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The Great Exchange

Beloved:

Today, in many places in CHURCH LIFE, a GREAT EXCHANGE is taking place. It is showing up in our WORSHIP, WORK and WITNESS. And because WORSHIP is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL to our Work and Witness, I will limit this PROCLAIMER Message to THE GREAT EXCHANGE involving WORSHIP. There is no doubt in my mind that the CAUSE of the WORSHIP WAR, which is raging in a GREAT NUMBER of LOCAL CHURCHES across this nation, is the RESULT of this GREAT EXCHANGE.

Churches are, at this present hour, being TORN ASUNDER because of it. And just what is this GREAT EXCHANGE to which I make reference? It is the EXCHANGE of the BOTTOM LINE for the CUTTING EDGE. Allow me to explain. The BOTTOM LINE I have reference to is CHANGELESS while the CUTTING EDGE is CONSTANT CHANGE. The BOTTOM LINE in regards to WORSHIP is simply this: WILL GOD ACCEPT IT? (Please read Genesis 4:1-7).

Prior to his death in 1963, Dr. A.W. Tozer said: "Worship ACCEPTABLE to GOD is the MISSING CROWN JEWEL in Evangelical Christianity."

What happens in WORSHIP when we EXCHANGE the BOTTOM LINE of "WILL GOD ACCEPT IT?" for the CUTTING EDGE of CONSTANT CHANGE and PERPETUAL INNOVATION? That's right, we end up with UNACCEPTABLE WORSHIP. Sad but so, WORSHIP in many BAPTIST Churches today is GREATLY INFLUENCED by the T.V. Religious Entertainment Worship of the Charismatic Movement, The Rock Music Culture, The Market Driven Consumer FIRST Seeker Sensitive Worship Mentality and, last but not least, Unsound Doctrine (Unsound as in Unhealthy).

Beloved, if it means we must SURRENDER the BOTTOM LINE for the CUTTING EDGE in regards to WORSHIP, then our ANSWER to this SURRENDER is...NEVER!!!

Now a Word from HIS WORD: "For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen"--Romans 11:36.