Praising the gods of Rock and Roll.
Drums, electric guitars, spectacular lights, and extremely loud, chaotic music were all there, yet this was not a secular music arena. This was a Seventh-day Adventist institution, and Walla Walla University (WWU) has hosted the 2022 Battle of the Bands tournament on its campus. [1] [2]
They have been hosting this event for years. The Battle of the Bands, according to WWU’s Instagram account, is an event in which “students create their own bands” and compete to win. You can see photographs from the WWU 2022 Battle of the Bands competition by scrolling through Walla Walla University’s Instagram post below.
View this post on Instagram
According to “The Collegian,” Walla Walla University’s school newspaper, they had theology students “jamming” on their guitars during the Battle of the Bands event. [3] This annual rock music competition is so popular that even secular college magazines know about the “fun” during WWU’s Battle of the Bands. [4] According to the WWU’s calendar of activities, the 2022 Battle of the Bands took place on February 26, 2022. [5] This same rock tournament was also included as one of the “Winter Fun” events at the university. [6]
“Winter fun?” They justify their support for ear-splitting guitars, booming drums, deafening bass, shouting students, worldly music, flashing lights, and worldly rock bands in a Christian, Seventh-day Adventist school by one mitigating factor: fun. The students are just having fun, they tell us. Seventh-day Adventists should never take lightly the warnings given by the prophets who spoke in the name of God:
“Though in many respects our institutions of learning have swung into worldly conformity, though step by step they have advanced toward the world …. If they will listen to His voice and follow in His ways, God will correct and enlighten them, and bring them back to their upright position of distinction from the world” (Testimonies, Vol. 6, p. 145).
“There is danger that our college will be turned away from its original design” (Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 21).
“God has revealed to me that we are in positive danger of bringing into our educational work the customs and fashions that prevail in the schools of the world. If the teachers are not guarded in their work, they will place on the necks of their students worldly yokes instead of the yoke of Christ” (Review and Herald, February 6, 1908).
Some will try to defend these rock band competitions by claiming that there was no alcohol or drugs involved. But are alcohol and drugs the only things that entice our youth? Is rock music just as destructive and dangerous, if not more? In fact, Walla Walla University students are imitating the world’s rock gods and rock stars. Tragically, rock music in the real world is characterized by sinful influences, and you can’t separate the entire rock concert venue from them. In Walla Walla University’s Battle of the Bands tournament, what culture is being exemplified? Heaven? No, because the music, rhythms, and components are all borrowed from the world’s toxic rock culture.
“Music is the idol which many professed Sabbath-keeping Christians worship. Satan has no objection to music, if he can make that a channel through which to gain access to the minds of the youth” (Messages to Young People, p. 295).
“The Holy Spirit never reveals itself in such methods, in such a bedlam of noise. This is an invention of Satan to cover up his ingenious methods for making of none effect the pure, sincere, elevating, ennobling, sanctifying truth for this time. Better never have the worship of God blended with music than to use musical instruments to do the work which last January was represented to me would be brought into our camp meetings. The truth for this time needs nothing of this kind in its work of converting souls. A bedlam of noise shocks the senses and perverts that which if conducted aright might be a blessing. The powers of satanic agencies blend with the din and noise, to have a carnival, and this is termed the Holy Spirit’s working.” (Selected Messages, Vol. 2, p. 36).
There should be a distinction between God’s people and the rest of the world. Unfortunately, we live in a world that makes no distinction between the secular and the sacred. Syncretism, or the blending of the sacred and profane, is what we’re seeing at Walla Walla University. This contrast existed in ancient Israel until they adopted Baal worship:
“The calm demeanor of the prophet stands out in sharp contrast with the fanatical, senseless frenzy of the followers of Baal” (Prophets and Kings, 151).
Tragically, our institutions are repeating the failures of ancient Israel with these rock music competitions. The trends of the 21st century are frightfully similar to the ancient pagan traditions. Do we maintain our long-standing practice of traditional worship and music that has been cautiously guarded by previous generations? Or will we continue embracing dancing, excitement, and loud, blaring worldly music? Should we embrace the hypnotic sounds of the drums, bass guitars, and keyboards in a rock concert environment that appeals to the new millennials? Well, God has already told us what to do:
“Never bring the truth down to a low level in order to obtain converts, but seek to bring the sinful and corrupted up to the high standard of the law of God” (Evangelism, 137).
Ellen G. White was shown that our people would become corrupted by music as we approached the end of time, just before probation closes:
“The things you have described as taking place in Indiana, the Lord has shown me would take place just before the close of probation. Every uncouth thing will be demonstrated. There will be shouting, with drums, music, and dancing. The senses of rational beings will become so confused that they cannot be trusted to make right decisions” (Selected Messages, Vol. 2, p. 36).
“The Holy Spirit has nothing to do with such a confusion of noise and multitude of sounds as passed before me last January. Satan works amid the din and confusion of such music, which, properly conducted, would be a praise and glory to God. He makes its effect like the poison sting of the serpent. Those things which have been in the past will be in the future. Satan will make music a snare by the way in which it is conducted” (Ibid., 37-38).
“There is nothing in these demonstrations which will convince the world that we have the truth. Mere noise and shouting are no evidence of sanctification, or of the descent of the Holy Spirit.” (Ibid., 35).
“Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper” 2 Chronicles 20:20.
Sources
[1] https://www.instagram.com/tv/Caie1f4A9Va/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
[2] https://www.facebook.com/darrenfield88/videos/1003639240261926
[3] https://aswwucollegian.com/student-spotlight/has-covid-19-created-social-butterflies/
[4] https://www.collegemagazine.com/cm-guide-walla-walla-university/
[5] https://mywwu.wallawalla.edu/calendar/pdf
[6] https://www.wallawalla.edu/news/detail/news/winter-fun/
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I blame two components. The first are the parent’s. They are wasting their money on sending their kids to this college. Second is that neither the parent’s or the kids are reading the SOP. These two combinations are destroying the youth of today!
I feel sorry for these parent’s and their kids when they will have to stand before Christ and explain themselves. That time is very soon. These kids and their parent’s will be our worst enemies when the pressure is put on them. They will have no defense against the evil one…..
Excellent commentary and reporting Andy. I can tell you from personal experience that the sensual beat of rock music is powerful and addictive, and will arouse ungodly passions. It has no place in a Christian’s life. It is foul and profane. It is a great delusion to think we can pepper rock music with the name “Jesus” or a few Biblical phrases and somehow call it “Christian”. It is the opposite, it is devilish and satanic. These poor people are completely deceived. Satan has spun a web around them, and they think they are just fine. Pray for these souls.
This same university has a special offering earmarked in the fall in conference churches in this neck of the woods. All the dutiful pew warmers drop in their envelopes and refuse to acknowledge this debauchery. I know that from personal experience also. Wake up people.
I am much afraid that the universities will prove to be the great gates of hell, unless they diligently labour in explaining the Holy Scriptures, and engraving them in the hearts of youth. I advise no one to place his child where the Scriptures do not reign paramount. Every institution in which men are not unceasingly occupied with the Word of God must become corrupt.
Martin Luther
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” Proverbs 1:7. One sentence of Scripture is of more value than ten thousand of man’s ideas or arguments. Those who refuse to follow God’s way will finally receive the sentence, “Depart from Me.” – CH 253.1
KJV 2 Corinthians 6:15-18
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
KJV Psalms 119:126-128
126 It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law.
127 Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.
128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.
Did the contempt shown to the law of God extinguish David’s loyalty? Hear his words. He calls upon God to interfere and vindicate His honor, to show that there is a God, that there are limits to His forbearance, that it is possible to so presume upon the mercy of God as to exhaust it. “It is time for thee, Lord, to work,” he says, “for they have made void thy law.” – 3BC 1152.6
David saw the divine precepts thrown aside, and obstinacy and rebellion increasing. Was he swept away by the prevalence of apostasy? Did the scorn and contempt cast upon the law lead him to cowardly refrain from making an effort to vindicate the law? On the contrary his reverence for the law of Jehovah increased as he saw the disregard and contempt shown for it by others [Psalm 119:126-130, 165 quoted] (Manuscript 27, 1899). – 3BC 1152.7
Time for God to Work—David was greatly tried in his day in seeing men pouring contempt upon God’s law. Men threw off restraint, and depravity was the result. The law of God had become a dead letter to those whom God had created. Men refused to receive the holy precepts as the rule of their life. Wickedness was so great that David feared lest God’s forbearance should cease, and he sent up a heart-felt prayer to heaven, saying, “It is time for thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void thy law. Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.” 3BC 1152.8
If David thought in his day that men had exceeded the limits of God’s mercy, and that God would work to vindicate the honor of His law, and bring the wickedness of the wicked to an end, then what influence should the widespread iniquity of our day have upon those who love and fear God? When there is widespread disobedience, when iniquity is increasing to a swelling tide, will the professed Christian world be evil with the evil, unrighteous with the unrighteous? Shall we place our influence on the side of the great apostate, and shall universal scorn be heaped upon God’s law, the great standard of righteousness? Shall we be swept away by the strong tide of transgression and apostasy? Or shall the righteous search the Scriptures, and know for themselves the conditions upon which the salvation of their souls depend? Those who make the Word of God the man of their counsel will esteem the law of God, and their appreciation of it will rise in proportion as it is set aside and despised. Loyal subjects of Christ’s kingdom will re-echo the words of David and say, “It is time for thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void thy law. Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.” This is the position those will occupy who love God sincerely and their neighbors as themselves. They will exalt the commandments in proportion as contempt increases (Undated Manuscript 145). 3BC 1152.9
126. When David in his day saw the departing from the law of God, he expected that a manifestation of divine displeasure would be seen. He looked for the Lord to show forth His righteous indignation. “It is time for thee, Lord, to work,” he exclaimed, “for they have made void thy law.” He supposed that in their lawlessness men had exceeded the bounds of God’s forbearance, and that the Lord would not longer restrain Himself (MS 15, 1906). 3BC 1153.1
Where Will the Church Stand?—It is possible for men to go so far in wickedness, under continual remonstrance, that God sees that He must arise and vindicate His honor. Thus it is at the present period of this earth’s history. Crime of every degree is becoming more and more strikingly manifest. The earth is filled with violence of men against their fellow-men. 3BC 1153.2
What position will the church take? Will those who in the past have had respect for the law of God, be drawn into the current of evil? Will the almost universal transgression and contempt of the law of God, darken the spiritual atmosphere of the souls of all alike? Will the disrespect of the law of God sweep away the protecting barriers? Because wickedness and lawlessness prevail, is the law of God to be less highly esteemed? Because it is made void by the great majority of those living on the earth, shall the few loyal ones become like all the disloyal, and act as the wicked act? Shall they not rather offer up the prayer of David, “It is time for thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void thy law” (Manuscript 15, 1906)? 3BC 1153.3
130. See EGW comment on Psalm 19. 3BC 1153.4
165. In Harmony With Heaven—There is no peace in unrighteousness; the wicked are at war with God. But he who receives the righteousness of the law in Christ, is in harmony with heaven (Letter 96, 1896). 3BC 1153.5
So sorry to hear this. i can sadly attest that this type of thing isn’t just limited to Walla Walla. Even our so-called conservative schools are falling for this. I’m devastated.
4 simple comments…much more can be said
1. look at the hand signal in the picture of the the young man with his hand raised with the “devil’s horn” gesture
2. The lyrics have nothing to do with Christ or the Christian walk
3. Are the band names Godly? “Fresh White Chicks”
4. Most of our children, youth and young adults are in “crisis
My dear bro/sis “Small” (not sure whether that is reference to your personal attribute, or self humility.) I totally agree with your findings you commenting there on. It`s impossible not to notice those Satanic hand signs..But the reason this article is on here, is not show how ”godly” this Devil`s party was, ( “Are the band names Godly?”) but just the opposite.
I work at this institution and have send multiple emails to the president and VP’s on campus quoting scripture and SOP but my emails are never answered or deferred to someone else on campus to answer and then still not answered or excuses are made. We are told we have a ministry but it is the ministry of Satan and not God. There is no spreading of the 3 Angel’s Messages here. The important point made about the Battle of the Bands was to make sure that N95 masks were worn to be able to attend. They are now embracing a Latino “culture” on campus most recently and inviting everyone to a Salsa event. This is NOT a food event. It’s Salsa dancing and now faculty and staff are encouraged to attend and if they do they will receive 10 “health points”. I’m praying that God either removes me from this job or has me here for a purpose to cry aloud and spare not. But it is very lonely. Not many are willing to speak out against this evil. We are in a crises here. May God judge righteously and may His will be done.
You are in my prayers!
I am curious as to the thoughts and reasoning behind this post. As a student here, I believe that WWU is doing an amazing job at leading their students in a way that allows them to learn more as well fostering a more solid relationship with God. In everyone I have worked with here at this school, I have seen a desire to share God and his love to all that walk through the doors of this institution. I am interested in hearing your thoughts and opinions if you would like to email me and talk.
Good to hear that Brendon..You must be one of those that truly are Christ`s – there at WWU..God`s blessings upon you. But fact is you just can not share Jesus & 3 angels messages with such events as described here, in this article…Happy Sabbath to you. 🙂
You are in my prayers as well! Thank you for taking a stand!!
Who is running this place?
There are a lot of amazing individuals who run this institution, however, what I’m wondering is if have you ever run in your life? The body is supposed to be a temple, but you don’t have the image of health…
Even when I was a teenager attending academy I did not see or witness any godliness among my teachers except for my second grade teacher, she inspired me to be my best, do my best for the rest of my life! I was depressed all through school, my classmates, especially some of the boys were crude and disgusting towards the girls. One female classmate was into drugs and tried to encourage me to join her, unfortunately she went on to become a porn actress. One of my best friends was raped at the academy by two of our classmates. I only went through school because I had to, I didn’t go on to boarding school because I knew that I would loose my walk with God due to the hypocrisy of the leaders and teachers. When I was 13 years old, attending the Gladstone Oregon camp meeting, I saw a pastor look at a young woman with lust and during one of the youth tent meetings with many young people, the leader asked all the kids to “raise their hands who loved sex.” Is it no wonder that our kids leave our churches and join the world? I home schooled my children and never regretted it. God help us all, God wake us up! Oh what will it take before it is too late?!
Bonjour,
Lisez et relisez tout le chapitre du livre de l’exode 32.
C’était la confusion,et la débandade au pied du mont Sinaï,la réponse Dieu fut immédiate.
Next time, by God’s grace, i will send my comments based only in God’s words [Bible & SOP]. At this time, only i can say, “Amen” to this Ministry. God bless.
As a parent of a 10 years old son, I have always thought of sending my son to an Adventist college to continue his walk in Adventism. But from what I can tell is that all of the Adventist college’s are losing their minds, and turning to the world from guidance, instead of asking for a Thus said the Lord. I won’t be sending my son to any of those colleges. I will continue with his home schooling, at least he will get a daily scripture lessons. May GOD have mercy on those college’s, and may they repent befor it’s to late!
I really hope that this one article or comments like these doesn’t affect or stop your kid from experiencing what it’s like to go to a seventh day adventist institution, i grew up going to seventh day adventist schools from 1st grade until college and i can tell you that my most life changing, God touching experiences have been in that environment, i do not know what I would be if i hadn’t experienced it and i know that because i went to those schools is the reason i have the relationship with God that i have today. i am sorry this has caused doubts and fears but i promise there is a lot more to it
i just have to say as a student from walla walla that no matter where you send your kids they can and will always find and seek out what they want. if they want to party regularly they are going to become friends with the people that do that and so on. i do acknowledge that advintist universities have done thing the advintist community hasn’t liked but honestly what’s going to be better walla walla or uc berkley
Is there a spec in these students’ eyes?
In all seriousness, this is a non issue and any bonefide issues that may have come from the orbit of this event are not worth obsessing over publicly.
This kind of obsession over young people’s innocent fun that you don’t happen understand is one of the many reasons why young people are leaving the church.
Have you ever had a spec in your eyes? It is extremely painful and irritating. It is hard to concentrate on anything else until the spec is removed. You can point at the beams of others all you all you want but it will do nothing to alleviate the pain of one’s one spec. It must be removed.
i do have to say that i agree with you david the constant eye of judgment that watches the youth is a major contribution to why most teens hate coming to church. as a young adult it makes me very happy that you do see an issue in this article for roasting some kids harmless fun
As someone who attends the University, I think that is interesting to hear these perspectives. In my opinion, the event is far from being satanic in any sense and the celebration of music is not something separate from God. After all, God has given the gift of musical talent to these musicians has He not? They are sharing their gifts with others in order to bring happiness and joy to others and I don’t see anything wrong with that. I’m sorry that many of you feel like we have been condemned to hell but I can say with confidence where myself and others will be on that glorious day.
I can assure you, Jim, there are many parents who are thankful that Walla Walla provides such an active and supportive spiritual environment for our kids. We were your age not so (very) long ago, worshipping and socializing in a different way than our parents had before us… and we still fostered close relationships with God. God is bigger than what we can imagine and loves us beyond our comprehension. I’m confident attendance at an event with drums wasn’t mandatory— or an impediment to salvation.
Agree! I attended this school as did both my children, and while none of our Adventist schools are perfect, I am grateful for the Godly staff and students who helped shape me and my sons into Christian professionals.
Are these musicians bringing glory to themselves or glory to God? I don’t attend the school so perhaps you can share with us some of the song titles and lyrics. Is this a benefit concert to help spread the 3 Angels’ Messages or are there prizes and recognition being given to those who are the best? Who won the Battle this year and with which song?
Can you provide us with a personal testimony about how your walk with God has been enriched by attending the Battle of the Bands? Is this considered a worship event? Does it take place on Sabbath? If it was moved to Whitman College would anyone know the difference?
No they are not, bringing glory to God. This type of music is composed to have rhythm, beat and sound to excite and arouse emotions in human mind, to lust. Professional rock composers are saying this, not I. Godly music is to calm and human mind and point it to God.
Jim, ..Seems you either did not read that last part of article, the quotations of E.G.W. on this type of noise. Or you just don`t care what God says there through her, since you`re expressing just the opposite opinions. Reread that quotation from her slower with open mind to Spirit of God elucidating it.
Matthew 5:10-12
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Are the people performing in the Battle of the Bands being persecuted because of Jesus? Unless you are being persecuted because of your faith in Jesus, this text has no application whatsoever.
Walla Walla University – where youth and laughter go to hell. Well and correctly did Luther prophesy 600 years ago, that: “If religious schools if not adhering STRICTLY to Biblical teachings, will become gates to hell.”