WAR IN THE CAMP

Contemporary Christian Music And Seventh-Day Adventism

Prov 16:25 - There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end
thereof are the ways of death.

Drama at the base of Mt. Sinai

Ex 24:7 The claim to righteousness - We will do all God's commandments.

PP 315 - During this period of waiting, there was time for them to meditate
upon the law of God which they had heard, and to prepare their hearts to
receive the further revelations that He might make to them. They had
none too much time for this work; and had they been thus seeking a clearer
understanding of Gods requirements, and humbling their hearts before Him,
they would have been shielded from temptation. But they did not do this,
and they soon became careless, inattentive, and lawless. Especially was
this the case with the mixed multitude. They were impatient to be on their way
to the Land of Promisethe land flowing with milk and honey. It was only on
condition of obedience that the goodly land was promised them, but
they had lost sight of this. There were some who suggested a return to
Egypt, but whether forward to Canaan or backward to Egypt, the masses of
the people were determined to wait no longer for Moses.

Drama at the base of Mt. Sinai

Ex 32:1 - Up, make us gods...

Ex 32:3,4 Aaron took their ornaments and used them to fashion a
molten calf with a graving tool.
Ex 32:4 - These be thy gods, O Israel which saved them from
Egypt. The saviour of God's people is now Satan.
Ex 32:5 - Tomorrow is a feast to the LORD. (to Jehovah)!!
Ex 32:6 - And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt
offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down
to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.
Israel began by worshipping God in burnt offerings and peace
offerings, but descended into idolatry in worship.

Drama at the base of Mt. Sinai

PP 317 - How often, in our own day, is the love of pleasure

disguised by a form of godliness! A religion that permits
men, while observing the rites of worship, to devote
themselves to selfish or sensual gratification, is as pleasing
to the multitudes now as in the days of Israel. And there are still
pliant Aarons, who, while holding positions of authority in the
church, will yield to the desires of the unconsecrated, and thus
encourage them in sin.

Drama at the base of Mt. Sinai

The sins of the church were immediately noticed by God who told
Moses: Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest
out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves (Ex 32:7)
Ex 32:17,18 - And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as
they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the
camp. And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for
mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome:
but the noise of them that sing do I hear.
PP 310 - As they drew near the encampment, they beheld the
people shouting and dancing around their idol. It was a scene
of heathen riot, an imitation of the idolatrous feasts of Egypt;
but how unlike the solemn and reverent worship of God!

Drama at the base of Mt. Sinai

God's people pledged to serve Him.

After a tarrying time, they failed to manifest the patience of the
saints and were drawn back to the worship systems of their
former enslavement.
They mingled the worship of God with heathen worship.
God was cognizant of their apostasy and was greatly
displeased.
Some supposed the camp was at war. The worship methods
used were unlike God's calm and tempered methods. They
were violent and chaotic, fulfilling the lusts of the flesh.

Drama at the turn of the 20 century

th

1SM 31 - A fanatical teaching termed The Doctrine of

Holy Flesh was started in 1900 in Indiana, leading the
conference president and various workers into serious error.
This theory alleged that those who follow the Saviour must
have their fallen natures perfected by passing through a
Garden of Gethsemane experience, thus acquiring a
state of physical sinlessness as an essential preparation for
translation. Eyewitness accounts report that in their services
the fanatics worked up a high pitch of excitement by use
of musical instruments such as organs, flutes, fiddles,
tambourines, horns, and even a big bass drum.

Drama at the turn of the 20 century

th

(contd.) 1SM 31 - They sought a physical demonstration

and shouted and prayed and sang until someone in the
congregation would fall, prostrate and unconscious, from
his seat. One or two men, walking up and down the aisle for
the purpose, would drag the fallen person up on the rostrum.
Then about a dozen individuals would gather around the
prostrate body, some singing, some shouting, and some
praying, all at the same time. When the subject revived, he
was counted among those who had passed through the
Gethsemane experience, had obtained holy flesh, and had
translation faith. Thereafter, it was asserted, he could not sin
and would never die.

Drama at the turn of the 20 century

th

The manner in which the meetings in Indiana have been carried on,
with noise and confusion, does not commend them to thoughtful,
intelligent minds. There is nothing in these demonstrations which will
convince the world that we have the truth. Mere noise and shouting
are no evidence of sanctification, or of the descent of the Holy Spirit.
The Lord desires to have in His service order and discipline, not
excitement and confusion.
The things you have described as taking place in Indiana, the Lord has
shown me would take place just before the close of probation. Every
uncouth thing will be demonstrated. There will be shouting, with drums,
music, and dancing. The senses of rational beings will become so
confused that they cannot be trusted to make right decisions. And
this is called the moving of the Holy Spirit.

Drama at the turn of the 20 century

th

The Holy Spirit never reveals itself in such methods, in such a

bedlam of noise. This is an invention of Satan to cover up his
ingenious methods for making of none effect the pure, sincere,
elevating, ennobling, sanctifying truth for this time. Better never
have the worship of God blended with music than to use
musical instruments to do the work which last January was
represented to me would be brought into our camp meetings. The
truth for this time needs nothing of this kind in its work of
converting souls. A bedlam of noise shocks the senses and
perverts that which if conducted aright might be a blessing. The
powers of satanic agencies blend with the din and noise, to
have a carnival, and this is termed the Holy Spirits working.

Drama at the turn of the 20 century

th

The third angels message is to be given in straight lines. It is to be kept

free from every thread of the cheap, miserable inventions of mens
theories, prepared by the father of lies, and disguised as was the brilliant
serpent used by Satan as a medium of deceiving our first parents.
Those things which have been in the past will be in the future. Satan will
make music a snare by the way in which it is conducted. God calls
upon His people, who have the light before them in the Word and in the
Testimonies, to read and consider, and to take heed. Clear and definite
instruction has been given in order that all may understand. But the
itching desire to originate something new results in strange doctrines,
and largely destroys the influence of those who would be a power for
good if they held firm the beginning of their confidence in the truth the
Lord had given them.

Drama at the turn of the 20 century

th

Search the scriptures, Christ declared, for in them ye

think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of
me (John 5:39). Those who dig beneath the surface
discover the hidden gems of truth. The Holy Spirit is present
with the earnest searcher. Its illumination shines upon the
Word, stamping the truth upon the mind with a new, fresh
importance. The searcher is filled with a sense of peace and
joy never before felt. The preciousness of truth is realized as
never before. A new, heavenly light shines upon the Word,
illuminating it as though every letter were tinged with gold.
God Himself has spoken to the mind and heart, making the
Word spirit and life.

Drama at the turn of the 20 century

th

Every true searcher of the Word lifts his heart to God, imploring
the aid of the Spirit. And he soon discovers that which carried him
above all the fictitious statements of the would-be teacher, whose
weak, tottering theories are not sustained by the Word of the living
God. These theories were invented by men who had not learned
the first great lesson, that Gods Spirit and life are in His
Word. If they had received in the heart the eternal element
contained in the Word of God, they would see how tame and
expressionless are all efforts to get something new to create a
sensation. They need to learn the very first principles of the Word
of God; they would then have the word of life for the people, who
will soon distinguish the chaff from the wheat, for Jesus left His
promise with His disciples.

Drama at the end of time

We must realize that music is not neutral. The

nature of the music aligns for or against God.
Rev 12:17 - And the dragon was wroth with the
woman, and went to make war with the remnant of
her seed, which keep the commandments of God,
and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
The devil has come to the remnant of God's
people, knowing that he has but a short time. Thus,
he seeks to contaminate the music of the day.

Drama at the end of time

Music is the most powerful stimulus known among the

perceptive senses. The medical, psychiatric and other
evidences for the non-neutrality of music is so overwhelming
that it frankly amazes me that anyone should seriously say
otherwise. - The Psychology of Music by Dr. Max Schoen.
Music is made up of many ingredients and according to the
proportion of these components, it can be soothing or
invigorating, ennobling or vulgarizing, philosophical or
orgiastic. It has powers for evil as well as good.Dr.
Howard Hanson, American Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 40,
1943, p. 317.

Drama at the end of time

1. Music is perceived and enjoyed without necessarily being interpreted by the
higher centers of the brain involving reason and judgment.
2. Response to music is measurable even though the listener is not giving
conscious attention to it.
3. There is evidence that music can bring about mood changes by affecting the
body chemistry and electrolyte balance.
4. By lowering the level of sensory perception, music heightens the responses to
color, touch, and other sensory perceptions.
5. It has been shown that music affects changes in muscular energy and
promotes or inhibits body movement.
6. Highly repetitive rhythmic music has a hypnotic effect.
7. The sense of hearing has a greater effect upon the autonomic nervous
system than any of the other senses.

Testimony of Juan Carlos Pardeiro

In my youth I was a nationally famous rock star in Uruguay, my

home country. God has brought me a long way. I especially
remember a particular evening long ago:
The air was warm and radiant; the screams could be heard several
blocks away. Thousands of cars overflowed the parking lot of the
huge stadium. Inside, the voices of the wild audience mingled with
the screeching of electric guitars and the lead singers intense
yelling. Smoke rising through colors flashing from the strobe lights,
along with the fans frenzied dancing, helped create a bewitching
atmosphere. Every movement the rock stars made was watched by
thousands of intently adoring eyes. As the sounds burst from the
stage, a wave of screaming and uncontrolled crying flooded back.

Testimony of Juan Carlos Pardeiro

From the outside, the scene in the stadium resembled a

cage of demons. Inside, the sensual atmosphere made
everyone lose command of self-respect and sanity.
Everyone was caught up in a single torrent of emotions,
as if guided by invisible hands toward an abyss of
endless ecstasy.
Everyone, that is, except the lead singer. He was there
watching it all, unable to understand it. I was that lead
singer. I was a major cause of the madness.

Testimony of Louis Torres

I recalled the effects of the music I once helped

produce in nightclubs. I remembered seeing
sensuality, uncontrolled emotions, rebellion, violence,
and what I would now call devil possession. I heard
people on drugs blurt out Wow! as they experienced
highs stimulated by our music. I also saw extreme
lethargy. I confess with shame that our ability to
produce these different reactions and sensual
responses to our music filled us with glee. Yes, we
knew we were manipulating peoples minds.

Testimony of Dr. Wolfgang Stefani

Dr. Wolfgang Stefani, a religion scholar, tells about the time he traveled to
a distant city to study under a distinguished professor of music. When
asked one day why he wanted advance training, Dr. Stefani replied, I told
him I was a minister as well as a musician and I wanted to gain a better
understanding of how to use music meaningfully in Christian worship.
He turned to me and laughed, You Christians! He said, Often when I
hear music in your churches as I walk past, it is no different from what I
hear on radio and TV shows. It often speaks more of aggression and
sexuality than it does of reverence. Does that say something about
your religion? If you really want to touch and draw me, Im looking for
something different from what I can get blaring from every commercial
radio station in the land. Dr. Wolfgang H.M. Stefani, Here I Stand,
2005, p. 448.

The spirit behind the music

At the request of the Seattle Times, Dr. Bernard Saibel, child guidance
expert for the Washington State Division of Community Services,
attended a concert of the Beatles. After the performance he wrote:

The experience of being with 14,000 teenagers to see the Beatles is

unbelievable and frightening . . The hysteria and loss of control go far
beyond the impact of the music. Many of those present became frantic,
hostile, uncontrolled, screaming, unrecognizable beings . . This is
not simply a release, as I first thought it would be, but a very destructive
process.
Normally recognizable girls behaved as if possessed by some
demonic urge, defying in emotional ecstasy the restraints which
authorities and common sense would place on them.Seattle Times,
August 22, 1964.

A warning for time and for eternity

1T 497 - The introduction of music into their homes, instead of

inciting to holiness and spirituality, has been the means of diverting
their minds from the truth. Frivolous songs and the popular sheet
music of the day seem congenial to their taste. The instruments of
music have taken time which should have been devoted to prayer.
Music, when not abused, is a great blessing; but when put to a
wrong use, it is a terrible curse.
1T 496 - Young Sabbathkeepers are given to pleasure
seeking...Their minds are filled with nonsense. Their conversation is
only empty, vain talk. They have a keen ear for music, and Satan
knows what organs to excite to animate, engross, and charm the
mind so that Christ is not desired. The spiritual longings of the soul for
divine knowledge, for a growth in grace, are wanting.

A warning for time and for eternity

1T 503 - The young urge that they need something to enliven and
divert the mind. I saw that there is pleasure in industry, a satisfaction
in pursuing a life of usefulness. Some still urge that they must have
something to interest the mind when business ceases, some mental
occupation or amusement to which the mind can turn for relief and
refreshment amid cares and wearing labor. The Christians hope is just
what is needed. Religion will prove to the believer a comforter, a sure
guide to the Fountain of true happiness. The young should study the
word of God and give themselves to meditation and prayer, and they
will find that their spare moments cannot be better employed. Young
friends, you should take time to prove your own selves, whether you are
in the love of God. Be diligent to make your calling and election sure.
It depends upon your own course of action whether you secure to
yourselves the better life.