In W.P.2 we published a Warning to parents on the dangers of certain forms of modern music, and the effect it was having, especially on the young people of today. On the same theme, we now reproduce the letter sent toBritain a few years ago by Peter Peters, Head of the Unregistered Union of Russian Churches in Moscow, andVasilij Ryzhuk, one of the Elders. It is a chilling commentary on the Rock scene.
“For 30 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 the West who are sending rock music and evangelists accompanied by rock bands. Our young people do not attend these meetings because we have all committed not to participate in secular entertainments.
“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 service to God. We are very, very against Christian Westerners 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 churches but not to godly living.
“We were in prison for 15 years and 11 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 the West who damage our souls. We do not allow this music in our churches, but they rent big stadiums and infect teenagers and adults with their rock music.
“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 Churches. We urge you to join with us and we advise you to remove rock music from the West and certainly to not bring it to our country. Do not desecrate our teenagers with it. Even the believers recognise it is unholy music and they cannot understand how Western Christians can be so much like the world. We can give you the conclusion that after Russian unbelievers have attended these rock concerts where Christ’s Word was preached, the people were very disappointed and disillusioned with Christianity.
“We call this music from hell. We urge all Westerners to stop giving money for the organisation of such concerts in Russia. We want only traditional Christian music in our churches. This is the unanimous decision of all our leaders.”
Signed by Peter Peters and Vasilij Ryzhuk
