Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: January 22, 2006
WORSHIPPING PLAYING & PLAYING WORSHIP
Ben Justice
God commissioned Moses, “Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will
give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that
thou mayest teach them” (Exodus 24:12). While Moses was receiving the Law of
God on Mount Sinai, Aaron and Hur were to be in charge. God said, “. . . if any
man have any matters to do, let him come unto them” (Exodus 24:14).
Moses was with God for a good while receiving the Law. According to Exodus 32:
1, “And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the
people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods,
which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the
land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.” According to v. 2-6, Aaron took
them up on the offer. They, at the leadership of Aaron, made a molten calf out of
the golden earrings. The people of Israel exclaimed, “These be thy gods, O Israel,
which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt” (v. 4). Verse 6 then declares, “And
they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings; and the people sat
down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.” There is no better example found in
the Bible of people worshipping playing and playing worship.
God said to Moses, “Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of
the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: They have turned aside quickly out of
the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have
worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, . . .” (v. 7-8). At the Word of God, he
affirmed that the people worshipped alright, but they were playing worship; they
were far more interested in playing (v. 6). In the playing process, they had made
themselves naked, which was unto their shame among their enemies (v. 25).
Times haven’t changed much for the Lord’s people, at least in our day and age,
for how many are now worshipping playing and playing worship? Many have I
Tim. 4:8 to read, “For godliness profiteth little: but bodily exercise is profitable unto
all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” How
many congregations have invested millions in recreational facilities? How many
congregations have pumped money into gyms and basketball courts? How many
congregations regularly have drama shows? How many congregations have
puppet shows and skits in their VBS? Several years ago, Brother Lester Camp
wrote an article entitled, “And They . . . Rose Up To Play” based on Exodus 32:6.
He cites many examples of congregations who had caved in to the entertainment
and pleasure of the world (See “Contending For The Faith,” October 1998
issue). Note the following examples:
1.) A few years ago, the Park Plaza Church of Christ of Tulsa, OK had this to say:
Christmas in July
You are invited to a “Christmas in July” Park Plaza Reunion, Friday, July 26, 2002 from
4:00 pm to 10:00 pm. We will be meeting in the new fellowship/gym wing at Park
Plaza Church of Christ, 5925 East Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma. We will have fun,
fellowship, food, live entertainment, and videos of Christmas past . . . Practice for the
talent show and come prepared to entertain and be entertained . . .
2.) When I was preaching in AL, the Westside congregation of Sheffield, AL,
which was supposedly known for its soundness, sent out a postcard to area
congregations advertising their upcoming VBS. They called it “Super Saturday.”
That’s fine, but note the following:
You are invited to come and join us for Bible Study, Arts & Crafts, Puppet Shows &
Games. . .(emphasis, mine)
3.) While preaching in KY, I received a flyer from the Broadway Church of Christ
in Paducah, KY. The flyer invited everyone to Kentucky Dam Village to
“Celebrate Jesus.” The speakers were: Monte Cox, Larry Sawyer, and Fred
McClure. I don’t know anything about Cox and Sawyer, but I do know for a fact
that Fred McClure is about as liberal as they come. The “Celebrate Jesus”
program also had a drama performance featuring “Theatron.” Theatron is from
Harding University.
4.) I don’t know how many congregations today are still on the Andy Griffith
show kick, but it was a big deal several years ago when many liberal
congregations began substituting the Andy Griffith Shows for Bible Classes.
How sad to think that some among us could believe that Andy Griffith and
Barney Fife could teach us about the Bible! It just goes to show you that many
are not interested in learning the Bible, but it is all about playing and being
entertained.
5.) The Darby Drive Church of Christ of Florence, AL, as of 2002, was in the
planning stages of building new facilities. And, what do these facilities include?
It was all documented in an article entitled “Movin’ on up,” as appeared in the
Aug. 28th, 2002 edition of the “Times Daily” newspaper, out of Florence, AL. It
stated:
. . . Ground has been broken and site preparation has begun on the first phase of a 45-
acre complex on Cox Creek Parkway, west of Cloverdale Road.
What will be a part of this 45-acre complex? The article states, “The project also
includes two baseball fields, a soccer complex, a football field, and two tennis
courts.”
The article quotes from their preacher, Dorian Flynn, who said, “not only has the
church grown in numbers but spiritually as well.” I can say with all confidence
that the church has not grown spiritually. People who worship playing and play
worship don’t know the meaning of the word.
It is sad to think that some parents will not identify with a congregation unless
the congregation has fun and games for their children. Again, it shows that such
people are not interested in worshipping God in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-
24). They are interested in serving not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly
(Rom. 16:18). The apostle Paul made it clear when he declared in Rom. 14:17,
“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy
in the Holy Ghost.” Sadly, many are quite content with the Israeliteish syndrome
who are worshipping playing and playing worship.