Few subjects generate more heat in the Christian church today than the use of music in worship and evangelism.
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?
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 centred 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.
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.
They come to a clear conclusion. They will not leave you neutral.
'A unique joint collaboration from the best selling authors of "Why I left the Contemporary Christian Music Movement" and "Pop goes the Gospel".'
'This book is a highly provocative and hard-hitting examination of the pop scene and the use of rock music in evangelism.'
'It is an attempt to take a calm, balanced, thorough and biblical look at the whole subject of what has been called "entertainment evangelism".'
'You may never listen to music the same way again.'
'I'm in what was until a few years ago a very conservative 200-year-old Presbyterian church. Our new pastor has begun a campaign to break down people’s resistance to new worship music by levelling charges in sermons such as "If you care about tradition or traditional worship, you’re living in sin." How horribly wrong and hurtful! I am regularly in the cross hairs, and am praying for deliverance from this situation, by God’s grace. It is unsustainable over the long haul, without completely compromising what I believe God’s Word clearly teaches about how he wants to be worshipped.’ - (A Presbyterian church’s music minister)
Dr John Blanchard is an internationally-known Christian author, teacher and conference speaker. Nearly fifteen million copies of his publications are in print in over forty languages. He received an award for his best-selling book Does God believe in atheists? as the best UK Christian Book for 2001.
Dan Lucarini is a businessman who lives with his wife Judy and their three children in Colorado. He was a worship leader for several evangelical and fundamental churches in the USA, and was also a rock music performer, arranger and composer.
'Blanchard, who wrote Pop Goes the Gospel in 1983, and Lucarini, who wrote Why I Left The Contemporary Christian Music Movement in 2002, combine to bring a stunningly up-to-date look at the rock music scene both in and out of the Church.'
Review from The Bookshelf (October 2006)
'This is an excellent book and should be read by every minister and parent. In it the authors explode the myth that music is neutral and that all kinds of music are acceptable to God. They show that individual musical notes are neutral but when put together in a certain way they can become a very powerful force for good or evil — just as an individual letter of the alphabet are put together in words they may constitute the words of the Bible or words of hatred or vileness.'
Review from The British Church Newspaper (8 December 2006)
'The authors give a detailed and extended catalogue of the evils that are an integral part of rock and pop music (not all pleasant reading, but that is the point).The book sets out clear Biblical directions on the proper place and use of music in worship including its evangelistic use.'
Review from The Evangelical Presbyterian (March-April 2007)
'I would encourage readers to purchase this book and get their musicians to read it (no matter what style of music you use). Having done that, then get supporters of rock music to read it, and so help them learn and understand the danger of bringing rock music into truly Christian churches.'
Review from The English Churchman (25th May & 1st June 2007)
'The authors, John Blanchard, evangelist and prolific writer, and Dan Lucarini, a musician once involved in the Contemporary Christian Music scene, now a conference speaker, have thoroughly researched their subject. I think they have achieved their aim of writing "courteously, listening to what the experts say and keeping subjective preference in check".'
Review from The Gospel Magazine (July-August 2007)
'The authors of this well-written and carefully argued book would like to persuade their Christian readers of three things: rock music is always anti-God and pro-sin; using rock music as part of any outreach event is not wise; to sing rock-type songs, accompanied by rock-type bands, in Christian gatherings is unhelpful. In arguing for these three points, the authors show a wide understanding of the contemporary music scene (both Christian and secular). They also respond helpfully to the many comments they have received on their previous books on this subject. '
Review from Grace Magazine (July 2007)
‘Every man did that which was right in his own eyes’. (Joshua 21v25 AV) Perhaps throughout history, never have these words been more applicable than to our own generation. This is especially true when it comes to worship. The authors of this book share this burden and in particular the impact of `rock’ music on worship and evangelism.
Review from The Ulster Bulwark (July-Sept 2008)
'The authors answer, “No, you really can’t. And one shouldn’t, either.” Dan Lucarini, based on what he told us in Why I Left the Contemporary Christian Music Movement, could also add: “And back then, I really, really tried to!”'
Review from Liturgy, Hymnody, & Pulpit Quarterly Book Review Volume 2, Issue 4, Angels’ Tide, 2008
