fromthepreacherspc

THE CHANGE MOVEMENT #7

Church Music

INTRODUCTION

A. Another way that many are trying to make changes in the
Lord’s church is pertaining to its music

1. Instrumental music always seems to loom in the
background

2. No doubt a survey of the younger generation among
churches of Christ would reveal that they do not consider
the instrument in church worship to be objectionable

3. Prominent voices among the change agents have certainly
declared their conviction  that instrumental music should
not be treated as an issue of fellowship

4. But this position is logically equivalent to sanctioning the
use of the instrument

B. However, the older generation has done a commendable job
of emphasizing  the unacceptability of instrumental music to
the extent that for the most part the younger generation has
shown an unwillingness to make the instrument the battle
line.

1. Instead, the change agents have turned their attention to
the realm of “special music” – i.e. solos, trios, and choirs

2. Those who are promoting “special music” are clearly
causing division in the church

3. Yet they are masters at acting innocent in this regard while
placing the blame on their opponents

4. The change agents are now saying that the New Testament
not only allows “special music” but promotes it

5. As we look into this topic let us begin by briefly
reviewing the…

DISCUSSION

A. THE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC QUESTION

1. In any study we must study all the scriptures that pertain
to the subject that we are studying

a. The New Testament verses discussing music in worship
in the church

1) Matthew 26:30

2) Acts 16:25

3) Romans 15:9

4) 1 Corinthians 14:15, 26

5) Ephesians 5:19

6) Colossians 3:16

7) Hebrews 2:12

8) Hebrews 13:15

9) James 5:13

b. This is how you study any topic in the Bible – you gather
all the information from Scripture, which will eliminate
human opinions and ideas

c. Notice that each verse mentions “singing” or the
“fruit of the lips” – notice what is not mentioned:
mechanical instruments of music

2. The Law of Exclusion

a. We use this law every day of our lives:

1) Men and women rest room …

2) Ordering food at a restaurant …

3) Sending our kids to the store …

b. Biblical examples

1) Sacrifice of Isaac (Gen. 22) … excluded Ishmael

2) Ark – Gopher wood (Gen. 6) … excludes pine, oak,
etc.

3) Lord’s Supper – unleavened bread and fruit of the vine
(Mt. 26:26-29) … Excludes hamburgers and cokes

4) Baptism – water (Acts 8:36; 10:45) … excludes oil,
gasoline, etc.

5) God said sing (Eph. 5:19) … that automatically
excludes mechanical instruments of music

B. 1 Corinthians 14:15, 26

1. Some have argued that they find permission for special
music in 1 Corinthians 14

a. Many are saying that the phrase “every one of you hath a
psalm” give authority for solos in the worship assembly

b. An ambiguous allusion to Christians “having a psalm” is
flimsy and dangerous justification for pushing special
music in the church today – especially in light of clearer
passages in Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16

2. The phrase “every one of you hath a psalm” most likely
has reference to an individual who has, by inspiration,
composed a suitable worship song

a. There is evidence of inspired songs in the early church,
as alluded to by Justin Martyr, Tertullian, and
Eusebius

b. A “psalm” is one form of inspired writing, and may or
may not be put to music

c. Some have translated the Greek word as hymn
(NIV, RSV) – a misleading translation, there is another
Greek word for hymn

C. Colossians 3:16

1. According to the Greek language, the “teaching,”
“admonishing,” and the “singing” are not separate,
unrelated activities.

a. All three clarify how to be filled with the word of
Christ, and therefore are connected with each other

b. When Christians are assembled together and are
engaged in singing together, in that act they are likewise
teaching and admonishing one another

c. Paul’s reference to “singing” is his way of completing
and clarifying his initial instructions regarding
“teaching” and “admonishing”

d. “in you” is plural – thus, this is congregational – not a
solo

2. The New Testament is actually far more specific with
regard to singing than many people realize

a. In addition to authorizing only congregational
singing, Colossians 3:16 places restrictions on:

1) the format of music (i.e. vocal, verbal)

2) the style of music (psalms, hymns, spiritual songs)

3) the object of music (to God)

4) the attitude of the singer (with gratitude)

5) the condition of the singer (in the heart)

b. Paul stresses that the entire congregation is to sing
together, admonishing each other

D. Ephesians 5:19

1. The plural subject in this verse is the entire congregation
– not just a portion of the congregation

a. The entire congregation is to participate in this action –
the speaking and singing

b. Solos by definition omit the rest of the congregation

2. “Speaking to one another” does not mean that some
members are listening silently while others are singing

a. Those listening are to be also singing

b. The premium being placed on listening is erroneous for
several reasons

1) Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 do not include
listening as one of the present participles

2) The members of a choir are singing at the same time
and so, according to change agents, cannot listen to
each others

3) It is not true that singing prevents one from
listening

c. No one is suggesting that it is unscriptural to
sometimes worship while listening.

1) We do so in prayer and during the sermon

2) But during the singing God has said that all should
sing and listen

CONCLUSION

A. John 4:24

B. We must worship God’s way

THE CHANGE MOVEMENT #6

A New Preaching Style

INTRODUCTION

A. The church is under attack by the change agents, and one of
their targets is unquestionably the worship services

1. One striking changes that has occurred over the last 30
years is a new style of preaching

2. Scripture used to be the sum and substance of our
sermon material

3. We used to literally drench our preaching with Bible

4. Our preaching was easily identifiable for its sober logic
and good sense

5. Like Paul’s ] Acts 26:25

B. But this is no longer the case in many places

1. Much of the preaching now is dominated by
psychology man’s fallible perceptions of his own needs

2. Now our preaching focuses more on the preacher than the
message

3. This need breed of preachers are masters at endearing
themselves to the congregation rather than endearing the
congregation to Jesus and the word of God

a. Biblical substance has been replaced by emotional
stimulation

b. Many are selling out to the denominations and opting for
their approach

4. The old style of preaching was appealing for its good
sense, Scripture and logic. The new style of preaching
entails showmanship, entertainment, and filled with
anecdotes rather than a thus saith the Lord.

DISCUSSION

A. The “Felt-Needs” Fallacy

1. The new style of preaching and the change in sermon
content has occurred largely as a result of the
preoccupation with numerical growth

a. The desire to attract people is accompanied by the
insistence that preaching must be adjusted and adapted to
culture

b. Many now are molding their preaching around the
“felt-needs” of the audience

c. By “felt-needs” it is meant that the listener possesses
specific perceptions of what he needs, desires, or
wants

d. The new style of preacher finds what kind of food they
and provides them a good “cotton candy sermon”

2. Notice that this approach, by definition, permits man to set
the agenda for topic of discussion

a. But if Bible history shows us anything, it shows us that
this is not the way

1) Jeremiah 10:23

2) Proverbs 14:12

3) Proverbs 20:24

b. Man often clamors for what they want, and not what
they need – Only God knows what is, in reality, good for
man

c. We must permit God to set the agenda for preaching

3. Biblical preaching centers on and majors in what God says
are man’s needs – rather than any “heart felt-need”

a. The greatest need of mankind is the straightforward
proclamation of the Bible, rather than tickling of the ears
of the people

b. We need to get away from man’s wisdom and get back
to God’s wisdom

B. Balanced Preaching

1. Some are now saying that a preacher should never, under
and circumstances, offend or create division by his
teaching

a. It may be true that some preachers offend
inappropriately

b. On the other hand, the preacher who is patterning his life
and teaching after Jesus will inevitably offend some

2. Consider the preaching of Jesus

a. John 7:12

b. John 7:43

c. John 10:19

d. The prevailing mood among many of our brethren is
“peace at all cost,” “smooth it over,” and “whatever you
do, don’t create division”

e. No one wants division just for the sake of  division, but
Jesus said ] Luke 12:51

3. Another contrast between Bible preaching and human
ideas about preaching is seen among those who claim
that it is inappropriate for the preacher to “call names”
or speak too directly about a false doctrine, a false
teacher, or a false church

a. Their reasoning is that this alienates people and brings
unnecessary antagonism. Does this premise, in fact, have
biblical support?

b. Jesus labeled false teachers with such names as:
offspring of vipers, hypocrites, blind guides, fools,
serpents (Mat. 12:34; 23:15-17, 33)

c. Paul publicly called people down by name: Demas,
Hymenaeus, Alexander, Philetus, Peter, Alexander
the Coppersmith (Gal. 2:11-4; 1 Tim. 1:20; 2 Tim.
2:17-19; 4:10, 14)

d. Publicly pinpointing people, groups, and doctrines is
biblical if undertaken properly

4.  One also hears a lot these days about the need to have
“balanced preaching”

a. What is often meant by this admonition is that the
preacher should refrain from being “negative”

b. Granted, we should “speak the truth in love”
(Eph. 4:15)

c. Our approach to life and preaching should not be
dominated by a harsh, critical, and unkind
demeanor

1) Galatians 6:1

2) 2 Timothy 2:24-25

d. But the Bible repeatedly teaches that the human mind is
in frequent need of correction and discipline – that which
is negative

1) Jeremiah 1:10

2) 2 Timothy 4:1-2

5. This is hard for many to accept, but biblical preaching –
balanced preaching – can sometimes be divisive, offensive,
and negative

a. God’s proclaimed truth is like a hammer that breaks
rocks into pieces (Jer. 23:29)

b. But to those who will receive with humility, it will
save their soul (Jam. 1:21)

C. Book, Chapter, and Verse

1. Another facet of the new style of preaching is the
insistence that the explicit citation of Bible book, chapter
and verse in pulpit proclamation is somehow
unsophisticated, ineffective, or inappropriate

a. There is a dramatic reduction in the use of Scripture in
many pulpits today

b. This is dangerous and sure to bring spiritual destruction,
as biblical history points our

1) Joshua 1:8

2) Hosea 4:6

2. Why do some seem so reluctant to give book, chapter, and
verse in their preaching?

a. Perhaps some are threatened by their lack of Bible
knowledge

b. Or, perhaps some have embraced false doctrines which
cannot survive the straightforward scrutiny of the
Scriptures

c. Or, maybe to them constantly quoting Scripture does not
fit well with the modern, “sophisticated,” “educated,”
“smooth” approach.

3. 1 Peter 4:11

4. Isaiah 8:20

5. Romans 1:16

6. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 – thus, the need for Scripture

CONCLUSION

A. The Bible must be preached in our pulpits

B. Bible ignorance destroys soul

THE CHANGE MOVEMENT

The Assault on Worship

INTRODUCTION

A. Much of the change being promoted among the Lord’s
church today is centered around worship

1. These changes include church music, lifting up hands,
handclapping, drama, female leadership, observing
religious holidays, dedicating babies, the Lord’s Supper,
Sunday night cluster groups, children’s worship, preaching
style and worship environment.

2. Each of these items will be addressed in other lessons

B. One can see that a primary objective of the change agents is
to renovate and restructure the worship practices of the
church

DISCUSSION

A. What does the Bible say regarding acceptable
worship?

1. The New Testament begins and ends with worship

a. Matthew 4:10

b. Revelation 22:9

2. At least four kinds of worship are alluded to in the
New Testament

a. Ignorant worship (Acts 17:23)

b. Vain worship (Mat. 15:9)

c. Will worship (Col. 2:23)

d. Spiritual worship (Jn. 4:24)

3. Inherent in each of these kinds of worship is authority

a. Worship is either right or wrong depending on God’s
will – the only right worship is authorized by God

b. Jesus emphasized this John 4:23-24

4. Correct worship possesses the:

a. Proper audience – God

1) True worshippers worship God

2) Ephesians 5:19-20

b. Proper attitude – in spirit

1) Be mentally and emotionally involved

2) Ephesians 5:19 – in your heart

3) Psalm 122:1

4) Worshipping in spirit takes real effort – unfortunately,
the current climate in the church tends to treat worship
as a time of entertaining the worshipper and catering to
the worshipper’s wants

5) As a result many worshippers have lost the deep,
reverent mindset to please God and not self

6) This lax attitude is especially evident in the change
that has come over many congregations with regard to
dress

a) Much of the casual clothing worn in the local church
assemblies is a direct manifestation of a casual
attitude toward worship

b) Worshippers are wearing casual clothing that they
would not think of wearing for a wedding, a funeral,
or even jury duty

c) Dress unquestionably reflects attitude and can
also create attitude – Just ask the military.

c. Proper actions – in truth

1) Worship must be done:

a) Decently and in order (1 Cor. 14:40)

b) Acceptably (Heb. 12:28)

2) The current assault on worship includes an attempt to
dodge the clear import of the expression “in truth”

3) Some are falsely saying that “in truth” in simply a
Hebraism meaning to worship sincerely and devotedly
– But let’s notice…

B. God’s View on the Matter of Truth

1. God has always required essentially two facets of response
to His will: the right action with the right attitude

a. John 4:24

b. Joshua 24:14

c. Ecclesiastes 12:13

d. Acts 10:35

e. Deuteronomy 10:12-13

f. Romans 1:9

2. To emphasize on dimension of obedience over another is
to hamper one’s acceptance by God

3. God has not changed in His insistence upon man’s loving
obedience to His instructions

a. John 14:15

b. John 15:14

c. 1 John 5:3

4. The Psalmist understood that God’s truth consisted of
God’s written word

a. Psalm 119:30, 43, 142, 151, 160

b. Jesus taught the same thing

1) John 17:17

2) John 12:47-48

5. Worshipping God “in truth” is equivalent to “doing
truth,” which entails “deeds” or external actions which
are prescribed by God

C. Current Worship Tendencies

1. Some churches of Christ are operating on the basis of
inappropriate, unbiblical objectives and goals in worship

a. Some churches have “worship committees” or
“praise teams” who apparently have no clue as what
their real responsibility is: to plan and structure
worship so that the focus is on God – not the
worshipper

b. In keeping with the tone and tenor of our entertainment
crazed culture, some in the church feel that worship
ought to be entertaining

c. Can’t we see that entertaining ourselves, satisfying
our own needs, reviving our interest to escape our
boredom, and attempting to attract others with these
manmade lure – are all simply unbiblical, cheap,
inferior substitutes for simple, meaningful, spiritual
worship?

2. Instead of attempting to renovate worship for our own
benefit, what we need to do is cultivate our appetites for
pure, New Testament worship

a. We need to stick with the simple worship behaviors
dictated in Scripture

b. We need to learn to like them because they are good for
us

c. If we resist them, and look for new and exciting ways
to worship, we are showing a childhood rebellion –
this is will worship (Col. 2:23)

3. If worship has become boring and unmeaningful to a
member, so much so, that he feels the need to change
churches or liven up the worship assembly with
theatrics, he has a spiritual, internal problem – a heart
problem

a. Repetitiveness and sameness are not inherently bad.

b. God had enjoined repetition and lack of change in many
areas and expects us to keep it that way

c. Your mate expects the same!

1) Shame on the man who puts away the wife of his
youth because she is getting old and she’s the same
women he married 20 or thirty years ago.

2) Likewise, shame on the Christian who puts away the
simply worship of the New Testament church because
it is the same old things

d. Just because an action is the same and predictable,
that action need not necessarily be boring – that
depends on the attitude of the individual

e. Manipulating external gadgets and gimmickry will not
revive a genuine, heartfelt attitude of worship

CONCLUSION

A. Worship has come under attack by the change agents

B. We must not fall prey to these voices who wish to resist or
soften the instructions of God

C. May God help us to worship Him in accordance with His
revealed will!

THE CHANGE MOVEMENT

The Fuel For Change (2)

INTRODUCTION

A. A third key item that is being used to fuel change in the
church is the unfortunate and misplaced emphasis upon
church growth and the desire to be relevant

1. It seems there is no end to the lengths that some will go
for church growth

2. Many are like those of Samuel’s days who want to be like
the nations around them (1 Sam. 8:20) – many are trying to
copy the denominations in evangelism

3. It is incredible to think that many, like Israel, have not
learned that seeking help outside of God’s word amounts
to foolish disloyalty

a. Psalm 146:3

b. Isaiah 31:3

B. Does it really seem possible that God would require
numerical growth but then fail to tell us how to
accomplish it?

1. Do we really need to pay for a “church growth expert”?

2. Do we really need to glean from denominationalism?

C. Too many times our “progress” amounts to nothing
more than the subtle abandonment of biblical truth in
exchange for “something new” (Acts 17:21) or the latest
popular fads derived from the “latest studies”

1. Under the guise of “growth” and “progress” many are
straying from biblical truth

2. 2 John 9

a. The term “onward” or “transgresseth” comes from a
word from which we get our word “progress”

b. Such is an apt description of much of the gimmickry
being set forth today as “progress”

D. This mindset is completely contrary to the biblical
prescription for achieving our God-ordained tasks

1. If we want the church to grow and be insulated from
apostasy we must use the Bible as our guide

2. God’s truth alone as the “power” (Rom. 1:16) and the
“energy” (Heb. 4:12) to simulate God’s people.

3. Only God’s truth can make people free (Jn. 8:32; 17:17)

4. Isaiah 55:11

E. That is precisely why it is not our burden and
responsibility to produce the numbers

1. God gives the increase (1 Cor. 3:6-7)

2. It is our duty to plant and water in God’s way

3. James 1:21

4. So instead of using the latest gimmicks we must “desire
the sincere milk of the word, that we may grow thereby”
(1 Pet. 2:2)

DISCUSSION

A. THE ROLE OF A PREACHER

1. For too long, preachers within churches of Christ have
been perceived to be largely responsible for the numerical
growth (or lack of it) in the local congregation

a. It is thought that if the preacher is doing his job the
church will grow

b. It is further thought that his preaching style, personality,
and appearance are responsible for his success of failure –
many are hiring their preachers mostly based on style
and personality

2. But let’s compare this scenario with biblical truth

a. The Bible says a preacher’s function is to preach

1) 2 Timothy 4:2

2) 1 Timothy 4:11, 13

3) Titus 2:15

b. Consequently, it is not his responsibility to bring in the
numbers – remember, God gives the increase

3. Many assume that if a preacher is doing his job many
will be converted

a. But where does this leave Noah, the preacher of
righteousness? (2 Pet. 2:5)

b. Where does this leave Jesus? – John 6:66

4. Paul may have been a penetrating writer, but he apparently
was not very commanding in the pulpit in terms of his
physical presence – 2 Corinthians 10:10

a. Paul probably would have not fared well in pulpits of
today’s thinking

b. Nevertheless, he was the proper model for preacher to
emulate today

1) 1 Corinthians 3:6

2) Paul preached – God gives the increase, not the
preacher

B. PSEUDO-EVANGELISM

1. Some in the church today seem to major in stressing to
the brotherhood its imminent failure to evangelize and
grow in numbers as it should

a. The Lord did not command us to “convert the world” or
bring big numbers

b. He told us to evangelize the world – Mark 16:15-16

c. Just because a church is not growing does not mean that
their evangelism is suspect

1) Matthew 7:13-14

2) Matthew 22:14

2. When we speak of “soul winning” and “making
converts,” what do we really mean?

a. Is all “soul winning” sanctioned by God?

b. There is a difference between biblical evangelism and
human evangelism?

3. Many are so consumed with programs and methods that
they have substituted sociology and psychology for Bible
truth

a. The only legitimate appeal in evangelism is truth and
love of truth

b. John 17:17; 2 Thessalonians 2:10

4. Notice what Jesus said about some “gung ho”
evangelizing methods of His day – Matthew 23:15

a. To what were these people being converted?

b. God is not willing that any should perish (2 Pet. 3:9), but
salvation must come on His terms

5. Numerous passages teach pure, unadulterated truth has
never been popular nor influential with the majority of it
hearers.

a. Jonah was successful in causing sufficient numbers of
Ninevites to repent to the extent that God spared the
city (Jonah 3:10) – only later to destroy it (Nahum)

b. Elijah was informed that 7,000 were still responsive
to the truth (1 Kgs. 19:18), but 7,000 out of a nation of
hundreds of thousands is not very many

c. Multitudes followed Jesus, but most of them were out
for the food (Jn. 6:10-15) and miracles (Jn. 6:2)

d. Once they heard what Jesus had to say, they
developed “cold feet” (Jn. 6:66) – in fact, had Him
killed (Mt. 27:20-25)

6. When people are attracted to Christianity and the
church in the first century, they were drawn to Jesus by
means of His doctrine

a. Not gimmicks

b. Not a watered down doctrine

C. DELICATE ISSUES

1. Many churches are trying to create an atmosphere on
non-qualifying acceptance by avoiding anything
negative and remaining strictly positive

a. We need to be positive, we cannot dwell constantly on
the negative

b. But there is a growing tendency to preach only positive
so everyone always feels convertible – big numbers…

2. What is our ultimate goal?

a. To provide the Lord with obedient believers

b. Our goal is not to amass numbers, but save souls

c. If all we do is make people “feel good about
themselves,” we might as well abandon our churches and
become psychologists

3. We need to encourage, but we must also deal with sin©

a. Isaiah 59:1-2

b. Romans 3:23 … we must deal with sin

c. Ephesians 4:15

CONCLUSION

THE CHANGE MOVEMENT

The Fuel For Change (1)

INTRODUCTION

A. Keeping the church pure and true to the Book is taught
often in the New Testament

1. Ephesians 5:25-27

2. Titus 1:9, 13; 2:1

B. But there are those who are trying to restructure the church

1. Trying to change the church to fit modern culture and their
own desires

2. These are called “Change Agents”

C. In our last lesson we discussed the “Roots of Change”

1. We discussed cultural, theological, political and scientific
currents that are the roots of the present “Change Agent”
movement.

2. In this lesson we will discuss “The Fuel for Change”

3. One of the fuels for change is…

DISCUSSION

A. REBELLION

1. Israel had survived centuries of slavery and oppression
at the hands of Egypt.

a. They had escaped by the hand of God and now found
themselves in the Paran Desert anxiously awaiting news
from the spies sent to scout out Palestine

b. Numbers 13:30-33

c. The entire nation stayed up all night weeping – they
thought their national hopes and dreams were dashed,
and by morning they were making alternate plans to
appoint them new leaders who would lead them back to
Egypt

d. Joshua and Caleb spoke up – Numbers 14:7-9a

e. Their hesitation to comply with God’s instructions
amounted to rebellion

2. During the final year of his life, Moses, at the age of
120, he delivered a farewell address to the nation whom
he had served as leader for forty years

a. He wrote a song that was to serve as a sort of national
anthem to remind the people that their future
disobedience would inevitably bring them trouble

b. Deuteronomy 31:27

c. Their inconsistent compliance with God’s words
amounted to rebellion

3. God instructed Saul to engage Amalek in battle

a. They were to be completely annihilated

b. Saul complied with the order to go to war, but he
made some modifications to God’s instructions

c. God considered the compromise a failure to follow
Him

1) On the other hand Saul insisted that he had obeyed –
1 Samuel 15:13, 20)

2) He even presented his efforts as giving honor to God
– 1 Samuel 15:15, 21

d. Notice Samuel’s assessment – 1 Samuel 15:23

e. Saul’s failure to comply completely with God’s
instruction was an act of rebellion

4. While Zedekiah was king over the southern kingdom
of Judah, a prophet named Hananiah arose

a. The message he presented to the remaining inhabitants
of Jerusalem was a positive message optimism,
encouragement and reassurance

b. He assured them that within two years the Babylonian
oppressions would come to an end

c. There was great excitement, even Jeremiah was excited

d. However, God informed Jeremiah that Hananiah was a
false prophet, and was informed to make the following
pronouncement – Jeremiah 28:15-16

e. Hananiah died within two month. Why? Because he
promoted rebellion against God’s will

5. Looking back to the 1960s, one is surely struck by the fact
that rebellion was a central feature of what took place

a. Many of that younger generation created the generation
gap, anti-Establishment,  antiwar –

b. All this is nothing more than open rebellion against
authority

6. Presently we are seeing the fruits of the 1960s decade of
rebellion against authority

a. A full-scale breakdown of authority is in effect

b. America has more crime and more criminals than ever
before. What are criminals? People who refuse to submit
to the authority of the legal system

c. This lack of respect for authority is even seen in many of
our lawyers…always looking to beat the system/
technicalities

d. Teachers retiring early because of uncontrollable
classrooms

6.  Can we not see that the fuel for change in churches of
Christ is simply an extension of the widespread refusal
to submit to authority?

B. THE SHIFT TO EMOTION

1. Another factor which is fueling the push for change is the
extent to which emotion and feeling affect doctrine and
religious practice

a. Care must be taken to refrain from justifying
religious practices by confusing spirituality and
emotional sensation

b. The “Change Agents” equate emotion and feeling with
being spiritual

2. Many today are fashioning worship to suit what man
thinks and feels is spiritual.

a. But, my friends, the starting point is all wrong!

b. The “Change Agent” begins with human preferences
and builds his entire case on the need to cater to human
preferences so people can “experience” religion

3. The true meaning of spirituality

a. Biblical spirituality is not so much what one feels as
what one comes to know and do.

1) The “spiritual” person in the Bible is the one who
earnestly seeks to come to an understanding of God’s
will and then diligently obeys that will

2) Spirituality occurs through our response to Biblical
teaching

a) 1 Corinthians 2:13-15

b) 1 Corinthians 14:37

c) 1 Peter 2:2

b. Spiritual worship entails responding rationally to
God’s will – with worship that is approved by Him

1) Many are suggesting that our worship would be more
spiritual if we would “hold up holy hands,” have
dramatic presentation, etc.

2) They may create more excitement – but not more
spirituality

c. Those who wish to revolutionize worship practices
need to realize that this leads to ruin

1) Leviticus 10:1-3

2) Isaiah 30:9-13

3) Jeremiah 6:13-19

3. The interplay between emotion, reason and behavior

a. The conversion Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-39)
provides a good example…

1) Acts 8:26-30 – Notice first that Christianity is
first and foremost a cognitive experience –
Intellectual awareness, mental comprehension, must
occur first and must take priority over every facet of
religious experience

2) Acts 8:31-36 –  Notice that the second facet of
religious experience is an obedient response –
compliance with the stipulation of God

3) Acts 8:38-39 – Here is the proper place of
emotion in Christian religion

b. Here is the correct balance between human reason,
divine doctrine, and human emotion

1) Human emotion is to be brought under the control of
the human mind as that mind is governed by the words
of God

2) Emotion must be rooted in rationality

3) Rationality must take priority over emotion

CONCLUSION

THE CHANGE MOVEMENT

The Roots of Change

INTRODUCTION

A. Churches of Christ are experiencing shock and
heartache all over American as they are being torn
asunder by those who wish to restructure the church

1. The church is under siege from within

2. Many, if not most, of our Christian colleges are promoting
this restructuring

3. Many of our liberal brethren insist that change is
absolutely necessary if the church is to remain
“relevant” to society & “appealing” to human culture

B. Jude 3

1. We must speak out against the change movement

2. Why must we speak out?

a. To alert the sleeping giant of our brotherhood and warn
them of the Trojan Horse in our midst

b. To provide assistance and encouragement to those
racked by the destructive efforts of illicit change

c. The reaffirm the simple truth of God’s will to all who
will listen

C. The movement to accommodate culture in religion is in
direct conflict with the simplicity of the Gospel

1. Deuteronomy 32:7

2. Jeremiah 6:16 … the “Old Paths” are still new

3. Matthew 7:13-14 … “straight” = rigid, confining,
difficult to negotiate

DISCUSSION

A. CULTURAL CURRENTS

1. American civilization had managed to survive the
devastating and catastrophic effects of economic
depression and world war

a. The postwar era brought optimism and technological
and material prosperity

b. Into this generation came the generation of the 50s and
the 60s – the “baby boomers”

c. Their parents were anxious to give their kids what they
didn’t have in the 30s and 40s

1) They didn’t learn sacrifice – provided a pleasant
existence

2) Religious interest were integrated into this
comfortable lifestyle

2. Something happened in the 60s

a. The uncontrolled nature of rock and roll, motorcycle
gangs, hippies, and drugs began to appear

b. Vietnam … generation gap … do your own thing

3. The Baby Boomers are now parents, and are the movers
and shakers of today

a. Now the Baby Boomers are trying to restructure the
church like they tried to restructure society in the 60s

b. The are trying to redefine terms in order to
accommodate the change they desire

4. Factors underlying the present push for change:

a. Materialism

1) Material prosperity contains within a subtle deceptive
barb – the tendency to forget God

2) Deuteronomy 8:7-14

b. Agnosticism

1) Can’t now truth…right and wrong have been blurred…
values are now viewed subjective

2) John 8:31-32

c. Aversion to being judgmental

1) Moral absolutes have been removed

2) John 7:24

d. Lack of discipline

1) Laxness…poor work ethic

2) Loose approach to most things

e. Craving for entertainment

1) “Fun and games” dominate

2) Fleshly stimulation is craved

B. THEOLOGICAL CURRENTS

1. In every period of church history there has always been
one major doctrine that has preoccupied center stage

2. In our day the issue is the authority of the Bible

a. In reality this is the root of all religious problems

b. Can we understand the Bible? Is It really inspired?

c. Some say, Parts are inspired and others are not …myths

d. Book, chapter and verse preaching is being ridiculed

3. Those who clamor for change are those who have rejected
Bible authority. Notice the Bible’s warnings:

a. Matthew 7:15

b. Acts 20:29-30

c. 2 Peter 2:1

d. 1 John 4:1

e. Ephesians 4:14

C. POLITICAL CURRENTS

1. Politics reflect the same cultural influences operative
in society at large

a. The political arena has been heavily weighted toward
political liberalism for many years

b. Now call Political Correctness

2. The political liberal and the religious liberal share a
common attitude

a. The manifest a smug superiority over those who do not
accept their view

b. Their interaction with conservatives is characterized by
a condescending air of “you are ignorant, narrow-minded
and incapable of grasping my superior views”

3. Parallel political and religious viewpoints

a. ERA – Women’s role in the church

b. Can’t legislate morality – divorce for any cause

c. Conservatives are intolerant, harsh, cold, and
uncaring

d. Situation Ethics

e. American welfare system/free handouts – please me and
my need first

f. Objective truth is questioned and/or undermined

4. These parallels are too striking to be coincidental or
unrelated

D. SCIENTIFIC CURRENTS

1. Another taproot that is sparking fires of change in the
church is modern scientific thought

a. Humanism has taken a dreadful toll on out society

b. It’s atheistic tentacles have invaded virtually every facet
of social life

2. The Theory of Evolution

a. This is the prominent manifestation of humanistic
influence in the church

b. Some of our Christians schools have been seduced by
pseudo-scientific proof that the world is old – 5 billion
years

c. They are now teaching theistic evolution

1) They reject the day of Genesis 1 as being literal

2) They call the creation account a myth

d. Theistic Evolution is false:

1) If Genesis 1 is not to be take literal none of the other
Bible writers knew about it – Hebrews 11:3; Exodus
20:11

2) Genesis 1 defines the meaning of day

3) Plant life was created on the third day – the sun was
not created until the fourth day

4) There are many proofs that evolution is false

3. What are the implications of belief in Theistic
Evolution?

a. Many conclude that if Genesis 1 can be interpreted
loosely, why not the rest of the Bible

b. It is believing a lie – it is believing that which at its core
is atheistic

c. It is to be in league with humanistic philosophy

CONCLUSION

A. These are the roots behind those who are trying to
restructure the church – those trying to change the Lord’s
blood bought church

B. In our next lesson we will discuss the fuel of change

C. Jeremiah 6:16