Changes

For a number of years, I have continued to see the advancement of contemporary worship while Traditional worship has continued losing ground.  What was once used primarily by the Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches have now been adopted by most denominations of the Christian church, including Nazarene, Presbyterian (mainly UPC and PCA, though more recently also some OPC), Baptist, and Methodist churches.  Many people accept this change freely, but in good conscience I cannot.  The following is my attempt to explain the views of myself and others on this topic.  My beliefs in this area are based on writings by a variety of reformers including Calvin, Matthew Henry, C. H. Spurgeon, and Thomas Watson, and a number of other writers and speakers including Dan Lucarini and Dr. Peter Masters, and Bill Gothard.  I have also learned some on this topic for family, friends, and christian brothers and sisters.  I regret that I often cannot cite specific ideas properly, because I have been studying the topic for some time and have lost track of some concept origins.

For a number of years, I have continued to see the advancement of contemporary worship while Traditional worship has continued losing ground.  What was once used primarily by the Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches have now been adopted by most denominations of the Christian church, including Nazarene, Presbyterian (mainly UPC and PCA, though more recently also some OPC), Baptist, and Methodist churches.  Many people accept this change freely, but in good conscience I cannot.  The following is my attempt to explain the views of myself and others on this topic.  My beliefs in this area are based on writings by a variety of reformers including Calvin, Matthew Henry, C. H. Spurgeon, and Thomas Watson, and a number of other writers and speakers including Dan Lucarini and Dr. Peter Masters, and Bill Gothard.  I have also learned some on this topic for family, friends, and Christian brothers and sisters.  I regret that I often cannot cite specific ideas properly, because I have been studying the topic for some time and have lost track of some concept origins.

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It is my belief that worship will always be based primarily on one of two things, either reverence or emotion.  From what I see, Traditional worship is primarily reverence-based, while contemporary is more feelings/emotion-based.

It is my belief that worship will always be based primarily on one of two things, either reverence or emotion.  From what I see, Traditional worship is primarily reverence-based, while contemporary is more feelings/emotion-based.

==Reverence-based worship==

==Reverence-based worship==

What I am calling reverence-based worship is that which treats God as one is is high above us, yet has stopped down to out level.  It recognizes that although he is higher than us (Isaiah 55:9), he has brought himself so low as to die for us, care for us, and listen to us.  In turn, we worship him with gratefulness and reverence as a humble response to Him great kindness.  This will usually not be devoid of emotion, as it should not be.  However, emotions are directed focused as respect and honor.  While such worship is not based on the Old Testament, this is usually kept in mind to some extent because in it God shows his holiness and might.  While the New Testament concept of God's condescension and closeness is prominent, it is understood from the concept that He is so much above men.  This leads to a certain formality in worship which many see as dry, dead worship, or even something done by rote simply because it should be.  However, wholehearted participants in this worship will entirely disagree with such an evaluation.

What I am calling reverence-based worship is that which treats God as one is high above us, yet has stopped down to out level.  It recognizes that although he is higher than us (Isaiah 55:9), he has brought himself so low as to die for us, care for us, and listen to us.  In turn, we worship him with gratefulness and reverence as a humble response to Him great kindness.  This will usually not be devoid of emotion, as it should not be.  However, emotions are directed focused as respect and honor.  While such worship is not based on the Old Testament, this is usually kept in mind to some extent because in it God shows his holiness and might.  While the New Testament concept of God's condescension and closeness is prominent, it is understood from the concept that He is so much above men.  This leads to a certain formality in worship which many see as dry, dead worship, or even something done by rote simply because it should be.  However, wholehearted participants in this worship will entirely disagree with such an evaluation.

==Emotion-based worship==

==Emotion-based worship==

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====Satanic influence?====

====Satanic influence?====

Before you skip this section assuming I'm just calling something I do not agree with something from Satan, please hear me out.  A missionary friend related to me a relevant experience.  They were living among a tribe of native Africans, working to teach them the gospel.  The family was making good progress as God opened the people's hearts and minds.  A large percentage of the natives had accepted Jesus Christ, and almost everyone understood the gospel.  On one particular day, their two daughters began playing some contemporary christian music in their room (a tent, I believe).  Before long, several of the tribal leaders came to the missionary, and asked him and his wife why it was that they were allowing their daughters to play the music which used to enslave the tribe to Satan.  The utterly shocked missionary and his wife quickly instructed their daughters to stop.  They had not really taught anything about the good and evil of music, but the natives knew nonetheless. <br />

Before you skip this section assuming I'm just calling something I do not agree with something from Satan, please hear me out.  A missionary friend related to me a relevant experience.  They were living among a tribe of native Africans, working to teach them the gospel.  The family was making good progress as God opened the people's hearts and minds.  A large percentage of the natives had accepted Jesus Christ, and almost everyone understood the gospel.  On one particular day, their two daughters began playing some contemporary Christian music in their room (a tent, I believe).  Before long, several of the tribal leaders came to the missionary, and asked him and his wife why it was that they were allowing their daughters to play the music which used to enslave the tribe to Satan.  The utterly shocked missionary and his wife quickly instructed their daughters to stop.  They had not really taught anything about the good and evil of music, but the natives knew nonetheless. <br />

I have also heard several third hand stories from reliable sources of people who apparently suffered attacks from demons.  For them, one major solution was getting rid of all such music with the backbeat.

I have also heard several third hand stories from reliable sources of people who apparently suffered attacks from demons.  For them, one major solution was getting rid of all such music with the backbeat.