by Peter Peters and Vasilij Ryzhuk
For
thirty years we have suffered intense persecution. Now freedom is bringing
another great harm to our churches. This damage is coming from Christians in
America who are sending rock music and evangelists accompanied by rock bands.
Our young people do not attend those meetings because we have all committed not
to participate in secular entertainment.
This is
a great burden to our hearts. Many come with Bible in hand and rock music. We
are embarrassed by this image of Christianity. We do not know what words to use
in urging that this be stopped. We abhor all Christian rock music coming to our
country.
Rock
music has nothing in common with ministry or the service to God. We are very much against Christian Americans
bringing to our country this false image of "ministry" to God. We need spiritual bread... not false cakes.
It is true that rock music attracts people to the church, but not to Godly
living.
We were
in prison for fifteen years for Christ's sake. We were not allowed to have
Christian music, but ROCK MUSIC was used as a weapon against us day and night
to destroy our souls.
We could
only resist with much prayer.
Now, we
have a time of more openness. We are no longer taken to prison. However, now it
is Christians from America who damage our souls. We do not allow this music in
our church, but these "evangelists" rent big stadiums and infect
teenagers and adults with their rock music. We, the leadership and congregations
of the Unregistered churches urge you to join with us, and we advise you to
remove rock music from America.
Do not
desecrate our teenagers with it. Even the unbelievers recognize it is unholy
music. We call this music, "music from hell." We urge all Americans to
stop giving money for the organizations of such concerts in Russia. We only
want traditional Christian music in our churches.
This is the unanimous decision
of all our leaders. g
This is
from the "Head of the Unregistered Union of Churches in Russia"
appeared in "Life," dated 21, May, 1992.