Source: http://solvechurchproblems.com/2014/12/10/biblical-questions-about-ccm-ccw/
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 07:05:29+00:00

Document:
BIBLICAL REASONS TO AVOID ALL APPEARANCE OF CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP!
In the past several months, one supporting pastor has written to express that their church uses contemporary worship. Another supporting church has removed the pulpit. A third is now usinga “praise team” to lead the singing. A fourth church had the pastor resign because the churchdid not want to go to a traditional service and a contemporary service. A missionary friend had to leave his sending church because it has gone to contemporary worship. We are living in aday when our good fundamental Baptist churches are beginning to bring in forms ofcontemporary worship.When challenging those who lean toward contemporary worship, they respond by saying thereis nothing unbiblical about the contemporary songs, praise teams or bands in the church. Theyuse the argument that the piano wasn’t used in churches for many years and therefore it is just a progression that has nothing to do with right or wrong. First of all, no where can we find that using a piano in church started with worldly worship.
a. Contemporary music (called blended music by some Baptists).
All of this contemporary methodology came from worldly worship started by the charismaticsand expanded by the non-denominational mega churches. It order to keep pace, we as Baptists are beginning in the same direction. When we question the directional movement of ourfundamental churches, we are told that nothing in the Scripture forbids this. They say, “It is onlykeeping up with technology and the culture of our society.” This is totally false. We have used screens for ministry purposes long before contemporary worship came into vogue and screensare not the issue. The issue is the use of methodology from contemporary churches. Some saythat contemporary simply means “recent” but if that were the case they wouldn’t call it a“traditional” service and a “contemporary” service. The word means a philosophy of ministry which incorporates worldly music and style. The Bible clearly condemns this contemporary worship and any clear thinking, Christ-honoring, Bible believing Christian will quickly oppose such direction in our churches.
This worldly worship is not new. Beginning in the Old Testament, God gave clear instructionson what to do with worldly worship. Please notice the progression of the Israelites from Egypt.They were redeemed from slavery in Exodus 12; crossed the Red Sea in Exodus 14; given theTen Commandments in Exodus 20; and headed to the Promised Land in Exodus 33. Along theway, God prepares them for the land ahead. They were to take the land but in the end there isdismal failure.Their failure and the results of it are found in Judges 2:1-13. Romans 15:4 says, “Forwhatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we throughpatience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” This passage gives us several biblical reasons to avoid all appearance and connection with worldly, contemporary worship.and the failure that goes along with it.
The FIRST REASON to avoid all appearance and connection with worldly, contemporary worship is BECAUSE GOD COMMANDED TO DESTROY ALL CONNECTION TO WORLDLY WORSHIP. V. 2, “AND YE SHALL MAKE NO LEAGUE WITH THE INHABITANTS OF THISLAND; YE SHALL THROW DOWN THEIR ALTARS.”Throughout their journey, God gave them instruction as to how to handle the worldly worshipersin the land.Notice the PRIMARY COMMAND GIVEN in Exodus 34:12-14. He gives them a REMINDER;“Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whitherthou goest,” v. 12. He then gives them the RESULT of not heeding this reminder. He says,“lest it be a snare in the midst of thee” v. 12.
God clearly indicates in His Word that they are not to have any appearance orrelationship with these worldly worshippers nor have mercy on them. God intends for His peopleto be distinct from the world in every way. Now the kicker. Notice the PURPOSE DESCRIBEDin Deut. 7:6-10. v. 6 “For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God”. v. 8 “Becausethe Lord loved you.” v. 9 “He is God the faithful God.” v. 10 “He repayeth them that hatehim to the face.” The reason for distinction is that Israel is a holy people. Aren’t we supposed tobe holy too? 1 Peter 2:5, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holypriesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:9, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiarpeople, that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darknessinto his marvelous light.” Can any clear thinking Baptist believe that the worldly,contemporary worship is in any way holy? The answer is absolutely not!!!!!
II. BECAUSE WORLDLY WORSHIP WILL ENSNARE THE BELIEVER.
The SECOND REASON we are to avoid all appearance and connection with worldly,contemporary worship is BECAUSE WORLDLY WORSHIP WILL ENSNARE THE BELIEVER. Judges 2:3 says, “THEY SHALL BE AS THORNS IN YOUR SIDES, AND THEIR GODSSHALL BE A SNARE UNTO YOU.” This is not the first time they heard this from God.In Numbers 33:55 we have the WARNING DECLARED. It says, “But if ye will not drive outthe inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those whichye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vexyou in the land wherein ye dwell.” They were given plenty of warning about what wouldhappen but did they listen?No, because we see the WARNING DISOBEYED. In Judges 1, we are told that nine of thetwelve tribes did not obey this warning. Simeon and Gad are not mentioned because they weredwelling on the other side of Jordan and Levi is not mentioned because the Lord is hisinheritance.
This means that EVERY tribe in the land failed to drive out the inhabitants.
III. BECAUSE WORLDLY WORSHIP CREATES HYPOCRISY.The THIRD REASON we are to avoid all appearance and connection with worldly, contemporaryworship is BECAUSE WORLDLY WORSHIP CREATES HYPOCRISY.
In Judges 2:4-5 it says,And it came to pass, when the angel of the Lord spake these words unto all the childrenof Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept. And they called the name of thatplace Bochim: and they sacrifice there unto the Lord.”Notice their FAULTY REFORMATION. They wept and said the right things. They had justenough truth to make it seem real but their heart was not in it. It reminds me of Psalm 78:35-37,“And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with theirtongues. For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in hiscovenant.” How many preachers today are saying they are going in one direction but by theiractions are headed in another direction? I have good friends who are leaning in this direction.They are soul-winners, discipling believers, standing for the basic truth of the Bible but they failto understand how their direction will affect the next generation. Sadly, their message is rightwhile their methods are moving toward the worldly worship developed by the contemporarycrowd. A friend of mine said, “Direction determines destination.” and it is so very true. We mustnot only be concerned with our message but our methodology.
Notice their FAILED REGION. They started at Gilgal in Joshua 5:9, “And the Lord said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore thename of the place is called Gilgal (rolled away) unto this day.” and ended up at Bochim (APlace of Weeping) What a difference!! They went from the reproach of Egypt rolled away tocompromise with the worldly worshipers of Canaan. No wonder it is called a “place of weeping!”Notice their FALSE REVIVAL – V. 5 “THEY SACRIFICED THERE UNTO THE LORD.” Godwants obedience not sacrifice. The worldly contemporary worshipers believe that worship isman centered (hence the praise team, the drums, the worldly music) not God centered. 1Samuel 15:22, “And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings andsacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold to obey is better than sacrifice,and to hearken than the fat of rams.” It is so sad we have good men who want to say onething but demonstrate something else in their ministry. If someone wants to use contemporarymethodology then at least have the character to publicly admit and “own” it. It will make it mucheasier for the rest of us to know where one stands on this issue.
IV. BECAUSE WORLDLY WORSHIP AFFECTS THE NEXT GENERATION.
Judges 2:7 says, “And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the daysof the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the Lord, that hedid for Israel.” Those who are leading their churches into contemporary worship will not begreatly affected by this direction. Most of these pastors are good men who love the Lord andare concerned about souls and reaching the world with the gospel. They may not leave the King James, dress standards and strong convictions.
When all this started they thought they could handle a littlecompromise with the worldly worshipers of the land. However, by the next generation, theydidn’t even care that God was offended with their worldly worship. All we need to do is see whatis going on with the contemporary worship in some churches to see where all this will one daylead. The children of Israel “did evil in his sight.” What a sad commentary on the generationthat followed. We are given a clear warning from God where all this compromise will lead.
It will lead further and further away from where God wants us to be.
V. BECAUSE WORLDLY WORSHIP EVENTUALLY LEADS TO IDOL WORSHIP.
The FINAL REASON we are to avoid all appearance and connection with worldly, contemporaryworship is BECAUSE WORLDLY WORSHIP EVENTUALLY LEADS TO IDOL WORSHIP.Judges 2:12-13 says, “AND THEY FORSOOK THE LORD GOD OF THEIR FATHERS, WHICHBROUGHT THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT, AND FOLLOWED OTHER GODS, OFTHE GODS OF THE PEOPLE ROUND ABOUT THEM AND BOWED THEMSELVES UNTOTHEM, AND PROVOKED THE LORD TO ANGER. AND THEY FORSOOK THE LORD, ANDSERVED BAAL AND ASHTAROTH.”Notice THEIR DESERTION – “THEY FORSOOK THE LORD GOD OF THEIR FATHERS.”;THEIR DECISION – “FOLLOWED OTHER GODS”; THEIR DESCRIPTION – “THE GODS OFTHE PEOPLE ROUND ABOUT THEM”; THEIR DAMAGE – “PROVOKED THE LORD TO ANGER.”; and THEIR DEVOTION – “THEY FORSOOK THE LORD, AND SERVED BAAL AND ASHTAROTH”.
All it took was a little bit of compromise with the world worshippers. Prettysoon all semblance of God is gone from their lives and we have the stories of Judges with a saddescription of the Israelites. Found twice in Judges, it says, “Every man did that which wasright in his own eyes.” They served Baal, the male god of materialism and Ashtaroth, thefemale goddess of pleasure. These are very same gods of today just with different names.In conclusion, I have some questions to ask.
Some say this is only preference and I disagree. However, for the sake of argument, let’s saythat it is preference. Maybe we should ask ourselves what God would prefer? What is Hispreference? Why is it about our preferences and not God’s preferences? I believe that Godwould prefer we not do anything that would hinder the distinction of holiness in our churches.! !There isn’t any church or any person so important that we need their approval over the truth ofthe Word of God. Only time will tell but this warning must be sounded from a clear, biblicalperspective, not just some “Well, I believe,” sort of statement. The Word of God is clear. Weare to avoid all appearance of contemporary worship in our churches. The wise believer will follow the advice of Solomon in Proverbs 22:3, “The prudent man foreseeth the evil andhideth himself but the simple pass on and are punished.” Surely, we will heed the Word ofGod and the warning given to us from the Scriptures. I close with the words of Elijah in 1 Kings18:21,”How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him but if Baal,then follow him.” It is time to “Stand Strong” on the issue of contemporary worship.

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