Wherefore Come out from among them, and be ye separate...
Text for today’s article:
It has been sometime since I have written, owing to the distractions of building onto my house. However, I have had opportunity to research the modern homogenization of the church into worldly entertainment that is sweeping our country. I will share this research with you. As with the threat of Islam, most people among the older generation have no idea what is afoot, or at least how far it goes. Today, I’d like to take a peek into this subject.
Three specific contemporary trends come to mind:
1. The community church movement and contemporary worship services.
2. The loss of discipline and godliness as a cornerstone of faithful religion.
3. The final act: setting aside Jesus as insignificant and unimportant. (Oprah’s version of church)
Not every church moving in this direction involves all three trends, but any one of the three is a movement away from the established truths of scripture.
Today’s article is a plea to parents to look closely at where their young adults are being led under the noses of said parents. Let’s use the “contemporary service” arrangement as an example. The practical impact of this approach is to create a “young people’s church” that is separated from an “old people’s church” while keeping it all under the same roof.
Once the stabilizing influence of age is diluted and a weak or ignorant eldership is in place, there is no limit to where this will go. Consider this: It has been just short of five hundred years since Martin Luther, the founder of the Lutheran church, tried to keep organs and all other instruments of music out of church assemblies. Most people have long since forgotten that the founders of the world’s largest denominations entirely rejected instrumental music in worship as a Catholic innovation which caters to carnal desires. Yes, this includes Methodists, Presbyterians, and even Baptists. Once upon a time, they would not even allow organ music in because it diluted the “fruit of the lips” (singing).
"And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." (II Corinthians 6:15-17)
It has been sometime since I have written, owing to the distractions of building onto my house. However, I have had opportunity to research the modern homogenization of the church into worldly entertainment that is sweeping our country. I will share this research with you. As with the threat of Islam, most people among the older generation have no idea what is afoot, or at least how far it goes. Today, I’d like to take a peek into this subject.
Three specific contemporary trends come to mind:
1. The community church movement and contemporary worship services.
2. The loss of discipline and godliness as a cornerstone of faithful religion.
3. The final act: setting aside Jesus as insignificant and unimportant. (Oprah’s version of church)
Not every church moving in this direction involves all three trends, but any one of the three is a movement away from the established truths of scripture.
Today’s article is a plea to parents to look closely at where their young adults are being led under the noses of said parents. Let’s use the “contemporary service” arrangement as an example. The practical impact of this approach is to create a “young people’s church” that is separated from an “old people’s church” while keeping it all under the same roof.
Once the stabilizing influence of age is diluted and a weak or ignorant eldership is in place, there is no limit to where this will go. Consider this: It has been just short of five hundred years since Martin Luther, the founder of the Lutheran church, tried to keep organs and all other instruments of music out of church assemblies. Most people have long since forgotten that the founders of the world’s largest denominations entirely rejected instrumental music in worship as a Catholic innovation which caters to carnal desires. Yes, this includes Methodists, Presbyterians, and even Baptists. Once upon a time, they would not even allow organ music in because it diluted the “fruit of the lips” (singing).
Watch theses two videos and ask yourself if the founders of said churches were right...
These churches have become so worldly one can no longer tell the difference between a rock concert and a church service. It is unbelievable how the creator of this video can take an actual rock concert and its song about a bunch of people wanting to go to hell (an incredibly vile song) and just fade into a church service playing the same song with the fire blasting from the stage and all. Does the objection come from rock music? No, it isn’t limited to rock music. Many “churches” have turned a mild service “worship” into a country music laden bar hopping free-for-all”
One of our local churches recently had a “traditional service” and a “wild service” advertised on their marquis. Another local church has adopted the practice of meeting in homes in lieu of a Sunday evening service. The problem? Well, the young folks decided to go see the movie “21” an R rated movie (nudity and all)… as their worship to God. Well a young lady that was visiting with them went along but was offended by the nudity. Last night the young lady’s mother was asking me if that was really ok to worship God in such a manner. NO! It’s not ok! Read Romans 1:16-32 and you can tell me how God will react in the judgment over such things.
I watched this second video and thought I was watching an American idol episode. I had to look closely at the sign to see that they had altered it slightly to avoid copyright issues. I wonder if they have ever noticed the complaint of the New Testament to the golden calf? What am I referring to? Well, the church at Corinth had already taken this worldly approach to thing nearly two thousand years ago. In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul alludes to the practice of Corinthian Christians of going to idolatrous shrines to eat, basically to imitate those in their culture who worship pagan gods, yet still be Christian.
Paul spends three chapters of the Bible to elaborate on a simple answer to this practice: no. In the course of that discussion, Paul brings forward an Old Testament substantive argument about “why” the golden calf of the Exodus was evil (1 Corinthians 8-11). It was an attempt to worship God in man’s own way. In other words, it was an attempt to worship God, while rejecting God’s revelation of Himself and His wishes for worship. So, why didn’t God just accept it as an offering in good conscience from the heart?
"Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play." (I Corinthians 10:7)
How many people do you know today that view the church as a place “to play?”
Jesus took issue with the Jews of the first century because they had come to view the temple as a place to make money instead of being a house of prayer. Those Jews would have fervently declared it was still a house of prayer. We know from Jesus’ reaction that it wasn’t a house of prayer any longer. If Jesus threw the money changers out of the temple in anger, how do you think He’ll react to a rock group singing about evil, worldly things?
God can tell the difference! And…He will sort this out!
"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:20-23)
If this passage doesn’t apply to these people following these roads… when would it ever apply? The frightening thing to me is that many who see this behavior don’t see anything wrong with it. Let me ask an obvious question: How many times in Old Testament history were the people of God just merrily marching on their way into evil and just seemed to be oblivious to God’s anger?
"For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; And from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the Lord." (Jeremiah 6: 13-15)
How does your church promote itself?
Does it market God like beer and sports cars?
When a church has built itself on the social gospel…. (i.e. parties and entertainment) it is difficult to stop the trend. Each generation wants what they cannot have. It is a part of the human equation. So, as the new generation comes of age if they are untaught… they will always opt to go further than the last one was willing to. The “church ad” pictured to the right pretty much summarizes the liberal, worldly mentality afoot doesn’t it? Loud music. Real people, not the godly, stuffy kind of people, right? Fun kids programs. And most of all: short services. You won’t have to endure “a bunch of holiness” to get to the “real entertainment” with “real people” and baby sitting for the kids.
Most churches start with kids services, children’s church, then move on to the “community church” orientation (i.e. “fellowship” parties in whatever form they take). After their older people get over that shock, they add a “contemporary service.” From here there is a gradual but consistent buildup of carnal lures.
Compare this to the Apostle Paul’s instruction for approaching God:
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, {which is} your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2)
Can you think of anywhere in your Bible that you can turn and find the approach portrayed in the add pictured? If not, how can you “prove what the will of God is?” Can anyone really point to your New Testament to describe “loud music” as “good and acceptable and perfect” in the worship of God?
The message of the book of Judges is a repeating cycle of regression, disaster and repentance. As the new generation goes too far, some of the last generation eventually sees the danger and repents. Unfortunately, the momentum is already out of control. Therefore the alarmed generation cannot stop what they actually have helped to start. All they can do is leave and start over. Oftentimes the older generation is forced to leave their own kids behind… Consider the explanation at the end of the book of judges:
"In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes." (Judges 21: 25)
Is this like the modern example of weak leadership coupled with ignorance?
Is your church focused as the church below is? Do you worship and pursue youth?
Lets close with two principles given to us by Jesus:
"God is a spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4: 24)
"Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." (Matthew 15: 14)
Note: One final thought…. I have made no attempt whatsoever to sort out the terminology. Many of these terms are misnomers (for example, the term "fellowship" is normally misapplied). I have just used the terms as they are used by the folks I have discussed in this article.
Hi I am glad you stopped by our blog. These articles are from an emailing that we did several years ago. Today most of our work is on facebook
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Jerry Blount
You can follow the postings on the congregation's page by clicking on this link....
Las Vegas church of Christ
If you wish to worship with us....
Las Vegas church of Christ
709 Dora Celeste
Las Vegas, NM 87701
Our meeting times are
10am Sunday morning for Bible study.
11am Sunday morning for the worship service.
6pm Wednesday evening for Midweek Bible study.
If you wish to contact me...
yakipreacher@gmail.com
Be well
Jerry Blount
