“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lust shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:1-4
This passage was true in Paul’s day and it is still true today. What is sad that it is happening in the Lord’s church! I have now heard of two preachers who were preaching on the cross of Christ and people were falling asleep. One told the story about the three bears and the other told a made up story about a dog being killed. Do you know that more people were awake for the story of the three bears and the made up story than the story of Calvary! How sad when the Gospel will not keep the attention.
How sad it is when we must have a preacher that is a better storyteller than quoting Bible verses. Yet it seems to this scribe that more and more religions are going to this style of entertainment and calling it worship. Not only in this area but some religions and even some of the Lord’s church (?) are having “contemporary praise and worship services.” If one will listen to the local radio stations and to the advertisements of the local religious groups they have: “traditional services, contemporary services” they also have “services for the old and services for the young.” Where is this all leading and is it pleasing the Lord?
Are we moving away for what the Gospel teaches, because the Gospel is no longer enough? Do we have to have the “new” way of worshipping because, “I like the excitement and mood of concert style praise and worship.” For those who think and talk like this way Paul says they have “itching ears” and more than likely they will find someone to either “scratch” or “tickle” their ears because that is the way they like it. Yet they will find men who will “preach” it the way they want also. Isaiah had the same problem about 2800 years ago. Listen to what Isaiah is saying, “No go, write it before them in a table, and mote it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever; that this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord; which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right thing, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits” (Isaiah 30:8-10).
We must refuse to let people turn God’s worship into entertainment for us! John says, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). It is worship to God and must be done in His way and as He describes.
Someone might say though, “I did not get anything out of it” talking about what some would call “traditional” worship. It may be if I do not get anything out of worship most of the time I did not put anything into worship. When one listens to the words of the song, prayers, sermons then one usually gets something out of worship. When one will meditate on what the Lord’s Supper is about during the time of the Lord’s Supper then one will usually get something out of worship. Remember worship is to God not to any man or men! I must seek to please God rather than any man.
This is not to say that we are not to be friendly when we are getting ready for worship. This is not to say we are not to be friendly when we are through with our worship to God, but these things are not proofs of our worship.
Some might even have the idea that the singing of a new song or “camp song” does not have a part in our worship to God. No, that is not what is being said in the article. Our singing of songs to God ought to be as He wants and ought to be scriptural and right whenever we sing them. There is a time to learn new songs. There may be a time when a song is right for the sermon. Our worship in every case is to be pleasing to God.
The sermon might use illustrations or visual aids but the sermon ought to be filled with God’s word. God’s Word is will tells us how to be saved. God’s Word tells us how to worship. God’s Word is comfort to all who are in need. Let us therefore do what God wants in the way God wants them to be done.
Love Keith
