Bible Question:
My wife and I have always attended, and became members of the same church. Our involvement and service to the Lord was at the same church. However, I came to the point where I just didn't feel like I fit in at this church anymore, and it seemed as if all my previous joy in worship had left. When I first began attending this church, the worship format was traditional under the previous Pastor. A new Pastor came and shortly after the worship format changed from traditional to contemporary style. It was pretty mild at first, and then it began to become increasingly noisier. Lead guitar solo's and drum solo's were often included. I wanted to praise and worship Jesus, but felt unable to do so, in this setting. I then began attending our sister church 9 months ago, and believe God has led me there. My joy in worship service, and ability to give to God the worship due Him, has likewise returned. My wife however, still attends the old church, and likes it there. We are still both members of the old church, and I would like to become a member of the new church I now attend, but feel as though I cannot do so, unless my wife and I both attend together and worship together. Does this seem odd, unusual or problematic to any one in this forum? Grace to you New Creature |
Bible Answer: New Creature: Your situation is more common than you might think. I could not help wonder if you age is above 45 or so. At any rate My wife and I are over the hill and retired, yet we enjoy the contempory worship very much. The "traditional" worship service is what we were use to for more than 50 years. I miss to older hymns, and we do sing them once and a while. I notice that much of our music is focused on praising the Lord, and lifting up our heart and mind up to worshiping the LORD. I have noticed much of the songs are taken from Scripture and that is very special. One of my favorite songs is It Is Well With My Soul. Having been raised on the Baptist Hymnal most of my life I know most of these old treasured hymns by heart. My experience with Keith Green's music some 20 years ago so touched my heart. The words and melody are very moving. For my wife and I we feel very comfortable in either way of worship. Our church has drums, and stringed instruments and a electronic organ-paino. Nothing makes any of thes musical instruments wrong to praise and worship the Lord. The truth is there are many ways to worship the Lord. The way we worship is just different, not wrong. Change is hard only if we are unmoveable, and unwilling to adapt. Music has for several centuries been an object of strong disagreement and divisions in churches. May I suggest that it is the utmost importance that you and your wife worship together. Someday you may well be alone without her, or her without you, when one of you passes on. I can assure that then you woill look back and wish that the other were sitting beside you, as now you are alone not by choice. I wonder if this is a symton of something deeper going on between you two? I hope this helps, blessings. justme |