A Manifesto of Issues and Concerns Among Bible Baptist Churches in the Philippine Islands

A SPECIAL EDITION ARTICLE SERIES
by Pastor Archie Alvarez
Bible Baptist Mission of Imus, Cavite
(PART 2)

Should Christians Use Drums in Their Worship?

FACT #3
Drums nowadays in the field of music is primarily used in Rock Music, Rhythm and Blues, and today’s Heavy Metal.

The Rolling Stones and other rock and roll groups have recorded tribal and voodoo occult drumming ceremonies and incorporated these into their rock music. The Stones’ Goat Head Soup album allegedly contained such recordings, including the vicious drumming and the screams of voodoo adherents becoming possessed by Ioa or evil spirits.

John Lennon said rock & roll gets through to people because of its voodoo beat: “Because it is primitive enough and has no bull, really, the best stuff, and it gets to you through its beat. GO TO THE JUNGLE AND THEY HAVE THE RHYTHM and it goes throughout the world and it’s as simple as that” (Lennon, Rolling Stone, Feb. 12, 1976, p. 100).

Tony Sanchez, who traveled with the Stones for many years and who rote a book about them, described the music at their infamous concert at Altamonte, during which many people were injured and killed, as “POUNDING VOODOO DRUMMING and primitive shrieks” (Sanchez, Up and Down with the Rolling Stones, p.184). He described the music of the Rolling Stones song “Gimme Shelter” as “HYPNOTIC, VOODOO RHYTHM” (Sanchez, p. 175).

Malcolm McLaren, who managed vile punk groups such as the Sex Pistols and Adam and the Ant, incorporated ZULU TRIBAL MUSIC into his 1983 Duck Rock album.

Musicologist John Chernoff studied drumming in Africa, even participating in animal sacrifices and other pagan ceremonies to appease the drum spirits. After these demonic ceremonies, he claimed that his arms did not tire and he “seemed never to make a mistake.” Chernoff noted the close connection between voodoo-type African cult drumming and rock and roll: “great drummers, aficionados, and scholars can trace the rhythms of the Latin dance halls of New York to Cuban and Brazilian cults and then to West Africa. In Haiti, I demonstrated for some drummers several Yeve cult rhythms which were familiar enough to have Haitian names” (Chernoff, African Rhythm and African Sensibility, p. 29).

David Byrne of Talking Heads produced a documentary film, The House of Life (1981), on THE DRUMMING AND CHANTING RITUALS OF THE AFRICAN-ROOTED RELIGION CANDOMBLE in Brazil, during which the followers are taken over by their gods. “If you go back to the history of American popular music, you’re constantly finding elements of Yoruba [voodoo] influence. The RHYTHMS are there. If you grow up with that, you’ve already got a taste of it. So when you see Candomble, you say to yourself, Hey, this is part of where it all comes from” (Byrne, Rolling Stone, July 13-27, 1989, p. 78).

FACT #4
The druid beat – The drum beats found in Rock Music today is the same beat found in the rituals done by the Druid Priests of the past and present.

1. What are Druids?

"Druids were priestly, learned class among the Celts, a people of Ancient Europe. The Druids were judges and lawmakers as well as priests. They led religious ceremonies, settled legal disputes and served as leaders and advisers to their people.

"Druidism, the religion of the druids, involved the worship of many gods. The Druids regarded mistletoe and oak as sacred. They believe that soul is immortal and enters a new body after death (reincarnation--author's insertion). The druids killed animals and possibly even human beings as sacrifices. They studied the flights of birds and remains of sacrificed animals to foretell the future. Apparently according to history Druidism died the fourth and fifth century and was revived in the 16th and 17th century (author's insertion).

"During the 1600's, descendants of Celts became interested in their Druidic heritage. Today several groups in Great Britain and Ireland practice what they believe to be ancient Druidism. They hold Druidic festivals at the beginning of spring, summer, autumn and winter. A major celebration takes place at Stonehenge, a monument near Salisbury, England, that the Druids are said to have used. In Wales, festivals of music and poetry called eisteddfods include Druidic rites." --The World Book Encyclopedia Vol. 5, p. 324 (author's emphasis)

A quote from the Crusaders' Spell Bound:

"The druids used a flute, a tambourine and a drum (Notice that tambourine is different from drum here--author's insertion) covered with a human hide. The words to every song or melody were for casting spells. The drum beat was the key to addict the listener--a form of hypnotism. The same beat the Druids used is in the Rock music of today (words in bold are the author's emphasis).

"Way over in the British Isles, Scotland and Ireland, in that area, was one of Satan's strongholds. The most evil people living in this horrible darkness were the Druid priests (known as 'men of oak'). They demanded human blood sacrifices. These men were so filled with demons that some had strange, frightening powers. People lived in terror of the Druids. Male slaves or Roman soldiers would be burned alive in cages over barren (solid) ground. The Druids would call forth Elvin fire out of the earth to consume the victims, and it did! In the background the Druid musical beat could always be heard.

"Their big night was Halloween; in the occult it is called Samhain, October 31st. All the little kids going from door to door yelling 'trick or treat' had its origin with the Druids. It's fun for the kids today--but in the times of the Druids it was a night of horror. On Halloween the Druids and their followers went from castle to castle and serf to serf playing trick or treat. The treat from the castle demanded by the Druids would be a princess or some woman for human sacrifice. If the treat pleased the Druids they would leave a Jack O' Lantern with a lighted candle made of human fat to protect hose inside from being killed by demons that night. When some unfortunate couldn't meet the demands of the Druids, then it was the time for the trick. A hex (hexagram) was drawn on the front door. The spell-binding beat of the Druid music filled the night as the ceremony began. The men assaulted the victim and they brutally sacrificed her to the god of many names, such as the horned hunter of the night, Kernos, the oak god of the underworld, the god of the dead (we know him as Lucifer or Satan)." (to be continued)

Are We Worshiping?

by Bro. Elijah E. Abanto

Only this last December 2008, on the third anniversary of our church, we heard a veteran pastor preached about the importance of worship to God. Although this person was wrong in the application of this concept (his reasons to adopt the "praise and worship" style and speaking in tongues), his view about its importance and its lack in most of the Baptist churches is biblical and true.

And only in the past few weeks, a veteran missionary said that many of the Baptist churches are not really worshiping God because the songs we sing in the hymn are not for worship, but only testimonies and evangelistic songs.

And in these two it has not become clear what is the real meaning behind the word worship. And when I investigated, I saw that in general, we are wanting in this aspect.

Donald S. Whitney, a Baptist who authored the book Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life (NavPress), has shared his experience on his tenth birthday. His birthday must have been happy, because there was much food, and gifts; also, all his family and friends were there. But as they watched baseball in the Superbowl, all of them left him and he was now alone while watching. "It reminds me," he said in relation to the story, "of how we treat God in worship. Though we come to an event where He is the Guest of Honor, it is possible to give Him a routine gift, singing a few customary songs to him, and then totally neglect Him while we focus on others and enjoy the performance of those who are in front of us"(Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, p. 86). And yet, after it, is we think that we have done our obligation correctly to worship Him. But not really.

According to the Encarta® World English Dictionary, the word worship is derived from the Old English word weortscipe, or worthship, the means the "condition of worth" or importance. This agrees to the passages we could read from the Bible that narrates certain scenes of worship to God like Revelation 4:11; 5:12-13. Providing worthy regard on God-that's one meaning of worship.

In the Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary, worship means "respect or reverence tp a divine person [as God]" (p. 1031). The respect or reverence "is a work not starting from the outside inwards, but from the inside out. Before you respond to your parents disrespectfully disrespect must be already in your heart first. Before you really and lovingly hug your spouse or child or friend there must be true love in your heart first. It's the same with God.

And from what we feel inside we cannot but respond and focus our attention towards Him. When you see the beautiful sunset, or the voices of birds, you can think of the greatness of the Creator and from your heart you will fall on your knees, or cry, or sing, or say thanks to Him. That the very meaning of worship: "to focus and respond to God" (Whitney, Spiritual disciplines, p. 87). Read these two passages from the Bible for examples of worship: John 20:28; Revelation 4:8. Notice also that in many cases those whom Jesus healed would "kneel down and worship before him."

From there we can say that what the missionary said was not true that we do not worship God if we don't sing "worship" songs. The application also of the veteran pastor is also wrong that we can only worship God if we do the "praise and worship" style. How about the dumb who can not even speak? How about the maimed and paralyzed who cannot jump or raise hands as do Pentecostals? Worship is more than singing a worship song or jump or raising hands that they are telling.

God's revelations of Himself to us bring us to worship God, which includes (1) the Creation (Romans 1:20); (2) His written Word, the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20 -21); and (3) the Living Word, Jesus Christ (John 1:1, 14; Hebrews 1:1-2).

Singing is not only the expression of worship. You may worship God even by just reading the Bible; listening to preaching; praying and listening to prayer; even following him and anything we in His name, may become worship. But more than these, worship is when we become preoccupied with God that we cannot think of other things. That's worship.

But, like I said, there are many in our church, and I think also in the majority of Baptist churches, who do not really worship God--notably the very workers. It does not mean that if you are the busiest in the worship service you are the one who worships God most. Often the opposite.

I saw this fact in our Bible school students. (Note that I'm not against the School; worship is a personal issue.) Note that most often the students who study in the Bible school are workers of the church. Every time we have devotion in the morning or at noon Chapel hour you will see the insincerity of the students--including me sometimes. You can see that they are dictating to the song leader or the leading student, making fun of or laughing at the message or testimony, the students are chatting, and not concerned about the order. The one I see to be the most sincere in what he does is this 1st year student who is only about six months in the Baptist church and he comes from the Pentecostal faith.

Returning to the church, you will see a mother looking around while the congregation prays; children chatting while the pastor preaches or the choir sings; children eating junk foods while the message is preached; people going up-and-down because they need to go to the "CR." The the workers were busy preventing a noise, taking the attendance, filling up the visitor's slip, and asking what is next in the "worship" program. They sing only when they remember to sing, read when they like to and close their eyes when they prefer to. Yes, they are not chatting, but they are not also thinking of the pastor's message. Their eyes are closed, but in fact what they will eat by lunch is what they are "praying." Many are also sleeping. They are singing, but not from the heart. They give, but only because of responsibility. They are active in the church, but they lives are not right before God. Brethren, that's not worship. It's shaming God. The Guest of Honor must have been wanting to leave because there's really no worship. Remember, worship is from the inside out.

We become like the Pharisees, to whom Jesus has said, "This people... honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. ... in vain do they worship me"(Matthew 15:8-9). It's called hypocrisy.

Worshiping God is worshiping Him "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). In spirit, or within, and in truth, or without. That's true worship. It's not necessary and we should not adopt music that does not in accordance to God to say you are worshiping. You need not jump at raise hands to say that you are worshiping. What is needed is our focus of attention and responding to who He is.

Are we worshiping? We know now what is true worship. Can we make it true this time?

A Manifesto of Issues and Concerns Among Bible Baptist Churches in the Philippine Islands

A SPECIAL EDITION ARTICLE SERIES
by Pastor Archie Alvarez
Bible Baptist Mission of Imus, Cavite
(PART 1)

In the recent past some Baptist churches in the Philippines started adopting odd practices and became open to modern type of worship. We cannot but raise our silence over some of the issues surrounding Baptist circles today not only in the Philippines but also on other parts of the world.

Article 1

Should Christian Churches Use Drums in Their Worship?

While it is true that drums are just like any other musical instruments available in the music world, we need to examine very extensively some precautions and truth about this controversial instrument as whether to use it or not to use it in a Christian worship.

It is never my intention to malign or degrade anybody who maybe "PRO" in this subject matter but to shed light and present facts of History and Biblical credence not based on logic and personal opinion or feelings. I suggest that we rule out any prejudice for a while and take into serious consideration the things that are about to be unveiled.

FACTS

Since DRUMS, DANCE and WORSHIP are somewhat intertwined, we will have no recourse but to draw out Biblical and historical facts so as to establish the truth concerning the subject. Let me present you five FACTS.

#1

The tambourine or timbrel (sometimes referred to as tabret) in the Bible is not the same "drum" instrument used in a Rock music and some Christian Churches Today who are adherents of "Drum Worship."

In desperation to prove that the same drums are used in worshipping God in the Bible, "Drum Worship" adherents quote several verses in the Bible--take a look on the following verses:

Psalm 81:2 - Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel (Toph), the pleasant harp with the psaltery.

Psalm 149:3 - Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.

Exodus 15:20 - And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.

Psalm 68:25 - The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.

1 Samuel 18:6 - And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets (Toph), with joy, and with instruments of musick.

After quoting such verses they would proceed on explaining that the Hebrew word "toph" simply means drum, but that is half-truth and I believe it is explained in that manner to prove their stand about the drum being used in worship. But let us dig deeper.

Tabret is an ancient percussion instrument which no longer exists as such. The earliest mention of it (Genesis 31:27 KJV) dates back to about 1740 BC--that's over 3700 years ago. The root word for tabret is tabor, which describes a small frame drum with one head. The word tabor is also used to describe the same frame used for embroidery, with two hoops used to keep the material taut. While the timbrel has small bells, rings, or metal discs attached to the frame to make a jingling noise, most sources agree that the tabret did not have these. As a drum, the tabret whould have been played by beating with a small drumstick, o by tapping with the hand. It is often accompanied by a pipe.

In ancient times, it appears that the tabret was used by the Israelites, though perhaps not in the Temple worship itself. (1 Chronicles 5:12; Gen. 31:27; 1 Sam. 10:5; Job 17:6; Isaiah 5:12)

The timbrel, on the other hand, is a percussion instrument which does have bells, rings, or metal discs attached to make a jingling noise when shaken or tapped with the hand. From the Hebrew root word toph, the timbrel first appears in Exodus 15 (about 1490 BC), confirming that it, too, dates back to very ancient times. Some ancient timbrels appear to have a single drum head, like the tabret, and some appear as a frame only. In either case, including jingles and streamers makes it a timbrel.

The timbrel was used for a variety of different reasons including: praise, joy, gladness, triumph or victory, singing, warfare, celebrations, processionals and welcoming. It was definitely an instrument of praise and warfare, often leading armies into battle. It was played in a multitude of different places: in the home, on the battlefield, at feasts and celebrations. (see also Job 21:12; Isaiah 30:32)

Tambourine is the modern term for timbrel ('Toph') and is sometimes referred to also as tabret (1 Samuel 18:6).

I have provided a picture below:

Now does this timbrel (toph or call it a drum) looks and is used the same way as of the drums below?

or maybe this...

Of course the obvious answer is NO.

#2

The DRUM has always been associated with paganism and the devil.

1. In Africa, drums are used in demonic rituals such as "Voodoo."

The drum beats in rock music are the same beats we can find in the rites and rituals of the African tribes. Example of this is the African colony of slaves brought to Haiti that came from the tribes of Senegalese, Bambaras, Arades, Congos, Kangas, Fons and Fulas (they were taken from the coast of West Africa in the 15th century). Their ceremonies centered upon worship of the sanke god Damballa through singing, dancing, and spirit possession. Those ancient chants and tribal stomps evoke the evil spirit, the ultimate experience was to have their bodies possessed by that demon.

It is the drum beat which fuses a number of individuals into a single body, making them move as one, as if all of these singular bodies had become linked on the thread of a single beat of pulse--sending the body into a slow, twisting wave which begins at the shoulders, then the spine, hips, and legs.

The same thing happens in a modern rock concert. The actions you would see on the audience will give us the impression that some sort of possession has occurred. The nonstop, polyrhythms pounded out on cylindrical drums in a voodoo ritual is the catalyst of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and today's heavy metal.

The drum beat keeps up a remarkable thump which very easily takes possession of the sensibilities of the worshippers. Observers say that these drums themselves are able to bring a person to a place where it is easy for the deity (Ioa) to take possession of their bodies--the defenseless person is buffeted by each stroke as the drummer sets out to beat the Ioa (god) into his head: The person cringes with each accented beat as if the drum mallet descended upon his very skull; he ricochets about the place, clutching blindly at the arms extended to support him.

2. Drums are associated with "Shamanism."

Shamanism is a primitive religion of the Ural Altaic peoples of Northern Asia, based on a belief in controlling spirits who can only be influenced by a "shaman" (a priest with magical powers over diseases or evil spirits-World Book Dictionary)

In Siberia, drums are used in shamanic rituals to heal people. It is believed that the shaman can communicate witht the spirit world THROUGH DRUMMING. (Louise Tythacott, Musical Instruments, Thomas Learning:1995, p. 37)

"The shaman was draped in leather, dancing possessed to a rhythm banged out in a DRUM... To these people, communication with the gods was synonymous with DRUMS... the body can become the conduit for a deity, a deity not necessarily the same sex as the worshiper, and DRUMS are the catalyst for the whole process. The trance of the RHYTHM then begets the hysteria, which begets that Westerners simplistically call 'possession'" (Danny Sugerman, Appetite for Destruction, pp. 181, 208).

David Tame writes in The Secret Power of Music, page 199:

"Today's drummer differs but little from the shaman in his incessant beating out of a rhythm, and likewise often enters into a form of trance while performing." (to be continued)

THE MANIFESTO OF ISSUES AND CONCERNS AMONG BIBLE BAPTIST CHURCHES IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, ©2009 BY PASTOR ARCHIE ALVAREZ. Published by permission.

The Music, The Change, and The Stand

SPECIAL EDITION ARTICLE
by Bishop Felizardo D. Abanto

In the midst of today's controversy about music, the pastor of Capitol Bible Baptist Church-Tanza, plainly and unashamedly still stand on the kind of music he learned when he was still a student in Bible Baptist Seminary of the Philippines, Mandaluyong City, year 1977 to 1980. Back then the use of drums in BBCs was prohibited. There was no "praise and worship" music--none, no, not one. They were only done in Pentecostal and Charismatic churches. BBCs and pastors back then were still strong on music and standards of dress and hair--especially on doctrines and Baptist Distinctives. We even disfellowship a young pastor, Rey Clemente, because he believed in the universal church and did not believe in tithing. So he went out really and really did what he wanted to do. I think his church (one of the oldest BBC in the Philippines) was the first BBC to embrace "praise and worship" and drums in their music, as he opened the church to charismatic practices. That's history. We cannot deny it.

But things change. People change. Now, pastors of BBCs are in a controversy over music. And I left behind and become "irrelevant." Well, come to think of it--Rey Clemente was right after all! And we must ride the bandwagon.

But, NO THANKS. With all due respect I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD CHANGE. I think this is the change we don't need. Are our churches to conform to the world's concept of relevancy and to the market-driven philosophy to reach the world? NO! NEVER! The answer, of course, is that OUR CHURCHES MUST CONFORM TO GOD'S CONCEPT OF RELEVANCY. That's the real story behind this change. To continue to be relevant to this world you must change, and you must conform to the world. That is the world's concept of relevancy. But God's concept is not to conform but to be transformed:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)

God's concept of relevancy is to be different from this world: To be sanctified and clean from worldliness; to be a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle; to be holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5:25-27). A transformed life and lips are still God's instruments in reaching the world.

That's why we need our pastors to speak out and sound the alarm. This is not the time to be silent. This is the time to make a real, definite, and a courageous stand. The future of our churches is at stake. I don't want my sons to accuse me later that I am only long on rhetoric, but short on memory, and negligent in weighing the consequences of my actions. I want them to remember me as a leader who knew how to make a stand for my convictions without fear or favor.

am surprised why the conflict ever exists. Why? For the past 30 years BBC pastors knew and were very sure of their stand on this. Now we "don't know anymore." What we know is that everything is changing. And it is "impossible" not to go with the change. Unless we do, we'll be left behind and become "irrelevant." Well, come to think of it--Rey Clemente was right after all! And we must ride the bandwagon.

But, NO THANKS. With all due respect I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD CHANGE. I think this is the change we don't need. Are our churches to conform to the world's concept of relevancy and to the market-driven philosophy to reach the world? NO! NEVER! The answer, of course, is that OUR CHURCHES MUST CONFORM TO GOD'S CONCEPT OF RELEVANCY. That's the real story behind this change. To continue to be relevant to this world you must change, and you must conform to the world. That is the world's concept of relevancy. But God's concept is not to conform but to be transformed:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)

God's concept of relevancy is to be different from this world: To be sanctified and clean from worldliness; to be a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle; to be holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5:25-27). A transformed life and lips are still God's instruments in reaching the world.

That's why we need our pastors to speak out and sound the alarm. This is not the time to be silent. This is the time to make a real, definite, and a courageous stand. The future of our churches is at stake. I don't want my sons to accuse me later that I am only long on rhetoric, but short on memory, and negligent in weighing the consequences of my actions. I want them to remember me as a leader who knew how to make a stand for my convictions without fear or favor.

Am I Right, You're Against Choruses?

by Bro. Elijah Abanto

Anyone who knows me well, especially the kids that I minister to in God's church in Cavite, will be amazed once they hear this question asked. What's puzzling for me, is that there is someone who accuses me about this. This someone said, "Then let's not sing choruses anymore, as Elijah said, but hymns only!"

I have nothing against this person, but I will say directly: YOU'RE WRONG. At first I thought that I will never gain anything if I answer this accusation, but, it's enough - I need to speak now. I don't want misunderstandings to continue. First, I'm not against choruses, in fact, I am composing choruses. Just e-mail me if you want to get a copy of those I composed. Second, I'm not against choruses, because we always sing choruses--whether in Good News classes, Sunday School, and even in our services. Third, I'm not against choruses, and if someone will use what I wrote last June 17, that someone will only be put to shame, because what was written was, "If all they sing are shallow songs without some deeper, richer language, the hymns could probably be alien to them later." (Choruses are "shallow" in a way that they are very simple to sing and understand.) Did I say, I don't like choruses? No! Far from it! In fact, if the situation was reversed, "If all they are hymns, without some simple, easy to understand songs (shallow), choruses would be alien to them later." My point is this: not all choruses are correct (which means are biblical), not all hymns are correct, and not all CCM are wrong--that's my stand. Clear?

Besides, my mind is not that narrow.

P.S. This is the definition of song: "a poetical composition; a melody for a lyric poem or ballad; a poem easily set to music." (Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary) A song has always been a poem, not a prose. Try making one with a prose--it would be ridiculous! Well, someone has just said that hymns are only poems put up with tunes; well, if that's the case, so are choruses--they're just much simple!

What's Wrong with Drums?

This article was deleted from the blog because it proved many assumptions and short of research. Sorry for the inconvenience. --Editor