From: FACN34B@SAUPM00.BITNET (zane of dhahran)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.christia
Subject: rock music & the unregistered union of churches, moscow
Date: 11 Jan 93 06:53:16 GMT
Organization: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, S.A.
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
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Since we have let music enter the discussion, I thought some of you might
find this open letter to the >Churches of America from the persecuted Church
in Russia< interesting.  This was published in >The Plough< #31, May/June '92.
(The Plough is published by the Hutterite Brethren).  I will only be quoting
portions of this letter.

>For thirty years we have suffered intense persecution, and now freedom is
bringing another great harm to our churches.  This damage is coming from the
Christians in America who are sending rock music and evangelists accompanied
by rock bands....This is a great burden on 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 Christ
ian rock music coming to our country.
    Rock music has nothing in common with ministry or service to God.  We are
very, very against Christian Americans bringing to our country this false
image of "ministry" to God.  We need spiritual bread, please give us true 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 and eleven 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 and fasting.
    Now, we have a time of more openness, and we are no longer taken to prison.
However, now it is Christians from America who damage our souls....
    We, the leadership and congregations of the Unregistered Union of Churches,
the former Persecuted Church, have made an agreement not to allow rock music in
 our Church.  We urge you to join with us and we advise you to remove rock
music from America,  and certainly do not bring it to our country.
    Do not desecrate our teenagers with it.  Even the unbelievers recognize it
is unholy music and they cannot understand how American Christians can be so
much like the world.....
    We urge all Americans to stop giving money for the organization of such
concerts in Russia....
    This is the unanimous decision of all our leaders.
                                          Peter Peters, head of the Unregis-
                                          tered Union of Churches, Moscow,
                                          Russia.
                                          Vasilij Ryzhuk, elder Unregistered
                                          Union of Churches, Moscow, Russia<

    This is zane again.  While I don't necessarily agree with everything
said in the above letter (and don't necessarily disagree either) I think
that American Christians should be aware of how at least a large portion
of the Russian underground Churches perceive certain types of >Christian
aid< from America.  Please prayerfully consider the words of some of these
brothers who HAVE suffered unto the shedding of blood for the faith.  No
matter what are opinions are on Christian rock music, we should consider
the issue with humility and wisdom.
                                     Peace in Christ, zane of dhahran
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU