True Discernment

From Gay Christian Ministry Watch:

How long will it be before we see a complete implosion of the so-called gospel music industry? With shocking behavior, ungodly appearances, and mountains of unbiblical lyrics why is the church still in love with an industry which has foregone its reverence for God? Shows like A Celebration of Gospel, The Stellar Awards and Bobby Jones Gospel Show are  irrefutable proof that the industry is nothing more than a rancid misrepresentation of the Lord Jesus Christ.

But enough from me. After reading the article The Spirit of Rebellion: Gospel music under attack by its own artists, I was thankful that I wasn’t the only one who saw (and spoke out about) the dearth of integrity and holiness in the gospel music arena. How ironic that the music which should be spreading the message of change, repentance and truth is now the best spokesman for musical apostasy.  Their excesses and behavior mirror, if not eclipse that of their secular counterparts.  J. Matthew Cobb, the writer of the article called it by a word which sums up the totality of satan’s character: rebellion.

Now it’s normal to sing gospel that no one can understand or interpret. Now it’s okay to sing with such insane vibrato that we actually have the nerve to call it “musically correct,” when it [vibrato] is supposed to be used only to add expression to a song, not to be used carelessly. Now it is okay to sing hundreds of meslismas in one song and having the nerve to question why the song won’t fly up the charts. Now it is okay to have choirs yell, jump, scream and act like a circus clown in the choir stands and the same groups are left puzzled as to why the audience hasn’t clapped at the end of the song. Gospel music is heading down a very dangerous, uncomfortable and defiling path and it’s happening for a reason. I think it’s only one reason…period. Quote me on this: it’s a spirit of rebellion.”

Remember, according to the Word of God, Lucifer’s pride led him to rebel against the spirit of righteousness and anything pretaining to what was good; ultimately exalting himself against God’s order. It led to his termination from Heaven’s musical department, but it only marinated into his ugliest transformation because of a spirit of rebellion.

After years of careful cultivation, satan’s rebellious music and character has finally reached center stage in the church. The talent-without-salvation juggernaut has gobbled up almost everyone in its path.  Those who are not part of the charade of false “psalmists”, “artists” and foolish court jesters are too weak or perhaps intimidated to mount any serious reformation. Cobb has written weekly gospel music reviews since he founded PraizeHymn in 2001. While he could have blindly exulted over the overabundance of talent, Cobb instead forcefully chastised their lifestyles.

When gospel artists continue to live filthy lifestyles and are promoting a spirit of rebellion in the work fields of God’s acreage, they are giving us (the recipients) a taste of rebellion and have planted their seeds of discord amongst us. And in the end when the gospel community stands alone in peril and with disappointment looming in our eyes, all of us will have to hold the responsibility and accountability of its failure. Now remember God’s Word will not fail, but the music [and style] we so dearly loved for ages, if defected, is not immune from God’s wrath. We still have confused stargazers in our company that continue to call Tonex’s The Naked Truth acceptable to God’s Word”

Tonex is just the latest in a string of astonishing implosions. Now reduced to fits of profanity and appearing on homosexual shows, Tonex is a stark reminded that God is not mocked. Yet, despite his very public absurdities,  a “celebration” is planned at Higher Dominion COGIC (scroll down) in suburban San Diego where Tonex will be honored as “San Diego County 2008 Most Prolific Gospel Artist.” The spirit of the age has come of age in the gospel music industry for all the world to see… and mock.

We are living in a day when normal isn’t good enough, when being original means to throw out everything that is old and of the before. We are living in a day and time when gimmicks and tricks have replaced good quality singing and compassionate ministry. We are living in a society that seems to be very much patterned after Paul’s revelation of future reparations found in Romans 1:21. In that text, they [the world in the so-called church] knew who God was, but they didn’t glorify Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their own thinking became futile and their foolish hearts became dark. And although they professed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged God’s glory for images made to look like mortal man. In verse 25, it states that they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served created things rather than the Lord God. And even though they were religious and had a form of godliness, they were rebelling against God deep in their heart.

It pains my heart to see once great music missionaries like the Clark Sisters participating in the shameful revelry which does nothing but dishonor God and mock the suffering of the Lord Jesus on the cross. This is what compromise does. It drags you into the mud and soon you are just as nasty as everyone else. But what does the Word of the Lord say?  God is not mocked. He warns, he extends mercy and he is patient. But for how long? And should we continue in sin that the grace of God may abound? God forbid.

Yet the arrogance, pride and rebellion continues. When they knew God, they glorified him not as God, but became foolish…

1 Peter 4:17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?

For those who say just pray, I will. I pray that you will wake up and stop funding this rebellion. I pray that you stop watching and stop supporting these rebels. I pray that you get the spiritual fortitude to tell your pastor not to allow these foolish individuals perform in God’s house.