Is Christian Rock Music Really Christian?

Christian rock music has always been the subject of great controversy ever since it sprang from the “Jesus Movement” of the early 1970’s. By God’s great mercy, many hippies started coming to Christ through the evangelism of Chuck Smith (pastor of Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, CA). Although they were saved, they had a difficult time calling traditional gospel music entertaining. They began to get discouraged, wondering if they had to give up “good” music to be “good” Christians.

Fortunately, some of them were musicians themselves, and they began to write songs about Jesus. They sang lyrics that preached God’s love, not “free love.” They sang of their newfound addiction to a Savior who had taken them higher than drugs ever had! The lyrics they sang glorified God openly, but they were accompanied by instrumental music that sounded much like that of Jimmy Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, the Doors, the Grateful Dead, etc. Critics in the Church deemed it evil, or at least very odd, and argued that it was blasphemous to join God’s praises to “the devil’s music!” Christian rock music still has harsh critics in the Church today. They still argue that rock music (because it is worldly) cannot be sanctified. Are they correct?

I believe that such critics have failed to ask themselves a very crucial question: What exactly makes any specific music genre “worldly?” On the basis of Holy Scripture, can we conclude that God condemns certain types of instrumental music? I certainly do not see how we can! Psalms 150 basically encourages us to use any and all types of musical instruments when we praise God in song. Does it really matter to Him if one of His children praises Him with an electric guitar instead of an acoustic guitar or a banjo? So long as it is true worship from the heart (John 4:24), I do not think the sound of the instrumental music matters to God at all!

At least some of the attacks on Christian rock music (from within the Church) are largely rooted in guilt by association, ignorance of the facts, sometimes half-truths, and even outright lies. Jeff Godwin trumpets the half-truth that Christian rock band Petra remade a popular song, “God Gave Rock ‘n’ Roll to You,” which was originally recorded by KISS (a truly twisted, ungodly heavy metal band). Sadly, Godwin does not mention the fact that Petra radically changed most of the lyrics in order to give true glory to God! Terry Watkins is even worse. Using many half-truths and lies, he tries to link witchcraft and Satanism to Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Carman, and many other Christian musicians (I'm not kidding, and neither is he)!

Contrary to what those critics say, Christian rock music has proven to be an effective witnessing tool. It is common knowledge that unsaved fans of hard rock music will scarcely be drawn to the sounds of the Gaither Vocal Band, Legacy Five, or the Martins. On the other hand, some of them have taken time to hear Christian bands as the Newsboys, Relient K, Jars of Clay, and Tobey Mac simply because the music appeals to their taste.

Indeed God can sanctify any type of music: even heavy metal, punk, alternative, rhythm & blues, disco, rap, ska, swing, or country. I certainly do not enjoy much of Christian heavy metal, Christian rap, Christian country, or Christian disco, but who am I to call it “worldly?!” If the lyrics flowing from the artists' lips are truly worshiping God or preaching the gospel, then God must be pleased with it, even if I don't find the music entertaining!