Expert: Cooper P. Abrams III - 3/3/2008

Question
Hello! I've read some of your other answers and respect your opinion, so I thought I would ask you something that I've been struggling with.  Worship music and CCM, in theory, I suppose, is a good thing.  It gets the message of the Word out in a way that young people respond to.  My problem is, I hate it! I love gospel music and am a fundamentalist at my core! The thing is, I still need to meet and fellowship with people my own age (I'm 20), but I'm finding it very difficult to find youth-oriented places to go that still have an old-fashioned, fundamentalist way about them. Thanks for your help!

Answer
Hi Robin,
  Unless you are in a good church that has a good sound young people's ministry you will probably not find what you are looking for.  Contemporary Christian music and CCM has no place in the worship of the Lord.  The Bible clearly teaches that what we offer to the Lord should be sanctified, which means dedicated only to His use.  The Old Testament worship was a good example.   God did not allow Israel to offer what the Bible says was "strange fire" upon the altar in worshiping the Lord.  "And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the LORD." (Numbers 26:61)  The fire used in the sacrifices to the Lord was such that was only used for that purpose.   This shows us, along with other passages, that we are not to take things from the world and use them in worshiping the Lord.   You do not find hymns and sacred music being used for anything else, but CCM is taking a worldly and ungodly rock and roll music and adding some religious phrases and words and claiming it is worship.  It is not.  This music is all about appealing to the flesh and emotion and that is certainly not what worship is.  True worship is not about feeling good and having some "spiritual high" but rather coming to the Lord offering Him our sincere gratitude for His blessing.   We show our thankfulness by our attendance, signing biblical spiritual songs and hymns, bring our tithes and offerings and hearing God's word preach.   That does lift our spirits and greatly encourages us, but what is going on in the modern contemporary services degrades God and magnifies the flesh and worldliness.  You can tell I feel very strong about this and I understand why you do not like it either.  It is best to stay away and remain separated from such worldliness.
   If you church does not have such a ministry why not get some of the young people at your church together and start one.  You can have all kinds of activities which are tailored to you age group.
   Talk to your pastor about this.   Often fundamental churches will have activities where they invite young people from other churches to their activities.  It is certainly a good idea and would be a good ministry to encourage young people and also to win the lost to the Lord.
   In activities such as this it takes a leader, or someone with the burden to see it happen.  They pursue getting others interested which would include the pastor, youth leaders, Young people SS classes, etc.   
   I wish you well with this and hope you find some good fellowship with people your age.  
Cooper Abrams