Gene Simmons, American Idol, and the CCM Debate

May 8, 2013

On an occasion when he was a guest judge for the TV show American Idol, Gene Simmons, a member of the rock group KISS, made some telling remarks that pertain to the ongoing debate about the use of CCM in Christian ministry. Speaking to Jeff Johnson, a praise and worship leader who was a contestant on the show, Simmons categorically asserted that popular music and rock music are unfit for Christian ministry because of their essential ungodly character:

“If you sing pop lyrics, you are going to have a problem with your ministry because rock n’ roll by definition, and popular music, is about sexuality.” A judge then interjected, “And demons.” Simmons then repeated, “And demons.”

Arguing that Simmons is a lost man, some dismiss his remarks about the unworthiness of pop and CCM for Christian ministry. Titus 1:10-13 shows us, however, that we must not automatically dismiss his remarks just because he is a lost man (see my post Titus 1 and the CCM Debate for an explanation of how it is legitimate to use such statements by lost people).

As a legendary rock musician, Simmons provides expert testimony to the essential sensuality of rock music. His statement furnishes us with additional sound evidence to reject CCM as unfit for Christian ministry.


See also this post for another reason that we should reject CCM.

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

Rajesh

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Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.