Following the Crowd

I have noticed a tendency among  Christians today to follow the example of the world in a number of areas.  I think caution should be advised here.  It is so easy to be influenced by the world.  Our deceitful hearts will trick us into thinking we are doing okay when really we are becoming weak. Also, whether intentional or not we are influencing our peers to follow along creating a trend that weakens many thereby affecting the Church as a whole. .
Here are a couple of things I have noticed.
Instead of time honored, doctrine infused hymns, we are listening to and singing choruses...which is okay. Frankly I enjoy them.  I find them worshipful but... they do not strengthen me according to knowledge. Knowledge of the scriptures is the most important thing for a Christian. Choruses have a place, I believe, in our services but should not supplant the use of hymns totally.  When you go through trials it is a blessing to be able to sing a hymn to the Lord.  The rich lyrics remind us of promises from God's Word and are very comforting.  If we don't sing them enough to learn them, we won't have that as a resource when we are in need.  Think about the children and teens who are growing up on the diet of music being offered in our services today.  Will they be able to sing the rich hymns of our faith to themselves when they need some encouragement?

Instead of adhering to strictures about what we allow through our ear and eye gates, we attend the R rated movies and listen to contemporary music just like everyone else. Oh, the things that we see on those screens. I love motion pictures as an art form.  But while movies can be extremely beautiful, and moving much of what Hollywood produces falls short of uplifting. Are we any different from our unsaved friends in this area?

Drinking and smoking: Yes, I understand that Jesus drank wine. But we have to be careful. An occasional drink with a meal is okay even, some would say, healthy.  But social drinking is highly questionable.  What is the purpose?  Isn't it to fit in with contemporaries? To look like them?  Aren't we the ones who are supposed to be different?

 It's the same with the issue of dress.  Sometimes we dress just like people who have nothing better to wear.  Isn't there something worth dressing up for? Isn't God good?  Isn't he worthy of honor and respect?  Don't we show that in the way we dress? Would you wear holey jeans to meet the president of your company or to a wedding?  Isn't there a balance that can be achieved to the end that we don't make visitors in church feel uncomfortable but at the same that defines us as being different and desiring to  show honor and respect to God?

And now it's okay to smoke cigars. That's really crazy to me. There are significant health risks with this.  Even if you are not inhaling...what about the second hand smoke that lingers in the air that our children breathe?  What about nicotine addiction?  What example is being set for our children? If our children perceive that we allow these liberties in our lives, you can bet they will take it a step further and we won't have a leg to stand on  to counter their arguments.

Remember the story of the frog in the pot?  Because he is cold blooded (insensitive, not knowledgeable), when the water is heated, he is totally unaware that he is about to be cooked!

Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7:13,14