____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ April 3, 1994 ____________________________________________________ Could It Become So Intolerable You Must Leave? by Tom Edwards Many of our brethren across the country are sore distressed by the state of affairs in churches of Christ today. To say that many churches are undergoing change is a gross understatement of the situation. Radical changes in thought toward the authority of the Scriptures are allowing many churches of Christ to take even more liberal views toward the work and worship of the church. With the ``New Hermeneutic'' as their license (which denies that the New Testament reveals a pattern for our organization, work and worship) the movers and shakers of the institutional churches of Christ are leading their people toward the wholesale acceptance of a myriad of innovations and compromises with denominationalism. Our brethren are rethinking such issues as instrumental music and the role of women in the leadership and worship of the church. Additionally, many brethren are abandoning ``book, chapter, and verse'' preaching and teaching for a modernistic higher criticism that seized the pulpits of denominational churches many years ago. Moral issues such as social drinking, mixed swimming, divorce and remarriage, immodest dress, etc. are no longer dealt with in sermons lest we appear too strict and legalistic. Even the plan of salvation is under serious attack, for many leading, influential elders, preachers, and professors are not too sure that there is a ``plan'' as we have always preached it. Baptism is being re-thought and re-hashed in many circles, and it appears that before long the necessity of immersion for the remission of sins may become a bone of contention in some churches of Christ. Within many of the churches troubled by these issues are some brethren who sense strongly that the church is ``leaving'' them. They see these changes for what they are--apostasy--but it is so hard to break long-standing ties with friends and family and leave such rank infidelity for the Lord Jesus Christ and His will. They know the church is not what it should be, nor is it even moving in that direction. The preaching is no longer distinctive, and could be served up in any denominational pulpit in town. They have tried to warn the elders, the preacher, their friends and anyone who will listen. But they are considered ``old-fashioned,'' ``non-progressive,'' and even ``anti.'' Eventually, the elders no longer listen to them. The preacher berates them for trying to hold on to a ``1950 mentality.'' Each passing week brings more compromise, more innovation, and more liberalism. What must they do if the tide cannot be stemmed? A CASE IN POINT King Jeroboam of Israel introduced the apostate worship of idolatrous golden calves in an effort to keep the northern tribes from going to Jerusalem for worship (I Kgs. 12:26-33). He even appointed non-Levites to his new ``priesthood.'' Not being able to squelch the apostasy, many Levites had no other recourse but to leave Israel and flee to Judah (2 Chron. 11:13-17). Remaining faithful to God meant separating from their homes and friends with whom they had previously worshipped. Doubtless it was painful to do this, but it resulted in the strengthening of Judah (v. 17). Men and women who stand for the truth always strengthen the people of God who are like-minded. When John heard the announcement of the imminent destruction of ``Babylon,'' he heard another angel warn, ``Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities'' (Rev. 18:4,5). While opinions vary regarding what ``Babylon'' is in this symbolic passage, the warning is clear that God's people must flee from Babylon or perish with her. Even Lot was warned to leave Sodom or be destroyed with the wicked city (Gen. 19:13-14). It is no different today. God's faithful people must no longer tolerate apostasy. ___________________________________________ "But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the burning bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Now He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to Him" (Luke 20:37,38). ___________________________________________ Making Worship More Spiritual by Robert Turner ``WORSHIP'' is a feeling of respect and reverence, a frame of heart or mind, an attitude. This should be fixed in one's mind before any further discussion takes place. An act of worship is an act proceeding from or the result of that feeling. Singing is not worship, in the strictest sense; but it may be an expression of worship. Eating bread and drinking grape juice is not worship. We do this--if indeed we do--''in remembrance of'' Christ--and that is worship. All overt or observable worship has some form. The feeling of awe, reverence, thanksgiving, or praise is expressed some way, and that form will take some pattern, orderly or haphazardly. Varying the order may prevent habitual actions, but it may also create an air of uncertainty and confusion. No order, fixed or varied will make spiritual worship. Anytime the form is substituted for the worship--when the act is there but the proper feeling, frame of heart or attitude is missing--that act becomes a hollow, vain shell. There are two ways in which today's worship may be in vain. We may ignore God's instructions regarding the means of expression--assuming that any means we choose will suit God (Mark 7:1-7; Col. 2:20ff); or we may use the means or form of expression authorized, but utterly fail to make them expression of genuine worship in our hearts. It is imperative that our worship to God be ``truly spiritual''--John 4:24. Often our efforts to improve the worship are only efforts to regulate the form, and have little or nothing to do with improving the hearts out of which true worship must come. Some react to the ``cold formality'' of worship by proposing bizarre emotion-stirring props. What is more ``artificial'' than lighting effects, ``mood'' music, or tricky little antiphonal songs that force participation upon some person who could not be moved by the love of God. How is the ``hypocrisy of traditional service'' helped by providing a better mask--an emotional screen--that cannot take the place of genuine worship? I am deeply aware of the ``rut'' or ``habit'' type of services--and I deplore it. But the fault is not necessarily in the form, and is never altogether in the form. There are plenty of brethren who worship acceptably with ``three songs, a prayer, and another song.'' And there are brethren who could shift the order every time they meet together, and could never worship God acceptably. Improving the worship is part and parcel of the whole job of turning people to God, getting them to partake of the divine nature. It is not the service that needs changing, it is the people that must be changed--to new creatures, truly converted. These will worship God acceptably. ___________________________________________ "Be on guard, that your hearts may not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. But keep on the alert at all times, praying in order that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:34-36). "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it!" (Luke 13:34). ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 1314 Montgomery Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________