Hey guys, found this on jesusfreakhideout.com.
"The current issue of Rolling Stone magazine (w/ Jessica Simpson on the cover) features John Reuben in regards to performing at a new Christian rock club called Club Three Degrees. The article briefly mentions Reuben among a few other artists who have performed at the club. However, giving a more negative angle to the story, the author doesn't hesitate to point out that MxPx refuses to play the club because the owners apparently demand the artists preach from the stage. MxPx's frontman Mike Herrara go as far as comparing the club owners to communists. It's an interesting read needless to say... "
My personal feelings on this are that its kind of stupid to require that a band preach at your club (although its their club, so they can do what they want). I really think it should be up to the band to do what they feel God wants them to, whether its preach, play guitar behind their head, or wear pixie wings during the concert-and I think that with a lot of bands the music really speaks for itself, so its not necessary to preach (unless, once again, its what they feel God wants them to do). Let the debate begin.

I personally don't trust anything I read online until I research it for myself. I have not had the chance to read the actual artice as of yet. I find it hard to believe that a "Christian" club would require preaching. I could be wrong. I am now eager to go find the article during lunch and see for myself what was said.

I live like an hour from the club, so I know it exists, and JfH is usually pretty reliable. I'll go check out rolling stone and see if they have it on their website.

Well, I agree with Mike, if what I read is true.
He's a very nice and Godly man.

You agree with the club owners being compared to communists? I think that is being a little extreem. I wouldn't go that far. I don't agree with forcing someone to preach, or not to preach for that matter. I believe in doing what the Holy Spirit leads you to do.

I love it when musicians preach at concerts. I think it says alot about the integrity of the artist being unashamed of the gospel. I've seen bands that stop the music and preach for 10 or 15 minutes. I've seen bands that stop and read a quick passage and have a short comment. I've seen bands that lead worship and say a couple of quick blurbs. I haven't read the article. I do know that if a christian artist says anything that could possibly be scewed into something bad about the church than most secular writers will capitalize on it. Should a club require it? That's thier decision. If the band doesn't feel led to preach then that would not be the venue for that band. However if the quote comparing the club owners to communists is true and in context then I would doubt that statement was led by the Holy Spirit.

There's nothing wrong with it. Bands come prepared for songs, they can just as well come prepared for a sermon. If that is what is required.

If you don't want to preach, then don't sing. There's nothing to it. God gave the club owners a vision and they can fullfil that vision as God leads them. When you sing in their club, you must submit to their authority, which was given to them by God. It is rebellion against God's authority to rebel against them, when you play in their club. Even if you don't agree.

It's all about submitting. The word says we must submit one to another, and not consider ourselves better than others, but to consider them our superiors.

Submitting is really lacking in our societies, cause everyone has a right blah blah blah. That's not God's way. He alone is Creator God and all belong to him. Submitting to one another is important, not just does it gives leaders reigns to lead, but they can input difficult things into our lives without us squirming away. Otherwise we run when things get hot.

My 2 cents

A lot of problems have arose in society today because of I Have this right and that right. Rights come from God not from a government, not from society not from a piece of paper with the beliefs of the countries founders They come from God!

I've never been to a concert so I dunno much bout preaching. I like the idea of it tho. All it takes is one Christian to bring an unsaved friend, by being there they could hear the Gospel for the first time! Even if they've heard it before its always good to refresh it in their mind and get them thinking about it.

You've never been to a concert?

Nah, that's okay.

:'( No I haven't really stinks too. Wish I cud go c Skillet live!

Ouch, that suks.

I've been to a few, local artists, and the best time is usually when they talk to the crowd. It makes the music and ministry complete.

I agree that it beings completeness. I couldn't image John not saying a few words or "getting on one of his soap boxes". The crowd always listens attentivly. I have never been to a Skillet show where someone didn't give their life to Christ. That is the beauty of their ministry.

Yeah, at the one Skillet concert I've been to, John got up during the middle of the concert and spoke for a good 45 minutes!! It was awesome!! I was like, 'wow, he's got a good message! He's actually preaching!' I admired them a lot for that. I've been to MANY Christian concerts. At some, the singers would just read a verse or two and pray, at others there was an alter call (at Skillet), and at some (Relient K) the Gospel was never mentioned or anything. It was still a fun concert (Relient K), but I just felt something was missing. Now, if you can tell from the lyrics and stuff that a group is OBVIOUSLY Christian, I think it's different. But some Christian groups aren't that outspoken. It seemed ironic that a group that's lyrics were so outspoken about God preached, yet a group whose lyrics hardly ever mention Jesus said nothing about Him. Or maybe it's not irony, maybe it's just the way things go.

that's ridiculous...what if they aren't good speakers but they rule as musicians...no one should ever be forced into preaching a sermon in the middle of their set.

they are musicians, not preachers, let them play music, if they want to speak, let them speak, if they don't, it's not the end of the world

It's not ridiculous, it's called witnessing! If you're not a good speaker, then don't give an hour long sermon, but DO mention God or Jesus in there somewhere. Or pray, or have someone else in the group, who is good at speaking, pray or say something. I do think it's wrong to FORCE people to speak, though. But we, as Christians, need to always be prepared to witness to anyone, anywhere!

Just because someone is good at music and plays in a band, doesn't make that their ministry. Their ministry could be something totally different to playing music, music may just be a talent they have!

Yes some bands their music IS their ministry (like Skillet n all) but I know there are bands thats music isn't their Ministry. But forcing a ministry band to not preach and a non-minstry band to preach just isn't right. They should do as God leads them not as the owner of a club leads them.

ditto

Actually in regards to preaching it depends on their audience. If MXPX started to preach to the majority of their audiences people would leave. I work concerts as an audio engineer, secular and (mostly) Christian. And at a secular event, everytime the artist opens their mouth to start to say something, a large majority of people become uninterested. If the artist is known, people go to hear the music, not to hear the artist speak.

Christian events are the exception. Groups that play mostly to Christian audiences are usually expected to speak and minister to the crowd.

One again a Christian artist that is doing outreach may have to tone down their "preachiness" in order to be more effective at reaching the crowd.



Regarding rights, we have certain unalienable rights given to us by God which are protected by the government at our consent. In other words, we get to choose who protects our rights. And if our rights are not protected, then we have a duty to overthrow the abuser of those rights and instill a new government.

Declreation of Independence:
http://www.law.indiana.edu/uslawdocs/declaration.html

Do you know the whole thing that God told the Laodicean church in revelations: That you are not hot neither cold, now you are luke warm and I will spit you out of my mouth .

The meaning of "Laodicea" is "human rights" and points to the time we are living in.

You loose your rights when you follow Christ. Our lives belong to him and we are dead to ourselves.

Skillet says it best: You take my rights away, you take control, no stopping You.

Keeping your rights, means keeping your life. And those who cling to their life, loose it.

Everyone can preach. All who follow Jesus can testify and that is what God asks of us. To tell what he has done for us. Glory to God

You loose your rights when you follow Christ. Our lives belong to him and we are dead to ourselves.

Skillet says it best: You take my rights away, you take control, no stopping You.

Keeping your rights, means keeping your life. And those who cling to their life, loose it.



Amen. Personally I don't see a point in keeping rights, Haven't done me any good! Lol. I'd rather have god on my side than have rights ANY day of the week

Keep in mind that the Bible was written before the concept of individual rights really existed.

It wasn't until John Locke and the social contract until we as huamns really discovered we had rights of our own. And the rights of "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness" are divine rights, given to us from God, not from man. If the Bible were written (about) tweleve centuries later I am confident that idea would be in there somewhere. Remember a large portion of the Bible is is a result of the culture and times it was written in. That obviously doesn't mean it is invalid but it doesn't mean that we throw out all of our modern ideas either when attempting to apply the Bible.


Now you did possibly touch on something valid when you mentioned Revelation as that book is usually considered phrophetic. I would like to know more about your idea of the connection between rights and the church in Laodicea. Also please provide links to references as to the etymology of that word being such that you claim.

Keep in mind that the Bible was written before the concept of individual rights really existed.

It wasn't until John Locke and the social contract until we as huamns really discovered we had rights of our own. And the rights of "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness" are divine rights, given to us from God, not from man.

my Poli-Sci teacher once described the Bible like the difference between Eastern & Western philosophy. the OT is Eastern, more about the group than individuals. the NT is Western, focused on the individual. i agree with him. the OT has stories of individuals, but when you look at as a whole, it's about the group. the NT has more focus on what a person can do to get saved & follow God. so in that sense, Christianity pre-dated Locke on the individual rights thing.

but going back to what i think Xon meant, has not everyone who follows Christ been through an experience with Him? that actually what "testamony" means. to give testament to an experience. anybody can do that.

(& i agree that Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Happiness are God-given rights. but did you know that it was originally Life, Liberty & Property (Aristotle i think).)

Locke used life, liberty, and property... we (the US) changed it to "pursuit of happiness." Not sure if it originated with him, thought.

(See, AP US History did teach me something.)

Locke used life, liberty, and property... we (the US) changed it to "pursuit of happiness." Not sure if it originated with him, thought.

(See, AP US History did teach me something.)


well, i knew it was some smart guy. ;) thanks ria.

now back to your regularly scheduled thread.