war in the camp

WAR IN THE CAMPContemporary 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.


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.

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.


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!


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 20th century 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 20th century (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 20th century 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 20th century 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 20th century 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 20th century 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 20th century 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 time1. 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.

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