In
our country, there are many who consider "Christianity" nothing more
than a bunch of irrelevant and dispensable rituals related to Easter,
Christmas, weddings, baptismal services, and funerals, and attempting
to talk about it oftentimes induces one of the below-mentioned
reactions:
a) Indifference,
b) Hostility.
Furthermore, quite a few people deem themselves disappointed by God, "the Church", or specific "Christians".
e are positive
that the "real Christianity" (meaning Jesus of
Nazareth's words and actions) is highly essential for any 21st century
person: Day by day, year by year media coverage on a mountain of
violence of all kinds (being only the visible tip of the iceberg)
supplies evidence that something is going terribly wrong and humanity's
most precious property - functional interpersonal relationships - keeps
being damaged or destroyed. (Who can honestly claim he has never
victimized someone and/or has never been victimized? Probably none of us. We all act in ways [or
experience actions] that are "not okay".)
We have gathered one or another year of age, and therefore we do know
that both life in general as well as fellow human beings in particular
may play dirty tricks on you.
An important
note:
Becoming a Christian may
not save you from situations getting difficult
or remaining ugly. We don't want to make empty promises. However, we
are positive that making a decision in favor of God/Jesus is the only
choice that makes sense in the long term. (Eternity will mean an INCREDIBLY LONG term.)
Our aim is to
pick people up in their respective life situations.
Therefore, we pursue the goal to ...
- convey the " gospel" (aka the " Good News") to any interested person - especially
to those who favor gothic, punk, rock, and/or heavy metal,
- help them progress in the areas of "self-love",
"love of neighbor", and "love of God".
- and, as a result of this, make new, healthy, conducive contacts and
rebuild negatively affected relationships.
QUESTION:
"What's that to me?"
ANSWER:
Life on earth is similar to
a soccer game - although its effects
are much more significant:
 t is not enough to stand about doing nothing, to
avoid the "obvious
evil" (fouling one's team-mates, scoring own goals). Instead, every
participant must know his identity,
his purpose
and has to perform his task as good as possible.
This is the only way in which each and every one of us can win the
"game".
We
don't fish for applause: If someone takes notice of the topic "God,
Jesus, the Bible and suchlike", wants to become a Christian in further
consequence and experiences positive changes in their way of thinking,
feeling, talking, and acting in the course of time - then this depends
first and last on our
Creator's assistance.
Finally -
some
definitions:
1) "Love":
This term does not refer to
hormone-induced sickly sentimentality, but
to always treat oneself and/or others respectfully providing the
greatest possible quantity of support which is necessary to
successfully deal with the situation at hand.
Furthermore
"loving" thinking, talking, and acting does not mean to agree with
anything every time, but to be focused on the establishment and
preservation of interpersonal relationships. "No way!" sometimes turns
out to be the most appropriate and only way of expressing "love".
2) "Sin":
Knowing what would be
"appropriate" and "necessary" in one's
own and/or other people's favor - however omitting to act accordingly.
Therefore, the term "sin" gives a one-word description of "behavior
which may damage and/or destroy people and interpersonal relationships".
***********************************************
"Why 'Death's †
End'?"
Our community's name is equivalent to "resurrection".
***********************************************
"Why Gothic,
Punk, Rock, and Metal?"
- gothic rock
- punk rock
- soft rock
- heavy rock
All these musical
styles originate in "rock music".
ur musical range
certainly exceeds the above-mentioned subcategories.
However, since we are not capable of focusing ourselves on the entire
world population, people who take to gothic, punk, rock, and metal
have, therefore, become our "main target audience".
==> You are
interested
in God, Jesus, the Bible, a Christian way of life - but you don't like
the above-mentioned genres as your personal taste is confined to, for
example, fluffy pop music only?
We would like
to
help you find a community that fits your individual needs. Some more
Christian fellowships:
*) Free Churches in Austria.
(German-Language Websites)
*) Protestants in Austria.
(Mainly in German)
*) Protestant-Methodist
Church in Austria. (Mainly German-Language Websites)
*) Loretto Gemeinschaft.
(Catholic Fellowship; German-Language Websites)
*) Old
Catholic Church of Austria. (German-Language Websites)
*) The Roman Catholic Church
in Austria. (German-Language Websites)
*) Eastern Orthodoxy in
Austria. (German-Language Websites)
We ask you to
consider the following:
s to the
above-mentioned (free) churches we cannot guarantee 100%
"spiritually correct" theology. Being Christians, people gathered in
these communities are convinced that Jesus
of Nazareth is identically
equal to YHWH, the God of the "Old Testament" (aka Tanakh),
and that man's access to "God's eternal kingdom" is provided by
(genuine) repentance along with having confidence in Jesus's life,
death, and resurrection only.
Beyond that there are theological differences. (It is not even safe to
say that all Christian members and visitors of a particular community
share exactly the same theological views.)
The Bible advises its readers to check all available information and to
search for the truth (aka reality; the way things really are) to the best of one's knowledge and belief.
Answering the
below-mentioned questions is the main purpose of every human's life on
earth:
1) "What do I take Jesus
for - a figment, a wise guy, a prophet, a liar, a nutball, a devil in
disguise, God Himself?"
2) "Do I want Jesus/God to be the first priority of my life?"
"Why, of all
aspects of life, should these two questions be the most important ones?"
Answer -
Preliminary Note:
Comparison of Three Different "Creeds" ...
Christianity: "I believe there is a God."
Atheism: "I dont' believe there is a God."
Agnosticism: "I believe this question cannot be answered."
Christianity: "I believe God became man, died, and rose from the dead."
Atheism: "I don't believe God became man, died, and rose from the dead."
Agnosticism: "I believe this question cannot be answered."
Christianity: "I believe there is a life after death."
Atheism: "I don't believe there is a life after death."
Agnosticism: "I believe this question cannot be answered."
Christianity: "I believe that there is a (God-given) meaning to life."
Atheism: "I don't believe that there is a (God-given) meaning to life."
Agnosticism: "I believe this question cannot be answered."
Conclusion:
*) Atheism and agnosticism
are spiritual belief systems, and "religions in a wider sense" which
may be true or not.
*) Not everybody believes the same, but everyone is a believer. There
is no exception. But, due to their opposing views, not all spiritual
spiritual belief systems can be true
(i. e. the way things really are; reality). Therefore, it is necessary
to seek after truth (i. e. the way things really are; reality) - not
only in any other area of life but also in terms of spirituality and
questions such as "Is there a God? If so, what's His identity? In
what way does He see me?".
To be exact:
IN PARTICULAR, with regard
to spirituality,
an approach like this may be considered only reasonable. Whoever plans
on taking a vacation trip of one day to several months in length
usually does so right down to the last detail - how much attention
should be dedicated to eternity, which is without limit of time, then?
Answer
- Main
Part:
t's not "God" all the spiritual ideologies (with
the exception of
atheism, agnosticism, and - depending on the particular definition of
the term "God" - buddhism) have in common: It's the "question of
guilt". Everyone "sins" and is, therefore, in need of "redemption".
However, opinions differ on this question.
"Do I have to do
something so as to please God (or the 'dharma' or whoever/whatever),
or has God done something in my favor?"
If it's true that we have to achieve "redemption" on our own, then you
may choose any "legalistic religion" (Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, etc.)
and endeavor to observe its (possibly wide) range of regulations
impeccably.
However, if God has done something for us, meaning He has taken care
of the "question of guilt", then the following words of Jesus apply:
a) " It
is finished!"
By this statement Jesus declared Hinduism, Buddhism, etc. as well as
- in anticipatory manner - Islam to be false. Whatever "sacrifices"
people may consider their "duty" in order to achieve "redemption": The
only "sacrifice" which is valid in "God's" opinion has already been
made - by means of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
b) " I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes
to the Father except through me."
*) "Uncertain Justice": Devout Muslims giving their best do not know whether Allah will grant
them forgiveness or not.
*) "Merciless Justice": Those who believe in reincarnation do not know when
they will have gotten rid of all their good/bad karma or if they will -
worst case scenario - stay stuck in the cycle of rebirths forever and
ever. Well, the "wheel of life" doesn't care at all about that.
*) "Justice + Love": By becoming man (Jesus of Nazareth) God puts
together both aspects - "complete justic" and "deep, ardent love".
Therefore, "redemption" which is directed at entire humanity, immediately effective, consummate, and irrevocable can only be
found in Christianity, ...
***********************************************
***********************************************
Conclusion:
On the basis of the
abovementioned answering the questions "What do I
take Jesus for?" and "Do I want Jesus/God to be the first priority of
my life?" may be considered the most important aspects of life.
It's the meaning of human existence.
e think the most recommendable approach is to
intellectually study this topic - but also to ask God about His
identity. "If you
really exist, please show me who you are." A request like this will
surely not remain permanently unanswered.
"I have been asking God so many times and for so many years - without
ever getting a response!"
Talking with Him about this concern or that dearest wishes, however,
nothing happens for a very long time (or maybe never) is familar to us,
too.
There
are many situations in which God obviously does not behave in the
desired way, and the explanation as to His particular decision won't be
made known to us before Judgment Day arrives.
But, in terms of His identity, the following applies:
God/Jesus suffered a tremendous quantity of pain as He wants not a single person to spend eternity
separated from Him.
Therefore, it may be true that God has not provided an answer your
question in terms of His identity yet; but for everyone there comes the
day of learning of this important piece of information.
"Christians
Have No Right to Play Gothic, Punk, Rock, and (in Particular) Metal!"
We
take the view that composing songs and writing lyrics are skills
which have been given to mankind by their Creator.
(Please note: Just like any
talent, these abilities may be used as well as abused. In what way the
particular gifted person makes use of them is the artist's decision. It
is their decision - as well as it is their responsibility.
We know that quite a few people dislike the term "assuming
responsibility". However, it doesn't take a lot of careful thinking
about its opposite "acting irresponsibly" to realize that "assuming
responsibility" actually means something good.)
herefore, rock
music - as well as any other style of music - is not
the "property" of a single person or a specific group of people. In
fact, it's one of God's
inventions given to humans so they can turn a vast number of topics
into words and music: romantic love, sex, party! party! party!,
violence of all kinds, alcohol, drugs, God, Jesus, Satan, politics,
social criticism, karma,
reincarnation, atheism, environment protection, animal welfare, vegan
cuisine,
...
To put it in a
nutshell:
We would be delighted to
see the whole world sympathize with our views
on "spirituality" and music - however, we accept
that some are of
different opinion. The very same acceptance regarding our attitude
is
what we would appreciate.
In the words of
Jesus:
"In everything treat others
the same way you want them to treat you."
(Matthew 7, 12)
"(Christian)
Gothic, Punk, Rock, and
Metal Are the Devil's Handiwork!"
Part 1 - Music:
In what way could this allegation (rock music = the
devil's handiwork)
be proved beyond doubt? What the particular speaker usually wants to
point out is this:
"I don't like that kind of music - no matter if the very song supports
'secular' or 'Christian' lyrics."
(By the way: There is no
shame in conceding that one doesn't get
enthusiastic about this or that. Nobody likes everything. Actually,
most people's interests are confined to relatively little - considering
what this planet would have in store for them.)
Some may point out that terms such as "gothic", "punk", "rock
(music)", "(heavy) metal (music)", "double bass drum", "blast
beat" don't get any mention in the Bible.
Yet, this also applies to "piano", "digital piano", "synthesizer",
"acoustic guitar", "electric guitar", "acoustic bass", "electric bass",
"banjo" etc. as well as "Christian pop music" (which has become widely
accepted and is performed throughout the world). You will find none of
these words printed in your Bible copy.
(Generally speaking: What about various comforts of life such as
"smartphones", the "Internet" or "motor-operated vehicles"? Unmentioned
in the Holy Scripture = Christians must not use them?)
So, let's
call a
spade a spade:
The musical genres we (don't) like are
primarily determined by our natural dispositions as well as our
personal experiences.
What is therefore
signifcant concerning the particular style of music?
It's the answer to the
following question: "Does this kind of music
intensify my relationships (myself, the people around me, God), or does
it have a negative effect?" That is the
same question we should think about when it comes to food and drink, TV
and movies, literature, clothing, sports, hobbies, etc.
aking
into considering that there are many Christians who steadily
grow in the areas of "self-love",
"love of neighbor", and "love of God"
not only but also by listening to gothic, punk, rock, and/or metal,
those who are fair-minded must admit:
Any well-composed song
belonging to one of these musical genres is
pleasing to God as well as
beneficial to its listeners.
See also: 1. Corinthians 6, 12.
Part 2 - Lyrics
(and literature at large, respectively):
Lyrics are to be judged by means of the same
question we employ regarding
music: "Do these lines intensify my relationship with myself, the
people around me, and God - or do they have negative effects?" Find the
answer to this, and act accordingly.
Encore: What is
"more pious", "more pleasing to God", "rather in line with the Bible",
"more Christian" ...
a) The "more-is-more"
approach: Singing many different verses and lines?
b) The "less-is-more" approach: Repeating one single verse (or maybe
even one single line) over and over again - along with chords that
never change?
No
matter if we decide in favor of option a) or b):
Our choice is
primarily determined by our natural dispositions as well as our
personal experiences.
"Shouldn't the
Lifestyle of Any
(Allegedly Christian Rock) Musician Be Taken Into Account?"
No
kidding? Nobody who is in possession of their sanity will stalk their
favorite artists in general as well as their favorite musicians in
particular for the purpose of ascertaining those people's lifestyles
may be
considered "ideologically correct".
We as a Christian community feel no urge to keep tabs on the lives of
those whose musical achievements we utilize in our as well as other
people's favor: What we consider essential is ... music and lyrics.
Finally - Isn't it true that the Apostle Paul benefited from "secular"
scholar's thoughts?
You see!
Encore:
"Ask Pastor John: Do We Really Need Musical
Worship?" (10:22 min.)
http://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/do-we-really-need-musical-worship
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