CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC AND ROME

David Cloud

Contemporary Christian Music is ecumenical music. In fact, Contemporary Christian Music is one of the glues holding together the end-times ecumenical movement. 

In his book Making Musical Choices, Richard Peck makes the following important observation about modern church music.

“Aside from its commercialism and its increasing resemblance to the world, contemporary Christian music is becoming a religious melting pot. Some in the community admit that they are not believers. And while this is still an exception, CCM IS PROUD OF ITS ECUMENICAL AND CHARISMATIC SPIRIT. THIS ECUMENISM EXTENDS OPEN ARMS TOWARD APOSTATE PROTESTANT DENOMINATIONS AND THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH” (Making Musical Choices, Bob Jones University, 1986, p. 86).

NOT ONE CCM musician that I know of stands against ecumenism and boldly for the Word of God, the New Testament church, the whole counsel of Bible doctrine, ecclesiastical separation, personal separation from the world, etc. 

Contemporary Christian Music is at home in the most ecumenical of contexts. The same music will be perfectly at home in a Roman Catholic retreat or a World Council of Churches conference or a Charismatic Laughing Revival. CCM is the music of ecumenical evangelism, as epitomized by Billy Graham and Luis Palau crusades. The following is a description of Billy Graham’s 1997 crusade in San Antonio, Texas. 

“More than 700 San Antonio churches representing over 50 denominations have joined together for the Graham crusade, which hopes to attract South Texas youth with big-name Christian rock acts [Amy Grant, dc Talk, Charlie Daniels Band, Michael W. Smith, Steve Green, and Jaci Velasquez] and a Saturday service just for kids” (Houston Chronicle, April 2, 1997).

Contemporary Christian Music was the music of the largest ecumenical Charismatic conference of the last decade, New Orleans ‘87, held in July 1987. I attended this meeting with press credentials. After four days of “renewal” choruses and Christian rock, it was obvious to me that CCM was the preferred music of the 40,000 ecumenical-Charismatics in attendance. Approximately 40 different denominations and groups came together under one roof, including Episcopalian, Church of Christ, United Methodist, American Baptist, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Presbyterian Church USA, and dozens of others, including roughly 20,000 Roman Catholics. Roman Catholic priest Tom Forrest delivered the closing message and brought the mixed multitude to their feet when he called for unity. “We must reach the world,” he cried, “and we must reach it the only way we can reach it; we must reach it TOGETHER!” At those words the crowd became ecstatic, leaping to their feet, shouting, stomping, speaking in tongues, dancing. This same priest spoke at a conference I attended in Indianapolis in 1990 and said he is thankful for Purgatory because he knows that he will not go to Heaven except through that means. Obviously he does not believe in the once-for-all sufficiency of Christ’s atonement. At the book sales area in New Orleans one could purchase Rosary beads and Madonna’s to assist in one’s prayers to Mary. A Catholic Mass was held every morning during the conference. The music that held all of this confusion together was CCM. Youth Explosion ‘87 was held at the same time, and 5,000 young people were bombarded with a steady diet of unscriptural teaching, ecumenism, testimonies by sports stars and entertainment figures, and “Christian” ROCK music. 

CCM is perfectly at home in the midst of such apostate confusion, and as could be expected by those who study the ecumenical movement, THERE IS A STRONG CONNECTION BETWEEN CCM AND THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. 

When Pope John Paul II visited the States in January 1999, well-known Contemporary Christian musicians joined hands with hundreds of thousands of Catholics to welcome him. Featured at a Catholic youth rally connected with the Pope’s visit, were dc Talk, Audio Adrenaline, Rebecca St. James, and Jars of Clay (Music and Entertainment News, http://www.theenews.com/news/slug-12599_ dctalk-pope.html). 

The very popular JOHN MICHAEL TALBOT is a Roman Catholic who prays to Mary and believes in dreams and other forms of extra-biblical revelation. He became a lay “brother” in the order of Secular Franciscans in 1979 and lives in Little Portion Hermitage in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. This is the home of the Brothers and Sisters of Charity, “an integrated monastic community of families, celibates and singles” founded by Talbot. It is formally recognized by the Catholic Church as a “Public Association of the Faithful.” In his book Simplicity, Talbot stated: “Personally, I have found praying the Rosary to be one of the most powerful tools I possess in obtaining simple, childlike meditation on the life of Jesus Christ.” The Rosary is largely a prayer to Mary as the Queen of Heaven. In 1984 Talbot said: “I am also feeling the presence of Mary becoming important in my life. ... I feel that she really does love me and intercedes to God on my behalf” (Contemporary Christian Music Magazine, November 1984, p. 47). 

Talbot says: “Music is an extension of my life. When I became a Christian, my music became Christian music. When I became Catholic, my music became Catholic music” (B. Cole Bennett, “John Michael Talbot: An Encounter with the Counter-Culture,” Shout! magazine, February 1996).

Talbot’s albums were the first by a Catholic artist to be accepted by both Protestant and Catholic listeners. “In 1988, Billboard Magazine reported that Talbot out-ranked all other male Christian artists in total career albums sold. After more than three million sales with Sparrow Records, making him Sparrow’s all-time best-selling recording artist, John Michael Talbot started a new record label in 1992 called Troubadour for the Lord” (“John Michael Talbot,” Talbot’s web site).

In an article entitled “Our Fathers, and Our Divided Family,” in the Catholic Charismatic magazine New Covenant, Talbot called for Christian unity on the basis of the Roman Catholic papacy:

“A Roman Catholic, I respect other Christians. We are especially close to those who value apostolic tradition as well as Scripture. But even in this we face further debates that are obstacles to complete Christian unity. THIS IS WHY THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH INSISTS THAT SCRIPTURE, TRADITION AND MAGISTERIUM ARE NECESSARY FOR A FULLY UNIFIED PEOPLE. WE ROMAN CATHOLICS FIND THIS IN THE POPE AS BISHOP OF ROME, TOGETHER WITH THE BISHOPS OF THE CHURCHES IN FULL COMMUNION WITH ROME. This has theologically freed us to develop the greatest mystical and functional unity in Christendom. It has also given us an authority that enables us to enter into interfaith and ecumenical dialogue without defensiveness. ... May we all hear these ancient truths and experience real conversion of heart” (emphasis added) (John Talbot, “Our Fathers, and Our Divided Family,” New Covenant, September 1997, p. 21).

Talbot says Catholic tradition and the papacy are equal in authority with the Scripture. He says the fullest expression of true Christian unity can be found only in fellowship with the Pope of Rome. He prays that his readers will hear this message and experience conversion to Rome. What could be more unscriptural? The Apostle Paul said anyone, even an angel from heaven, who preaches a false gospel is cursed of God (Galatians 1). The Roman Catholic popes, with their sacramental gospel and blasphemous claims and titles, have been under this curse from their unscriptural origin. Nowhere does the New Testament say the Apostles passed on their authority at death. The true Apostles were given miracle-working signs to authenticate their calling (2 Cor. 12:12). Nowhere does the New Testament establish a pope over all of the churches, and nowhere do we see Peter acting or living as a pope. We don’t need the so-called “church fathers” to explain to us the rule of faith and practice; God has given us an infallible and sufficient rule in the Scriptures (1 Timothy 3:16,17) which were completed by the Apostles and which were sealed with a solemn seal in Revelation 22:18,19.

There is room for Talbot’s apostate theology in the doctrinally confused world of Contemporary Christian Music. He is considered a brother in Christ and is welcomed with open arms, even in the face of God’s commands that we mark and avoid those who promote doctrine contrary to that taught by the Apostles (Romans 16:17-18). This is one of the many reasons why we refuse to have anything to do with CCM and its rebellious musicians and worldly musical styles.The Devil is using the ecumenical thrust of CCM to break down the walls between truth and error toward the completion of the one-world apostate “church.” Referring to the mixed crowds who attended his concerts in Catholic churches, Talbot said that he delights to see Protestants who never would have darkened the doorstep of a Catholic church come to one of his concerts. “All of a sudden they say, ‘Hey, I feel very much at home here. That doesn’t mean necessarily I want to be a Roman Catholic, but I feel very much at home worshipping God with other people who are not that different from me’” (John Talbot, quoted in “Interfaith Album Strikes Sour Note,” Peter Smith, Religious News Service, Dec. 8, 1996).

Surveys show that 60 percent of Talbot’s listeners are non-Catholic. 

In 1996 Talbot produced an album jointly with fellow CCM performer MICHAEL CARD (who claims to be an Evangelical). They also embarked on a concert tour which included concerts in eight cities, “with the audience mix estimated at 50 percent Catholic and 50 percent Protestant” (Charisma, December 1996, p. 29). In March 1996 they performed together for the largest gathering of Catholics in America at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress. Roughly 20,000 “clergy and laity” attended this congress. Both men also spoke at the formation retreat for the Catholic Musicians Association. Talbot is the president of this new association.

On their album Talbot and Card sing: 

“There is one faith/ One hope and one baptism/ One God and Father of all/ There is one church, one body, one life in the spirit/ Now given so freely for all.” 

What one faith, baptism, and church? The Roman Catholic faith is not the Bible faith. It’s infant baptism certainly is not biblical baptism. The Roman church is not the New Testament church found in Scripture. Consider what the Vatican II Council said about purgatory:

“The doctrine of purgatory clearly demonstrates that even when the guilt of sin has been taken away, punishment for it or the consequences of it may remain to be expiated or cleansed. They often are. In fact, in purgatory the souls of those who died in the charity of God and truly repentant, but who had not made satisfaction with adequate penance for their sins and omissions are cleansed after death with punishments designed to purge away their debt” (Vatican II documents, Apostolic Constitution on the Revision of Indulgences, 3).

Purgatory means to cleanse or purify. It is a plain and open denial of the perfect sufficiency of the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ to take away all sin. The Bible says, “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified” (Heb. 10:14). Rome has a faith, a baptism, and a church, but it is not the one we read about in the Holy Scriptures. Why, then, would Michael Card pretend that he and John Talbot are singing about the same thing? If Card believes Talbot’s faith is the one true faith, why does he not become a Roman Catholic?

Of this ecumenical venture with Talbot, Card testified: “Doing this project has enabled us to become real friends. And along the way, THE DENOMINATIONAL LINES HAVE BECOME REALLY MEANINGLESS TO ME, AND TO JOHN, TOO” (CCM Magazine, July 1996). It is painfully obvious that doctrinal truth means nothing to these CCM performers. If Talbot really took his Catholic doctrine seriously, he would not yoke together with those who deny that doctrine, and if Card really took his Evangelical doctrine seriously he would not yoke together with a man who denies that doctrine. If the Pope is truly the Vicar of Christ and the head of all Christians, it would be wicked to deny it; but if the Catholic papacy is nothing but a man-made tradition, it is wicked to believe it. If Mary is truly the immaculate, ever-virgin Queen of Heaven, it would be wicked to deny it; but if the Catholic Mary is a demonic idol, it is wicked to believe it. If the Catholic priesthood really is ordained by God, it would be wicked to deny it; but if it has no authority from God and is merely a tradition of man, it is wicked to accept it. There is no middle ground here. There can be no fellowship between those who hold doctrines this diverse. The Bible says those who teach doctrine contrary to that which the Apostles delivered are to be marked and avoided (Romans 16:17). The Bible wisely asks: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3).

In 1996 Talbot was instrumental in forming the CATHOLIC MUSICIANS ASSOCIATION to encourage Catholic musicians and to help them find a place in the more mainstream Contemporary Christian Music world. Talbot’s friend Michael Card performed at the formation meeting for the new Association. Joining Talbot at the founding meeting in April 1996, were Tony Melendez, Dana, Susan Stein (an executive of Catholic-owned Heartbeat Records), Paulette McCoy (Oregon Catholic Press), Catholic church officials and professionals involved in marketing and publicity (Steve Rabey, “Association Formed to Support Catholic Music,” CCM Update, May 27, 1996). At the meeting Stein said she “would like Protestants and Catholics to set aside what are basically petty differences” and she urged Evangelicals “to be a bit less judgmental and a bit more open to understanding” (Ibid.). You can be sure that Stein’s advice will be taken by the ecumenically-minded CCM crowd. 

The most prolific musician with Heartbeat Records is DANA. She performed for Pope John Paul II at World Youth Day in 1993, and has a album titled “The Rosary” which is about praying to Mary as the Queen of Heaven. Dana’s album “We Are One Body” is a call for ecumenical unity. 

Other Catholic musicians who move within Contemporary Christian Music circles are KATHY TROCCOLI, TOM BOOTH, SARAH HART, DANNY LANGDON, AND SHERYL CROW. The National Catholic Register mentioned all of these in an article in the March 8-14, 1998, issue, stating that they are using their music to “evangelize” Evangelical young people into the Catholic faith. 

KATHY TROCCOLI has been nominated five times as the Gospel Music Association female vocalist of the year. Her 1995 album, Sounds of Heaven, spawned five No. 1 singles. She is a national spokesperson for Chuck Colson’s Prison Fellowship. In an interview with CCM Magazine in 1997 she said: “But I’d been very judgmental toward the Catholic church for years, and I’ve recently been able to go back to it without having a chip on my shoulder. I now have a much greater capacity for--as the album says--Love and Mercy.” Troccoli preaches an ecumenical, non-judgmental, anti-fundamentalist philosophy:

“To me it’s very simple: if the world doesn’t see God’s love in us and our love for each other, they’re never going to want what we have. Our dogma and legalism strangle the love of Christ right out of us” (CCM Magazine, June 1997).

This sounds good to many ears, and there is no doubt about the importance of Christian love; but it is impossible to obey the Bible without being deeply concerned about doctrine (“dogma”) and obedience to the details of God’s Word (“legalism”). Jude 3 explains that God has given one faith to His people, and that faith, as recorded in the New Testament Scriptures, is to be preserved and fought for until Jesus returns. It is absolutely impossible to obey Jude 3 and be ecumenical and non-judgmental at the same time. The chief thing which divides denominations is doctrine. 

Troccoli’s 1997 album, Love One Another, has an ecumenical theme: “Christians from all denominations demonstrating their common love for Christ and each other” (Dave Urbanski, “Chatty Kathy,” CCM Magazine, June 1997). The recording of the title song involved 40 CCM artists: Amy Grant, Gary Chapman, Clay Crosse, Sandi Patty, Michael W. Smith, Carman, Tony Vincent, Jonathan Pierce, Mark Lowry, Phillips, Craig and Dean, Aaron and Jeoffrey, Jaci Velasquez, Lisa Bevill, Scott Krippayne, Sarah Masen, Babbie Mason, Sara Jahn, Carolyn Arends, Vestal Goodman, Paul Vann, Billy and Sarah Gaines, Tim Taber, Sarah Hart, Peter Penrose, Janet Paschal, Beverly Crawford, Phil Joel of the Newsboys, Kevin Smith of dc Talk, Tai Anderson of Third Day, plus the members of Out of the Grey, Beyond the Blue, 4 HIM, Christafari, and Audio Adrenaline. Like most CCM songs, this one is owned by a secular corporation. It is copyrighted 1996 by Sony/ATV Songs, Tree Publishing, Pants Down Music, and Radioquest Music Publishing. The song talks about tearing down the walls of denominational division.

“Look around the world today/ There is anger there is hate/ And I know that it grieves His heart/ When His people stand apart/ Cause we’re the only Jesus they will see/ Love one another, and live as one in His name/ Love one another we can tear down walls by His grace” (“Love One Another”).

The broad range of participants who joined Kathy Troccoli in recording “Love One Another” demonstrates the ecumenical agenda of Contemporary Christian Music. The song witnessed Catholics, Pentecostals, Baptists, etc., yoked together to call for Christian unity. The New Testament repeatedly warns of widespread apostasy among those who claim to be Christians, yet the ecumenical movement ignores apostasy and calls for almost unqualified unity among professing Christians. While there is little doubt that God is grieved by some of the divisions among Bible-believing Christians, it is not true that the heart of God is grieved by all divisions within Christianity, because there are divisions He Himself has commanded. He has commanded that His people separate from those who follow doctrinal error. 

In 1988 the Catholic Daughter’s of St. Paul formed KRYSTAL RECORDS. The first release was the album “No Greater Love” by Dana. One of the songs is “Totus Tuus,” which means “Totally Yours” and which is Pope John Paul II’s motto. The words, which are embroidered on his papal robes, refer to his dedication to Mary. Some have falsely claimed that the motto refers to the Pope’s dedication to Jesus Christ, but in his own book, Crossing the Threshold of Hope (Alfred A. Knopf, 1994), John Paul II testifies that Totus Tuus describes his devotion to Mary. 

Popular CCM musician PHIL KEAGGY made a commitment to Christ in an Assemblies of God church in 1970, but he has not rejected Roman Catholicism. Note the following statement from a 1995 interview:

“… the Gospel is preached in many Catholic churches, and the truth is known there. … Over the years, I’ve been a part of many nondenominational churches and denominational churches, but I have even a higher regard and respect for my Catholic upbringing, because I believe it planted the seeds of faith in me. And I read books that give me a greater understanding of the Catholic faith today. I’m not a practicing Catholic, but I believe that I’m a true believer who responds to the truth that is there. Because it’s ancient tradition; it goes way back. I think Martin Luther had some great ideas, and showed us that we’re saved by grace through faith, but he was a Catholic when he posted all that up! … I have great fellowship with my Catholic brethren today. I have some dear friends across the country that I’ve made. That’s a whole other subject; but I think when the Lord looks at his Bride, he doesn’t see the walls that we use to divide ourselves from each other. He sees one body, and that body is comprised of his children, those who he bought and paid for with his blood … I love the liturgy; I think liturgy with the Spirit is one of the most powerful ways of communicating the life of God to us” (Phil Keaggy, cited by Tom Loredo, “Phil Keaggy in His Own Words,” Way Back Home, December 1995).

It is true that Catholicism can plant general seeds of faith in God that can sometimes be watered by the Gospel, but to imply that Catholic churches preach the Gospel is completely untrue. It is true that Martin Luther was a Catholic when he first made his protest against Rome, but he did not learn salvation by grace alone from Roman Catholicism. He learned it from the Bible IN SPITE OF Rome, and Rome quickly condemned him. Rome’s Council of Trent, which was responding to Luther, boldly cursed anyone who says that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone by the blood of Christ alone without works or sacraments, and Trent has never been rescinded. Any Catholic church that preaches the true Gospel that salvation has nothing whatsoever to do with works or sacraments (and I don’t know of any) is preaching contrary to what Roman Catholicism teaches in its official proclamations. The Catholic Church plainly states that salvation is by grace PLUS works and sacraments. Not only does the Catholic Church deny the Gospel of the grace of Christ by its formal declarations, but in many other ways, as well. (See Part IX.) The all-sufficiency of Christ’s once-for-all atonement is denied by the Catholic Mass, which alleges to be a continual re-offering of Christ’s sacrifice. The all-sufficiency of Jesus Christ is also denied by the Catholic priesthood, which alleges to stand between the believer and Christ. The all-sufficiency of Christ is further denied by the Catholic sainthood, which alleges to mediate between men and God. Keaggy says he loves the Catholic liturgy, but it is contrary to the Bible. There is no mass in the Bible. In fact, there are no sacraments in the New Testament Scriptures. Sacraments are supposed to be channels of grace, but the ordinances of true New Testament churches (believer’s baptism and the Lord’s Supper) are not channels of grace but are symbols and simple reminders only. Grace comes directly to the believer from Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. Christ said, “Come unto ME” (Matt. 11:28; 19:14; Jn. 6:35,37; 7:37). 

Keaggy discounts the importance of sound doctrine when he says that God does not see differences between churches and denominations. The Lord Jesus Christ warned that there would be many false teachers who would lead many astray from the truth (Matt. 7:15). He warned that as His return draws nearer, false teachers would increase (Matt. 24:11,24). The Apostles likewise warned of a great apostasy or turning away from the true New Testament faith, of the rise of many false teachers, of the creation of false churches, of false christs, false gospels, false spirits (2 Cor. 11:1-4; 1 Timothy 4; 2 Timothy 3-4; 2 Peter 2; 1 John 2,4; Jude; Revelation 17). If God sees all denominations as a part of His one body, where are the false teachers? Where are the false churches? Where is the spirit of antichrist? Where are the false christs, gospels, spirits?

The following is from a more recent interview: 

“I’m just pro-Jesus. I’ll go into any church where His name is honored. I don’t know where it will take me. I just know that Christians need to love each other” (Phil Keaggy, cited by Dave Ubanski, “Fret Not,” CCM Magazine, Nov. 1998, p. 36). 

This sounds good to many, but Keaggy ignores the Bible’s warning that there are false christs (2 Cor. 11:3-4). The “Jesus” honored by many churches is an unscriptural Jesus, and the Bible warns that God’s people are not to fellowship with these (2 John 10-11). Christian love is important, but the Bible says that true love is obeying God’s commandments (1 John 5:3).

In an interview with Religious Broadcasting, Keaggy further emphasized his ecumenical philosophy: 

“I think also the unity that is so necessary in the body of Christ is important. I admire Charles Colson. He got a lot of flack for writing the book, The Body, and being associated with Catholics. I was raised Catholic and my mother’s influence was powerful in my life. I came to the Lord when she passed away. She sowed the seeds in my life for me to become a believer. There are divisive voices out there. People who thrive on disunity are the ones [to whom] you’ve got to say, ‘I’m not going to contend with this, I’m not going to argue, I’m just going to go about my business’” (“Saran E. Smitha and Christine Pryor, “Integrity Times Two: Michael Card and Phil Keaggy,” Religious Broadcasting, National Religious Broadcasters, July-August 1995). 

The Christian life would be much simpler if one could follow Keaggy’s advice and not get involved in contentions about doctrine and Christian living, but faithfulness to the Word of God does not allow it. Keaggy says he is not going to “contend,” but God requires that His people “earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints” (Jude 3) and reprove the unfruitful works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11). Obedience to such commands does not allow me to follow Keaggy’s New Evangelical advice.

Keaggy’s unscriptural ecumenical philosophy and anti-fundamentalist attitude is perfectly at home in the world of Contemporary Christian Music. 

MICHAEL W. SMITH performed at the Catholic-sponsored World Youth Day in Denver, Colorado, in 1993. Smith and guitarist-songwriter BILLY SPRAGUE performed with Catholic Kathy Troccoli at a concert in November 1985 in Tampa, Florida. The concert was sponsored by Youth for Christ and the First Assembly of God of Clearwater, Florida (St. Petersburg Times, Florida, Religious Section, Nov. 9, 1985, p. 3). Smith also wrote the foreword to Brennan Manning’s The Ragamuffin Gospel, which is published by Multnomah Press. Manning is a Roman Catholic who attends mass daily.

Smith and AMY GRANT are among the CCM artists who have had interviews published in the Roman Catholic youth magazine YOU (The Fundamentalist Digest, May-June 1992). Kathy Troccoli was the backup singer for Amy Grant before she began her own recording career in 1982. In 1994 the Catholic St. John’s University gave its highest award, the Pax Christi, to Grant (Houston Chronicle, May 7, 1994). Pax Christi is the radical International Catholic Peace Movement. 

MARGARET BECKER claims to have had a religious experience which has made her more appreciative of her Roman Catholicism. In a 1994 interview she said she began mixing faith with her music and gained a greater appreciation for her own faith, Catholicism. “Now, I’m taking that knowledge with me back to the church of my youth.” Becker declared: “The familiar prayers and practices are very rich and touch me in a different, more intimate way” (The Fundamentalist Digest, May-June 1994). She is ecumenical and moves in a wide range of denominational forums. For example, she was scheduled to appear at the First Assembly of God in Warrenton, Virginia, in September 1993. That same month she was featured in a “Margaret Becker Youth Fest” at a large Baptist Bible Fellowship church, Riverdale Baptist Church, Riverdale, Maryland. She was scheduled to appear at a Church of Christ in Converse, Indiana, in March 1994. 

The very popular SANDI PATTY moves freely in ecumenical circles. She has entertained audiences as diverse as Billy Graham crusades, Jerry Falwell meetings, Southern Baptist Convention annual conferences, and Pope John Paul II Masses (she performed at a papal Mass in Los Angeles in September 1987).

SHEILA WALSH frequently “performs” in Charismatic-ecumenical settings. Together with roughly 20,000 Roman Catholics, she participated in the North American Congress on the Holy Spirit & World Evangelization in New Orleans in 1987. 

When Pope John Paul II visited the United States in January 1999, many well-known Contemporary Christian musicians joined hands with hundreds of thousands of Catholics to welcome him. Featured at a Catholic youth rally connected with the Pope’s visit, were DC TALK, AUDIO ADRENALINE,REBECCA ST. JAMES, JENNIFER KNAPP, THE WS, AND THE SUPERTONES (CCM Magazine, April 1999, p. 12). According to Music and Entertainment News, JARS OF CLAY was also scheduled to appear, though other reports did not mention them (Music and Entertainment News, http://www.theenews.com/news/slug-12599_dctalk-pope.html). Knapp said she was excited about joining the Pope to “build on the unity of faith” (CCM Magazine, op. cit.). dc Talk’s Kevin Max praised the Catholic youth for coming out to hear the Pope, describing John Paul II as “someone with something of substance to say” (Ibid.). A large group of nuns and Dominican priests “danced with abandon” at the Supertones rock music. Each attendee received a rosary with instructions about how to pray to Mary.

The VINEYARD CHURCHES, founded by the late JOHN WIMBER, have had a wide influence with their praise music. Wimber himself, who was the manager of the secular group The Righteous Brothers before his conversion, wrote many popular songs, and many of the Vineyard churches are noted for their influential music groups. The Vineyard is very ecumenical. Wimber frequently spoke on the same platform with Roman Catholic priests and apparently saw no serious problem with their doctrine. In 1986 Wimber joined Catholic priest Tom Forrest and Anglican Michael Harper at the European Festival of Faith, an ecumenical meeting in Birmingham, England. The Festival leaders and the 8,000 participants sent the Pope of Rome a message: “We are ready to join you in the united evangelism of Europe” (Australian Beacon, March 1988). 

Wimber was a featured speaker at the North American Congress on the Holy Spirit & World Evangelization in Indianapolis, August 1990. In that forum he joined hands with roughly 12,000 Roman Catholics, including countless priests and nuns. A Catholic Mass was held every morning of the convention. I was present at this conference with press credentials and heard Wimber speak. 

In October 1991, the Wimber conference in Sydney, Australia, featured Catholic priests Tom Forrest and Raniero Cantalamessa, as well as Catholic layman Kevin Ranaghan. Tom Forrest spoke at Indianapolis ‘90 and said he praises God for purgatory. Cantalamessa is the papal preacher at the Vatican. Ranaghan claims that the Roman Catholic Church alone contains the fullness of God and truth and that the pope is the infallible head of all churches. In spite of their blasphemous heresies, these men were featured by Wimber as Spirit-filled men of God.

In his church planting seminar Wimber said there is nothing scripturally wrong with the Catholic practice of seeking healing through relics: “In the Catholic church for over a 1,200 year period people were healed as a result of touching the relics of the saints. We Protestants have difficulty with that ... but we healers shouldn’t, because there’s nothing theologically out of line with that” (John Wimber, Church Planting Seminar).

Wimber was not only open to Roman Catholic doctrine but actively encouraged the reunification of Protestants with the church of Rome. “During the Vineyard pastors’ conference, he went so far as to ‘apologize’ to the Catholic church on behalf of all Protestants ... He stated that ‘the Pope, who by the way is very responsive to the Charismatic movement, and is himself a born-again Evangelical, is preaching the Gospel as clear as anyone in the world today’” (Pastor John Goodwin, Testing the Fruit of the Vineyard, San Jose, Calif., citing John Wimber’s Church Planting Seminar, audio tapes, 5 volumes, unedited, 1981).

In an article in the June 2001 issue of CCM Magazine, Contemporary Christian musicians are quoted praising Mother Teresa. MARK LOWRY, who sings with the Gaither Quartet, praised Mother Teresa and Princess Diana. “Diana and Mother Teresa were using their influence for good. One from a palace and the other from poverty. That’s what we all should do” (Gregory Rumburg and April Hefner, “The Princess and the Nun,” CCM Magazine, June 2001). 

RAY BOLTZ, who met Mother Teresa in 1996, is also quoted in the article. He said: “Mother Teresa was an example to us. When she started this ministry, she was a teacher. She felt God calling her to minister to the poor. At that time, for a woman to tell her superiors she was called to ministry—that was really out of the ordinary. I am impressed she did not go along with status quo, but followed the call of God. That is refreshing and different and part of why she stands out” (Ibid.). Neither Lowry nor Boltz had a word of warning about Mother Teresa’s false gospel that has caused multitudes to die with a false hope.

GRAHAM KENDRICK is one of the most prominent names in Contemporary Christian Music, and one of his objectives is to break down denominational barriers and created ecumenical unity. He was a founder of the ecumenical March for Jesus program, which not only involves Roman Catholics but Mormons as well. A biography at Kendrick’s web site boasts: “Crossing international and denominational barriers, his songs, like the popular Shine Jesus Shine, have been used from countless small church events to major festivals -- including Promise Keeper rallies, Billy Graham crusades and a four million-strong open air mass in the Philippines capital Manila, where the Pope ‘swung his cane in time to the music.’”

Contemporary Christian Music is ecumenical music, and for this reason alone it would be deeply suspect. Churches that do not allow ecumenical speakers and do not participate in ecumenical meetings and organizations are not wise to allow the ecumenical music to pervade the congregation. “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Corinthians 15:33). “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump” (Galatians 5:9).