In Perils of Worldly Churches
Worldly churches corrupt and pervert the testimony of the Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ. Like the world, they will bear their coming judgment.
Jesus Christ said, "The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I
testify of it, that the works thereof are evil" (John 7:7).
Many of today’s modern churches profane the blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. They put no difference between the holy things of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the perverse and corrupt elements of this evil world. Exactly what Jesus Christ testified against, they unite to His Holy Name and Testimony. This is no small wonder when the Word of God has been removed from the pulpit, and replaced with the N.I.V. Some of these churches practice the "speaking in tongues", which God genuinely gave only during the apostolic days.
The Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ said, "... Ye are from beneath; I am from above; ye are of this world; I am not of this world" (John 8:23).
Rock music is of this evil world which "passeth away" (I John 2:17), and of the devil who will be "cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:10). These churches promote "Christian rock", thereby perverting and corrupting the testimony of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to the great dishonour of God.
They are instead desirous to be successful in filling their church pews and reaching their elaborate budgets. Their church programs are greatly esteemed, rather than the purity of the testimony of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and what the King James Bible – God’s Word – says.
Movies, the "Jesus film", drama, and various forms of entertainment replace true Bible preaching and reverential worship of God. The devil’s crowd despise the precious blood of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and any true Bible preaching, but they love movies, drama, entertainment, and hired preachers, for they refuse to preach against smoking, drinking booze, watching television, and immodest clothing. These churches do pervert, and profane the testimony of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. They can only produce a crop of counterfeit Christians, being a breeding ground of spiritual profanity. These churches are not hated and persecuted by the world, but rather mocked and ridiculed.
To all those who are truly born again, God commands, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world, If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (I John 2:15).
The saints of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ are not to attend or support profane, worldly, unscriptural churches. God’s commands are responded to by His saints out of a heart of love and gratitude for their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
As a result, the following command becomes a blessing and source of fellowship with God, rather than a burden. The Bibles says, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service, 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" (Romans 12:1,2). The Holy Spirit of God, who indwells the hearts of every true Christian, that is, all the born again ones, leads them not into the corruptions of this evil world which the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ testified against, but "in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake" (Psalm 23:3).
Reader, beware of worldly and charismatic churches. If you are not truly born again, you could right now repent of sin, and possess everlasting life by asking the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ into your heart to cleanse you from all sins through simple, genuine faith in His shed blood alone.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
by Pastor Paul Caulfield
Entertainment In Today's Churches
The bold newspaper ad read: "A Touch of Class - Raucous Comedy - Live Bands -
Hot Dance Moves." Sound like a blurb for a local disco? Not on your life! It
heralded a special rally sponsored by the Youth For Christ in Auckland, New
Zealand. It was an effort, said the director, to reach young people in a
"creative way."
There is a tremendous emphasis on entertainment today in churches and organizations across the land. We have to provide a "thrill a minute." Nobody wants to be stuck with the accusation that their youth program or church service is "boring" because they simply worship God. Let's do something, anything, to liven things up and put "spice" into our services. Let's have fun.
A plethora of gimmicks are being employed today by those craving to catch the attention of the multitudes. Rock concerts, laser light shows, and assorted catchy programs are designed to appeal to the jaded tastes of a TV-drugged society. Young preachers are often tempted. "Let's do something to get a crowd. The church across town is beating us." Sadly, some of them succumb.
Charles Spurgeon, the great English Baptist, declared with feeling, "The Devil has seldom done a cleverer thing than hinting to the Church that part of their mission is to provide entertainment for the people, with a view to winning them... providing amusement for the people is nowhere spoken of in the Scriptures as a function of the Church... The need is Biblical doctrine, so understood and felt that it sets men of fire."
By Pastor David Sexton
Christian Rock?
We are living in a day when you can't tell what things are by
their label or sign. We are facing something today called "Christian rock" or
"Contemporary Christian music." It is the same music as rock 'n' roll, but with
Christian words. Instead of glorifying Satan, drugs, sex, and rebellion, today's
"Christian rock" seeks to glorify God, the Bible, love, and fellowship. The sad
thing is that Christians and churches are playing and accepting this type of
music.
I was alarmed the other day when I received a magazine entitled "Creation '97." This is supposed to be the nation's largest Christian festival. Inside the magazine were groups that looked worse, as far as appearance, than "hard rock" groups. Some were "Christian rock," "Christian alternative," and many others. I don't care what title you put on the label; if the music, not just the words, does not bring honor and glory to the name of Jesus, then it is wrong. Speaking at the festival was Anthony Campolo, a liberal himself, who said, "Being in the back room with many of these famous groups before they go on stage is absolutely frightening—the ego trips they are on and the language they use, to hear their hate for others—when show time comes, however, they go out on stage with 'Hey, aren't we together in Jesus Christ and the love we share, etc."' (Christian News Encyclopedia, Vol. 5).
It is time for youth workers and parents to wake up. Satan is trying to deceive us into thinking that because it has the word Christian on the label everything is fine. My Bible still say 'Abstain from all appearance (or forms) of evil." (1st Thessalonians 5:22). Romans 12:2 says, "And be not conformed to this world...." It is time that we take a stand for God and righteousness. You are either on the Lord's side or Satan's side. On which side are you? Let's get back to the music that brings honor and glory to our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Voice in the Wilderness
Modernism
Modernism has no message, for it denies the only hope of the world, a supernatural Bible and a supernatural Christ. It is rooted in evolution and therefore rotten at the source. It denies the depravity of the human heart and the need of a blood-bought redemption. It laughs at a "slaughter-house" theology and eliminates the "blood" songs from hymnals.
It takes the precious name of Lord "Emmanuel" and removes the "Em" from the beginning and the "uel" from the ending, leaving only "man". It gives to the congregation a set of blocks and lets the people spell "God" the best they can.
It calls weakness what God calls wickedness, recommends culture instead of Calvary, and polish instead of pardon. It has tried to revise the Bible, streamline the Gospel, remodel heaven, explain away the devil, and air-condition hell. It has no "hallelujah."
It never produces a revival. It never saved a soul. It never convicted a sinner. It never changed a dope fiend into a Christian. It never took away a drunkard’s love for booze or loosed a libertine from the shackles of lust.
It is a form without force, a religion without redemption. It defies the Book, denies the Blood and derides the Blessed Hope, and the wrath of God is upon it.
by Pastor Vance Havner
