Jeremiah 6:16  “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.”

When someone begins to teach some new thing, some better way, some new or modern approach to worship, you can be certain pride is at its foundation. They are those who will “throw off” the restraints of conservative worship, labeling it as legalism. “WE WILL NOT WALK THEREIN,” is their attitude, because they believe they have become wiser than their teachers and elders having found a “better way”.

The bible is clear that “there is nothing new under the sun.” These are the same old lies of the Devil, in a different package. 

This is often the case with young people, zealous to serve the Lord, but not yet mature enough to see the wisdom of the old ways. That is why the qualifications for a Pastor include this:  1 Timothy 3:6  “Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.”

The two greatest avenues of change pursued by these are generally: alternate bible versions and contemporary music. These may not seem like issues at all for many people and both are widely accepted in the “Christian” community. But these can easily be the slippery slope that leads to compromise and apostasy.

Contemporary Music and Alternate Bible versions are both widely accepted by the saved and unsaved; the Liberal churches as well as the conservative use them. Often they become the bridge to unbiblical ecumenical alliances. Common musical interests help form bonds of the false fellowship with those we should be evangelizing. This often leads to confusion of who is teaching who. The vague language and doctrinally ambiguous message of the alternate bible versions make it easy to overlook differences in beliefs smudging the lines of biblical separation. With no clear doctrine, because of the multitudes of differing interpretations within the new versions, who can say what truth is? If there is no truth, then we open ourselves up to false teaching. 

We have all seen bible believers, once strong in faith and doctrine, seduced by false teachers and led astray. Eventually, they leave the Church and in time either fall away or join themselves to a false Church. Pride and sin is always the cause, but they almost always begin with the same warning signs: Music and versions. Be careful of what you accept as a new and better way.

Romans 16:17  “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences CONTRARY TO the DOCTRINE which ye have learned; and AVOID THEM.”

Be careful!

As Christians we are warned to avoid those who teach doctrine contrary to what we have learned from the scriptures. There are many, out there leading many astray. The Christian bookstore, TV and internet are full of these false teachers. They may even call themselves by the same name as we claim, but these are grievous wolves entered in among the flocks.

Before you run out and buy their books, or follow their teachings, find out what they actually believe. Their books may sound good, or part of their message may agree with what you believe; you may not even notice anything wrong initially, but little by little, their evil communications will corrupt. False doctrine is like leaven, it will leaven the whole lump.

Acts 20:29-31 “ For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.”

t “…that in all things he might have the preeminence.” Colossians 1:18

As Christians, often our focus is self-centered- getting our needs met, answers to prayer, direction, help in times of trouble. We buy books, and self-help guides and other resources to guide us. Even within the church, we hear listener focused messages about how to behave and how to treat one another and how that we should serve. We may feel that we have received help and encouragement, and maybe even view this as worship, but if it is not focused on the Lord- who He is, and what He’s done, and knowing Him so that we might have that same mind of Chris, so that we might become more like Him, then these are only superficial band-aid fixes for our problems. True worship isn’t about us and what we can get and what we do, and how we feel or respond. The heart of true worship is this: “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” Philippians 3:10  

 “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30  

“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” Philippians 3:8  

1 Chronicles 13:2 “And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If it seem 
good unto you, and that it be of the LORD our God, let us send abroad unto our 
brethren every where, that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites which are in their cities and suburbs, that they  may gather themselves unto us:
3 And let us bring again the ark of our God to  us: for we  enquired not at it in the days of Saul.
4 And all the congregation said that  they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.”

What a joyous celebration this must have been! All of Israel singing, dancing and playing music to the Lord as they brought the ark of the covenant home where it belonged! But then, the unthinkable:

1 Chronicles 13:9 “ And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.
10 And the anger of the LORD was  kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and  there he died before God.”

Sometimes we are so eager to please God, but  not so eager to do it the way he prescribes. We think that God is pleased with  whatever we offer, no matter how tainted by the world and contrived by our own  imaginations it may be. God showed them all that day that, he will not accept  irreverent, disobedient worship. God was not displeased with the fact that they  were bringing the ark back home, but with HOW they chose to do it. 

1  Chronicles 15:13 “For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD
our God made  a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due
order.”

1  Chronicles 13:12 “And David was afraid of God that
day”

David got the  message and eventually had it carried, it back by the priests and the Levites  the way that God had commanded that it should be and God was no longer  displeased.

Proverbs 19:23 “The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he  that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with  evil.”

In this age worldly “worship” services which please the flesh more  than they please God, we need to stop and remember that God is holy and desires  righteousness from us and the glory and reverence due his name.

1  Chronicles 16:29 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name:
bring an  offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of 
holiness.