And we’re not TRYING to "reach" them with the "old" hymns.

And even if we could — it would do absolutely no good! As much as we thank God for the "old" hymns; and as much as we enjoy the "old" hymns — they can NOT save anyone! And neither can CCM or any music!

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, BUT BY ME." John 14:6

And God's method of reaching young people (or any person) with the Lord Jesus Christ is through the preaching of the word of God — not music.

"For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of PREACHING to save them that believe." 1 Corinthians 1:21

The pastors do not continually preach against rock music, nor spiritually "beat-them-up" against Christian or secular rock — but they have Biblically taught and preached against it — and what's more important — they provide BETTER alternatives. Most have a tremendous music program for their young people. They do not "camouflage" the message of Jesus Christ in a "hip-hop-partying-cool-tolerant" wrapping. The pastors "tell it like it is" and train young men and women to be fellow-soldiers for the Lord Jesus Christ. Young men are consistently called to preach under their ministries. A lot of the young people surrender for full-time Christian service and many go to the mission field. And it's all done without ONE Christian Rock song!

Here's just a few churches that have a wonderful youth program without CCM or Christian Rock music. Some of these churches — one-third of their congregation is teenagers!

Gloryland Baptist Church. Forestdale, AL - Charles Andrews, Pastor
Charity Baptist Church - Pensacola, Fl - Jim McGaughey, Pastor
Rice Baptist Church - New Market, AL - Lamar Chenault, Pastor
Faith Baptist Church, Cropwell, AL - David Wood, Pastor

TRY IT! IT WORKS!

The same way Moody, Torrey, Sunday, Westley, Whitfield, et al. brought real revival — preaching the Word of God! God does NOT need rock music, or ANY gimmick, or "sugar-coated-wrappings" to make the wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ appealing. Tell it like it is — THAT'LL DO THE JOB!

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:11

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 1 Cor. 2:4

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 1 Cor. 2:1-2

The Christian Rock group Audio Adrenaline spent seven days with seven Christian young people and during that time conversed with them. These are Christian young people "hopped-up" on Chrisitian rock. Even, the group Audio Adrenaline was surprized at their "tolerance" and compromise. Here's what Audio Adrenaline reported:

"One guy was totally questioning his faith, teetering on atheism. One of the girls couldn't hold a conversation without dropping the f-word. . . On the issue of absolutes, I heard some comments that surprised me. I think there are a lot of Christian young people who are lured into the philosophy of tolerance. . . I thought some of the kids were a little out there, almost New Age, real accepting and tolerant. .." (CCM, Feb. 1998)

Brother Lester Roloff used to say, "When the preaching of the Word of God won't reach them — you don't want them!"

Otherwords, you'll do more harm than good trying to "trick and deceive" them in order to reach them.

In the book, Builder of Bridges, Dr. Bob Jones, Sr., gives a spiritual analysis to this type of "Madison-Avenue" salvation show, used in CCM.

"Suppose I have a beautiful garden, and you are a fruit gatherer, and you tell me that you will gather my fruit. I go away on a trip. You gather the fruit and pile it in the corner. It looks good. But when I go out into my orchard, I find that my trees are ruined. The limbs are broken, there is damaged bark on the trunks, and the roots are damaged and exposed. My trees begin to die, and there is no more fruit." (Johnson, R.K., Builder of Bridges, p. 291)