Few subjects generate more heat in the Christian church today than the use of music in worship and evenagelism. Every musical form and every way of expressing it has as many detractors as it does promoters. Yet in recent years most of the conflicts have centered on what is generically known as rock music, which has become an increasingly dominant - and divisive - issue since it first slipped into church life some forty years ago.
For some Christians it is by far the best way of expressing their faith and of sharing it with unbelievers, while for other Christians it is by far the worst. Does the truth lie somewhere between these two extremes? Does God endorse music of every kind? Can we 'cut and paste' secular rock music and 'Christianize' it in the process? Should the Christian church unite in bringing rock music to the altar or in sending it to the bonfire?
John Blanchard and Dan Lucarini, two respected Christian leaders and best-selling authors - who together have many years of hands-on experience in worship, preaching, evangelism and music - have combined to produce a book that examines this controversial subject, using both recent evidence and time-tested truths.
Average Rating: 3 out of 5 stars(3 out of 5 stars)
6 of 6 Reviews Showing:
1 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Autumn Reinking (Cincinnati, OH), January 08, 2009
I guess what disturbed me the most about this book is that attempt to pass it off as a well-researched piece of work. This was an agenda with footnotes. Take a look at 2 Samuel 6:14-22. Who is the person that can claim to know the proper way to celebrate before the Lord? I haven't yet heard a CCM song that has given me the urge to do drugs and have sex in the back seat of my car, but I have heard many CCM songs that have filled me with the Holy Spirit. There is a fine line between being distinctively different and self-rightiousness.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Larry Robbins (Denver, CO), August 26, 2008
A MUST READ! Here’s why:(1)The author’s clearly establish and document from both points of view that there is essentially no difference, as a musical genre, between the popular music of the last 50 years and what is being used in the bulk of Christian churches today. (2)It is also very obvious to the reader that from the secular performers perspective, they have no desire whatsoever to be associated with the religious crowd who claims to be Christian. What clearly struck me was, “Why in the world would I, as a Christian, have any desire to be associated with those who hate Christ?” (3)The last half of the book (beginning at chapter 7 – Red Flags) is where the real “meat” of the text begins. The “five concerns” of chapter 7 bring the reader to where the “rubber meets the road.” My thoughts were “Why was Egyptian idol worship rejected when it was directed toward God in Exodus 32, and yet we think God is thrilled with American Idol worship today? – What’s the difference?”
Reading others criticism’s of this volume in review as well as other various blogs simply give credence to the conclusions the authors make in their book. There is a stark difference between those who promote Christianity attempting to reform culture and welcome in the kingdom, and those who attempt to follow the philosophy of distinctively different Christianity as they prepare for the eminent rapture of the church. Frankly, I must agree with Blanchard and Lucarini that it is imperative that I follow scriptural principles (not selectively) and be actively engaged IN the world without being OF this world. The danger of following our hearts when we try to interpret the Bible, is that our heart is “desperately wicked, who can know it?” I believe that is the greatest danger in following a path away from our human nature, and embracing a position of separation and holiness—a wonderful challenge brought to the reader in the final chapter!
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Jim Blankenship (St. Louis, MO), July 26, 2008
I found Can We Rock the Gospel? to be a very readable and informative volume. Dan Lucarini’s extensive background in music and John Blanchard’s experience as an apologist are readily apparent. Together they make the case that rock music is something to be wary of. Those who believe there is nothing wrong with rock generally hold that there is no such thing as Christian tunes and, therefore, all instruments and tunes are amoral. The authors clearly show that rock music styles are blatantly worldly by both history and association. Rather than being salt and light in the world, the church is being acculturated by rock and other forms of CCM. The authors clearly make the point that the issue here is the secularization (profaning) of the sacred. If worship is about God rather than about making the unregenerate comfortable or even entertaining the regenerate, then worldliness and godlessness should be left outside the doors of the church. I have found Can We Rock the Gospel? to be very useful in making the case against using secular music in the church.
1 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Chris (Australia), December 18, 2006
In no uncertain terms Blanchard and Lucarini state their case that rock music has no place in the church.
They give an interesting history of rock, describing the rebellious, immoral nature of its secular stars & their lifestyles. This is a viewpoint I had not appreciated having grown up in an era in which rock music is already mainstream culture. So for me it is more connected with family afternoons at home listening to Dad's Beatles records than Woodstock or debauchery. For anyone from about Gen-X on, who has not been on tour or in a rock and roll lifestyle, it is worth noting this view for the sake of others who find that rock takes them to a place better avoided. This is an application of the principle of not causing your brother to stumble. For me this is not a reason to avoid the genre altogether, but rather something to be aware of in case I ever run across someone who finds rock music a stumbling block.
Other objections raised amount to technical issues, such as being too loud, or shallow lyrics, or sidelining the congregation who feel more like an audience than fellow worshippers. The authors cite many personal letters of such complaints which they have received from likeminded brethren, & the numbers of their last book sold, as evidence of the enormity of this problem for the church today. They lament that rock has permeated the church to the extent that it is hard to find somewhere to attend if you want to avoid it.
I felt that these arguments also were important for worship teams, highlighting important technical issues such as the importance of song selection, and treating worship services differently to concerts.
It is therefore unfortunate that the tone of the book is judgemental and argumentative. It left me feeling angry, making it hard to learn from their views. I fear the extremity of their position will only further division on this issue. I found no answer to Larry Norman's question, "Why should the devil have all the good music?"
0 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Matthew Morley (Bradford, UK), November 17, 2006
Absolutely terrible book. The arguments are weak and outdated. eg "some rock bands are bad therefore ALL rock music is bad"... It's like kids in a playground!
There is NO definition of what they class as rock music - they even include pop, folk etc as 'rock'!!
Seriously, avoid this like the plague. I was hoping this was a spoof book but clearly people take it seriously...
Worship comes from the heart - if your hearts in the right place then how does it matter what music you use in worship? I am deeply offended by the sound of organs but I don't mouth off and write an ignorant book about it!
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Rusty (Gate City, VA), October 07, 2006
I thought the book was very well researched and thoughtfully written. ANYONE who pastors a youth group, or is a Christian parent concerned with the striking similarity of contemporary music/worship to secular rock artists SHOULD read this book, as well as the previous book by Dan Lucarini. No one can sucessfully defend the use of contemporary music after seeing the divisions it has caused in numerous churches as well as the other ill effects mentioned in the book!
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