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

Yep, I know of that mentality, "We ain't never done it that way before!". But that isn't the core issue. The real issue is whether or not whatever is to be done in the worship of God is to be done according to how HE has commanded us to worship Him. This seems to be so simple but so contentious.... and why??

If nothing else, wouldn't one have to assume: 1) God has the divine right to determine how His creatures are to render Him worship? 2) That on such a sober matter of worship and one which the entire OT is filled with mention of God's wrath against false worship and rejection of those that practiced false worship one would want to stay clear of anything which wasn't approved by God?

Why is it today, particularly, professing Christians have taken it upon themselves to ignore the Scriptures on this subject and generalize what worship is? I say, it is because the mentality of Cain has permeated their minds. In essence, Cain thought that he would come before the Lord with what he thought was acceptable, e.g., the best squash, corn, watermelons, tomatoes, etc. He determined for himself how the Almighty was to approached and what sacrifice(s) were going to be pleasing to God. But he was sorely disappointed to find out that his attitude nor selected offering were not the standard by which God is to be worshipped. From God's statement to him, we can know that there was already a divine standard to which he was to conform.

Genesis 4:3-7 (KJV) "And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee [shall be] his desire, and thou shalt rule over him."

And so it was from the very beginning that the Lord God set forth specific regulations in regard to His worship. But throughout the history of mankind, there have been those who have taken it upon themselves to disregard God's guidelines for worship and fabricated their own ideas of what God will find pleasing and acceptable. What was true in this regard several thousand years ago is still true today: "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes." (Judges 17:6) When men enthrone their own ideas rather than giving themselves to studying the Word of the Lord to ascertain what it is that HE requires of them, then basically, "anything goes".

Re: if a banjo is an acceptable instrument in the corporate worship of God.... I say no, it cannot be. Why? Because the banjo, like the electric guitar was designed for a particular purpose, i.e., to evoke and/or complement a specific kind of emotion. And the emotions evoked by these instruments are not compatible with the attitude of reverent and sober worship of the thrice holy God.

In His grace,