...

venting... Venting... VENTING... VENTING!

 

[CMmom]

The kicker: all I ask is that these so-called "Christian artists" give at least one, short gospel message per show. A couple of minutes out of a couple of hours... you'd think I was asking them to commit suicide from the reactions I get.

Are any bands known to do this? I listen to CCM, but have never been to a live show.