Contemporary society is not to be the standard for our worship, ethics, and lifestyle.
Society and culture seem to change constantly. To be contemporary and in step with the times is to be dated, because very soon change will come, especially in a culture which denies absolute truth and believes all is relative. Styles of clothing change from season to season. Advertising and sales feed on change. The message is that one must keep up with the times and the latest trends in dress. To look old-fashioned is a cardinal sin. Automobile sales are also driven by change. Many such changes are largely cosmetic but who wants to drive a car that looks old?
Ethical values are also changing, fueled by a philosophy of relativism. Society used to frown on divorce; marriage was honorable and should be preserved. A sexual liaison outside of marriage was condemned. Abortion and perversions such as homosexuality were viewed as criminal acts. That which was once abhorred by decent society is now accepted, legal, and even promoted.
The churches are also under pressure to change and to become contemporary. The roles of men and women are being changed. Some churches are even ordaining homosexuals to be their spiritual leaders. Music is changing; many churches now have completely disposed of their hymn books and sing only catchy ditties, accompanied by a rock band. It is felt that, to attract people, a church must become flexible, flowing with the tide of contemporary thought and practice.
A Fashionable Altar
Ahaz became king in the southern kingdom of Judah about 735 bc, reigning in Jerusalem near the temple of the Lord. “He reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem and he did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord his God as his father David had done” (2 Ki. 16:2, nkjv). He fell into idolatry and the vile customs of the heathen around him, even as far as the abominable practice of child sacrifice. Yet he still wanted to worship in the temple and be religious. But he was surely open to being contemporary and in step with the times.
Ahaz went to Damascus to meet with Tiglath-Pileser, king of Assyria, a rising world power. While there, he saw an altar that caught his eye; it was beautiful and more up-to-date than the altar in the Lord’s temple. After all, that altar was more than 200 years old, hardly current. “And King Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the design of the altar and its pattern according to all its workmanship. Then Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus” (2 Ki. 16:10-11).
Ahaz began to worship at the new altar. He still kept the old altar but moved it aside. The new altar was the one used for sacrifice and offering; it was the center of attention. The old altar was still kept as a museum piece, a memento of the past, but it was no longer functioning. He also made other modifications to the laver and the carts used in worship. He was determined to modernize the worship.
God pleaded with His people through the prophets, “Turn from your evil ways and keep My commandments and My statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers…” (2 Ki. 17:13). Yet they persisted in their rebellion against the Lord and God finally judged them. In time, both the northern and southern kingdoms were destroyed.
One might wonder, “What does this have to do with the churches today?” The human heart is the same and there is always the desire to fit in with the world, to be modern and contemporary. The world has its altars and religions but our God has laid out a different path for His people. Contemporary society is not to be the standard for our worship, ethics, and lifestyle. The church is to be different, to be salt in a decaying culture, to be light in a world of moral darkness.
A Trendy Church
God is unchangeable and His Word reflects His immutable character. Let believers then look to God’s Word for guidance and direction in life. The moral conduct God desires is the same in every age: abortion is always wrong; sex outside marriage is sin; perversion in its varied forms is contrary to nature (Rom. 1:26-27) and an abomination to the Lord. God is holy and He desires His people to be holy.
When we come to the sphere of the local church, His instructions are “the commandment of the Lord” (1 Cor. 14:37). The different roles of the sexes are clearly laid out (1 Cor. 14; 1 Tim. 2). Furthermore, the Scripture reveals a pattern for the function of the church. Apostolic churches emphasized four activities in their meetings: teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer (Acts 2:42). These are like the four legs of a chair: all are needed for strength and stability.
There is a modern tendency to modify or to eliminate some of these functions. Some churches have eliminated the prayer meeting; people are too busy and prayer is hard work. Or teaching may be minimized. People are used to TV with its fast-moving action. And frankly, teaching is boring to the unspiritual. We are told that the morning service should be entertaining, uplifting, and focused on creating a positive self-image in the hearers. Drama and a short message are sufficient. The goal is to make people feel good about themselves. To preach about sin and judgment and eternal hell will only create guilty feelings and empty the pews.
But the early churches emphasized the preaching and teaching of God’s Word. Good teaching will inform people about the nature of God, the blessings of salvation, and the godly character God desires in His people. The teaching may take the form of topical studies or book studies, and it will include an exhortation to obey God’s Word. From teaching will flow fellowship, times of rich, fervent worship in the breaking of bread, and earnest prayer. Rather than minimizing it, churches need to stress teaching.
The Lord’s Supper must have a central place, with opportunity for various brethren to lead God’s people in worship. It is not a good sign if an assembly decides to organize the time, appointing specific men to take part. It is an indication of spiritual deadness. And some have now relegated that worship time to a few minutes at the close of the preaching service! Where is the exercise of heart on the part of God’s people?
Elements of the clergy system are being introduced into some assemblies. It is argued that people expect a church to have a “pastor” and will be attracted to such a group. We are urged to conform to the successful churches with large congregations. So men are hired and salaried to do the work that elders should be doing. They may be called “pastor,” “resident worker,” or “teaching elder,” but the work is the same. It is a confession of spiritual laziness on the part of the saints.
Ahaz chose to modify the worship of God in the temple. He was impressed with the contemporary worship outside Israel. Churches today need to forget about imitating superficially “successful” churches and, instead, get back to the Scriptures and seek to emulate the fervency and simplicity of the New Testament. This is not to advocate human tradition, which can be very deadening. But there must always be a fresh study of God’s Word and an eager submission to it. Beware of becoming contemporary; it will soon become outdated.
God states: But on this one I will look, On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My Word (Isa. 66:2).
…there must always be a fresh study of God’s Word and an eager submission to it.