"SUPERSTAR"
"Jesus Christ Superstar"
Critically Examined In The Light Of The Bible
By E. L. Bynum
"Jesus Christ Superstar", has been called "A REVERENT ROCK OPERA", by
Life Magazine. Life also said that it had achieved "worldwide
success."
"Superstar" has been performed in theaters around the world, in public
and auditoriums and in many churches. It has been recorded on two long
play records (87 minutes), earned 2 million dollars in the first four
months after it was released October 1970. It has been predicted that
it will be an all-time best seller.
We disagree with Life Magazine. "Superstar" is not reverent but
irreverent. It is rotten to the core and contains some of the most
blasphemous statements that we have ever heard.
I. THE WRONG KIND OF MUSIC!
Even the most talented and dedicated musicians cannot make ROCK music
honor the Lord. ROCK writers have turned to religious themes to try to
give modern ROCK a new lease on life. This has met with success, but
most Christians have never looked beneath the surface to see what the
religious rock people were really saying. Naive people have looked
upon the religious trend in rock music as a sign of spiritual
awakening among the young.
"My Sweet Lord" was composed and sang by George Harrison. In 1971 it
earned the gold record award, but it does not glorify the God of the
Bible. Some Christians have defended it, not knowing the facts.
Harrison is a Hindu, and the "Lord" of his song, is not the Lord of
the Bible, but rather "Lord Krishna" a Hindu god. "Spirit in the Sky"
was written and recorded by Norman Greenbaum, but it is not Christian.
The lyrics are unscriptural and Greenbaum has publicly admitted that
he is Jewish and does not believe in Jesus Christ.
Rock music should not be mixed with the Christian religion. It doesn’t
fit in Church, nor can it be used to glorify Christ anywhere else.
II. THE WRONG KIND OF MEN WROTE IT!
Lyrics and music for "Jesus Christ Superstar" was written by Andrew
Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. They do not believe that Jesus Christ was
God.
"It happens that we DON’T SEE CHRIST AS GOD but simply the right man
at the right time at the right place." So said Tim Rice as quoted in
Time, November 9, 1970, page 47.
Webber said, "Christianity is a subject that fascinates everyone, even
if they don’t believe Christ was God."
Life Magazine, May 28, 1971 quotes Tim Rice who wrote the words for
"Superstar" as saying, "We are basically trying to tell the story of
Christ as a man. I think he Increases in stature by looking at him as
a man."
In a recorded interview Tim Rice was asked about whether the lyrics
were negative about religion. He said, "No–in a way, it’s neither
positive nor negative, it’s just asking questions . . . The fact that
an awful lot happened in Christ’s life that could easily be legend, I
don’t think diminishes the importance of the legend. But I think, as
the years roll on, in the 20th and 21st centuries, I think less and
less people are going to thank of Christ as a god, and I think more
people are going to see him as a generally good thing. I don’t see him
as a god at all, and the opera doesn’t categorically say he wasn’t,
but I think it leaves the question very open."
Tim Rice said, "I regard Christ as a man, placing him on a human
level." Quoted from Seventeen magazine, March 1971. Webber is quoted
in Rolling Stone, December 2, 1970 as saying, "I personally don’t
think that Jesus is God."
Such songwriters are incapable of writing anything that would glorify
the Lord. They are unsaved and ignorant of God’s Word. Every Christian
should shun their anti-Christian work.
III. THE WRONG KIND OF MOTIVE ! !
The writers of "Jesus Christ Superstar" present Jesus Christ as seen
through the eyes of Judas. In a recorded interview they said, " . . .
the idea of the whole opera Is to have Christ seen through the eyes of
Judas, and Christ as a man, not as a God. And the fact that Christ
himself is just as mixed up and unaware of exactly what he is, as
Judas is."
The writers seem to have a very high regard for Judas, the one who
betrayed our Lord. Rice said, "In the Gospels, Judas is a cardboard
figure. Every time he is mentioned there is a snide remark. I believe
that Judas was the most intelligent of the Apostles and that is why he
got into such a dilemma." Quoted from Life Magazine, May 28, 1971.
WHAT KIND OF A MAN WAS JUDAS?
1. He was a thief. John 12:6
2. He was a devil. Jesus said, " . . . One of you is a devil? He spake
of Judas Iscariot . . ."
John 6:70, 71.
3. Satan entered Judas. Luke 22:3
4. He betrayed Christ for 30 pieces of silver.
5. He was an anti-christ and may well be the coming Anti-Christ!
6. Jesus called him "the son of perdition." John 17:12.
It is through the eyes of this man that Jesus is to be seen in
"Superstar." He might as well be seen through the eyes of the devil
himself.
IV. THE WRONG KIND OF MESSAGE!
Jesus Christ is pictured as a confused, embittered mixed up person.
Unsure of who he was and what he was to do. In the opera Jesus seems
to be bitter against God. We hesitate to print some of the blasphemous
words of this rock opera, but feel that we must if it is to be
exposed.
In the first song, Judas says:
"My mind is clearer now–at last all to well I can see where we all
soon will be
If you strip away the myth from the man you will see where we all soon
will be
Jesus! You’ve started to believe the things they say of you . . . You
have set them all on fire
They think they’ve found the new Messiah
And they’ll hurt you when they find they’re wrong."
God is accused of being responsible for sin, as Judas says:
"My God I am sick I’ve been used
And you knew all the time
God! I’ll never know why you chose me as your crime
For your foul bloody crime
You have murdered me
You have murdered me."
Jesus is bitter against God as He says:
"Show me there’s a reason for you wanting me to die
You’re far too keen on where and how and not so hot on why
After all I’ve tried for three years, seems like ninety
Why then am I scared to finish what I started?
What you started – I didn’t start it
God thy will is hard . . . But you hold every card
I will drink your cup of poison
Nail me to the cross and break me
Bleed me, beat me, kill me, take me now
Before I change my mind."
One of the most blasphemous parts of "Superstar" is the part where
Jesus is pictured as a lover of Mary Magdalene, who is portrayed in
the opera as a prostitute.
Webber is quoted in Life Magazine as saying, "He (Jesus) must have
been an incredibly powerful man. He had great power over women, so he
was either very attractive or very magnetic."
Of this affair, Judas says in the opera:
"It seems to me a strange thing, mystifying
That a man like you can waste his time on women of her kind
Yes, I can understand that she amuses
But to let her stroke you, kiss your hair, is hardly in your line."
In the opera, Mary Magdalene says:
"I don’t know how to love him
What to do, how to move him
I’ve been changed, yes, really changed
In these past few days; when I’ve seen myself
I seem like someone else
I don’t know how to take this
I don’t see why he moves me
He’s a man, he’s just a man
And I’ve had so many men before
In very many ways He’s just one more."
Any Bible believer should be shocked by the above verse, supposedly
uttered by Mary Magdalene. Dear reader please think upon these words
quoted by Mary Magdalene, "He’s a man, he’s just a man, And I’ve had
so many men before, In very many ways, He’s just one more." Do you not
see the awful way they are dragging the character of our Savior in the
gutter?
Judas further says:
"It’s not that I object to her profession
But she doesn’t fit in well with what you teach and say
It doesn’t help us if you’re inconsistent
They only need a small excuse to put us an away."
Do you not see what is implied in "her profession?" In the above verse
Jesus is accused of teaching one thing and practicing another.
NO RISEN SAVIOUR IN "SUPERSTAR"
This blasphemous Rock Opera ends with these words: "It is finished.
Father into your hands I commend my spirit." Then there is silence.
Our Saviour remains dead on the cross and there is no resurrection.
WHAT BLASPHEMY ! ! !
CONCLUSION
Every born again Christian should readily recognize the evil of "Jesus
Christ Superstar", and should shun it like the plague. Also, the
Christian should boldly warn others of this blasphemous rock opera.
"Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ,
bath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he bath both
the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this
doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed
For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." II
John 9-11. Christian should take their stand for Christ regardless of
the cost.
For the unsaved that may read this tract, be assured that Jesus was
God. I Timothy 3:16, speaking of Christ coming to earth says, ". . .
God was manifest in the flesh . . . " Paul writes by Divine
inspiration of Christ in this manner, "In whom we have redemption
through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of
the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were
all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible
and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or
principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for
him: And he is before an things, and by him all things consist."
Colossians 1:14-17. Sinner friend, turn to Him in repentance and
faith. He alone has the power to save!
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http://www.tbaptist.com/aab/superstar.htm
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