Always Abounding - Fall 2018 - Volume 3

GONE CONTEMPORARY
by Pastor Dave Mallinak (‘93)
For quite some time, independent
Baptist churches have been
“modifying” contemporary worship
music. More recently, some have stopped
concealing their whole-hearted embrace
of this music. They have now launched a
campaign to correct what they see as the
“unscriptural” view of worship held by so
many stodgy independent Baptists. While
I find their position appalling, it at least has
the advantage of being honest.
In response, here are seven brief
observations, followed by a longer
response.
Observations
1. These men represent a growing
movement among independent Baptists.
2. They like to remind us that they are
independent Baptists.
3. They do not like the fact that some
separate over music.
4. They argue for the use of electric
guitars and trap sets because the book
of Psalms includes Philistine guitars and
Egyptian instruments.
5. Their main premise is that musical
style is a preference.
6. They take the same approach to
platform and clothing style as they do to
musical style.
7. They think worship is about stirring
up their own passion for God, rather than
about giving God what He wants.
Responses
1. The contemporary music push is the
death rattle of a dying church. In our
attempt to pander to the audience, we
have forgotten that God is the audience.
The more Christians use contemporary
worship, the more we lose the very heart of
worship. Contemporary worship turns the
audience into spectators and the music into
a performance. It produces a low view of
God, a delight in the experience of worship
rather than the God we worship, a superficial
sense of passion that loses the passion of
true worship, a growing dependence on the
experience produced by the music itself,
and the false idea that worship is easy—that
devotion can be whipped up in a couple of
choruses. True worship requires focused
vigor.
2. Our objections to contemporary
worship styles are not an attempt to deny
any church their autonomy. But autonomy
in church government must not be confused
with autonomy with God. God’s Word sets
standards for music and worship (Hebrews
12:28-29).
3. We have a responsibility to follow
Scripture in fellowship and cooperation.
Scripturally, we cannot pretend to be in
good fellowship with churches who have
chosen relevance over reverence. Some
have argued that separating over musical
style places style on the same level as
essential doctrines. This is a sleight-of-hand
argument. They assume that the worship
debate is about style rather than substance.
Worship is a major doctrine, and reducing
God to the level of the common is a serious
slight against Him. We strongly urge faithful
independent Baptist churches to separate
from those churches who make profane
what is holy.
4. It is one thing to play a Philistine guitar.
It is quite another to play that guitar like a
Philistine.
5. Those who use contemporary worship
12 | ALWAYS ABOUNDING