I started as a Youth Pastor in September 1983 -- that means I've now been in ministry for 26 years! That's hard for me to believe, but it's true. Sadly, I can't remember a time when people have been more committed to worship "styles," and willing to ignore "Truth." It appears that there is a growing trend of those seeking to have religious experiences, instead of an authentic relationship with God. In South Florida, I remember a lady telling my wife and I, "I love that in my (her) church, we can go worship God on Saturday night and then our singles group can all go to a bar and party, without the preacher making us feel guilty." She gives a perfect example of a religious experience, without the conviction of sin or the comprehension of a deeper relationship.
Could this be what Paul was warning Timothy about in 2 Tim 3:1-5? "You may as well know this too, Timothy, that in the last days it is going to be very difficult to be a Christian. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money; they will be proud and boastful, sneering at God, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful to them, and thoroughly bad. 3 They will be hardheaded and never give in to others; they will be constant liars and troublemakers and will think nothing of immorality. They will be rough and cruel, and sneer at those who try to be good. 4 They will betray their friends; they will be hotheaded, puffed up with pride, and prefer good times to worshiping God. 5 They will go to church, yes, but they won't really believe anything they hear.
We are seeing this played out as crowds assemble for "worship" on Sunday mornings, but those same people live like hell (vs. 3-4 - liars, troublemakers, immoral, mockers, betrayers, angry, prideful, etc.) throughout the week. Something is wrong! Could it be that the "church" has adopted the mentality of "Lights, action, entertainment"... instead of Holy, Holy, Holy? Could this be a reason we don't see the great revivals of years gone by?
