Christians are Meant to be Different.

As we test the suitability of pop-idiom music for worship and witness, we must be very clear about the New Testament teaching that Christians are meant to be different. The Lord Jesus calls us to a life which is separated from worldly ways. We are to set our affection on things above, not on things on the earth. This was bread-and-butter teaching in all evangelical circles without exception until a few years ago, but that era has passed and a new, liberal, permissive age has swept in. When I was a young believer we were all taught the principle of James 4.4- that friendship of the world is enmity with God, and that whoever therefore makes himself a friend of the world becomes the enemy of God. We were warned that to want distinctively worldly possessions, pleasures and lifestyles is to commit the sin of worldliness. We were told that worldliness is a form of spiritual adultery - the sin of preferring the world’s fashions and amusements to the Lord’s things, and we were cautioned about ever playing double with the Lord in such matters. If evangelicals of any generation prior to the 1950s were to be resurrected amongst us today they would be stunned and appalled at our indifference to the commands of the Bible, and our disdain for its warnings. Worship must never he offered to God, nor must the Gospel be presented, in such a way that it is coupled with the standards of the world, for God says, Be not conformed to this world: but by ye transformed… that ye may, prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12.2). The Lord Jesus Christ stated emphatically that the works of this world are evil (John 7.7). He said that true believers are not of the world, and prayed that they would be kept from its evil ways (John 17.14-15).

Old things are passed away

Paul said - If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5.17). The new man has tastes, desires and pursuits which are completely different from the delights of the worldling. Our Saviour gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world (Galatians 1. 4), and yet many Christians seem determined to stay with its fashions and ways as much as they possibly can. Such friends cannot say, with Paul - The world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world (Galatians 6.14). Worldliness, for every believer, is supposed to be a matter of the past tense, for the Bible says -In time past ye walked according to the course of this world … fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind (Ephesians 2.2 & 3). James tells us that pure religion is defined as keeping ourselves unspotted from the world (James 1.27). Can the performers and advocates of worldly entertainment methods in the Lord’s service be credited with paying the slightest attention to the Lord’s commands? As they pander to worldly tastes, strive to give people the kind of show they want to see, and attempt to find ’stars” who will give carnal excitement in exchange for admiration and applause, are they not aware that the Spirit of God has already pronounced judgement? - Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world - For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world (1 John 2.15-16).