1. Hymns without God By Shad David Sluiter Download at www.GospelHall.orgwww.GospelHall.org

2. What is a “Hymn”? The difference between a hymn and a regular song is that a hymn teaches beliefs or doctrines. Early Christian hymns appear in our Bible, for example 1 Timothy 3:16; Ephesians 5:14; Luke 2: 29-32. 1 Timothy 3:16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. Ephesians 5:14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Luke 2:29-32 Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

3. What is a “Hymn of our Age”? Music that teaches a message isn’t just found in the church hymn book. Modern anthems (similar to hymns) teach various forms of world-sourced ideas. I can't get no satisfaction. 'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try. I did it my way. Imagine there's no heaven. Nothing really matters at all.

4. We are supposed to avoid “worldliness” Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

5. What is “worldliness”? (It’s not the kind of clothes you wear.) “Worldliness” is a form of thinking contrary to God’s Word. Here are some examples of worldly thinking. Materialism – The only reality is the physical things we can see. No spirit, angel, demon or god can exist in a strictly material world. This can result in a mad pursuit of material things. It can also result in utter hopelessness since it implies that there is no higher purpose to any life other than to reproduce another generation. Secularism – The ideas of a god, afterlife and religion are fantasies in the same or similar category than fairy tales. Religion only causes problems so we should eliminate it as soon as possible. Humanism – Man is the center of all meaning. Only man can choose and direct the events of life. Pluralism or Relativism – Truth is a personal preference. Nothing is true or everything can be true if you want.

6. Analysis Time Next time you listen to song, ask some of these questions: What underlying idea inspires this song? What consequences accompany this belief? How does (did) this person live and die? What follows are four “classic” modern anthems that were written in the 1960’s and 1970s, a time when a new tone and moral misdirection was set. Many similar songs have followed, but these four are defining examples of modern hymns without God.

7. Bohemian Rapsody (1975) Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Caught in a landslide No escape from reality Open your eyes Look up to the skies and see I'm just a poor boy, I need no sympathy Because I'm easy come, easy go A little high, little low Anyway the wind blows, doesn't really matter to me, to me. Mama, just killed a man Put a gun against his head Pulled my trigger, now he's dead Mama, life had just begun But now I've gone and thrown it all away Mama, Didn't mean to make you cry If I'm not back again this time tomorrow Carry on, carry on, as if nothing really matters Too late, my time has come Sends shivers down my spine Body's aching all the time Goodbye everybody - I've got to go Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth Mama, I don't want to die I sometimes wish I'd never been born at all Nothing really matters Anyone can see Nothing really matters - nothing really matters to me Freddie Mercery of Queen

8. Imagine (1971) Imagine there's no heaven It's easy if you try No hell below us Above us only sky Imagine all the people Living for today… Imagine there's no countries It isn't hard to do Nothing to kill or die for And no religion too Imagine all the people Living life in peace… You may say I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will be as one John Lennon of the Beattles

9. I Did it My Way (1967) And now, the end is here And so I face the final curtain My friend, I'll say it clear I'll state my case, of which I'm certain I've lived a life that's full I traveled each and ev'ry highway And more, much more than this, I did it my way. For what is a man, what has he got? If not himself, then he has naught To say the things he truly feels and not the words of one who kneels The record shows I took the blows and did it my way! Yes, it was my way

10. I can’t get no satisfaction (1965) I can't get no, oh no no no. Hey hey hey, that's what I say. I can't get no satisfaction, I can't get no satisfaction. 'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try. I can't get no, I can't get no. When I'm ridin' round the world and I'm doin' this and I'm signing that and I'm tryin' to make some girl who tells me baby better come back later next week 'cause you see I'm on losing streak. I can't get no, oh no no no. Hey hey hey, that's what I say. When I'm drivin' in my car and a man comes on the radio he's tellin' me more and more about some useless information supposed to fire my imagination p

11. What is he teaching in his song? If there were no God, as a materialist teaches, then all people, actions, events are meaningless. Your life and death as much significance as that of a dog killed by a passing car, a mouse in a trap, a fly under a swatter or a bacteria quenched by a white blood cell in your veins. “If I'm not back again this time tomorrow Carry on, carry on, as if nothing really matters” “If I'm not back again this time tomorrow Carry on, carry on, as if nothing really matters”

12. What Biblical truth can you give for an answer to this? Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

13. What is he teaching in his song? If we could get rid of God, as a secularist teaches, then we could all get along better. Religion with absolute truth is believed to be the greatest source of evil in our society. “And no religion too Imagine all the people Living life in peace” “And no religion too Imagine all the people Living life in peace”

14. What Biblical truth can you give for an answer to this? Act 17:26-27 (26) And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, (27) that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,

15. What is he teaching in his song? If there were no authority higher than man, as a humanist teaches, then we could all experience freedom. God is restrictive and annoying. And now, the end is here And so I face the final curtain … For what is a man, what has he got? If not himself, then he has naught … And more, much more than this, I did it my way. And now, the end is here And so I face the final curtain … For what is a man, what has he got? If not himself, then he has naught … And more, much more than this, I did it my way.

16. What Biblical truth can you give for an answer to this? Romans 9:20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?"

17. What is he teaching in his song? If someone tries to find fulfillment apart from God, as a materials teaches, then we vainly try to fill our lives with an endless list of things that never completely satisfy. I can't get no satisfaction, I can't get no satisfaction. 'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try. I can't get no satisfaction, I can't get no satisfaction. 'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try.

18. What Biblical truth can you give for an answer to this? Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

19. Concluding Advice Read the label. Know what you are consuming.