The Music
Q: What part does music play in society?
It has been said that music is a reflection of
the heart and soul of man. Musicians reflect what
they see, think and feel, passing these feelings
on to the listener who identifies with the musician's
heart. Lyrics depict what is real or fantasy and
what's true or make-believe. It becomes a composition
of thought, feelings and move-ments -- a physical
expression of the heart. We see music combined
with drugs and dance, replacing God's powerful
presence and joyful expression of praise. What
God intended to be an expression of thanksgiving,
praise and worship becomes a symphony to the world,
the flesh and the devil.
Q: Are you saying that God and Satan both
have music?
Yes, and various degrees in between. We must
look at the spirit behind the music, good or bad,
holy or demonic, and honestly evaluate how it
influences our lives. We become what we listen
to!
We must ask ourselves, "Who is in control?"
We can either let God's truth and promises control
our lives, or self-will, circumstances, people
and events. The forces of darkness would have
us do the latter.
We were created to have a relationship with God
and to worship Him just as the angels do. But
Lucifer, the once-anointed cherub now called Satan,
brought one-third of the angels with him to Earth,
influencing mankind.
Satan's jealousy rages because he knows we were
created in God's image of glory and honor, and
he was not. He knows we were created to worship
God alone. He lures and tempts us in every conceivable
way to worship him. His purpose is to steal, kill
and destroy our lives with his music, dance and
self-gratifications.
The assignment of those fallen angels, or demons,
is to persuade us to worship Satan and rebel against
God, our parents and society. One of their prime
tools for this is sensuous music that appeals
to our fleshly instincts.
I'd suggest that everyone check out the book of
Psalms in the Holy Bible. God's music is an expression
of our total surrender to Him, an expression of
worship and of His great worth. It's an expression
of our love for God, who sent Jesus Christ to
cleanse us from wickedness and place us in right
standing with Himself.
Q: How did the music of the '60s reflect what
was going on then?
Musicians were like prophets or sorcerers calling
on the spirits for answers. I was looking for
direction, personal identity and answers. So,
I'd listen to the Stones, the Doors, Cream, Country
Joe, Jimmy Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Dylan, Richie
Havens, the Beatles and others. It seemed like
they knew what was going on in a crazy, drug-induced
world. The Psalmist said, "They that make
idols are like unto them, so is every one that
trusts in them" (Psalm 115:8).
My hip friends were all too eager to interpret
the music. I thought the musicians could identify
with my situation. The Stones sang about not getting
any satisfaction and the way to find it was by
having a banquet with Lucifer. I certainly had
no satisfaction and if it meant worshipping Satan
to get it, I was willing. I was certainly desperate
and looking for answers in all the wrong places,
but in reality I was calling on evil spirits for
help and power, instead of God.
Each group seemed to offer some sort of hope,
and we'd hang onto every word, listening to everyone
but our parents. As I reflect back, I see there
was no life in the music. The country was in a
bad state with the Vietnam War, and death was
in the air, even on the airwaves. When Jim Morrison,
Jimmy Hendrix and Janis Joplin died, it was like
God died; we felt a loss of hope, and it seemed
we were a little closer to the eve of destruction.
These guys were our idols. We worshipped them.
I was blinded to the fact that Hendrix really
was into voodoo, even though I sang his song "Voodoo
Child" right along with him. He said, "Music
is a spiritual thing of its own. You can hypnotize
with music, and when you get people at their weakest
point, you can preach into the subconscious what
you want to say."
Q: Did the music influence you in a negative
way?
Well, it certainly didn't influence me in a positive
way. These musicians were, like me, looking for
answers in drugs, rebelling against parents and
society and living in sexual immorality -- each
one related to the other. They sang about love,
peace and freedom; all the things I was lacking.
I was caught up in rebellion, searching in all
directions, but in unbelief toward God; especially
my parents' God. I believe music was one of the
influences that helped me dishonor my father and
mother.
I was under the influence of the same drugs that
influ-enced the musicians. This made it easier
to identify with them, and it made what they were
singing about more believable; the music had an
even greater influence over my mind and took me
into what seemed to be a magical world. This world
was a very simple, but complicated, lazy, do-nothing
world of emptiness, where demons were free to
run through my mind. I mention demons a lot because
it is so important that we understand their reality.
They are Satan's helpers from the unseen spiritual
realm of darkness.
Q: How do you see today's children being influenced
by music?
Simply the appearance, the dress and rebellious
actions of children who are into rock music tells
us they are being influenced by and have given
ground to the enemy of their soul. It hurts to
hear the rebellious nature of some of today's
music blaspheme Jesus Christ.
This is the same prideful rebellion that Lucifer
exhibited in heaven. The Scripture says, "…rebellion
is as the sin of witchcraft..." Witchcraft
involves exposing oneself to the realm and power
of Satan's control.
It's easy to get hooked and fall prey to sensuous
thoughts, which lead to rebellion against parents,
and to a rebellious appearance. Children imitate
the "look" of rock bands -- fishnet
stockings on arms, white face paint, black lipstick,
spiked jackets, and pentagram jewelry. They have
been known to "cast spells" over other
students. Is there any doubt who they are worshipping?
Marilyn Manson, a self-proclaimed antichrist,
is trying to take the place of Christ in their
lives while burning crosses on stage.
Satan is out to capture the minds of our youth.
Kip Kinkel, the 15-year-old student from Springfield,
Oregon who killed his parents and two students
and wounded twenty-four, was influenced by music.
He started dressing in black and stopped talking
to people. He took on the pose of a "Gothic,"
a youth persona with music and style, gloomy and
dark. Kip ended up with a sentence of 112 years
in prison. The "Trench Coat Mafia" killers
at Columbine were also influenced by the violent
lyrics in music. So very sad.
Q: Are you comparing some of today's music
to witchcraft?
Indeed I am! Some music can bring a person into
the realm and under the power of Satan's control;
it encourages drug use, rebellion and immorality.
The rock beat showed up in the southern United
States in the '50s with rock ¢n¢ roll.
Many believe this beat originates from witch doctors
who worship and call up evil spirits with their
music, causing demons to enter into people. As
a result, we see the same dance, dress and symbols
in village-worship rituals exhibited by some groupies.
Most people don't realize they're into voodoo.
The rebellious nature of witchcraft is not only
propa-gated through music. For instance, research
reveals that the Harry Potter series of sorcery
books, movies and other paraphernalia invading
our land, is not just fantasy or a world of make
believe. The subtle and overt messages of the
occult are woven within each adventure of a young
wizard, who lies, steals and takes revenge.
The author of the Potter material writes resulting
from years of research of occult history and practices.
She claims her world of wizardry is a "world
of imagination" and a "moral world."
These practices are affecting the hearts of millions
of children, who are being drawn toward Potter-mania.
The prophet Isaiah found the children of Israel
scoffing at God, saying, "…let the counsel
of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come,
that we may know it! [God said,] "Woe unto
them that call evil good, and good evil; that
put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"
(Isaiah 5:19b, 20).
Regardless of which avenue witchcraft slithers
in, remember, our true enemies are the spiritual
forces of darkness. "For we are not fighting
against people made of flesh and blood, but against
the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen
world, against those mighty powers of darkness
who rule this world, and against wicked spirits
in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12 NLT).
Q: What do you suggest as a positive influence
on our children today?
Parents are to be the primary influence, but
there's a real war being waged against the family.
One of Satan's weapons of opposition is the rebellious
nature of music. Musicians can sow rebellion and
strife between parents and their children, so
the parents are no longer an effective influence.
Many parents are at a loss for answers as they
see their children becoming involved in immoral
habits and illegal activities. At the same time,
the children are plagued with increasing violent
and unclean thoughts.
Parents and children alike must admit they're
powerless in themselves. They must admit that
their family has become unmanageable, and that
God can restore sanity to their lives. They must
make a decision to turn their family over to the
care of God. The Lord must be the positive influence
for our children. He has won the war against the
devil, and He gave us victory at the cross, but
we must trust Him. His love at Calvary never fails
to be effective in our lives.
Q: If music were about religion, God and nothing
else, would the youth listen to it?
Whether the youth listen to Christian music or
not, we need to encourage them by example, praising
and worshipping God. This is what will bring true
love, peace and joy to their lives and families.
On the contrary, to some, music does exactly the
opposite. The beat appeals to the body and ties
young people to the rock culture and its way of
life.
Only the Lord can open the eyes of the youth
to the destructive, evil nature of certain music.
Christian music is certainly a positive influence
on our youth, and they do listen to it. Some of
it is a little too rock-like for me, and except
for the lyrics I can't hear any difference between
it and rock ¢n¢ roll. I don't believe
Christian musicians have to copy secular music's
beat to attract listeners. Most contemporary Christian
music is uplift-ing, and the musicians are good
role models for our youth.
Q: Does music stimulate the appetite for drug
use?
It certainly does. Drugs, rebellion, immorality
and rock music all fit into the same package.
I can tell you from experience, each is culturally
related to the other. I was addicted to rock music
just as I was addicted to drugs. The more drugs
and music I took in, the more drugs and music
I needed. I became hooked, out of control and
was in total rebellion against God and my parents.
I recently read an article where the American
Medical Association said that heavy metal music
may be associated with drug use, premarital sex
and satanic rites. They also reported that the
average teenager listens to over 10,000 hours
of rock music between the 7th and 12th grades.
It's clear who is influencing our children.
Q: If there was no such thing as music would
this be a better world?
No, God created music. His music assures us of
His love for us, and is a form of worship to Him.
On the other hand, there are temptations in this
life, and things we worship more than God. Some
of these include drugs, sex and rock 'n' roll.
God's greatest joy comes from His seeing our thanksgiving,
praise and worship expressed in love to Him. He
alone is worthy; for He delivered us out of darkness
and into His marvelous light through Jesus Christ.
The Psalms tell us that God dwells in the praises
of His people. As we praise Him, He fills us with
His presence. Worship to our God is what makes
this a better world. He is the Rock that doesn't
roll.
I'm not saying that all non-Christian music is
demonic. There's a lot of music in this world
that is not Christian and not destructive. We're
not talking about getting rid of all music that
isn't Christian-based. If you can sense the music's
destructive nature, it's evil. Some music may
not take you anywhere but to the same old, lonely,
low-level plane you're living in. But good music
will encourage you, lift you up and give you hope.
Q: Do you think "rating" music to
keep the youth from its influence is a good idea?
Definitely! Music should be rated, but by whom?
As Christians, we are to live close to God so
that we can help our children judge between good
and evil. We should be able to determine what
draws us closer to God and one another, and what
hinders our deepest need -- meaningful relationships.
Maybe non-Christians need the government to help
rate their morals, sort of like the law in the
Old Testament, showing them their sinfulness and
their need for God. But it's the heart of man
that needs to change. We must take charge of our
own lives, and allow God's standards to rule.
Righteous cannot be legislated. It comes from
a heart made righteous through making Jesus LORD.
Q: Marilyn Manson was raised in a Christian
home. What happened to him?
That's what I hear, but I really don't know how
he was raised. Regardless, he rebelled against
his parents, wanting attention, and saw a way
to get it while making money at the same time.
It's a shame he has to drag so many into rebellion
with him. For those who don't know, Marilyn Manson
took his band's name from Marilyn Monroe's first
name and Charles Manson's last.
As parents, we can't just blame a musician like
Marilyn Manson; we have the obligation to be there
for our chil-dren. We need to look for warning
signs before our children become violent. If we
don't raise them, someone will be there to raise
them for us. That someone most likely will not
have their welfare in mind, but will offer them
acceptance and every temptation for their harm
and destruction.
Maybe Marilyn Manson didn't have problems at
home or have to raise himself, like lots of children
do. Still, personal conflicts came along that
he didn't know how to deal with, and now we see
his outrageousness.
Our children need someone with whom to confide
in and to discuss positive alternatives. They
must be nurtured and have early prevention when
necessary. They must not only be taught and modeled
right values, but made to feel loved through a
sense of security and acceptance.
Q: What part did Charles Manson's music play
in the family?
The purpose of Manson's music was to manipulate
or indoctrinate his listeners to accept his philosophies
or beliefs. His music was a very real, demonic
influence on the family members and still is today
to those who choose to listen to it.
I've identified him previously as a sorcerer,
a charismatic leader who used magic. He played
the mediator between the family and the evil world,
out to charm or cast a spell with chants through
music. This was one key to his manipulation; another
was the use of drugs. We'd already given ourselves
to the spirit of rebellion prior to joining him,
so we were ripe for his philosophy.
We saw his magic as love, but in reality he taught
rebellion and the way of death. He'd make up new
songs with lyrics such as, "…close the
bathroom door stupid," mocking our parents.
Although my parents never said that, I heard their
voice in other ways and was reminded of my anger
toward them, confirming my need and love for Charlie.
As we felt more and more rejected by our parents,
he became our answer for unconditional love and
acceptance. His voice became greater than that
of our parents, and our personal consciences.
It was a subtle, consuming confusion. We slowly
gave the demons authority over our beliefs so
they could control and destroy us.
Let me try to explain how his music was used
as a chant to charm us. In a ritualistic Manson
worship ceremony, our whole bodies vibrated with
his sound. We'd sit in a circle, surrounded by
his offbeat guitar strum, on drugs, swaying and
sometimes even dancing to his tune -- being enticed
into his web. His musical chants were repetitive
lyrics and pitches that produced a hypnotic effect
or a trance-like state. His words filled the air
-- "Cease to exist, come say you love me…kill
your ego, die" -- so once you ceased to be,
you could be free to totally love, totally come
together, and totally give yourself over to his
demonic thoughts. Unbeknownst to us, a spell was
cast and the demons were summoned and free to
emotionally consume us.
Q: Did his music suggest violence against
society?
I believe his music reflects his pain and anger
toward the lack of a parental relationship and
therefore, hatred toward society. The many years
he spent in prison gave him plenty of time to
develop this hatred and hostility, blaming everyone
else but himself.
The spontaneous songs he sang in the confines
of the family spewed forth this hatred, different
from what he later released for public consumption.
He considered society as pigs and felt they were
going to get what they had coming. We not only
took on his beliefs, but also his anger. Helter
Skelter became the theme of every song he wrote;
a violent revolution, a bloody conflict between
whites and blacks.
Q: If music were less violent would people
be less violent?
It's pretty common knowledge that people who
look and listen to violence will become violent
themselves. Children who are not emotionally mature
and have not developed a sound conscience are
especially vulnerable.
Heavy metal groups perform while their listeners
ritualistically stomp in a circle, maiming and
even killing one another. Oui is white-supremacy
music, which encourages its listeners toward violence.
Gangster-rap musicians say they're only singing
about their neighborhoods, but in reality they're
propagating a violent gangster-lifestyle message
to youngsters who go out and do what they sing
about.
This is all part of the violent spell that's
being cast upon society by musicians, who take
no responsibility for their actions. But as parents,
we are responsible to keep this music from the
ears of our children so its venom will not affect
them. There is a battle going on against the family,
the very foundation of society. This is why we
must call on God's strength and wisdom to be nurturing
parents.
Q: You've talked about the Beatles' music
being part of Manson's false beliefs. Can you
explain?
That's right! Manson went so far as to tell the
prosecuting attorney that the Beatles' music and
LSD were responsible for the Tate-LaBianca murders.
He takes no responsibility for his delusional
thinking or false beliefs. I gave myself to his
unsound reasoning and was deceived. The Beatles'
music and drugs cannot be blamed.
Manson was obsessed with the Beatles. In a bizarre
and unreal fashion, he hinged his philosophy on
every word they sang. "Helter Skelter"
became his black and white race war. But in reality,
it was an amusement park ride in England. "Sexy
Sadie" fit one of the girls in the family,
Susan Atkins, to a T. Charlie thought the lyrics
of the song "Honey Pie" meant the Beatles
were calling him to England to make an album.
The song "Piggies" described the establishment
who needed a "…damn good wacking."
The lyrics of "Revolution 1" told Charlie
that it was time for Armageddon. To him, the Beatles
were the "four angels" of Revelation
9 from the Bible, and they were saying, "Helter
Skelter is coming down fast," and he was
to instigate it.
The drugs, and the hallucinations they created,
made his false interpretations seem real. That's
the scary part. It goes to show you that people
will easily believe a lie if their lives are not
founded upon a sound belief system.
Q: Was the Beatles' music violent?
Manson perceived their music as calling for violence,
but he was really stretching it. For instance,
he believed that he was the 5th angel of Revelation
9 and that the Beatles' song, "Revolution
9," was calling the black race to rise up
and cause Helter Skelter, a bloody race war. This
song had the sound of machine gun fire and warfare,
as well as screams, crying babies, BBC announcers
and according to Manson, secret messages.
He told us that the repetition of the chant "number
nine, number nine" in the song, referred
to Revelation 9 of the Bible and that he had the
key to the Bottomless Pit, even maps. The locusts
represented the Beatles, "…their faces
like men…hair like women," and "breastplates
of iron" were their electric guitars. To
Manson, the horsemen of Chapter 9 represented
motorcycle and dune-buggy gangs, an army of chariots
spreading destruction upon all who didn't have
the "seal of God." It all seemed to
fit; the end of the world was near, but as part
of the chosen race, the family would escape to
the safety of the Pit. The way that he figured
it, the blacks and the motorcycle gangs would
work together to bring down Helter Skelter. This
shows the bizarre twist to his madness.
Q: Are you saying that what's being perceived
by the listeners in the music lyrics determines
its influence?
Yes, perception is everything, especially for
children who haven't formed sound belief and value
systems, nor developed a strong conscience. We
have the freedom to choose our belief system,
but when those beliefs harm other people, those
beliefs are wrong. When people believe in a delusion
like Manson's, with deadly results, it is wrong.
People can believe in spaceships, but when those
beliefs cause thirty-nine people to commit suicide,
it is wrong. There are convictions such as faith,
family and freedom that we should be willing to
die for, but not for a devilish lie.
Music is definitely having an influence. We can
see it in the youth's dress, facial appearance,
throwaway lives and immoral lifestyles. The sad
part is that today our children don't have to
misinterpret music for it to be harmful. The lyrics
drip with violence and witchcraft. For instance,
"I Love the Dead," "Dead Meat,"
"Decapitate," "Voodoo," "Die
Young," and "Children of the Grave"
are all songs with deadly, ghoulish, gory lyrics,
and deadly results.
There are still cults today that use heavy-metal
rock music to persuade and influence their followers.
The leader uses the music to bring the followers
into oneness of mind and purpose. If the leaders'
intentions are violent and destructive, they will
be passed on to those who choose to follow.
Q: Isn't it a person's background and psychological
makeup that determines how they will perceive
and react to the music?
I believe a person must be grounded spiritually.
That is, grounded Biblically, with a sound identity
in the cross of Jesus Christ. Without spiritual
identity, a person can be easily deceived, as
Manson's followers were with his weird philosophy.
Also, I think perception has a great deal to do
with parental influence and the environment in
which children are raised. My turning to sin by
disobeying my parents caused my rebellious heart
to embrace many wrong thoughts, attitudes, ideas
and beliefs.
I had a distorted worldview made up of wrong
percep-tions concerning life. Manson filled a
need for every family member depending on the
individual's makeup. Drugs were a catalyst to
make us more suggestible and agreeable. We were
all isolated together on a "magical mystery
tour," hungry for unconditional love and
overcoming our fears. Yet we were paranoid, rebellious
and angry. Manson's demonic and repetitive teachings,
immoral philosophy, superior awareness and charis-matic
leadership all combined for our deception. So
I'm not saying it was only the music, but music
did play a major part in the deadly philosophy.
Q: If music is so influential, is there any
such thing as safe music?
Yes, there is safe music, but let me be quite
clear. Some music can be a dangerous and harmful
influence. The youth today are at risk. As parents,
we are responsible for teaching our children to
guard their lives from the threat of certain kinds
of music.
The musicians are going to produce music that
brings the listener into personal intimacy with
them. I do believe there are warning signs to
guard against. These include vulgar, rebellious
lyrics, and heavy, sensuous breathing and sighing
into the microphone. Also avoid music that stimulates
erotic movements and high volume levels that block
out personal conscience. Stay away from satanic
symbols, music that glorifies self, and generally,
music that has a rebellious, driving beat.
Let's face it, "As a man thinks in his heart,
so is he" (Proverbs 23:7). This tells me
that if we allow our children to listen to it,
they will become like it. I know my old life was
influenced by it greatly. There's a new song in
the air for me -- really good vibrations.
The Lord has given us a way to come into His
safety. For this reason, we have been given music
that is distinctively different from worldly music.
This music glorifies God by being clean and pure,
thus building up our lives. How much safer could
we be -- praising and worshipping God for our
redemption and deliverance?
Q: What kind of music do you listen to today?
I listen to a lot of Christian radio, mostly
praise-and-worship and contemporary Christian
music, in that order. I live to stay in the presence
of God, and in His presence is fullness of joy.
This joy is my strength to live and overcome the
pressures of life. I can't live success-fully
without worshipping God moment by moment.
The bottom line -- we're not to give place to
the devil. He's our enemy and he's on the loose;
out to kill, steal and destroy our lives. We've
been given power over him in Christ. At the cross,
Jesus Christ forgave our sins, defeated the works
of the devil and conquered death. Through our
faith in His victory, we rule our lives in Christ.
As we stay built up in the most holy faith, our
desires change. This world's music has nothing
to offer us any longer, because we are marching
to a different drummer, playing a different tune.
So, frankly, I stay in tune with God, and his
music helps me to do so!
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