from Religious Rock 'N' Roll: A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing
by Jimmy Swaggart with Robert Paul Lamb
Swaggart Ministries, 1987
ISBN: 978-0935113051

CHAPTER 4 : "BETWEEN HEAVEN N HELL"


Rez Band, a Chicago-based religious rock band, affiliated with a Christian community in the inner city, is a case in point of a musical group who shapes its appearance and sound based on punk or new wave rock.

A recent profile in the book, THE HEART OF ROCK AND ROLL, noted the following about the group:

"Guitarist Glenn Kaiser and drummer John Herrin, both pastors in a local Christian community, are leading a rhythmic assault on the ears and bodies of the people in the audience. Glenn slashes at his guitar like he's fighting off a six stringed attacker, while John throws his sticks at his drums. Stu Heiss on guitar and Jim Denton on bass add their instruments to the musical mix. Then Wendi Kaiser belts out her harsh vocals to the first verse of a song that paints a bleak picture of emptiness of modern life -'Hiding out in my bedroom -I wish that I coud die: - No one seems to love me - But Im not going to cry"

In describing the group, Glen Kaiser is quoted as saying:

"We look at ourselves as a band that just happens to be Christian. We are Christians first, and we make no bones about the fact that we follow Jesus and that we are speaking from a Biblical perspective. But at the same time we are no longer afraid to be known as rock and roll musicians."

For this group to talk about following Jesus in the same breath with boasting about being a rock and roll musician is an oxymoron. Its like trying to combine oil and water, light and darkness, sin and salvation. It CANNOT be done.

What they are advocating is something in biblical terminology that does not exist.

The Word of God looks at these issues with the following instructions:

"Wherefore come out from among them, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you" (2 Cor. 6:17)

"...choose you this day whom ye will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Josh. 24:15)

A sympathetic article (April 1986) in Contemporary Christian Magazine about this religious rock group states"

"While undeniably popular among Christian rock fans, Rez has, since its inception in 1972, been periodically targeted by the church's right-wing factions as immoral, as evil influences, as messengers of Satan, and other such tripe. With their latest career move, the band now runs the risk of alienating even their staunchest allies in the world of Christian rock - but its a risk worth taking."

Just what kind of question would the average Christian raise about a religious rock band interested in a good "career move"? It simply sounds like somebody attempting to carve a bigger piece of the pie for themselves.

The article explains just what kind of "career move" this religious rock band is taking:

"A new album, BETWEEN HEAVEN N HELL [their eighth], recently hit the streets, and with it, Rez begins its campaign aimed at winning over the secular mainstream rock audience. Last fall, their label, Sparrow Records, signed a distribution agreement with Capitol Records - a much-vaunted improvement over Sparrow's previous alliance with MCA. Capitol will not only manufacture Sparrow discs, but it will lend its radio promotion staff to help get them played on secular radio stations. So far, BETWEEN HEAVEN N HELL has seen airplay on a number of AOR (album-oriented rock) stations in Texas, including Dallas' formidible KZEW-FM.

Rez has made a number of moves designed to facilitate their transition to the secular market. They've pacted with a New York based management/marketing firm on a four-month trial basis. They have signed with the venerable Divisified Management Agency (DMA) out of Detroit who wil be handling concert bookings. (Other heavy DMA clients include the Scorpions, Quiet Riot, and Autograph) And they've been concentrating more on videos, resulting in MTV's picking up LOVE COMES DOWN, the bands latest video effort as well as their latest single release""

No doubt this religious rock group will have to adopt some changes in this big switch. I wonder if any of the changes will be significant? The article continues:

""The members of Rez band realize their secular move is double jeopardy: they might be rejected by the non-Christian rock establishment for their religious roots and their old fans might take exception to their taking on the world....In order to do that, Rez is all too aware, they're going to "play by certain rules," as Herrin puts it. They've already stopped the practice of altar calls in the concert, and their toning down overt references to the Lord. In general, they want to present themselves, first and foremost, as a rock band""

Do you recognize a trend developing with the religious rockers? Some are quitting the practice of altar calls. Most are dropping clear-cut references to the Lord. The emphasis is on raw rock and roll.

Jesus declared about Himself:

"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me" (John 12:32).

The WOrd of God does not say adopt the tactics, methods, and styles of a rock band.

Can Jesus be really lifted up at a rock concert? Can anyone be genuinely converted while these rock musicians scream their message and play their blaring instruments? The audience wont even know the purpose for any of this so-called "sanctified entertainment."

Contemporary Christian Magazine's article noted that: "...Rez had gotten the distince impression that they were preaching primarily to the converted."

If thats the case, why has this group been attempting to convince Christians for the last twelve years they were playing their brand of music and dressing as the did to reach lost souls? Did it honestly take them that long to reach such a conclusion?

In truth, an altar call does not fit the setting for what most of these groups create. It would be like casting pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6). An altar call should be given when the Spirit of God is present, moving with conviction to touch the hearts and lives of people.

The Spirit of God is not in such concerts, so why give an altar call?