This assumption is rooted in opinion.  Even those who suggest such a thing would be unlikely to claim it is based on the word of God.  The fact is it is an assumption that is completely contrary to what God’s word teaches us to do.

Romans 12:2 (ESV)
² Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

What is an attempt to keep up with the times if it is not conforming to this world?  The “times” are dictated by society not the word of God.  To keep up with the times is an endeavor to please man instead of God and that always leads to trouble, at least from a spiritual standpoint.  When pleasing man becomes our goal, serving God becomes impossible.

Galatians 1:10 (ESV)
¹⁰ For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

This is just as true with the church as it is with individual Christians.  The main goal of every local church should be to please God.  Once we lose focus on that, the floodgates of apostasy swing wide open.

Keeping up with the times demands constant change but a faithful church never changes, at least not regarding its core practices that are based upon the doctrine of God.  Yes, a church may change its times of services or other nonessentials that have to do with the judgment of the elders, but when it comes to the work and worship of the church, it remains the same now as it was in the first century.  Why? Because everything we do must be done by the authority of the Lord.

Colossians 3:17 (ESV)
¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

When people say that the church must keep up with the times, they are not talking about the order of services such as whether a church partakes of the Lord’s Supper before or after the preacher preaches.  They are talking mostly about the work and worship of the church.  These “change agents,” as they have been called, want our worship services to be more contemporary and casual.  They want our songs to be sung to the tune of popular songs of the world.  They want our dress to be relaxed and comfortable because, after all, that is what the people want, and we must keep up with the times.

This is the mentality that finally leads to the use of musical instruments in worship services and the use of the Lord’s money to fund recreation and entertainment.  These are the things that the masses in the religious world want, and if we are to attract them to Christ, we are told, we must keep up with them.  But where does it all stop?  The times are constantly changing, and almost always the change is more and more liberal.

The assumption that we “must” change is wrong.  We do not have to change.  We do not have to change to please God, win souls to Christ, or make a real difference in our communities.  All we must do to do that is the authorized work that God has given us.  When we aim to please God, everything falls into place, and we do not have to keep up with the times to do that.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.