Parachute music festival

Flicking through the parachute music festival magazine is like entering an alternative reality where up is down and down is up. All you see are staunch faces, satanic imagery and every outward expression of the world's music industry, just wrapped with a few mentions of “social justice” and the odd vague Christian murmuring. If a person couldn’t read there is not one chance in a hundred that from the imagery they would realize it had anything to do with Christianity; and even being able to read doesn’t increase the chances much.

Republished below is Michael Lowe's letter to Parachute Music. Underneath his letter their stunningly intellectual response is also re-published.

Michael's letter:

It is with some concern that I write this article, seeing what is entering into the “Christian Church” in New Zealand and around the world. To a great degree the Church is asleep and being indoctrinated into the growing acceptance of the postmodern Emergent movement (or journey) and greatly influencing church youth and “leadership” by such change agents as Brian McClaren, Rick Warren, and others with the social gospel of Tony Campollo, who spoke at Parachute 08.

It is not difficult to discern the impact that this global agenda and the cultural / social shift of post modernity is having on young Christians through such events as Parachute, and no one is taking the time to search the scriptures to see if what is being presented is in line with the words of the Lord (Acts 17:11); especially those in so called leadership. Where are the watchmen?

My first point is Parachute’s use of the occultist upside down cross - Nero’s cross or the death rune, and more commonly known as the nuclear disarmament peace symbol. On speaking with an official of parachute concerning these topics, I was informed that “they had done the research and were not obliged to explain to me”. What connection do any of these have with our Christian Heritage and the peace that Jesus promises us? (John 14:27). The love, peace and justice that this world offers is a false peace brought about by the false New Age Anti-Christ.

It is not our mandate to redeem cultures, nations, nor to take dominion over this fallen creation, or to conquer poverty, cure HIV Aids and solve the worlds five global giants, then usher in the kingdom before Jesus can return. This is Dominionist, Kingdom Now, theology. Our commandment is to preach the true gospel (sin, repentance, redemption and salvation by faith) to all men everywhere, and then the end will come.

My next point concerns the acceptance of the Roman Catholic and Anglican Mass at Parachute as if this were the same gospel that the bible teaches. E.g. the Eucharist, the wafer and the wine become the “literal body and blood of Christ” when offered up by a priest (crucifying Christ over and over every time this act is performed). Transubstantiation, the sinless and mediatorship of Mary (I Tim 2:5), the infallibility of the Pope and a multitude of other doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church. Why the compromise? (2 Cor 6:14-17). The Roman Catholic Church is NOT CHRISTIAN!!

My next point is the bringing on board of secular radio and TV stations, pub charities, and the Lion Foundation AS SPONSORS. God is not limited that we should turn to the world to promote the gospel. Are we happy to let our children watch C4, listen to Edge Radio and mai FM? (2 Cor 6:14-17).

My next point concerns a seminar speaker, John Burns, speaking on the “Law of Attraction”. This New Age teaching was a forerunner to the occultist book and DVD “The Secret”, heavily promoted on the Oprah Winfrey show (and was dictated to the author Rhonda Byrne by spirit guides). It concerns achieving your goals through New Age visualization and positive thinking. This again is not Christian; where are the discerners, and those who will confront the apostasy? The Emergent, New Age, New Catholic mystics and the social gospel are coming in like a flood and the Church is asleep. Wake up church!

My next point concerns the entertainment and the bands “Family Force 5”, “Kutless” and the “David Crowder Band” (hope he is not related to the apostate new mystic John Crowder). Is this the music that will bring souls into the Kingdom? On the large Parachute programme cover detailing the pics and articles of the performing bands, the death skull head was prominent, and piercings, the Kutless member with “Rebel Spirit” on his top, the social justice influence coming through in all the articles and not one mention of sin or repentance in the whole book. I personally looked up and read all the lyrics of Family Force 5’s Dance or Die album and could find no reference to any Christian lyrics. Standing on a stage using Jesus name is no guarantee that one has a close and sanctified walk with the Lord Jesus.

I fear for the Christian youth who are coming under the influence of the Emergent mystics, the social gospel and undiscerning shepherd's who won’t make a stand against the apostasy that Jesus said would come in these Last Days as deception runs unfettered in the church (Matt 24:4-5), and a great falling away would ensue for a lack of clear, uncompromising men of God standing up and saying “Enough”, at the expense of position, esteem, power, reputation or financial gain. But we all somehow seem to justify and continue to serve the god of our own imagination.

HE IS COMING REAL SOON!!!

Response to Michael's letter (sent by Blair Dale, communications manager of Parachute Music):

Dear Michael,

This letter acknowledges that Parachute Music received a letter and brochure from you on February 19th where you expressed your concerns in regards to the Parachute Music Festival.

Please accept this letter as confirmation that we have read the correspondence and fundamentally disagree with the views expressed within your letter and the accompanying brochure.

Please also respect that we do not wish to enter into any further debate or discussion with you on the matter.

Regards…

Well, I guess they have "done their research" and again didn’t feel obliged to explain themselves. A sad state of affairs when worldliness is dressed up and passed off as Christianity. When will Christian parents stop the endless slide into compromise and learn how to explain to their teenagers why the Parachute festival is an absolute apostasy from the Cristian faith? I agree with Michael, WAKE UP CHURCH!!!

By the way, the graphic on this page is off the T-shirt worn by one of the band members from Kutless. Another Kutless band member was wearing a jersey with "Rebel Spirit" emblazoned across it. Surely Satan is the spirit of rebellion in the world. It's amazing to see the discernment of what is really Christian falling away towards absolute ZERO.

For an excellent resource on the Emergent Church read Faith Undone by Roger Oakland (Available from Amazon as well as the publishers, Lighthouse Trails)

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