JPF Home Page Forums Creative Arts Forums Acting, Theater, Film and TV Forum Jesus Christ Superstar ( content of film FYI )

not a debate , just something I found out today before I went to see this play ..I didnt go after reading what it was really about ...heres the link ..i didnt agree that rock music cant praise God but the rest I have a problem with in the play !


"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!

Hmmmm...Mz Heather...

I guess the only "Safe Way" to experience Life & its Questions, according to E.L.Bynum, whoever he is, would be to Hie Away to the Nearest Monestery or Convent & read the Bible all day & night, too.

But..(Like you've already pointed out) he's anti-Rock...and (If you'll read the line about George Harrison) he can't even conjugate the Verb "To Sing" properly.

He probably keeps a bag fulla Rattlesnakes in his Garage, to test the True Believers from the Backsliders...might even have Multiple Wives you'll never hear about, but he'll find ya the Chapter & Verse to prove it's OK if ya corner him with Your Findings.

He's probably got a Dartboard with Darwin's Picture on it, too...

Now I just KNOW I'm headed to Hell for telling you all this, but SOMEONE's gotta attempt to Open Your Mind...just a little..to a lot of the Hypocricy behind alla these "Experts" who know Everything about Everything.

If you won't even listen to The Questions, How ya gonna come up with The Answers?

Back to my job as Your Resident-Skeptic,
Big Neighborly-Hug,
Stan

Right away this person lost credibility with me -- so anything after that has to taken as a biased, unlearned opinion. There are some sects that don't allow any instruments to be played in church -- are they right?

I've never seen it either, but I would not take that writer's opinion as "gospel". I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with the author, just saying that the author obviously hates rock music, so he has a theory that "Jesus Christ, Superstar" has to be evil. So then he goes looking for evidence to back up his theory. The best thing to do, if you are interested, is to read the screenplay yourself and make up your own mind.

Edit: I don't agree with his intepretations of "I Don't Know How to Love Him" and it seems that the verses sung by Judas are consistent with him being a "non-believer/traitor".

Kevin

I toured with the European tour of Superstar.

There were protesters outside many of the venues the show played. Most had never seen the show. Most thought there were naked people on stage - there weren't. Ridiculous...since any protesting gave the show free publicity. Exactly the opposite of what they wanted to achieve.

What the writer above seems to dim witted to realize is that the show is based on the life of Jesus, but it's fiction. It asks -what if? What if Judas in his humanity was conflicted about his choices. Isn't is reasonable to suppose that Mary may have only thought of Jesus as a man while he was alive?

Come on.....entertainment is entertainment and the Bible is the Bible - I don't think one is pretending to be the other

it's up to us as 'reasonable beings' (using the ability to reason that god gave us to differentiate us from the beasts) to know the difference

and isn't it a wonderful thing that a hindu can write a song that can be used to worship any and all gods in it's universality?

As a Christian yea this is pretty much opposed to what the bible describes.........

This soundtrack always was a huge dilemma for me.....I played this album in the 70's thousands of times....

As a singer this whole thing "Rocks"............

coldest part about it is this ...........

JUDAS HAS ALL THE BEST VOCAL PARTS............BY FAR

Leave it up to some shrill interest group to tell you what to think.

Those who read the Bible know there are several different interpretations of the story in the various gospels. Nothing in the Bible is black and white...very much like the world God created.

Jesus is Love, right? Love, acceptance, turning the other cheek, compassion, understanding and peace.

Jesus would be more interested in blessing this work of art than in damning it. It's people who really get into damning stuff.

"DAMN that play! It's EVIL!!! Burn it!"

I think Jesus would disagree. Learn how to love, not hate.

Heather, go see the play and make up your own mind. You're a big girl, really.

Heather,

I think it is admirable for you to boycott something you feel is against a principle or an idea that you hold dear.

It is very, VERY difficult to be in this world, but not OF this world.

It is very, VERY difficult to keep "non-christian" influence completely out of your life.

It is up to each individual to determine to what degree that influence is felt in their home. It is up to each individual to determine whether their faith is "shaken" by such influence.

I have read tracts which state women who wear makeup have the "spirit of Jezebel" and are most assuredly not saved.

I have read tracts that state if a woman cuts her hair she surely must not be saved.

THESE ARE NOT MY OPINIONS

I am just making a point about tracts.

I would never presume someone to be "saved" or "unsaved" based on the state of their dress or that of their hair.

Therefore, far be it for me to decide that someone who ingests entertainment created by "non-christians" is therefore rejecting Christ and salvation.

I believe that to be very presumptuous.

Again, I do admire that you are taking a stand for what you believe to be correct.

All the best,

Jamie