Can Jesus Rock?

As we look at this question, I think we ought to frame it in a certain context. When I ask this question, I do not mean to ask if Jesus approves of secular rock music. I also do not want this to be simply about Christian rock or CCM. Instead it is about hard beats and fast paced music. It doesn’t matter if it is classical, rock, rap/hip hop, country or gospel. I recognize the dangers of a genre like secular rock and roll and all the damage that it causes. Last year I wrote an article critiquing modern Christian music and the like. (“Thoughts on CCM” 07 Biblesmack)
Yet on the opposite end there are many fundamentalist Christians who argue that not even hard beats should be used. A good example is W.O. Cloud. Cloud runs the websight “Way of Life”, and is a missionary in Nepal. I respect Cloud on several issues and he has helped me in joining the KJVO camp along with my understanding of Baptist history. He would argue that Rock Music which came from pagan African beats is naturally pagan, and in it’s context rock music is inseparable from the philosophy of “sex, drugs, and rock’n’roll”. Therefore, hard beat music is like a drug, which will lead us to a heathen lifestyle.
First, I would like to point out where I agree with Bro. Cloud. Paganism has used music to enforce heathenism for untold centuries. Music can have similar effects on hearts that drugs do. Secular rock and roll has a destructive and satanic history. Many people got into rock or heavy metal or rap in a way specifically connected to this satanic philosophy. Those who went through this should not indulge in secular rock and they may be weak in the faith to the point where Christian rock is not healthy for them either. Finally, I agree that instrumental music can be used in a sinful way.
Yet the question I have is, can hard music be used in a positive way? Does the Bible use passionate emotional music?

Mat 11:16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,
Mat 11:17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.
Mat 11:18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
Mat 11:19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
Here in this passage, Jesus has given a rebuttal and rebuke to pharisaic attack. At the end, he points out how John the Baptists nearly monastic lifestyle was rejected by the Pharisees. The only option of acceptance was Jesus approach of coming celebrating. Yet the Pharisees rebuked it to and try to label Jesus an over eating alcoholic.
Obviously Jesus is sinless, so what were the activities that were falsely labeled sin? Obviously eating and drinking, which it would have been sinful to drink excess of wine or food, so apparently Jesus was just casually doing these instead of fasting. Secondly, he associated with sinners, going to these parties. Thirdly, we see from vrs. 17 he was involved with music which could make people dance. In the early 20th century most churches had laws prohibiting dancing. Along with this they argue against music which could motivate people to dance. Therefore, Jesus was engaged in what we would call “partying”. Therefore, modern fundamental and holiness Christians would have disciplined Jesus!

Mat 26:30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
Heb 2:12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
We se hear that Jesus participated in Musical worship, considering the passage in Hebrews, which quotes from psalm 22:22 and the nature of His soon execution it is implicit that Christ was singing passionately.

Act 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
Any good expositor would notice from the super natural joy of Paul and Silas to sing in the midst of prison, and the fact that the rest of the prisoners heard them that they probably were loud and passionate. After being beaten and put in prison, it would seem rather sheepish and defeating to sing whimperingly. No, they were defying the world system to give the honor to God.

Eph 5:18-19 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Why would someone seek wine?
Ecc 2:1 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.
Ecc 2:3 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.
It is to seek pleasure and enjoyment. Whether from the taste or the buzz of slight intoxication Solomon and mankind seeks wine for pleasure and enjoyment. Paul recommends musical worship of God as an alternative to the consumption of wine. He argues for three styles of musical worship. Psalms, Hymns and spiritual songs. What are these styles like? Let’s look at Strong’s Lexical Aide.
5568 psalmos {psal-mos'}[psalms]
from 5567; TDNT - 8:489,1225; n m
AV - psalm 5, Psalm 2; 7
1) a striking, twanging 1a) of a striking the chords of a musical instrument 1b) of a pious song, a psalm
For Synonyms see entry 5876
The psalmic music had instrument that were both stringed and percussion just like the modern rock band. The psalms were the regulative hymn book for the Old Testament Worship.

5214 humneo {hoom-neh'-o}[praise]
from 5215; TDNT - 8:489,1225; v
AV - sing an hymn 2, sing praise 2; 4
1) to sing the praise of, sing hymns to 2) to sing a hymn, to sing 2a) singing of paschal hymns these were Psalms 113 - 118 and 136, which the Jews called the "great Hallel"

Hymns are understood as passionate songs in Christianity these refer to songs that specifically to the New Covenant and our salvation in Christ.


4152 pneumatikos {pnyoo-mat-ik-os'}[spiritual]
from 4151; TDNT - 6:332,876; adj
AV - spiritual 26; 26
1) relating to the human spirit, or rational soul, as part of the man which is akin to God and serves as his instrument or organ 1a) that which possesses the nature of the rational soul 2) belonging to a spirit, or a being higher than man but inferior to God 3) belonging to the Divine Spirit 3a) of God the Holy Spirit 3b) one who is filled with and governed by the Spirit of God 4) pertaining to the wind or breath; windy, exposed to the wind, blowing
5603 ode {o-day'}[song]
from 103; TDNT - 1:164,24; n f
AV - song 7; 7 1) a song, lay, ode. For Synonyms see entry 5876
Spiritual songs are songs that specifically move our spirits. Spiritual songs specifically refer to songs of testimony of our salvation and our New Life in Christ. The most famous spiritual is “Amazing Grace”.

Psa 150:2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
Psa 150:3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Psa 150:4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Psa 150:5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
Is your worship service characterized by loud horns, stringed instruments, dancing, tambourines, and multiple percussion instruments? If not your not worshiping according to the psalmetic worship!
Now many argue that you never see this in the New Testament. However, the Apostles were ok with Jerusalem Temple worship.
Act 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Act 5:25 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
Act 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Act 21:26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.
The New Testament Apostles even Paul were comfortable with temple activity which would have included the musical instrumental worship. Now the New Testament never requires instruments but it is obvious that are inclusive of the traditional worship.

Psa 149:3 Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
Psa 149:4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
Psa 149:5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.
Psa 149:6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand;
07319 rowm@mah {ro-mem-aw'} [high]
act part of 07426; TWOT - 2133f?; n f
AV - high 1; 1
1) uplifting, arising
01984 halal {haw-lal'}
a primitive root; TWOT - 499,500; v
AV - praise 117, glory 14, boast 10, mad 8, shine 3, foolish 3, fools 2, commended 2, rage 2, celebrate 1, give 1, marriage 1, renowned 1; 165
1) to shine 1a) (Qal) to shine (fig. of God's favour) 1b) (Hiphil) to flash forth light 2) to praise, boast, be boastful 2a) (Qal) 2a1) to be boastful 2a2) boastful ones, boasters (participle) 2b) (Piel) 2b1) to praise 2b2) to boast, make a boast 2c) (Pual) 2c1) to be praised, be made praiseworthy, be commended, be worthy of praise 2d) (Hithpael) to boast, glory, make one's boast 2e) (Poel) to make a fool of, make into a fool 2f) (Hithpoel) to act madly, act like a madman
Hear we see this high rocking energy in the praise of God in instrumental music. There is no doubt an energy in the praise much like today’s hard beat music.

Psa 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
Psa 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Psa 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
What could generate more excitement than the declaration of life after death? This is the essence of worship God in Christ.

Worshipping God involves shouting!!
Psa 5:11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
Psa 32:11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
Psa 35:27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
Psa 47:1 O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.
Psa 47:5 God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
Psa 65:13 The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.
Psa 132:9 Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.
Psa 132:16 I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.

So Can Jesus Rock? If that means singing and dancing and shouting and clapping and listening to tambourines, hard percussion and stringed instruments, then, yep!
Though if it means satanic lyrics, stage hypnotism sex and drugs then of course not!