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Two of my dear preacher friends and I attended a meeting a while back in what was supposed to be a fundamental, independent, Baptist church. When I got there I was disturbed and troubled by what I saw. The church reminded me of some of the worldly establishments that I hung out at when I was lost. When I heard the music I thought I was back in a bar. Here I was in a church, listening to the same rock music that God had saved me from. Latter when I left, I picked up a church brochure and it boasted that contemporary music was the official church music. Reader, the concept of contemporary by definition means to be in step with the world. When churches feel a need to get in step with the world and its music, they are getting out of step with God! New versions of the Bible, and false doctrines will always follow. Understand, “contemporary” is not just music, it also includes a whole package deal from the Devil. Let’s face it, many of our churches are not influencing the world as much as the world is influencing them. This should not be!

At this meeting, the music, dress standards and general atmosphere reminded me more of a worldly establishment than the sacred house of God. During the service they had a special group in to sing. As I sat in the back of the church with my preacher friends, a woman in the pew across the aisle from us stood up on her pew and started swaying and clapping her hands to the beat of the music. In the pew right behind her was a man that had hair longer than my wife. He sat gawking at the woman who was standing on her pew a foot or so in front of him. Did I mention that the slit in her skirt went almost to her waist? (Maybe she thought she needed this to help her climb up on her pew faster.) When we left I stopped and shook this man’s hand and asked him if he was a member of this church. The man looked at me and said “no but I sure would like to become a part of this.” I wonder why? The truth is that this man did not want anything to do with God but rather the worldly music and the worldly dress and all the flesh that made him feel right at home in his natural environment.

The Bible says in Ephesians 4:24 “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” The new man is after whom? God! The new man is created in what? Righteousness and true holiness! I fear that we are building our churches after social clubs instead of churches. Reader, don’t get mad at your preacher when he preaches standards and holiness. My flesh, unfortunately, has tasted too much of the world. I know first hand what it looks like, sounds like, and acts like. Now that I am saved I need God’s way, not man’s way! I want to encourage you to COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM AND BE YE SEPARATE. Let’s build our churches after God not after the World!

Dr. Matt Jarrell,
Pastor, Old Paths Baptist Church, York, PA.