Contemporary vs Traditional Services

Up and down in Blended? I prefer the black tradition, where you stand if you want, or you sit if you want.

 

Actually, what I'm saying is the verse you quoted has nothing to do with the Scripture. you're misusing it.

 

You know, really, I like going to church where:

1. People are there to worship.

2. People aren't bickering.

3. People are worshipping.

4. People are loving each other inside and outside of the Worship hour.

5. People are "doing church" seven days a week by an appropriate lifestyle.

 

I do on some days.

 

First of all, the verse I quoted IS the Scripture....and NO, I am not misusing it.

 

How far back do you go Linda? Does God approve of using country music as part of the old path? How about baroque? Maybe classical? Maybe the romance period? How about 40 big band? What is "old" and what is "new"?

And why pick one genre? Do you really think that all "contemporary" music is "Rock and Roll"?

How can you grab a verse from Jeremiah and try to make it fit a style of worship service? What if someone had done that 300 years ago? Should we research to find out what church was like in 1708 and go back to that?

 

Thanks....that's my point as well.

Sorry, Linda....you don't get to arbitrarily define what "old paths" are. And if you do...then you are misusing Scripture.

 

I am just curious. Do you believe like another poster that Jeremiah is a historical book? That it is not to be taken as God's Word for us today?

How much of God's Word do we need to tear out of our Bibles for them to be wholly truth?

 

At what point in time do we freeze our worship style so that we keep to the "old paths?"

1408? 1508? 1608?

You get the idea.

We only have a small church so this is theory to me. I would be concerned about two services of two different styles, but I really don't know how it would work out.

 

I believe in the Word of God.

I also resent your accusation that I don't. Keep this discussion above board.

 

Using the book in question, no matter what style of worship we must stand in the gate of the Lord's house when we preach.

Jer 7:2 "Stand in the gate of the LORD's house, and proclaim there this word, and say, 'Hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judah who enter in at these gates to worship the LORD!' "


I assume all churches must have a proclaimer at the gate whether the service is traditional or contemporary who will say these words?

 

rbell, to quote a poster from last week...
"They just don't get it"

"Yea, hath God said?"

 

I thought this metaphor was dealing with walking in the ways or paths of Righteousness? I don't see what that has to do with music unless you're implying our righteousness is in the music we listen to? I believe as long as you walk in the way of faith, hope, love, forgiveness etc... then you are adhering to every intention of this scripture. I agree, this passage was taken way out of context.

 

Old paths=good way=God's way...and God's way is how we are supposed to live our daily lives and this is NOT a metaphor, it is God's Word. I did not misuse or misapply this Bible verse and it wasn't taken out of context. But I guess y'all have "your own ways" of doing church....right? So carry on!

 

How "old" do the "old ways" have to be to be God's ways?

 

Linda, I agree this entire passage is a plea for God's people to return to God but they are to do so by acknowledging their guilt and sin (Jer 3:13). He is not dealing at all with how they worship. I think he would accept it if they WOULD worship.

I say metaphor because Jeremiah appears to be using a traveler but speaking about the corrupt heart of man. The corrupt heart of man is to come back or find the "good way" or "old paths" (you are correct GOD Way) by repenting for its sin. Worship will be accepted as long as it is in spirit and in truth.

Look at the next verse, clearly the watchman and trumpet are metaphors for the preacher and his voice. Jeremiah uses metephores quite often. The potter and the clay. "Oh that my head were waters" that I might weep for the slain for the daughter of my people.

If your view of this passage is correct then pentacost and much of what Jesus did would have been wrong. Jesus often went contrary to the "old ways" in the sense you use the term and pentacost was in no way a traditional Jewish worship service. In fact, the Jews thought they were drunk.

 

In other words, we should just throw the Old Testament out? Don't you believe that God's commands in the Old Testament are just as valid today as they were back in the Old Testament times? Of course, the Jews didn't have church...but I attended Jewish synagogue worship (I was raised in Reform Judaism) and they certainly were much more sedate than what I have seen in much of what goes on in contemporary worship services in churches today. Jesus did not go contrary to the "old paths"....why would He walk contrary to what God's Word commands?

 

Lets say for argument's sake that you are right - how old do old ways need to be to be God's ways?

 

You ask how old ways need to be God's ways? How about because Scriptures call the "old ways" good ways and the good ways are God's ways.

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.

Why would God say to "ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein"? And why would God promise that "ye shall find rest for your souls" if the "old paths" weren't His ways? Jesus said:

Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Matthew 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Our "rest" is in God's ways. The problem is many refuse to walk in God's ways (come unto Jesus) that they may find that "rest".