" . . . do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.' You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way . . . "
This is a very "relevant" Scripture (above), because many (if not most) churches today *do* the very thing we are told not to do (here). They look at the sinful, idol-worshipping society in which we live, and they ask, "How do the people worship their gods? Let's design our services around their ways, so as to be 'relevant'."
Once a church sets out to be "relevant" to the culture, that church has instantly become "irrelevant," (especially to God Himself). We are to look to heaven, and get our instructions from above; rather than look-
ing to earth, to do as all the rest of the heathen. A faithful church sets the standard for the culture, and invites sinners to come up to a life of dignity and worth (in Jesus).
[Puritan quote of the day: "It is a greater mercy to descend from pray-
ing parents than from the loins of nobles." --John Flavel, in, "The Mys-
tery of Providence"]
