Pop-Idiom Music In Worship and Evangelism by Dr Peter Masters Dr Peter Masters is minister of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, London, England (C.H. Spurgeon's church) and has kindly granted us permission to reproduce "Pop-Idiom Music" here. If you have any questions or queries about this article, please feel free to write to Dr Masters at the address given below, or contact us at Freedom Ministries. Section 8 When Good Things Become Wrong Some friends protest - 'Surely there is nothing wrong with a nice melody, a few instruments and a strong rhythm?' But according to God's Word there is everything wrong if it is a deliberate imitation of the idiom of a godless world. 1 Corinthians 10. 6 states: Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. This verse refers particularly to the offence of the children of Israel which is described in Numbers 11. 4 as the marginal reference in any Bible shows. What exactly did the offending Israelites lust after? Sensual sins? Fornication? Alcohol? Surprisingly, it was none of these sins, for Numbers 11 records that they lusted after fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlics. Would anyone suggest that such foods were morally evil? Personal tastes aside, all could acknowledge that these. are good and wholesome foods, yet it was because the Israelites lusted after these things that the judgement of God came down upon them. The sinful element in desiring these foods was that the people wanted the lifestyle of Egypt, and they complained that the manna of God was not enough for them. The insult to God is all too easy to see. There was nothing wrong with fish or melons, but they were proclaiming that these foods were necessary to make the manna bearable! It is when Christian people are not satisfied with the wonderful, liberated nature of spiritual worship together with the inexpressible riches of the Word, that they offend their God. It is when they want to put musical garlic, melons and cucumbers with God's provisions, and they feel that they need flavouring with the entertainments of this world, that they commit a great sin, and God is grieved. Disdaining the blessings There is no greater offence to the Saviour as when His own people disdain the blessings which He has bought with His own blood and regard them as unappetising unless augmented by the things of this sin-sick society. That is the offence we commit when we dress up holy things in the worst idiom of the fallen, godless culture around us. In 1 Corinthians 10 we are listening to the Spirit of the living God denouncing the use of worldly things to improve upon the things of the Saviour. Once the manna was mixed with the food of Egypt the Lord was angry with His people, as Numbers 11 states. This is not just an isolated Old Testament incident; it is an example for us. Even as the people of God begin to relish fleshly, worldly things, God will be angry with them. If a local church turns its House of Prayer and Gospel Proclamation into a place of pop-entertainment, the Lord will be offended and His discipline will not be far away. It is profitable to ask the question - who started the lusting which occurred among the children of Israel? Scripture provides the answer - it was the 'mixed multitude' that started the problem. There were many Egyptians in the camp people who did not really belong and who were more Egyptian than they were Israelite in their tastes and fashions. Surely we are meant to learn that the trouble is the same today. Who started this inclination on the part of evangelicals toward the worldly idiom? Who started the rot; the massive importing of carnal Christianity? It was undoubtedly the mixed multitude, that is, the 'wood, hay and stubble' in our churches. It was so-called 'converts' who made easy professions of faith and gave no real evidence of being truly spiritual people; they were the ones who gave the greatest encouragement to pop-idiom music. But many truly converted people, who should have known better took up their cry. These articles remain © Copyright Dr Peter Masters 1983 The Metropolitan Tabernacle Elephant and Castle London SE1 6SD England, UK who should be consulted before any further copying, storing or distribution, either in whole or in part is made by any means. [Previous Section] [Pop-Idiom Index] [Next Section]