It is good to see that Wilkerson is basing his opinion on more then just the music but on the message being preached and then using that to affect his opinions of the music –
“They are deceived, and consequently they are deceivers themselves...”
“They will all live to see the wicked harvest of their soft gospel and compromise”
Now if they were preaching the uncompromising truth of the Word of God then we could assume Wilkerson in his discernment would have had a different view apart from his apparent dislike of rock music of which most here know and probably have or have heard of testimonies of how God has used such music to touch and change their own lives and the lives of others.
The only thing that will ever draw anyone to Christ is the Holy Spirit Himself and one of His methods is the un-compromising preaching of the Word of God in the power and unction of the Holy Spirit. Now as far as drawing people to hear that preaching, that would be a matter of ones own convictions – Booth and the early Salvation Army would march down the street with circus style brass band – Finney would do similar and they received condemnation from the religious and the Pharisee’s of their day. To condemn someone for using a certain method to draw a crowd whether it be food, music, dollar bills for trivia questions (like Ray Comfort) drama, dance or whatever as long as it wasn’t sin, would be legalistic, judmental and narrow minded.
The same goes for music – God has used many different forms of music to reach the masses with His word over the centuries – from pub songs in William Booth’s times to hymns, rock, country, heavy rock, and even modern rap. In fact many of the Christian rappers are today’s most uncompromising and hard-hitting holiness preachers, and God has used their music to tear down the false prosperity gospel, to destroy the false easy believe-ism modern gospel of our day and to touch and change the lives of countless young and old of all classes. Again to condemn the style of music that God is using whether it be pub songs or rap would be extremely legalistic, judgmental and again, narrow minded.
I myself have used rap and/or dance on the inner-city street of Detroit, Kansas City, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Skid Row and in the projects of Southern California to draw crowds and preach the truth. But most importantly the uncompromising truth of the Word of God, repentance, holiness, the Cross and the pure gospel truth is always preached in the power and unction of the Holy Spirit and many lives are touched and changed by the power of God as seeds are planted, watered, and glory be to God, harvested! There is a man who lives down the street from me who goes into Mexico with a band and uses some of the most awful, sensual (in my opinion), horrible Mexican cultural music I have ever heard. But when the words are translated he sings about sin, righteousness, judgment and repentance. He draws crowds and preaches repentance and judgment. He may dislike rap every bit as much as I dislike his mariachi/salsa type music, but woe be unto me or him to come against the pure gospel truth from being preached based on our musical or cultural likes or dislikes. I know some people personally who have degenerated to the point where they think the only acceptable type of music is hymns instead of singing and praising God with a pure heart. And even worse they push their own convictions on others and views others who sing and praise God with a pure heart as “less then holy” because of the style of music in which they sing. If one has a personal conviction of hymns only then by all means just sing hymns, but to push your personal conviction onto others is again extremely legalistic and narrow minded.
We need to focus on the message being preached not the method used to draw those who are being preached to. If the message is the uncompromising truth of the Word of God preached in the power and unction of the Holy Spirit, then woe be unto you to condemn the way or even the reason those being preached to were gathered together. The same goes with music – we need to listen to the lyrics or message being preached and if it is a message of true repentance, holiness or a message that is in line with the Word of God then woe be unto you to condemn the style of music in which that message was brought.
If one has personal conviction against a certain type of music then don’t listen to it or use it, or a method to draw a crowd then don’t do it, but God forbid you put God into a legalistic box and push your convictions onto others.
If you are making a compilations or gathering info against a false gospel or false message being preached then praise God and amen!!! But if you are making a compilations or gathering info against what you feel in your own opinion and personal conviction to be a wrong method (unless the method is sinful) or a certain style of music then you are walking a dangerous and slippery slope of legalism, judgmental-ism, criticism, Pharisee-ism, self-righteousness and spiritual pride.
(Php 1:15-18)
If the Truth is being preached we should be as Paul and rejoice in the fact that the Christ is being preached whether we agree with the methods, motives, and style of music or not. Let’s focus our attention on those preaching a false gospel and a false message and not nit pick in our fleshy legalism and self –righteousness over the styles and methods of those who preach the uncompromising truth.
Here is a compilation from brother Zac Poonen where he talks about this sort of thing
ARE YOU HOLDING HANDS WITH SATAN OR JESUS – Zac Poonen
https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/visit.php?lid=16597
God bless,
Patrick Ersig
www.revivalarmy.com
