I am aghast at what passes for worship in the majority of churches

EDITOR: I am a practising Christian and ardent student of the Bible, and I am aghast at what passes for worship in the majority of our churches today. Jesus declared that worship must be done in spirit and in truth (John 4:24), or it becomes a vain exercise (Matt. 15:9). God is not obligated to accept every style and form of worship we present: He did not accept Cain’s (Gen. 4:4-5).

Take for example the secular musical rhythms and the accompanying body movements that prevail. Music has three fundamental parts: the melody or tune; the harmony or blend of parts; and the rhythm or beats. Until a decade or two ago, the simple rhythm of sacred music was standard in most churches. The rhythm was silent; and melody and harmony were highlighted: both sung and played. The worship exercise was dignified, holy, respectful of the Almighty, uplifting, and a joyful, spiritual experience: a soul satisfying encounter with God.

Today, the syncopated dance rhythms of secular (profane) music dominate most congregations, producing the inevitable physical reaction – the dance. The emotion is called “joy”. The participants fail to realize that joy could be physical or spiritual, and that the joy derived from this style of music is of the same nature as that of the sinner in the dance hall: physical (carnal) and transitory. The joy of worship is a fruit of the Spirit: deep, continuous, unrelated to and unaffected by carnal circumstances or conditions. Worship music should have a simple rhythm with the capacity to inspire deep spiritual emotions of joy or sorrow.

Today’s church music appeals primarily to the flesh, and does not cater for introspection and repentance; it is all for the dance. But dancing was never a feature in the Judeo-Christian tradition of ancient or modern practice until very recently. On the contrary, “sacred dance” was always (and continues to be) an integral part of idol worship in all non-Christian civilizations around the world. It prioritized the rhythm, and employed the drum, an instrument never used in the worship of Jehovah in Biblical, medieval, or modern times.

How are we to account for this post-modern innovation? The enemy has infiltrated the church (Matt. 13:27-28; 38-39) of the last days. He has, with subtlety, influenced us to change the spirit of worship from holy to gay abandon by altering the music. And he has undermined truth by obscuring the difference between sacred and secular rhythms, between worship and celebration. In worship, our thrice holy God is approached with consummate reverence and awe. Our praise and thanksgiving are spiritual exercises that link our hearts to his. The celebratory dance that also expresses our praises and thanksgiving to God are physical and social activities that acknowledge and extol the goodness of our Father. Celebration is not worship; neither can the two be combined with impunity. The Scripture is clear. There is a time and place for everything. Christianity is in crisis.

(More on this and other areas of concern in the Christian church in my book CHRISTIANITY IN CRISIS, available at Jujube Book Store).

Westwick Williams