By Dr. Jacquelyn Simmons
Scripture: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:1-2).
My friends,
Being a blessed member of the old guard (super elders), to my dismay, some worldly activities are being orchestrated in some of Christ’s sanctuaries. In our zeal to promote our interpretation of Christ’s excellent approved worship services, some of us have journeyed to the extreme. For example: Halloween (Trunk or Treats), complete with pumpkins, witches, skeletons, etc. are used as an excuse to cause the children not to walk the dangerous streets. We should compel them to remain at home as they do on other nights. Some churches display Christmas trees, so-called Santa Claus complete with reindeer, etc. We promote extra fancy clothing for Easter Sundays and hold Easter egg hunts sometimes on the church premises for the very young. We should focus instead on teaching Jesus Christ s death, burial, and resurrection , and his acute sufferings on the cross for our salvation, that is if we accept Him.
My friends, have you noticed the fact that some churches have completely banished elderly members from singing hymns in choirs in order to yield music to all youth dominated praise teams? The elderlies have been left wondering what to do since their voices are no longer accepted. The inception of praise teams which apparently promotes the idea of cheerleading at football games, causes the complete abandonment of hymns some of us only know and understand. The greatest hurt felt by me and probably some other elders is the complete abandonment of our dear Hymn of the church, Amazing Grace , always sung before the Pastor s sermons. Its gradual removal was done by hyping up the tempo in order for participants to jerk and jump in the sanctuary aisles. It finally disappeared completely out of some church services.
It is difficult to accept the same type of music sung during the partaking of the Lord’s Supper which, in many churches, is served in time for breakfast and lunch.
To be a part of the new era, some of us must accept the promotion of sports activities in Christ’s sanctuaries.
These services make it difficult to determine who we, as Christians, are serving-our favorite sports team or God’s team which consists of Him, His Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, the best and only team which lasts forever.
Some of our church members feel that it is okay to enter God’s sanctuary clad in any type of attire. It is a fact, that other countries determine what we wear, eat and use as prescribed drugs for our illnesses due to their being manufactured on their soils. However, some members go to the extreme and wear outfits that should be worn on competitive boardwalks or at swimming parties.
My friends, we need to seriously pray for our churches, leaders- spiritual, national, state and local.
America! America!! We must pray and ask God s mercy on us, because unbelievably hard times are ahead.
God bless you!
Love,
Jacquelyn Simmons
