THINGS THEY'RE DOING IN CHURCH TODAY
27. Gifts Or No Gifts?
Whether there are gifts of the Spirit in the church today is not decided by what men believe about the subject, but the fact remains that there is a wide variety of opinions about it. Among the two billion persons calling themselves Christians, most of whom admittedly are quite probably not born of the Holy Spirit as children of God, there exist, at the very least, the following views:
1. There never were [miraculous] gifts of the Spirit. What the early Christians viewed as unusual could easily be explained in natural terms. The same with strange occurrences of our own day. [Yes, there really are "Christians" who believe this.]
2. The gifts of the Spirit did indeed exist in apostolic days. But the need for them soon evaporated, and so today you will not find them. All incidents in our day that seem to be manifestations of giftedness are in fact explainable in natural terms. This belief, called "cessationism", sounds much like the one above, except for the 100 year window when God made an exception to His normally silent ways.
3. Yes, they existed in apostolic days. Yes, they exist today. Well, at least some of them do. And the ones that do look very much like what happens in our church all the time. "Prophecy", for example, is just preaching. Tongues have ceased of course, like Paul said they would. "Healing", well you never know... sometimes the doctor...sometimes medicine...sometimes if you pray really hard... In other words, this is the doctrine of the status quo: "If we ain't got it, we ain't gonna get it, 'cuz it prob'ly don't exist in the first place."
4. Perhaps more sad still is that group of believers who believe in the gifts of the first century, and the gifts for today, all of them, and all of them miraculous, just as you might see in the Book of Acts. "Oh yes, brother, we believe in it ALL." But as you attend their churches week after week you will see that First Pentecostal Church is no different than First Methodist Assembly or First Fundamentalist Temple. It's a doctrine on the books, but it has not yet found its way into the life of the congregation.
5. Then there is the belief, as in number 4, that all are still here in their pristine form. Here, watch! They will tell you. But as you look, what you see seems very human. There are people shouting, and the Sound System (I capitalize here because of the revered status of the Electronic Church) is roaring, and excitement is high. Some are even claiming to have been healed. Some are on the floor. But when all is said and done, much more is said than was done. How I wish these people would pull the plug on all their equipment, and ask God to reveal Himself as he really is.
I must interject here what most of you have guessed, or already know, about me. I do believe with all my heart that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. I see no Biblical reason for "cessation". And I am not against enthusiasm in worship. But after many years of travelling with these dear brothers, most of what I have seen falls into the categories 3, 4, and 5 above.
But my eyes are limited. Some say I am too critical, even accusing me of having a "critical spirit", or perhaps worse, a "spirit of criticism" , which would mean I need exorcised. My defense is a lifelong study of God's Scriptures and a regular personal search for more of God in my life.
But with all of that, I have not seen all there is to see. Let me turn this over to my readers. Why not give yourself this little quiz. You surely must know that in the church in which we live today, sooner or later you must answer these questions, based first on the Word of God, then on a diligent search for God yourself. I ask you, is there a number "6" option to add to the 5 above? Does the real deal exist? Should it?Tell me,
Do you believe the gifts existed in the first century? That the Biblical account is from the Holy Spirit and trustworthy?
Do you believe the gifts exist today? Some of them? All of them? I am assuming you have Scripture to back up your position.
Have you ever seen a Book-of-Acts style miracle in your church or anywhere for that matter? Blind eyes opened? Withered arms straightened? Unlearned languages being spoken and interpreted?
Remember, I'm not talking about what you've heard or read about. Not talking about even what a person claimed in a testimony. I'm talking about first hand eye-witness documentable fact, as every miracle in the Bible was. When Jesus did His miracles, people didn't just wave their hand in the services. Deaf people heard. Crippled people walked. Hungry people ate real food. Wedding guests drank real wine.
We were never told to follow signs and wonders. We were told that signs and wonders would follow us. Do they follow you? Your pastor? Should they? Can you imagine what might happen in your community if they did? Does that trouble you or make you feel all warm inside?
28. Why People Fall Down In Church
For years I ridiculed and questioned everything that looked unfamiliar in the church. I believed we are called to prove everything, to test everything that seems to be novel in the church. True enough. But when we move into ridicule we are in Enemy territory and can be rebuked soundly for it.
So I do not approach this subject with animosity nor with a light heart. Rather I hope to be seen as the objective reporter.
No I have never fallen down in church. I have never even gotten weak and trembling. A vast amount of the church looks at such a confession with benign approval and pats me on the back. But many others question whether the Holy Spirit has ever manifested Himself to me. After all, they question, how can God Himself show up in the room or in your body, and not be felt in some dynamic way?
Whether I, or you, or any individual, has fallen, is not the point. People are falling, and it is probably important that we know why.
If I may leave Christianity for a moment, it is a known fact that people fall to the ground under some sort of power in pagan religions. Hinduism comes to mind. When the human creation, frail as it is at times, encounters a being of the other world, something has to give. Or so I am told.
Now, back to the church. You will normally not see someone fall in a “standard” evangelical church, a Roman Catholic church, or a more liberal church. Most falling is associated with the Pentecostal/Charismatic/Third Wave movement that stresses the external works of the Spirit.
You will see even greater demonstrations than this in the meetings of world-acclaimed evangelists such as Benny Hinn. There, the speaker may wave his or her hand over a certain part of the audience and the entire section will be on the floor.
There are meetings where, to get from point A to point B in the building, you will be forced to step over several “fallen” bodies. A bit unnerving for the uninitiated.
The church has always lined up the possibilities when occurrences like this are present, so let me do the same. What could all this mean?
1. Satan. As before, we mention here that falling-down experiences are well known in pagan rituals. So are healings, tongues, and all the rest. But is it fair to give Satan credit for everything we do not understand? I realize that there are bogus signs and wonders, for example, in the Marian movement, but does that mean that all signs and wonders are from below? There were Satanic miracles in Paul’s ministry, but Paul’s were not Satanic. No, the “Satan” theory will not work.
2. Self. Auto-suggestion? Psyched up mentally deficient folks who fall for everything everywhere? Well, here we may be closer to the truth for some of the occurrences. People often experience what they have been told they will experience. There certainly is the “placebo” effect that can work here. When an entire new ministry called the “catchers” has been instituted in many churches, one has cause to believe that pastors know some of the people are just going to fall, period. And they certainly don’t want to be liable for any damage done. But if a person goes to church or to the altar after church already knowing he/she is going to fall, where is God in that? Yeah, and the “courtesy drop”, whereby a saint knows that the visiting preacher is trying hard to get people to the ground, and just goes along with the flow. The human flow, that is, not necessarily the flow of the Spirit.
3. God. Is anyone willing to say, on the basis of a word from God anywhere in Scripture, that no person anywhere at any time has ever fallen down to the ground because of the power of God? I mean ever? I’m surely not willing to say that. Paul fell. Some argue that the soldiers in Gethsemane fell. The power fell on some military folks in the days of Elijah! The Assyrian army fell. Pharaoh’s Kingdom fell. One day every knee will bow, willing or not. I’d say it’s feasible that a person overwhelmed by the love of God or the goodness of God or the joy of the Lord or the peace of the Lord, might just fall, wouldn’t you?
Nevertheless, if God truly is in it,
1. Let’s stop manufacturing the fall.
2. Preachers, stop pushing on people to create a sensation centering on you.
3. Saints, stop allowing yourself to be pushed.
4. Stop the “drop” because you feel sorry for the preacher or because you don’t want to stand out as the only un-dropped person in line.
5. Be real. Be honest before God.
6. Churches, let the catchers ministry be dissolved. Whom God drops, God props.
We must not ridicule, we must not quench the moving of the Spirit. We also must not allow, in these awful days of deception, for anything that is not of the Spirit in our midst. What a difficult job this is for pastors. Those who are worth their salt will take the challenge though, and have a church that is full of the Holy Ghost, and nothing more.
Of course the bottom line in all of this is not “falling down”, but rather being overwhelmed in some way by God.
29. The Denim Revolution
One thing has certainly changed in the modern church. How people dress. Most of us "mature" saints [all right, just plain old] remember when it was a given that shirt, tie, and coat were the uniform expected of all who would enter the front door, especially on Sunday morning. Persons who came in dressed with less would be either frowned upon or scorned or pitied. Some might even be rebuked.
On a trip to Romania in the late 80's, I had decided to show compassion on the poor Romanians, and the spirit of our humble Master, by leaving all "dressy" clothes at home. Surely the poverty level in Communist Romania was such that no one could afford "nice" things, even for Sunday morning.
How wrong I was. I was the only one in those huge congregations (huge because the Communists had shut down most church buildings and Christians had to unite) who was not dressed up!
Worse. I was asked to preach often, and when I would mount the platform, some dear brother in the congregation would rush to my assistance by offering a coat and tie, to be sure that my arms were covered and my chest was decorated. It was considered a thing next to immoral to preach in a short-sleeved tie-less shirt!
Not sure what happened in Romania, but oh my have we come a long way in this country. As always, some are saying "too far." Now not only are bare arms the norm, but in the summer, bare legs. Unfortunately certain women among us have taken it a step further, a step which will go un-mentioned here.
One of the most astounding changes is in the pulpit. It is not at all unusual to see shorts and thongs in the hot weather. It has almost become the norm to see blue jeans. In fact there are a great number of churches now where those who wear suits and ties could easily be the ones frowned upon (too religious!), scorned (flaunting their riches!), or pitied (doesn't he know the church has changed?). Some might even be rebuked (all their works they do to be seen of men!)
The obvious truth must be said now to a church that seems to have lost the sense of the obvious. And that is, as long as your clothing does not incite lust, you can wear what you want in church! God gave no rules on this matter!
Some want to wear "their best." They delight in offering this little sacrifice up to the Lord, and care not one whit about impressing anyone. They just like being fresh and clean and bright, and totally different from their otherwise drab working ways. Bless these people. They have not sinned. There is nothing wrong with them.
Others have a "David" heart that could praise God in their "basic" clothes just as readily as a tuxedo or evening gown. Maybe more. They desire the liberty that Christ has promised, and wish to be governed only by their hunger for God, not some imagined rules of the church. Bless these people also. They also have not sinned.
Of course, there are the hot dressers who are there to attract a love interest. And there are some rebels who wear the shabbiest things they can find to send a message of dissent and nonconformity, for the attention it gives them among their peers. I do not say we should bless them.
There's just all kinds of folks in the church of Jesus. But the Word of God changes not. It was brother James who said that anyone who shows partiality or prejudice to someone on the basis of their clothing or social status has entered into sin. That's far more serious than coming to church in a pastel suit or carrying an alligator Bible... or even preaching in Bermudas.
30. What About Dancing?
Oh no, he's at it again. Pushing at the edges of Christian civilization, questioning our tried and true ways.
Hold your fire. Let me speak first.
I never danced as a child. I'd like to say it was because I was so holy. But I was terrified of girls. Back in those days, boys only danced with girls, you know. But I didn't even do that. Scared me.
Then I came under the power of the church. In a good way. I have no regrets about this. They explained to me, as my parents never could, the things that can happen on a dance floor. They showed me some pure logic, and the Word. I mean, why would two people of opposite gender get that close together, at an age that is more explosive than a battlefront?
Girls never quite got it in those days. Couldn't understand the guy mentality. The romance they understood, but not the hormonal stuff that can lead a couple down a wrong path.
But I got it. And backed up by a lot of natural shyness, I got past those high school years un-scathed. Well, there was the Bermuda Ball, when I got all my courage up to ask Sheri to go with me, then sat out every dance but one. That one only verified that I was a normal guy, but it scared me enough to stay away from this fire forever.
College was Bible Seminary. No dances there. So I drifted into adulthood, marriage and beyond, never having tasted this forbidden fruit.
Then one day dancing showed up in a church I was visiting. Oh my. Not in church. It happened several times, several places, actually, and I was confronted with myself again. This wasn't McKinley High School. These folks were truly worshiping God in the dance. Not performing, though I've seen a bunch of that too, but just carrying on freely while most of us were singing and trying to pay attention.
Old religious Bob said, "Out of order!"
The answer has come back often, "Whose order?"
Who said we can't dance in church? Miriam and David would have been out of place, I guess, in most churches. We assume that it's those "other" folks who dance, right, those "heretical" people who believe in not only dancing but a whole lot more... And like me hiding behind shyness, these frigidairian types hide behind order and law and rules and...
But why? Ever praised Him in the dance? I mean, on your own? Maybe you don't think it's cool in church, but isn't it cool at all? The full body mind and soul given over to praise? What could be bad about that?
"No New Testament Scripture tells me I have to!" Yeah, but the NT is pretty quiet about the tithe, Sunday School, and probably a whole lot more. And besides, do you have to be told you HAVE to do something? Isn't love a little more creative than that?
No new rules here. Just passin' on a thought. Bless you.
31. Who Were Joseph Grigg and Henry Oliver?
Older believers have to "say it right." So let me first say, yes, there are some great NEW songs around. The music and the words, both. Now let me tell you how I really feel...
Since the "established" church seems to have trouble with the old hymnbooks, I sing out of one in private. I love even the poetry of these songs. I was raised on them, what can I say? There was majesty and beauty and downright sense to the words.
Take this one. I have never sung it in my life, couldn't whistle the tune if I tried, but while skimming through the book ("Hymns of the Christian Life", 1936! -before even my time) countless times, I have run across this song often. I decided to do a "read only." Oh my, I was touched more than I have been in a month of Sundays in the "established" place. And I mean no offense to my home church. I just have trouble feeling at home during song-time. Check out these words:
1. Jesus and shall it ever be, a mortal man ashamed of Thee? Ashamed of Thee Whom angels praise, Whose glories shine through endless days?
2. Ashamed of Jesus! sooner far let evening blush to own a star; He sheds the beams of light divine o'er this benighted soul
of mine.
3. Ashamed of Jesus! that dear Friend on Whom my hopes of heaven depend! No; when I blush, be this my shame, that I no more revere His Name.
4. Ashamed of Jesus! Yes, I may, when I've no guilt to wash away, No tears to wipe, no good to crave, no fears to quell, no
soul to save.
5. Till then, nor is my boasting vain, till then I boast a Saviour slain; And O may this my glory be, that Christ is not
ashamed of me.
OH how wonderful those words of Joseph Grigg. I can only imagine that Henry Oliver's tune enhances the beauty. Because that's how the old songs were, for the most part. Great lyrics, supportive music. Not the other way around.
Here's a suggestion for Mother Church, the Body of the Lord Himself. If we so desire novelty for our youth, let's teach them some of these GREAT "old" songs that they have never heard. To them, they will be new. To us they will be precious. And we'll all be happy.
Suggestion two, while I'm on a roll. The Church was not created for the world, but for the saints. Let the Church remain holy and draw "all men" to Christ through the preached cross. Let the saints feel comfortable in their own home. The world has its own.
Did I just change the subject...? not really.
Music that appeals to the flesh is of the world. Music that effects bodily changes is fleshly. Music that makes me want to cover my ears is an offense. Music that, like alcohol and tobacco, takes some "getting used to" needs to go, before all ears are polluted and people will not even want to go to a church that does not rock.
Or has that already happened?
32. Confession of a Heretic
It all started when my wife had a family obligation in another city. Our family of two was suddenly cut by 50%. It is already a law that certain age groups are not be left home alone. I think there were a couple movies made about that. Well, there oughta be a law about folks from, say, 65 on, too. Thought processes get all warped when some seniors are left to fend and think for themselves for excessive periods of time. At least that’s been my experience. No offense or generalization intended.
So, what to do, what to do? I just retired, and am re-inventing myself, you understand. It’s not exactly a finished work yet. So after some obligatory house-cleaning, yard work, shopping, watering the grass, I begin to reach out. Maybe a friend knows something I can do, some church event going on that I can go and profit from.
Now, my friend must be somewhere near the age category that I have attained. The activity he offers, well, I am caught a little off-guard. So I will use the lonely days, and his extravagant suggestion, and my surprise, all as excuses for my unheard of response, men and women of the jury.
He lets me in on what seems to him to be a delightful piece of knowledge. This very day, in a city not far from where we stand, a gazillion different bands have congregated and are scheduled to hold a concert to end all concerts that evening.
I know he means well. He suggests that praise and worship is the desired end of their meeting, and that surely I must be interested in that. He is right of course. But something else rises up within me. I say the most awful thing.
“I’m really not into rock music.”
“Nah, it’s just contemporary.”
“I’m really not into contemporary music. I’m the old fashioned kind.”
We then go into a discussion of our ages, and I politely excuse myself. But the damage has been done. I have become a self-acclaimed heretic if ever there was one.
To think that I, after all these years of following and seeking the Lord. Of ministry in and for the local and international church. With all the articles, books, and videos. All the youth ministry. The mission trips. The training. I am now to be locked out of the church by the music department.
For, yes, to admit to the modern crowd that young-sounding music is not the only gig going is to say a lot of other things, in their ears: You are not filled with the Spirit. You are a part of a dead religion. You are a Pharisee and a hypocrite. Of course, you are old. You are not moving with the flow of things. You poor man.
From a child I have not liked “contemporary” music. Whether in the church or not, the sounds made by twisting bodies and way-too-loud instruments were annoying to me. The damage done to my ears, the awfulness of the messages, the predominance of sound over content and beauty were all enough to say, Stay Away!
Many of my fellow believers from the beginning were into rock in the world and had no problem accepting it in the church. Today’s youth simply will not show up if such music is not allowed. The words have been changed of course, but in my mind the associations are still too strong to allow me joy and peace in a contemporary setting.
Not too long ago I would have tried to wrap up such an article right here. I’ve made my case. Get rid of rock, back to the good stuff, don’t look for me if the world is all you want. Judgment. Criticism. I win.
Can’t do that now. Now, don’t leave, fellow oldsters
I read of some raucous, very loud musical instruments in the Book of Psalms. And, I know of some rocking young people today who have already done in their lives more than I shall ever do in mine, for the Lord. Their fire is real, their hearts are centered on Jesus. Dead churches will never, and should never, entice them.
So I must simply offer the word of correction to whomever will listen.
I feel that something needs to be said to youth who believe that their zeal and noise gives them the right to overthrow all. I honor those few who have seen the value of the fathers of church music, from classical, to the majestic hymns, to Gaither-like personal testimony songs. I hear those songs in their concerts from time to time. It is refreshing. I belong to a very old and very big church. Let me know that every time we worship together.
Also to those youth and their leaders, this notion. You have criticized the “old” church of being traditional, of doing the same thing week after week. But when you take control, you ignore the hundreds of thousands of songs available to the church of God, and focus on about 25 choruses in an endless cycle week after week.
Something needs to be said to music ministers who feature 95% contemporary in wild abandon, then tell everyone to sit down and grab a hymnbook, while they in the most boring way possible sing number 235, stanzas 1, 2, and 4. How we old guys cringe when we feel we are being thrown a bone.
Occasionally, it is good to repeat a chorus a couple of times. Sometimes the Spirit is trying to get a message across to the congregation, and the message bears repeating. Sometimes. But something needs to be said to those who feel “led” constantly to spend 15 or 20 minutes on one song, while so many other songs are crying out to be used.
Something needs to be said about the new tradition of having one guitar, one keyboard, and one set of drums, maybe one bass, as the only way of doing church music, while criticizing those who opted for one piano and one organ not too many years ago. Where’s the innovative musician in our day, one who doesn’t have to follow the pack, one who has his own musical mind and will stand up and use it?
Who knows? That person, and persons like him, might even help the church music pendulum swing back to majestic, or beautiful, or melodious, or gentle, or quiet. There are many ways to be lost in praise, don’t you think?
Somehow, someone needs to speak. Without being labeled a heretic. Or an unbeliever. Or a Pharisee. For, a musical priesthood has taken over the church. We love their zeal, we honor their youth. They know their Creator.
But we ask that they step back just a bit and see if there is room for the huge panorama of the entity called “music” among us. Such a huge Body of Christ we are. Is there not room for all of us in the leading of worship?
I look forward to the day when “contemporary” is just one of hundreds of styles that are offered to delight the Father and His people.
