The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed by Brenda Rivera of Orlando, Florida from the tape, GC 1301-S, titled "Bible Questions and Answers Part 21."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE. ©1982. All Rights Reserved.

Question

A couple of weeks ago a friend of mine [Keith Green] asked me to hear him play, he’s playing in Long Beach, and that night he did his music, he sang and almost 500 people were saved and from what I understand that our church does not allow that kind of music in our church and that is kind of a rock. 

And plus, you know, right now I heard Cliff Richards the other night at the Greek Theater and I never heard a bigger praise, it was unbelievable and Donna Summers, Earth Wind and Fire, a group called Kansas, one of the heaviest rock n’ roll bands. I just feel that we have the most beautiful musical ministry that we could possibly have for these people, but I do feel sincerely inside there is so many people that we are not reaching, that I think we can reach if we put out more music that might reach them because some things might not, but the music can.

Well, let me suggest something to you and because you’re asking a broad question. I did a tape on Ephesians 5, on music and the Word of God (tape #1940). I think if you can pick that tape up it will be of help to you. Ephesians 5, "Speaking to yourselves in psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, singing, and making melody in your heart." 

What kind of music honors God? 

1. Basically, number one, nobody ever got saved through music 

People only get saved through the power of the Holy Spirit, right? Only through the Holy Spirit; only through the drawing of the Father. So we’re not going to save people through some medium or some media that the Lord couldn’t save otherwise. Therefore, we want to make sure that whatever means we use fits within the parameters of the definition of holiness and godliness and rightness that the Bible lays out for evangelism and for lifestyle and everything else. So that’s a very important issue that you need to think about and I’ll cover that somewhat in that tape. 

2. The other thing is when you’re dealing with a person who is communicating the Gospel and you have this massive response only God knows how many people were saved. 

But if there’s one thing we do know, is that if 500 people came forward, 500 people were not saved, basically. Because even Jesus said there’s going to be shallow soil, there’s going to be "weedy" soil, choked out and so forth. 

3. Plus, I wonder sometimes whether or not the Gospel, as I’ve said before, is presented clearly enough for the non-elect to reject it. 

Do you know what I’m saying? 

So the point is this, I feel that if we’re going to evangelize we have to evangelize people within the parameters of biblical definitions of evangelism with a clear presentation of the Gospel. We have to do it in a way with a method that exalts Jesus Christ, honors Jesus Christ, and does not confuse people at all. And I think if you’ll listen to what I say in that tape you’ll understand why Grace Church does not do things in that vernacular. And I think there are biblical reasons for that. 

I think we have to be very careful with whom we identify the Christian message. It’s very easy, for example, I remember speaking in an elementary school one time and I was talking to 500 kids from grades 1-3 and I asked at the end of my deal, “how many of them wanted to ask Jesus into their heart?” all 500 hands went up. Well, I thought I had a revival. All I had was basically the fact that I had presented the Gospel in such a nice way that all these kids thought that was the greatest thing that ever happened to them. It wasn’t that they all really wanted to get saved at that point, it was that my presentation was inadequate and so they thought that it was easy enough to do and that there was no price to pay. I think very often when you present Jesus Christ the way He is presented in much of that vernacular, the real Gospel isn’t even there in some cases it might be and I don’t want to wash everybody out, but in many cases it isn’t even there…the Gospel isn’t even there. 

Many of those songs you--can stick any name you wanted in it and it wouldn’t change the lyrics at all, it could be Budda, it could be Confucius, it could be anybody. So there’s a lot involved and I think if you’ll listen to that tape it might help. I really appreciate that fact that you asked the question. 

Questioner

Do you think that they’re wrong?

Answerer 

Yes. I think they might have good heart and motive, I just think they need to have some corrective to their method. There’s a lot of shallow presentations, plus some of those people’s lives just don’t match up with what they’re saying. Now God will use Balaam’s donkey if he has the right message in his mouth but that doesn’t necessarily mean we honor the instrument. The Gospel will get through even if it’s in the wrong medium many times.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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