Our society is changing in many ways. National and international economic forces are shifting. Educational methods are in a state of experimentation. The political arena wobbles from left to right and back again. Moral standards are in a state of flux. And the expression of religion is drifting toward unabashed worldliness.
Worshipful hymns in many places have been replaced with inane little ditties. The bodies of the singers sway with the rhythm. The honor belonging to God is directed to the performer by theater applause when the song is over. The preaching of the Word of God has been replaced with psychological pep talks. And God has been transformed into a shaky grandfather with goodies in his cardigan sweater to be passed out to his little ones.
Some have argued that we must change our expression of worship to attract those without. We must appeal to their tastes or thy will not come. But what you use to win them, you will have to use to keep them. And that will certainly change the atmosphere of worship.
To whom is our worship directed? Is it not to the God of Heaven revealed in the Bible? Should the worship not be consistent with His nature? Should it not be in a manner that pleases Him, though the world may not be excited by it? God knows that the world is changing and that its tastes and preferences are deteriorating from divine standards. But He says in Malachi 3:6, 7: "For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. . . ."
The world will continue to change. God will not. It is the obligation of the Christian to please Him in life, service and worship. When we stand before Him may we hear Him say of us, "Well done, good and faithful servant."