The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Worship and Change...

I must thank you for not answering my question and offering the above since it is probably more helpful in making the lines of demarcation much clearer.

Apparently your focus, to use your phraseology, is more upon what "moves" the alleged worshipper in contrast to my focus to understand what is pleasing to God. Simply put, you are more interested in the subjective expression(s) of those allegedly worshipping vs. the objective teaching of Scripture wherein I contend can be found what God demands of man in true worship. What a person believes about God will surely regulate how he acts before God. (cf. Prov 23:7) Thus, one's theology if held consistently will determine one's worship. Wrong theology = vain worship and correct theology = acceptable worship. I am not implying that it is impossible to hold to solid biblical theology and not worship God aright. There is surely enough of that around.

I am still trying to figure out where you got that term "focus" from. However, you limited your list of items to include a very broad spectrum of "psalms, hymns and spiritual songs and a variety of instruments" which makes no distinction between them except perhaps as to their source. So, again, it appears that you are saying that anything musical would be acceptable for worship.

Your impression of my views on worship in regard to "contemporary music" is 100% accurate. And my main reason is that, generally speaking and allowing for the rare possible exception, the music is antithetical to what God has revealed about Himself and what He has set down as acceptable worship. The most basic requirement for worship is that it glorify God, i.e., that it be a true reflection of the nature and being of God. What the Lord Christ did was always pleasing to God because He was "the effulgence of His glory" (Heb 1:3 cf. Jh 1:14; Col 2:9), i.e., He "mirrored" God. In the O.T. we find myriad instances where God condemns Israel and the nations for their unacceptable, vain worship. In every instance, it is man deciding how he is going to worship rather than man conforming himself to how God says He is to be worshipped (aka: spirit and truth).

Remember, that we are a people who have been redeemed; brought out of darkness into the light. We are to cast off all our vain imaginations and fill ourselves with truth in order that we might conduct ourselves in a "pleasing" way before God, i.e., that we might glorify Him. (cf. Col 1:9, 10; 1Cor 10:31) Sanctification is that process where sin is removed and purity of righteousness exhibited. God's people are those who are gradually taking on the "divine nature" (2Pet 1:4), i.e., they are being conformed to the nature of Christ. And it is just this that Paul says we are to do: "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Rom 12:2) Incorporating the music of this world, e.g., all forms that are based upon a syncopated beat, into the worship of God is an assault upon God's character and dishonoring to Him. See my long-standing apologetics against CCM, R&R, etc., in past discussions here.

1 John 2:16-17 (ASV) "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."

Psalms 2:11 (ASV) "Serve Jehovah with fear, And rejoice with trembling."

Psalms 89:7 (KJV) "God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all [them that are] about him."

Hebrews 12:28-29 (KJV) "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God [is] a consuming fire."

Revelation 15:4 (ASV) "Who shall not fear, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy; for all the nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy righteous acts have been made manifest."

In His grace,