[Biblemat] What is a contemporary service?
Jerry Blount
jerry at eldorable.kscoxmail.com
Sat Jul 7 10:44:56 CDT 2007
Jerry Blount to the list..
What is a "Contemporary" Worship service?
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
It seems like over and over this question has been coming up lately. As
this email list has grown, folks from all over have been asking about this.
Almost all the older generation is against this innovation... They just
can't seem to figure out why! Since this is a computer distributed
(emailed) article let me recommend that you try an experiment to answer your
own question.
Run a word search on your Bible using your computer and see if you can find
a contemporary worship service. Did you? Me neither. "Contemporary"
doesn't even occur in my version of the bible (NASV) or a KJV. What does
that tell you? Churches going this direction are going where they have no
instruction from Christ!
Normally the churches instituting this "contemporary" worship service have
long ago quit looking to the Bible for direction. Almost always, they
institute it as a separate service.. Why? Because if they didn't the "old"
people would walk out! And the leaders know it!
Like the segregation of the deep south.
Today the churches need the stability of the old but don't want shackled by
their life gained wisdom! They simply "segregate" their "older" members by
bringing in "separate but equal" services.
If you ask many of these older people, "Why?" They can't tell you their
objection. They have not been taught for many years the questions that God
actually gave to His people. How can you tell the difference between a
"good" idea and a "bad" idea. The bottom line is that they have not asked
these questions for so long they have forgotten that the Bible literally
gives you the questions to ask.
What questions? That's the problem!
This ignorance is the most obvious failing of a congregation, and it's
leadership. Let me propose another experiment. If you are in one of these
liberal congregations go up to your elders/bishops/pastors (in the Bible
these are the same person). Now, ask them to show you in the bible where
to find God's questions to determine right and wrong. Ask for one passage
to give you a basis to determine if something like this is a good idea. or
straight from the devil's heart!
If your elders can show you an appropriate passage.. You should walk away
with three or four basic principled statements/questions from the Mouth of
God. If they can't. they are unfit as elders!
Why?
Because (I Timothy 3, Titus 1) gives the qualifications for these men. Your
Bible states what "must be" already within them. They are specifically
required to make these determinations.
Note Titus 1
9. Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be
able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
10. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially
they of the circumcision:
11. Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching
things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.
That's pretty hard to do if you don't know the rules by which God expects
you
to make those determinations. wouldn't you agree?
Unfortunately these elders have begun making these decisions without
consulting God's Word. The only way Jesus can "Head" His church is if His
Word is the rule for His people. These decisions are then to be made based
on what they want. Rather than where Jesus leads us!
The disasters of the Old Testament loom large on this approach to God!
Hosea 4: 6. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou
hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no
priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also
forget thy children.
Yes, today we suffer because of forgotten knowledge. even rejected
knowledge.
When you ask for authority for this new fangled "contemporary thing" you
are a nay Sayer, you are an Anti, a troublemaker etc. Try to bring up the
Word of God and you will have a hard time receiving a hearing.
For those of you experiencing this situation my heart goes out to you.
I have lived through it.
I was raised in the Christian church. In the 1970's I was there when they
ordained their first women elders. They went on to institute women
preachers etc. even though the Bible explicitly condemns such. Even they
didn't have a "contemporary worship" service then. Yes, they do now.
My wife and I left and began a search for a people that would be satisfied
with what the Bible said.. Even if we didn't understand why it said some of
the things it said. We knew that if the Bible was the Word of God. It was
all or none. Anything less is not Christianity. I was 20 at the time, I am
now 50. I have to confess it was a lot easier for me then than it would be
now.
So why does each generation have to keep facing these same questions?
Well, this is nothing new. Jeremiah answered that question directly
Jeremiah 5: 31. The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by
their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the
end thereof? Hmmm. "My people love to have it so." It wouldn't be
tempting if it didn't have something desirable to the senses.
So, what is a contemporary worship service anyway?
As we noted I absolutely can't use my Bible to give you an answer! You will
have to look elsewhere to find your answer.
You may say, "But I thought God promised that the man of God would be
thoroughly furnished for every good work?" (II Timothy 3:16-17) Well.
Actually He did. But this didn't come from God's leadership. It was
conceived in the mind of man to make us just like the world.
Here is a liberal "church of Christ" explanation of what it is.
http://www.manhattanmessenger.org/by-all-means.pdf
Here is a Lutheran explanation
http://www.lmessiah.org/contemporary/contemporary.html
Here is a Jewish explanation
http://www.markv.com/amihavurah/Contemserv.htm
Here is a Baptist explanation
http://www.gracehome.org/page.aspx?type=worship
<http://www.gracehome.org/page.aspx?type=worship&menu=0-1-A&content=services
.html> &menu=0-1-A&content=services.html
"Worshippers will hear the same message in all three worship services but
can choose between two different style formats. The two earlier venues
feature a contemporary worship band. The third hour of worship features
choir and orchestra in a traditional format. "
That's a pretty sanitized explanation. Some of them have, yelling,
clapping, skits, plays and pretty much anything else you can come up with.
Most denominational groups (including denominational churches of Christ)
seem to differentiate it by the music offered. None truly appeal to
scripture for examples of their behavior in scripture. That is a pretty
telling statement. The link above to the denominational church of church
uses mostly automobiles as his explanation.
This question really is a modern day Trojan horse!
As an observer rather than a participant, I would define this behavior by
noting the one thing that they all have in common.
The "contemporary service" gives up the dignity needed to approach God!
The respect that should be displayed is tossed.
That is what the "older generation" can't seem to put their finger on!
Deep down they know it's wrong. they just can't figure out why!
What is God's take on all this? Leviticus 10:3
Then Moses said to Aaron, "It is what the LORD spoke, saying, 'By those who
come near Me I will be treated as holy, And before all the people I will be
honored.' " So Aaron, therefore, kept silent.
That was the assessment made after God struck Nadab and Abihu dead for
approaching Him improperly in what they would have termed as worship. They
offered "Strange fire." That's pretty similar to offering "Strange worship"
isn't it? It is definitely strange!
In our worship.
We are approaching our Creator. He loves us, but we must never forget our
place. He will enforce said respect. OT or NT. Did I say New Testament?
Yep! Acts 5. Ask Ananias and Sapphira! Disrespect, public disrespect is
something God absolutely will not tolerate.
Now, God didn't go around just striking people dead then, anymore than He
does now. He did it to make His point, then . . . He let the rest of us
wait on the judgment.
The angels understand this check out Isaiah 6. Yes, I can take you to the
Word of God to make this point. When arrogance comes into the presence of
God, it is not pretty. Daniel 7:8ff
What is the cure?
The reality is that after more than 30 years. I have never seen a church
pull back from this liberalism once it is entrenched. This particular
behavior is part of what is loosely called the "community church" movement.
It has swept through various denominational churches, including the liberal
(denominational) churches of Christ.
You won't find "community church movement" in the Bible either. It is
basically a process by which the standards are set by the community's
desires rather than the standards being "of Christ." When this comes to
it's full end "Of Christ" is even removed from the sign and a public
admission is made.
It is now a "Community Church." In a practical way, Jesus is dethroned in
favor of blending in with the "community!"
Obadiah once cried out (1:11) "You too were as one of them." Noting the
"family" of God's people is to be a different people.
The only effective fix that I have ever seen is personal. to leave it.
Martin Luther tried to do with the Catholic Church what many try to do with
various churches today. He failed and spent the rest of his life. running
for his life!
Earlier, there was hope. By the time it reaches this stage the reality is
that darkness has won.
When the eldership institutes a "contemporary worship service" they are
fully prepared for people to leave. They have decided to pursue the "broad
way" and to mingle with the multitudes on the multitudes own turf. Even
though Jesus has directly warned us the broad road is destructive. The
"narrow way" is no longer desirable. and if you speak up, neither are you.
Here is Paul's advice in such situations.
II Corinthians 6
14. Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have
righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?
15. Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in
common with an unbeliever?
16. Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the
temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK
AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
17. "Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord.
"AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you.
18. "And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to
Me," Says the Lord Almighty.
My advice?
You need to find people satisfied with Jesus' leadership and worship with
them. Even if that means starting a new congregation to do it. This has
had to happen many times in the last 2000 years!
There really is a time to "give up." God did.
Romans 1: 24.
"Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity"
Yours in Christ
Jerry Blount
Minister for
Pleasant Valley church of Christ
3317 Amidon rd.
Wichita Kansas, 67204
3163204321
WWW.letJesusleadus.org
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