Myth, 32

~ Music Style Determines Church Success ~

Myth  ~  Contemporary Music Will Save Your Church. 

Reality  ~  The reality is that music can be an aid or a hindrance to the true success of your church.  Today, many churches have moved from true worshipful music to more of an entertainment type of music.  In such settings music is often used to build up emotions rather than to cause the individual and corporate body to the worship of God. 

Scripture  ~  The book of Psalms has been called Israel’s Hymnbook.  The modern church can learn a lot be immersing itself in the Psalms. 

Christian History  ~  Many great Christian leaders of the past and present have warned about the misuse of music in the local church.  A few examples:

“Modern religion focuses upon filling churches with people.  The true Gospel emphasizes filling people with God.  …  Worship is no longer worship when it reflects the culture around us more than the Christ within us.  … There was a day when men sang, Holy, Holy, Holy, and oh, worshipped the King and they talked objectively about the greatness of God.  Then we backslid into the gutter where we still are, where everything is about I.  I’m so happy.  “I’m so blessed.  “I’m so nice.  “I’m so good.  I’m, I, always I”  ~ A.W. Tozer

“The devil has seldom done a cleverer thing than hinting to the church that part of their mission is to provide entertainment for the people, with a view of winning them.”  ~ H.H. Spurgeon

“These first Christians did not come together to be entertained.  Nothing to me is so pathetic about the state of the church today as the entertainment that has increasingly come into our services.  …  Why did the early Christians come together?  The answer is given: ‘They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42).  And this is what we must emphasize.”  ~ Martyn Lloyd Jones

“Modern church buildings are constructed like theaters (“playhouses,” Spurgeon called them).  Instead of a pulpit, the focus is a stage.  …  Worship is not music.  It is loving God.  Worship is honoring God.  Worship is knowing God for who He is, adoring Him, obeying Him, proclaiming Him as a way of life.  Music is one way we express that adoration.  …  Many people see preaching and worship as two distinct aspects of the church service, as if preaching has nothing to do with worship and vice versa.  But that is an erroneous concept.  The ministry of the Word is the platform on which all genuine worship is built.”  ~ John MacArthur  

The Bottom Line  ~  The preaching of the Word of God should be the focus of what has often been called the “Worship Service.”  While music should support that it has the danger of replacing the emphasis of the service. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

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(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

EXTRA: New eBook Release

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GOD’S NATURE: Sonlight Sunlight

Winner of Six Literary Awards (previous print version)

“He obviously is hitting on all twelve cylinders!  What an exciting insight into Christ as the light of the world.  Thank God for people like this who have the background to illuminate some of these Biblical concepts.”  ~ Dr. Joe Aldrich, President, Multnomah Bible College & Biblical Seminary (about the earlier print version)

“This is so rich! …  This is great! …  Wonderful! …  Mind boggling to say the least! …  Great material for discussion! …  Application pieces are truly inspired!”  ~ Elizabeth Hightower, Women’s Ministries Leader, Laurelwood Baptist Church (about the earlier print version)

“First there was Tozer with The Knowledge of the Holy, and then Packer gave us Knowing God, and now Russell has taken us further…  There is a tremendous need for a book on this subject. We have witnessed the publication of many books around the statement ‘God is Love,’ but I cannot recall ever seeing one around the statement ‘God is Light.’  It is important that these two attributes of God be brought into conjunction with each other because it is really impossible to discuss love intelligently without understanding light.”  ~ Dr. Earl D. Radmacher, General Editor, Nelson Study Bible/New King James Study Bible (about the earlier print version)

GOD’S NATURE: Sonlight Sunlight is an updated eBook version of GOD LIGHT

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WINNER OF 6 AWARDS (previous print book):

(1) Gold Medal Winner, Christian Non-Fiction, 2013 Readers' Favorites Award

(2) Best Book, Religion--Christianity, 2012 World Book Award.

(3) Winner, Religion--Non-Fiction, 2012 Beverly Hills Book Award.
(4) First Place, Religion (Eastern/Western), 2012 Reader Views Award.
(5) Runner-Up, Religion--Christianity, 2012 USA Best Book Awards.
(6) Finalist, Book--Biblical Studies, 2013 The Word Guild (Canada).

 

This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.  1 John 1:5

Get your FREE copy of GOD’S NATURE: Sonlight Sunlight today.  

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If you enjoy it, an online review would be appreciated.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .   

Fear God, 157

~ The Children of Israel Will Fear God in The Future ~

God does not want His children living in fear.  “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:2-3).  However, God does want His children to have a proper respect and reverence for Him.  We are told in many places in Scripture to “fear God.”  

This Week’s Passage  ~  “For the children of Israel shall abide many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, without ephod or teraphim.  Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God and David their king.  They shall fear the Lord and His goodness in the latter days” (Hosea 3:4-5).    

Fearing God Results in Salvation  ~  “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).  “A wise person fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self-confident” (Proverbs 14:16).  This does not mean the Christian is to live a fearful life—but a life which reverences God and seeks to do His will. 

Fearing God Results in Fearlessness  ~  “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).  The answer is: only God.  With the gift of salvation comes responsibility.

Fearing God Results in Witnessing  ~  “Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for my soul” (Psalm 66:16). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .