The Night Stalker and Rock Music

Ever since his arrest on August 31, Richard Ramirez, suspected of being the infamous Night Stalker, has commanded the attention of the local and national news media. This is first of all due to the mounting evidence implicating him as prime suspect in a series of grizzly murders in California. What has demanded equal attention, however, is the apparent connection between these evil deeds and the Night Stalkers apparent fascination with rock music and Satan worship. This is what the UPI report, printed in the September 2, 1985 issue of the News (a Northern New Jersey newspaper), states:

Police announced that a baseball cap with the letters AC-DC embroidered on it was found at one of the murder sites. AC-DC is a heavy-metal rock band whose music makes repeated reference to devil worship, and some say the letters stand for the words Anti Christ, Devils Child.

The lyrics from one AC-DC song on the album Highway to Hell, entitled Night Prowler, include some phrases strikingly suggestive of the Night Stalkers criminal style.

Satz (a reporter of KABC-TV) also revealed at least one attempt to gouge out a victims eyes a devil-worship ritual. On other occasions, he said, the suspect ate a meal at the house after the crime, consistent with a Satanic ritual of celebration following a sacrifice.

Is the apparent relationship between the evil crimes committed by the Night Stalker, the evidence found concerning the rock band AC-DC whose music makes repeated reference to devil worship, and the evidence found pointing to Satanic rituals, merely coincidental? I firmly believe it is not! It only dramatically confirms what concerned ministers, elders, educators and parents in our country are trying to convey to young people namely, that rock music is not an innocent form of entertainment, is not merely a form of music comparable to classical or other forms of music, but rock music is the invention of Satan himself and is an expression of the sinful lusts of the human heart. Even worse, rock music is evil by design, that is, it is designed to arouse lusts found in the heart of every sinful human being, by means of its lyrics and beat. Examine for a moment all that is associated with the so-called rock culture: immorality, drug abuse, violence, profanity, murder, etc.

The case of the Night Stalker presents us with some of the best evidence available to date. However, the case of the Night Stalker proves more, for it conveys the very obvious connection between rock music and its inventor, Satan himself.

In the days of Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis, the fathers of rock music, rock music was mild compared to what is available today. The reference to sinful practices was subtle and suggestive. But as is always the case, indulgence in sin never satisfies and therefore the subtle lyrics of the early days soon lost their appeal. Increasingly the lyrics became more daring and the references to immorality became more explicit. In our day all barriers have been removed and sinful practices are graphically suggested. This, however, is also beginning to wear off, and new expressions of wickedness must be found. The new trend is, therefore, towards Satanism and its evil blasphemous rituals in which God and His service are mocked in a most dreadful manner. As a matter of fact, a producer of rock albums has openly stated that the next generation of rock albums will deal exclusively with Satan worship! The music produced by AC-DC vividly illustrates this. Therefore it is not surprising that as rock moves into the area of Satanism, the number of Satan worshippers in our country also increases dramatically. This is the ultimate consequence of the innocent rock introduced by Presley and company! Satan has finally thrown away his mask so that it now is very obvious what many have known for a long time that rock music is sinful and satanic.

The very purpose for which Satan has invented this music is to drag sinners to hell.

The very purpose for which Satan has invented this music is to drag sinners to hell. He knows better than anyone else that he who has the youth has the future, and he is therefore making an all-out assault upon young people in order to addict them to his service and so guarantee their eternal destruction.

I want to issue a loving and serious warning to our young people: Satan does not stop at the doors of our homes. It is a sad reality that also many of our young people are faithful listeners to rock, varying from country to punk rock. Why do some refuse to recognize the very evil nature of this music which is so graphically demonstrated in the case of the Night Stalker? Some say, I only listen to soft rock! But the most blatant and evil forms of rock music today find their origin in the soft rock of Elvis Presley and Jerry Lewis! Once hooked to soft rock, you will very easily become interested in harder forms of rock. Rock music by its very design is addicting: it addicts to the worst possible thing: sin. Therefore addiction to rock music is a fatal addiction, unless Cod prevents it in His mercy.

What is it, however, that makes listening to rock music by baptized church members worse than when young people of the world listen to it? If you listen to rock music, you do so with the name of Cod written upon your forehead, invisibly engraven there when you were baptized! By virtue of baptism God has separated you from the world. He has a special claim upon you, and it is His desire that you would serve Him! At baptism Cod has declared publicly that He seeks your eternal welfare and has no desire in your death. How dreadful it then is when you, who by virtue of your baptism are called to serve your Maker and seek the salvation of your soul in the blood of Christ, indulge in the music of His arch-enemy, Satan, designed to destroy your soul! Can you be so ungrateful, so offend your gracious Maker, and be so foolish as to promote the destruction of your precious soul?

Paul states in Ephesians 5:11, Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. When you listen to rock music, you are having fellowship with the works of darkness, and those who have fellowship with the works of darkness will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Let no man deceive you with vain words, for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience (Eph. 5:6). Do not be deceived by the benefit concerts which rockstars are organizing, thereby deluding you into thinking that they are good people after all. It is merely a ploy of Satan, also here appearing as an angel of light. Rock stars are workers of iniquity; their lives give a clear testimony. Rock stars are servants of Satan; many openly admit this. Therefore if you listen to rock you are serving the prince of darkness as well, a service which may seem desirable, but will end in everlasting misery.

Perhaps you must confess: I recognize myself as a slave of Satan and sin. Is there yet a way in which I may be delivered of this dreadful addiction and its consequence eternal separation from Cod? Then I may point you to the King of kings, the Lord Jesus Christ, who has come into the world to destroy the works of Satan. He alone can deliver us from the addiction, guilt, corruption, and consequences of sin and reconcile us with our Maker, whom we have so grievously offended and do offend when we serve His arch-enemy, Satan. No sinner, no slave of Satan has ever come to Him in vain.

Therefore, let us heed the voice of our Maker, who, contrary to Satan, has no desire in our death: Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the LORD, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty! (II Cor. 6:17, 18).

Bartel Elshout is laboring as evangelistelder in the Denver, Colorado area on behalf of the Netherlands Reformed Congregations.

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