SoulFest 2017, Just As Trashy 

As In Former Years

 Published on Mar 7, 2017

republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:

Would you attend a church service if:

If your answer to these questions is NO,
substitute the word pastor with “Christian music artist.” Would you go
to a Christian concert that has music artists and speakers who believe
and promote the above things I mentioned? It would seem that any
Christian who understands Scripture and its admonishments to stay away
from those who promote a different gospel, the answer should still be NO
to the question.

Ecumenicalism is a big movement in the
world today. For the purposes of this article, ecumenicalism is defined
as “a movement seeking unity among groups that profess to be Christian.”
It seems everybody wants unity today. Unity amongst Christians is a
good goal, yet when a move towards unity contradicts Scripture’s
teaching, that is when we have trouble. So let’s turn to Scripture
briefly. Scripture is clear on the issue of who we should fellowship
with. For example, we have a clear directive in Ephesians.

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. Eph. 5:11

Over and over in various epistles, the same kind of instruction is given to us.

God’s word says that we are not to
fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove
them.” Reprove them! There is no biblical argument for promoting
ecumenicalism; for getting cozy with those who teach and promote false
doctrines, or to fellowship with self-professing Christians who are part
of a false religion.

If a Bible-believing Christian would be
opposed to the above situations in a church setting, then what is the
difference if it is Christian artists performing at Christian concerts?

“Worship is no longer worship when it reflects the culture around us more than Christ within us.” A.W. Tozer

What Is Wrong With SoulFest?

Soulfest is a yearly Christian concert
held in New Hampshire in the Summer. If you agree that the examples
above as far as attending a church are reasons to stay away, what is the
difference if the artists and speakers at the “Christian” concert are
promoting same-sex marriage, holding hands with Roman Catholicism, and
promoting false doctrine? There is no difference, and in fact,
everything mentioned above are actual positions held by various artists
and speakers that will perform at Soulfest.

I cannot emphasize the spiritual danger
that young people and adults are in when they attend these concerts.
There is a great danger especially to those who are either very new
Christians, or are not saved at all. The influences of these popular
artists are very strong, and can lead a young person to accept things
that are not true and that are unbiblical. There is often a resulting
emotional high that comes during many of these performances, and emotion
can drive many to an experience that is false and does not last. Those
who are reading should consider carefully what kind of “Christian”
concerts they attend. Most often, it is not as Christian as you think it
is. Be wise, and use discernment.

Biblical Christianity and Roman Catholicism are not the same “religion.”
How one is saved, the authority of Scripture, the work of Christ on the
Cross, and so much more, is totally opposite each other. There are so
many differences that are irreconcilable, which make true fellowship
impossible.

Why would a Bible-believer want to
fellowship with and support those who promote a false religion? Why
associate with and give support to those who promote immoral behavior?
Why would you expose your youth to such an environment, where they are
susceptible to stumbling? Why go to a concert with so many artists who
ground their music on worldly ideas? Think twice on this, my Christian
friend, before you go to Soulfest. The summary below of just a few of
the major artists performing reveals a level of apostasy and deception
that should be very disturbing to Christians.

SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE ARTISTS AND SPEAKERS

TobyMac
performed for the Roman Catholic Youth Rally in 2011, which
featured Pope Benedict XVI and a Catholic mass during which a piece of
bread allegedly became Jesus.*

Jars Of Clay Lead Singer Dan Haseltine Supports “Gay Marriage”
This group is one of the
most popular Contemporary Christian groups around. Here is what their
lead singer said about same-sex marriage:

“Not meaning to stir things up BUT…
is there a non-speculative or non ‘slippery slope’ reason why gays
shouldn’t marry? I don’t hear one. … I’m trying to make sense of the
conservative argument. But it doesn’t hold up to basic scrutiny. Feels
akin to women’s suffrage. I just don’t see a negative effect to
allowing gay marriage. No societal breakdown, no war on traditional
marriage. … I don’t think scripture ‘clearly’ states much of anything
regarding morality. … I don’t particularly care about
Scriptures stance on what is ‘wrong.’ I care more about how it says we
should treat people” (“Dan Haseltine,” MetroWeekly.com, April 22, 2014).

Crowder
On the blog Christians United Against Apostasy, Dave Mosher documents
how Crowder teaches Lectio Divina to young teens. David Crowder is very
ecumenical and Roman Catholic-friendly. Crowder authored the book Praise Habit: Finding God in Sunsets and Sushi, where he encourages the practice of lectio divina
and references and quotes contemplative/emerging figure Walter
Brueggemann a number of times. Lectio Divina is one of the many forms of
contemplative mysticism which has been greatly popularized by the
emergent church movement and Roman Catholicism.

Matthew West
Mathew West is another
ecumenicalist and was a participant in the highly ecumenical event,
Together 2016, which included the pope and other false teachers and
ecumenicalists.

Matt Maher
Matt Maher prays to Mary and believes that she aids men in salvation.

Maher’s wife is Methodist, but they are
raising their son “in the Catholic Church,” while also taking him to
Methodist services “so he can experience both traditions” (Religion News
Service, May 17, 2013).

Maher ministers at Our Lady of Mount
Carmel Parish in Tempe, which is devoted to Mary as the Queen of Heaven.
The sign at the front of the church says, “Mary, Mother of Life, pray
for us.”

Maher is on the board of directors for the Catholic youth organization Life Teen.

Maher performed at the 2013 Catholic
World Youth Day in front of the pope, a great venerator of Mary as the
Queen of Heaven. Maher also led worship for Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to
the Rally for Youth in April 2008.

Maher says that touring with people like
Michael W. Smith is producing ecumenical unity because people come to
the concerts and find themselves standing beside a priest or nun, and
they learn that “we’re all in this family together.”*

Project 86: Hard Core/heavy metal secular music at a Christian concert?
Project 86 is a hardcore rock and heavy metal band. On their website,
you will not find a single reference to God or Jesus Christ. There is
no mention of Jesus Christ in any of their songs or their albums. Why
would such a group perform at a Christian concert?

How can you tell the lost about Jesus
without a mention of His name? How can you reach people if you don’t
preach the word? We are told to preach the word.
Romans 10:14  “How then shall
they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they
believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear
without a preacher”

Yet, here is lead singer Andrew Schwad:

“I think right now with Project,
we’re going a lot more of a secular route. We’re not doing anything
differently – we just think were going to be doing more secular shows.
There’s a big debate about preaching at secular shows…we’ve always been
subtle but forceful at the same time…for us to go out there and play
with bands. We’re not going to go in there and say ‘hey were the
Christian band’ …were going to carry ourselves like a normal band.
Hopefully people will like our music and investigate into the band…and
they will learn our beliefs. If you don’t do it that way, I just think
you should only play Christian shows…because a lot of the times, club owners won’t even let you in. It’s very ineffective to just preach from stage.” 

Here is a sample of their music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKGtfOrtJ1s

And here are some of their t-shirt
designs. Does looking at these things make you feel like reaching out to
Jesus and giving praise to God?

“Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good.” 3 John 11

Catholic Mass at Soulfest
There are daily Catholic masses scheduled at Soulfest. Would you attend a Catholic mass at a local Roman Catholic Church?

References:

* https://www.wayoflife.org/database/ccm_and_rome.html

http://thesoulfest.com/artists/
________________________________________________________