Rock Foundations Rockumentary

April 17, 2019 0 By Phil Bickel

When I followed Rock music closely from 1962 to 1975, I did something many of my friends didn’t do — I listened to the words. 

In the pop music of the ‘60s and ‘70s, I saw the trends, experiments, and decisions of my generation as they searched for meaning in sex, drugs, and rock and roll.  I was always comparing the ideas in rock songs and culture to the truths I learned from my parents and the Bible.  In the early 1970s, I read Francis Schaeffer’s analysis of Western culture since AD 1500. The trends Schaeffer identified were repeating themselves in a condensed period of time among Baby Boomers.

In the late ‘70s, I published an article called “The Rock Built on the Sand” summarizing the history of rock from a Christian perspective.  Although wanted to develop the concept further, when God called me in 1980 to be a missionary in Latin America, it was shelved .  After I returned to the States, I occasionally taught the history of rock to youth groups and college students, so they would know the ideas at the root of pop music and could listen with discernment. 

Although the project lay dormant for 20 years, I always sensed that someday God would resurrect it.  Recently, as stars like Chuck Barry, David Bowie, Prince, Tom Petty, and Aretha Franklin have died, I became convinced that now is the time. 

The result is Rock Foundations Rockumentary.  It is a YouTube playlist in which brief teaching videos alternate with music videos of the period.  Dialog with viewers can occur in the Comments section of each video.

My ultimate goal, is that music listeners of all generations would gain tools to help them use popular music to initiate conversations about modern culture and faith in Christ.

Experience RFR by clicking here or by opening YouTube and typing “Rock Foundations Rockumentary” in the Search box.  As you watch, ponder ways to utilize the playlist.  Options:

  1. Like, Share, and Comment.
  2. Invite friends (believers & not-yet Christians) to view RFR.  Then chat with them.
  3. Promote RTR by email, social media, and other publicity tools available to you.
  4. If RTR is useful for your church or ministry, use it – it’s free.

If you have a specific way to partner with me or to enhance RFR, please contact me at bickel.phil@yahoo.com.