Apostasy, Music and Leadership

You may have recently seen an article / post by John Cooper entitled “What in God’s name is happening in Christianity?” Here is a link if you missed it and want to read it.

https://www.facebook.com/johnlcooperstuff/photos/a.2899206263638620/2899204140305499/?type=3&theater

There are quite a few excellent thoughts to ponder in Mr. Cooper’s statement. If you are unaware of what he is addressing. Prominent “faces” or public people with a degree of popularity in Christendom have recently recanted and walked away from Christ.

For today there is one particular statement he makes that flashes at me like a neon light blinking on and off with a warning buzzer sound. He states, “My conclusion for the church (all of us Christians): We must STOP making worship leaders and thought leaders or influencers or cool people or “relevant” people the most influential people in Christendom. (And yes that includes people like me!) I’ve been saying for 20 years (and seemed probably quite judgmental to some of my peers) that we are in a dangerous place when the church is looking to 20 year old worship singers as our source of truth. We now have a church culture that learns who God is from singing modern praise songs rather than from the teachings of the Word. I’m not being rude to my worship leader friends (many who would agree with me) in saying that singers and musicians are good at communicating emotion and feeling. We create a moment and a vehicle for God to speak. However, singers are not always the best people to write solid bible truth and doctrine. Sometimes we are too young, too ignorant of scripture, too unaware, or too unconcerned about the purity of scripture and the holiness of the God we are singing to. Have you ever considered the disrespect of singing songs to God that are untrue of His character?” [emphasis mine]

Beloved, he’s correct. And you know that I have openly spoken against songs that perpetuate this kind of culture. But it isn’t just music. Books we read. Preachers we listen too. Conferences we attend. Christian movies we watch. They all, and more, whistle for our attention and subtly, and sometimes not so subtly, proclaim ‘truth’ that is NOT Scriptural.

May we pray for those who have fallen away but beloved have nothing to do with their teachings. May we turn to Scripture always as the only absolute source of truth and as long as those who whistle are Scriptural then listen and the Holy Spirit will use truth in our lives. May we all attain to the unity of the faith to a maturity that God intends.