Apostasy Report - The Corrupt Christian Music Industry

Apostasy Report #12
The contemporary Christian music industry as you know it is entirely corrupt, embracing false teachers and heresy in blatant fashion. It is not ministry, but business that is the driving factor for the popular so-called "worship leader". People you may have listened to for years are turning a blind eye to those things which God's word condemns and sometimes embracing them with glee. Their compromise does not have to be yours. But woe to those who refuse this warning.
CCM = Corrupt Christian Music

May the Lord Jesus Christ be with you

[hannahrea-campbell]

The closer I get to the Lord, the more I am left alone with my Bible, prayer, and the simple a Gospel.

[marshaanis]

People start off wanting to sing for Christ then pride comes in the devil takes over and it becomes about fame, money and record sales.

[ClifPayne]

Ok, here's the deal: As one who has spent my entire life in the music/entertainment business I can tell you that the gist of what this man is saying is basically correct--but not entirely so. The Christian Music Industry is a segment of the entire American music industry which is run by ungodly people with completely ungodly perspectives and lifestyles. The people marketing the secular acts we either love or hate is the same marketing mechanism that markets Christian music. It's a money-making-based business that worships and promotes the young, the beautiful and the charismatic. The only trait the separates the Christian music industry from the secular is that Christian music is based on the message of Jesus, but with Jesus as a backdrop to charismatic celebrity "worship leaders." Most of these Christian music celebs aren’t really worship leaders at all in the true sense of the call. Most are simply talented singers who sing so well, that the Industry deceives us into thinking it is impossible to truly worship unless you're their presence. Add to this the fact that the Christian music industry is still dividing the culture ("races") in it's marketing practices--is something that the secular music business no longer does. (Praise & worship means, white folks. Gospel means Black folks, multicultural means Hispanic, and so on.) One of the most sensitive and secretive questions to ask one of the celebrity Christian industry artist is just how they got "signed" to a recording label. If God got them "signed, " what were the steps taken to get signed and why won't they talk about it? " Hey, how can I get to know the folks that got you "signed?" NOBODY comes out of nowhere to call up label and say, "I'm a Christian singer. Are you looking to sign new talent? Checkout this song I wrote . . ." Whether you're a Christian or secular performer, getting "signed" is a miracle in itself and requires all kinds of lawyers, legalese, industry resources and connections--not to mention being aware of constantly shifting political and business attitudes. It's why you see more and more new artists hit the bigtime and suddenly disappear. It has absolutely nothing to do with talent because the marketers are non-religious business marketers. And, like it or not, the Christian Music Industry is full of well-meaning talent that is smack dab in the middle of one of the most corrupt businesses anyone can be in! Does it mean that ALL the celeb Christian artists are corrupt? Not necessarily. We don't know them, they don't know us. Only God knows all of our hearts. This is where I disagree with judgmentally calling all Christian Industry artists corrupt. Yes, many of them ARE biblically illiterate, but that doesn't make them corrupted. It's just magnifies their ignorance of God's word--which can take our entire lives to fully learn--and sometimes that's not enough time! Are there some celeb Christian talent that are really NOT Christians? I'm sure there are and always will be in this life. But we can't always know who they are, and guilt or suspicion by association isn't a reliable way to know and is based on our preferences--not God's. We are ALL sinners dealing with all kinds of corruption on many levels in our daily living. All we can do is follow scripture and pray. The ENEMY is alive an well. It's why God sent His Son to pull us out of the pit. I'm surprised the guy in the video didn't mention the Godly, no-nonsense worship leader the late Keith Green--who warned long ago against what Christian music has now become. The bottom line is this: Read your Bibles. establish a firm, unshakable relationship with God. DO NOT base your faith on someone or some band that looks and sounds good. DO NOT follow the secular music industry pattern of flash and shallow entertainment that is flooding Christian music. All of that is fleeting. Find a church that rejects worshiping God through a celebrity--then read Stephen Miller's excellent book entitled - Worship Leaders, We Are Not Rock Stars.

ALSO: May our prayer be for the era to come in which churches develop our own united Christian music industry apart from the secular music industry.

[heyyou]

What worries me, the most is the worshipping of the worship leaders in place of worshipping God, and them accepting the worship

[cindypollard]

I left the music field when I became a worshipper of God.
I take the Scriptures and sing them to God. This is also how I memorize the Scriptures.

[Ryanjoned]

The problem with deception is that people don't know they are being deceived

[thislittleweirdgirl]

I'm five minutes into this video, and I feel many things about my own history with the church and music. Last year, my husband quit drumming and I quit singing in the worship band after many years of dedicated service. It just didn't feel right. For a long time, I really believed I was part of something good, but over the last couple of years, I started to feel a shift in myself. Firstly, fellow musicians were starting to criticize my "Stage Presence", telling me I needed to move more, and smile more, and connect with the congregation more. Secondly, I realized how isolated I felt from the rest of the church body. Like, no one would talk to me because somehow I had been elevated to a point where people were intimidated to even approach me. The only time I was approached was when I made major mistakes, and then they would say something like, "Whoa... glad to know you are human after all." It would make me feel horrible. Thirdly, the congregation itself just stood there, eyes on us, without any expression whatsoever. Worship is not supposed to be dead or cold.

I listened back to the first song I ever led as a "worship leader", and I cried because I could feel what I believed in how I sang. I remembered the joy and innocence I had in that moment. I also cried because I now know the sting of being in that place for so long. My faith became cold, sterile, and useless and what once brought me before God now feels tainted. I definitely don't regret quitting at all. I only regret it took me so long to do it. I thought I was persevering, but it definitely wasn't that. It was just plain stubbornness. I wanted to believe my service meant something. But now, I have to figure out my path forward, because I do desire to worship God in the way I know how. So, instead of church worship, I've been writing songs inspired by my own journey in seeking Him. I don't know if they will ever be shared, and that's okay. :) Maybe one day they will be, if they would bless the Lord and He calls me to it, but I have no desire to be part of an industry.

[CEK]

I don’t need to listen to worship music….. I make my own. I spend time with my Jesus worshipping and praising Him! My prayers are put into music!

[Davemd]

“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord”. EPHESIANS 5:19

[lorienicholas]

We need to be grounded in the word and stop letting our emotions and feelings lead us. We must discern the spirit behind all of this.

[michaellatanzio]

I have a bunch of friends that say Joshua is hyper critical, but how can you be hyper critical when facts are just facts!

[suzannemoore]

I can’t find a church that doesn’t sing these songs. I want the old hymns back

[marilynj]

When your church starts with the entertainment, productions and rock concerts. Get out. The smoke and lights are not of God.

[geneanuts]

When I was saved in the '70's, we sang scripture! I still remember those verses!

[Hmmm]

Great ending brother! I'm a drummer that's played in alot of worship bands and had a couple of "Christian" rock bands over the years since 1999 but about a few years ago I started seeing it all for what it really is and def can say you are spot on about, what I call it as, all the worldliness in the people who play "Christian " music. The love of God's word and the power of His Spirit is the only thing that delivered me from all the foolishness.

[jhellert]

"You're not make Christianity better, you're making rock 'n roll worse" Hank Hill

[amyjaramojgdandillo]

I remember when my mom got me a Joyce Myers bible ...I couldn't even stand to read it. Every five seconds she interrupted the actual word of God. I'm so thankful for that discernment from God. The true God. 🙏🏼🙏🏼❤️

[stevengora]

Keith Green saw the corruption years ago .. he left the big name labels and started his own label and offered his music for donation

[annem]

I stopped listening to CCM a few years ago. Too many unBiblical lyrics. Too much "me me me" and not enough WORSHIP of the True God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

[RBdisciplek]

So, you're saying that this is all leaning into the unification church? That is scary! I pray the Lord help us get out from under this blanket of sin that is covering much of Christianity and the world.