There are many churches today that not only allow but encourage the adolescents within their congregations to conduct their own church service, giving them the freedom to “create” their own model of “worship”. No matter how outrageous it may become, as long as the name of the Lord is interjected in it somewhere, it is fully acceptable.
Reading carefully in the bible we find that worship is to be all about our Lord and Savior and has nothing to do with meeting our needs or desires. Worship is for those who understand the true meaning of what Christ has done for His people.
We must understand that most teenagers are still immature, with minds that are still in the developmental stage. It is perfectly natural for them to have the desire to be different; to break out and do it their way.
Many churches now have a time set aside for “praise” before the worship service begins. This is deliberately directed toward the youth within the congregation. During this hour of “praise”, hands and arms may wave high in the air, while swaying with the “music”. Even dancing is not to be ruled out during this time. They react to the loud ear-piercing music that may be presented, with the same zeal as they would at a “new wave” concert, and this, as they believe, is all in the name of God. What these children want and are now receiving is the world and its glittering enticements, with all this being accepted by the church and its Elders. Due to the mix of the old and young, and not wanting to lose the youth, there has arisen what is now called the “contemporary” (for the youth) and “traditional” (for the elderly) worship services.
Look closely and you may find any “worldly” venue within the confines of many of the local churches. As long as the name of the Lord is attached to anything done, it seems that it will be accepted by the masses.
Many churches now have youth pastors that can seemingly better relate to the “needs” of their young people. Many of these “pastors” are not much older than those who are in their charge. They are constantly coming up with better schemes to keep the youth of the church satisfied. They feel that the way in which our forefathers worshipped is now passé, and will never satisfy the “emotional needs” of the youth of today, and we all know the emotions that can come with adolescence.
I trust that we understand that our Lord is not a God of “anything goes” but rather a God of order and purpose. Search the scriptures and you will find that the high priest did not “dance” nor “praise” his way into the “Holiest of All” with the sacrificial blood in hand, but entered quietly, slowly and solemnly, sprinkling blood as he went. We can be assured that all things in his charge were in perfect order. So did our Lord enter into Heaven itself, with his own blood, approaching the Father, not only with, but as the eternal sacrifice, and I refuse to believe that he performed a silly dance before the throne of his Father. But rather stood before him with open hands showing what he suffered to pay the price for the redemption of his people.
No, our God does not recognize many of the foolish implementations that man considers to be worship, but as Christ stated some two thousand years ago, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” Notice it is not in spirit only but also in truth.
Worship is more than emotional outbursts that cause the adrenalin to surge, bringing on a “rush” that most today interpret as the “spirit”. Sadly the “spiritual” barometer of today is the individual feelings encountered during the church service. “Felt good-good service”. “Felt bad-bad service”
Personally, I have been in some wonderful services in which the Lord was honored greatly in song and in the preaching and teaching of his word, while his people (some with tears flowing silently down their cheeks) reflected on how wonderful and gracious he had been in their life; being completely satisfied that our Lord was worshipped and adored.
In the bible, approaching the Lord in worship may be called a solemnity Isaiah 30:29 (from the word solemn). I wonder why the Lord would call it that?
In closing, should we not teach our children who is to be worshipped, and yes, how to worship Him, and if we teach these children to worship in the correct manner, then should not we be expected to do the same?
Keep this in mind. Entertainment alone affords no hope, and satisfies only for the moment! The work of Jesus Christ is our only hope and endures for eternity!
Sam Everett
