Interesting title of Lesson #8 in that it contains three items of concern in worship:

1 - Conformity

2 - Compromise

3 - Crisis

We have all three affecting us, it started out small but now we have people clapping and others joining in during the church service, as if they are at the opera with those participating giving small bows like performers. The performances began to be done with recorded music, or electronically enhanced insstruments, and slowly form was becoming more important than substance. We are being told that we must accept people as they are, so now things that were kept hidden are coming out in the open and we are seeing much more bling, or gold and jewelry. It has become a crisis with some getting themselves put in church leadership positions and taking over or influencing the church board, all since we built our shiny new church. Seems like they stayed in the background when we had our old worn out leaky roof church but have come out full force now, and I have to teach this lesson today , and I teach with no holds barred so I need much prayer.

Even though I wasn't scheduled to do the lesson study this morning, I ended up doing it, therefore, I too had an interesting time.

How did your's go with both barrels blasting?

I had to take the lesson study too. . . Which music instruments in church did yu have problems with?

I went over Solomons slow descent into pagan worship as he compromised himself and allowed himself to 'cling' to the wives and their influence, even after he was clearly warned by God not to fall into this false worship. So then I asked the members, how we were to guard against this happening and the answer I got was surprising. They felt it was up to each member to individually decide to uphold true worship to God, so I left it at that. But those who had ears got the 'lesson within the lesson' I was teaching...

Not only did I have the lesson, but I was also asked to do part in the service so I went Friday night to see them practice, (cant have a performance without that) and the guitar was cranked up so loud my wife said she would not come into the sanctuary during the service if was played at that decibel, and I agreed. Luckily they had them tone it down....but she went and let the director know that the audio crew should not try to test the equipment while the lesson was being done on Sabbath....We have decided to take the path of being 'wise as serpents, and harmless as doves' but its a harder than one would think....

I was so disappointed a few weeks ago. Flipping through the channels, I came upon the Cadet Sisters being interviewed on LLBN. I always admired them because their statements were that they would never bow to today's culture. Guess what? They bowed. All five of them had on dangling ear rings. So sad.

By what you all say, it seems the church in North America is indeed reaching the point at which it can be described as about to fall. The situation is also bad here, but not so bad as there.

It seems that there are some who seemed to be waiting to be given a chance to do what they want to showcase themselves on their own musical abilities or with their glitter and gold, and if the church members or leaders say nothing when one or two do it, it spreads.....