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“What about using your talents for Christ?”

Cain thought he was using his talents for Christ, too.

Going all the way back to the beginning of human history, man has struggled with worship. And going all the way back to the beginning of human history, Scripture tells us that God cares a great deal about the manner in which we worship. And we know the God of the Bible does not change.

I won’t tell you I know how we are to worship for I’ve struggled with this issue myself. However, I am certain much of what passes for worship in our day is repugnant in the sight of God. It’s irreverant and little different from secular entertainments. I think we should ask the following of anything we do in the name of worship: Is it in accordance with the Scriptures? Is it for His glory or does it please the flesh?

Our general lack of knowledge of Scripture is the hub of the matter. Over the past few generations we’ve had tremendous doctrinal erosion and worship has deteriorated right along with it.

The God I read of in Scripture is sovereign, mighty, and HOLY HOLY HOLY. In our day He’s too often profaned and treated with flippancy and triviality. Compare the manner moderns treat the Lord with the Prophet Isaiah who saw the Lord sitting on His throne and said, “Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”

"What about using your talents for Christ?"

This was exactly what lead to a split in our church. Under the seeming need to express their musical talents some insisted in a radical new way of worship that most did not want or deem necessary to worship the Lord. Instead of considering the good of our church and the leadership they started a schism that eventually split the church. Division in the body is NOT a sign of the Spirit. Nothing hindered true worship without the type of musical expression foisted upon the body by those insisting on "using their talents" come hell or high water.

That's a good question, a great question actually. I'll ramble a minute here. I suppose my big concern is when things like concerts and puppet shows and 'big-name' guest speakers are used to fill the building. If church members were doing what they are supposed to be doing - reaching out to others with the gospel message on an individual, personal basis, there would be no need for such things. And I know all about the 'get them in the building first' line of thinking. That's not scriptural. I mean, when churches compete with the world in terms of entertainment, the churches won't fare well. The world does a great job at appealing the flesh. The church is supposed to be concerned with spiritual things - not flashing lights. There are already tons of options for entertainment. We have too much of it already. And then what about transitioning from drawing someone to the building to the gospel? Somewhere along the line Billy the Bible Bunny needs to trade places with the blood of Christ shed for a pitiful sinner. The replacement generation in the churches is getting kind of thin in my neck of the woods and I know it is in part because the young are used to, some would say they are addicted to, being entertained. And when the entertainment goes away and the time to grow up and serve begins or when the preaching against specific sins gets a little too specific, out the door they go.

Yes, I agree we should use our talents for the cause of Christ. But only one thing saves and that seems to receive less and less attention. Entertainers get the attention, and Christ not so much.