Sometimes You Have to Quit Talking About It
Part of the charge the minister made earlier this week on the Nancy Grace show is that the Church of Christ is exclusivistic, thinking that they alone have the truth.
I’m so thankful for so many unity movements — some large and formal, but most small and informal — that are taking place. What’s happening with the Christian Churches isn’t the final thing that needs to happen; but for many it’s a place to begin.
This year there is a focus on this move toward unity at ACU, Pepperdine, Rochester, Lipscomb, and the Tulsa workshop (among other places, I’m sure).
I love what Bob Russell said at the Tulsa workshop: maybe we need to quit talking about those areas where we disagree. We don’t have to agree on everything to be brothers and sisters. “You don’t have to be twins to be siblings.” Bob pointed out that most Christian Churches aren’t going to become a cappella, and most Churches of Christ aren’t going to become instrumental. So why keep talking about it? Does it really matter?
There’s a wonderful lead article about this in the new Christian Chronicle. (Actually, there are several powerful stories in the issue. Thanks, Bobby and others! Don’t miss the insightful conversation with Royce Money.)
But then this sobering reminder that not everyone agrees with this unity movement:
“All the panelists supported stronger ties between the two groups. That concerns Howard Norton, a Bible professor and assistant dean for church relations at Harding University in Searcy, Ark.
“Focusing on unity without substantive discussion of instrumental music represents a doctrinal compromise, said Norton, who was honored the second night of the ACU Lectureship — along with his teammates — for mission work in Brazil in the 1960s and 1970s.
“‘I think there is a very strong movement within our fellowship — the a cappella church of Christ — to completely join up with the Christian Church and say that what they are doing by introducing instrumental music, that there’s nothing wrong with that,’ Norton said.”
I agree with Bob: we’ve talked about it and talked about it and talked about it. Has anyone besides Diane and me ever reached this point about something in marriage? You suddenly realize you’re just never going to agree, you’ve heard all each other has to say on the subject, and it hits you that your love is much larger than this one matter.
Let’s recognize that we’re brothers and sisters in Christ and move forward. We can’t all worship in the same building, anyway!
I have to believe a huge thank you is in order to those who are willing to put aside divisions for the sake of the cross of Christ. I am among the generation that has a huge distaste for denominations in general. So often those I know talk about how we just wish we’d be the Church again. I always thought we would never have the opportunity to work backward at all and cover over our differences. I pray to God constantly that I might be wrong in that fear.
I must say a big “AMEN” to that, Mike. If we are not to do that then what exactly did Paul mean in Ephesians 4:3? It’s time to move forward and focus on reaching those who are truly lost, not trying to save other denominations, but intead reaching “out” to them to say, “We are in this together” as believers in Jesus Christ.
When I was a teenager (1972), traveling from Texas to Montana, we stopped for Sunday night worship at the “Church of Christ” somewhere in Wyoming. There were about fifteen or so folks along with the six of us. As we walked in I noticed a record player in the front of the small auditorium. A stack of albums were on the right and left. The members of this litte church were very excited to have visitors from Texas. One of the men asked us if were we instrumental or non-instrumental Church of Christ. We were from the non-instrumental traditon, so the “song leader” put on an a cappella album on to accompany our singing voices. It was no big deal to this little church. It was as if they asked us, “Smoking or non-smoking.”
…we tried to talk it over but the words got in the way…
Good point, Mike.
When we talk to shore up our own beliefs instead of seeking to understand another , it is not really very lovely. To elevate a personal understanding of something above the words Jesus gave us as priorities (love God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind and love your brother as youself–that we will be one with God and with each other) is something I cannot understand–as much as I may desire acapella singing.
Kathy
I think it’s the building thing that has been a part of the separation problem anyway. When we confine our thoughts and ideas to “church” by associating it with a building where certain “worship” activities take place, it’s almost inevitable that we will become divided.
I say let’s invite all Christ followers to join us in testifying to Christ’s love and forgiveness by moving out into the world community together to feed the hungry, cloth the naked, visit the hospitals, visit the jails, and champion the lost causes. Hasn’t Habitat for Humanity, Compassion International, and other groups like these taught us this valuable lesson?
Then we find neutral sites (maybe we need to drape over our signs for awhile) where we can come together in prayer like Acts 4 and rejoice in what God is doing and allow the Spirit of God to shake us and remind us who is Lord.
Peace.
Thank God the younger (and some not so younger
) voices in the cofC have engaged their hearts, not just their brain and egos, in this discussion.
When I want my way on any subject, I have learned it is all about me.
It is not about me…thank God, it is all about you.
AMEN MIKE! I have spent 36 of my 36 years in the “a cappella church of Christ,” yet you will never convince me that the worship of someone who praises God with a piano or a guitar or even…DRUMS is less sweet to the ears of God than my worship with my “here and there” alto voice. YES PLEASE, let’s move on and just stop talking about it! Focus on Jesus. Focus on the incredible gaps and needs of the poor and broken people of this world. Focus on being the family God calls us to be. But please, let’s stop focusing on petty differences that have nothing to do with salvation.
When it comes to unity among the Stone-Campbell movement, particularly Churches of Christ and Christian Churches, the instrumental music issue is almost moot, as you said. There’s not much going to happen in terms of a change of practice in worship services. But that doesn’t mean that there still can’t be a lively discussion on the value of a cappella or instrumental music. Moreover, I think Churches of Christ should be seeking to articulate a better and more nuanced theology of music, not just in order to defend what we’ve always done, but to give depth and meaning to our tradition and even extend it. A theology of music wouldn’t just be about why one would sing a cappella, but about aesthetic appropriateness and theological content of lyrics. And a good theology of music should also include something about the use, value, and aesthetics of instrumental music. Since I’m going on about the music, why stop there? A theology of music will only really make sense within liturgical theology. But how many Churches of Christ, so devoted to the free church tradition, would be willing to have a serious conversation on lectionary or rites? At this point the conversation moves from the issue of unity within the Restoration Movement to the issue of unity more broadly in the ecumenical discussions going on among Catholics, Orthodox, mainline Protestants and some free church folk like Mennonites. So maybe talking about music ain’t such a bad thing after all?
Mike, you’re preaching to the choir (well, I guess that wouldn’t exactly be true in most cofC’s). Nearly everyone on your blog will heartily say, “YES, YES, YES, let’s move on.”
The reality is that this is not about instrumental music, but instead about how people fundamentally approach God’s grace and the interpretation of scripture you so ably took us through. The cofC checklist of “got to do this in order to be right in the eyes of God” is still very alive. Even those of us who intellectually have gotten past it can still be emotionally conflicted (I know what I should feel about grace, so why do I feel guilty about ___________?)
My personal opinion is that the churches of Christ will continue to be painted as Ms. Grace did on CNN because the influential core of the church (even if it is a minority) isn’t so far from Ms. Grace’ portrait. Many of us have found that mountain of legalism and fear to be too high to climb, and have brothers in our local church who built the mountain (and are now protecting it as elders.) For those local churches whose leadership “gets it,” some are just changing the name above the door to chuck the baggage (like “Oak Hills Church.”)
It may be true that the DNA of the restoration movement was, in fact, restoration minded. Unfortunately, that DNA became tainted somewhere along the way (remember Jurassic Park). Restoring now is a long haul. Jesus said that His disciples would be identified by the way they love each other. The extent of that love is questionable even within the churches of Christ. How about among the restoration movement as a whole? Or, more broadly yet, our brothers in the church down the street with the word “Baptist,” Presbyterian,” “Lutheran,” or “Evangelical Free” above the door?
Not trying to be negative, just realistic.
Mike,
Another great post. I know you’re right, deep in my heart. I’ll have to admit being human, sometimes wishing people would just see it my way, that maybe a guitar is not all that bad. But, I do love accappella singing, more now than when I was young. I say, whatever it takes to reach the lost. Music may be in the conversation, but Christ will be the theme. I think if we just give it a try, people will probably want Christ and the joyful freedom he offers, rather than fighting over “pidily” things. Let’s simply live the life of Christ out in a lost world, and I’m pretty sure some of these “issues” will no longer be issues.
AMEN, Mike! I think we should spend as much talking about it as our Lord did. That should give us a hint as to how important it is to Him.
Can you pass a word along? I know they probably feel obligated because of past relationships and associations, but could you let the Chronicle know there are other administrators and faculty at our Universities they can contact? Seems to me we hear the same people being quoted over and over again.
Thanks again for the wonderful post.
In HIM,
DU
as much TIME…….sorry
God made us all so differently. We all have different styles, different backgrounds, different talents. None of us even brush our teeth the same way. How could anyone expect that we would all worship the same way?
I think where we get in trouble (and where we put our back up) is when we point to the “other church” and say why what they are doing is wrong. If we could all relax, give each other vast amounts of mercy and know that we are all striving to the same goal, I believe issues such as instrumental music will become, “You do it, we don’t. God bless you.”
I’m with you Steve!!! Let’s move out into the world! I love that saying “the church has left the building!”
Exactly. Don’t misunderstand and assume that I am against open communication, but so often when “discussions” take place, the opposing sides just end up sounding exactly like one another. It has obviously happened in politics and it happens in our churches. I can’t tell you how many times I have listened to some diatribe from someone about how unenlightened someone is because they feel a certain way. It just strikes me as useless and unproductive. Sometimes it really is best to move on and focus on commonalities. It dovetails with the concept of choosing your battles, I guess.
Mike,
I think we can (and should) accomplish both these goals. First, I strongly believe I’m worshiping (non-instrumental) the way God intended. However, I’m not (and never have been) willing to say someone’s going to Hell if they disagree.
However, I’m not willing to “give in” for the sake of “unity” over the issue.
Second, I don’t have a problem calling instrumental types brothers and sisters in Christ.
I hope it doesn’t sound like I’m talking about both sides of my mouth on this. I like what someone said earlier, that our good in the world can be done by meeting in the middle, not necessarily in the church building.
We need to be meeting in our communities to help people who need help and we need to be setting the type of example for co-workers that might cause them to ask (or ask themselves): “What makes this person different?” (Not everyone here works with a wonderful group of Christians)
Our best work is going to be accomplished away from the church building, away from any discussions of instrumental or non-instrumental.
Most people outside the CoC (and/or Christian Church) don’t understand or even care about our disagreements with each other. What they’re going to base us on is how well we can present Jesus to them.
That’s where they should see our unity.
(We can fight on where they need to attend later!)
Agreed, Mike. Moreover if we let our one hour of corporate worship each week define our Christianity we have not just missed the boat, but we aren’t even in the right ocean.
Jesus never talked about instrumental music vs. a capella, so why should we? It obviously wasn’t important to him. He was too busy loving, healing, touching, and changing the lives of society’s unlovable.
Perhaps we should define our Christianity on these actions.
Our 1 hour assemblies need to inspire (encourage and embolden) us to live like Christ the other 167 hours of the week.
For those who haven’t had a lot of exposure to the Christian Church/Churches of Christ (yes, many of their churches are Churches of Christ) the fact is the language of our hermeneutics is very similar. They claim to “speak where the bible speaks,” and are “silent where the bible is silent.” They are “restoring the pattern of New Testament Christianity” The bible is the “final authority on doctrine and practice.” We are very much at home with their language. The reality is neither group developed their doctrine and practice out of their hermeneutic. Both hermeneutics were the result of established doctrine and practice. This may be slightly overstated, but not much. Certainly the issue of instrumental music was the result of cultural conditions following the civil war more than it was about a particular approach to the silence in the bible. The more we engage with our brothers and sisters, the more we might find that they are actually more conservative than we are in other areas like women’s role. This must humble us to realize that much of what we believe is culturally conditioned. That is why we must pursue those things that have the shape, smell, and taste of the gospel-unity, grace, forgiveness, reconciliation, brotherly and sisterly kindness.
I’m with David U on the statement that Christ didn’t spend time talking about our worship music, but rather whether we loved with all our heart, were humble, kind, gentle, patient, peaceful, joyful & merciful. There are many at HU who would have given a much different quote than the one Howard Norton gave to The Chronicle. He is a good man, but he does not speak for everyone associated with the University at all.
Candy, your saying about “the church has left the building!” is one of my favorites also. I WISH it wasn’t “just a saying”—I WISH it were a TRUE statement!
Amen. This extends to many areas of life. Wish it could be remembered.
The truth of the matter is that even as we are talking about it, the younger generation(s) teens and twenties, have essentially decided it is a nonissue. they are listening to contemporary Christian music, going to Christian concerts,etc. It’s not important to them. And, as a whole, they are much more mission minded and seeking ways to reach out to a hurting world. Our discussion about instrumental vs. non must seem and sound a bit strange to them. This is not to say that it is an unimportant issue, but the generations to follow will be leading and participating in a church that perhaps will look and feel very different, perhaps more Biblical.
How can we be a cult? A cult will not let you out we will not let you in. “it hits you that your love is much larger than this one matter” mike I think you hit on the crux of the matter.
Wow!
I was “born and reared” in the church of Christ and I “left” the church several years back. I have just in recent days started to re-explore the church (thanks to Nancy Grace) and what I am finding is refreshing. The talk of unity, talk of grace and love and reaching out is wonderful. I think for the first time in a long time I will attend church this Sunday – provided I can find one that is still not mired in the old days of legalism.
Concerning instrumental music vs. a capella. I am not a bible scholar but I have never been able to find that instruments of music were actually a ‘written’ part of the Jewish law handed down to Moses but God did find their music acceptable in worship.
The “crux of the matter” is the cross of Christ.
Mike
I thank you for your comment… but Brian really touched what i am feeling, I see that so clear. We meet at the building on Fridays to eat lunch and talk about things and I will enjoy this topic.
On a side note i remember some of my younger years at GVBC and i remember my sister singing a Eagles song with I think Mike Cope “peacful easy feelin”….loved the line “I wanna sit with you in the desert” we could not go that far as to leave the lyrics unchanged…hahaha but you did have a guitar (if that was you).
rr
test comment.
Mike, I totally agree. Sometimes, I get so tired of talking about issues, especailly when they don’t really change anything. I’m okay with halting the discussion about this specific worship topic, because for me, it is no longer a critical identifying characteristic. I love contemporary instrumental worship, but I also love our acappella tradition in Churches of Christ. But for so many people, acappella worship is not only part of their identity as a Christian, it is often THE primary avenue by which they have engaged God for most of their lives. And this evaluation of how we worship is more terrifying because it is “in-house” and challenges not only “the way we’ve always done it” but also the personal faith structure of how we corporately communicate with God. Since worship is incredibly personal, yet hightly communal, we must sensitively merge individual identity with congregational style. (Don’t get me wrong…I am truly tired of talking about instrumental music.)
How many have been convinced, through personal study, that worshipping a capella is the “right way?” We all have baggage. If I knew nothing of Christ and picked up God’s word I am not so sure that “worship style” would jump out. I am not even sure why this continues to be an issue with us. Am I crazy?
I would also agree with Mike’s and so many of your comments. I think it is really sad that those issues discussed by Nancy are how the CofC is viewed. I think the pride that believers have had about “their religion” has been so harmful. If you have never read all the scriptures with relation to pride, I challenge you to go to Biblegateway.com and do a keyword search of the word “pride.” It was most definitely a humbling experience. I was telling a group of students just this week that I wish we were more known for confessing our sins, so that we all may be healed. A part of me thinks that the buildings in which we “worship” (I really don’t think worship is that at all; our entire lives are called to be worship) have been very binding physically thus very binding spiritually. If one wants to kneel or bow down before the Lord you do so by banging your head on the pew or chair in front of you, laying prostrate before the Lord is most definitely out of the question, so we are left to be bound and miss out on the different physical surroundings and positions that could free us to a deeper spiritual relationship with our best friend, Jesus and our so loving Father, God. We do need to just get over it and strive to become more like Jesus in all aspects, especially His love and HEART for the lost.
One last comment to DU. There are more than is thought that would have given a different response than the comment made by Howard Norton, and get really quiet and want to weep at some of those type of comments.
“As far as it depends on you, live at peace with EVERYONE.” Romans 12:18
If we were to fill every church in North America to capacity, we’d only reach 3% of the population….we should focus more on the 97% of people not in a relationship with Jesus than what we are doing during 1 hour on Sunday morning.
Having grown up in the Church of Christ, I grew to love singing. When I first attended the church my wife grew up in, there was a full orchestra and band going on Sunday morning. I sang, but I watched as people seemed entertained more than involved, and it was disturbing. It made me think. I personally do not feel it is a big issue with God, but I find it very difficult to worship with a band. That is me. Do I accept others who do not feel that way? Yes. Will I argue a case for or against a capella worship? No. THOSE ISSUES ARE PERIPHERAL TO WHAT JESUS WANTS FOR US. Talk about words like forgiveness and mercy and love for a moment, what they really mean, and our preoccupations with our differences are exposed for what they are: Petty and unproductive. Jesus said that our love for each other would let everyone know we followed him. If and when we really arrive there, our buildings will overflow with people who want to experience Jesus first hand. I refuse to find fault with a brother or a church convinced that we should have only instrumental OR only a capella music. I will disagree with my brothers and sisters on lots of issues, but I refuse to make that a dividing point between us. I am saddened when such issues become a dividing point. We can disagree and still be one, because one-ness arisies out of my recognizing the Body of Jesus ( the Body risen from the dead, the Body seated in heaven, the Body sitting in the next pew or the next church building, the Body across the earth wherever His disciples are, and the Body in the communion tray).
I had a professor at Oklahoma Christian College some 32 years ago who was often bombarded by students wanting to prove a point or raise an agenda. His name was Hugo McCord, and he could quote most of the Bible at age 80. Even though he was VERY conservative, his response was always to give his interpretation of the scripture involved and say in a semi-southern drawl “We can’t afford to be dogmatic about that.”
He was probably a good deal wiser than I thought……
It is sobering to re-read the gospels and try to discover what Jesus found worthy of argument.
Music, Meat – as Paul writes, imho is a matter of conscience before God. If it’s okay with you, it’s okay with Jesus, but again as Paul teaches, just don’t look down at the ones with a differing opinion about it.
My wierd sense of humor is nudging me, Mike. I just can’t help myself!
The title of today’s blog entry is “Sometimes you just have to quit talking about it.” Yet that’s all we’ve done. LOL
Mike, thank you so much for your kind words about the Chronicle. I’ll pass them along to Bobby, who is speaking this weekend at the Religions Communicators Convention in Dallas. As for the comments to this post … I see a few good candidates for Letters to the Editor, but I won’t say which ones. Feel free to submit them online, hint hint.
Mike,
Your postings have provided much encouragement and growth. Long story short…I was not raised in the CofC but became a Christian in my teens and then in my 30’s married a mainstream CofC man who’s father is an elder. I was pretty naïve on the congregation’s doctrines in the beginning. My husband and I did not appear so far apart spiritually when we married but now the Grand Canyon stands between us. We have both moved to our corners but we are committed to work through it. I thank God every day for leaders like yourself who God is using for His glory. God’s faithfulness and goodness in working through men like you brings tears to my eyes. Thank you for your faithfulness to God. My prayer is that God empowers all of us in the body of Christ to imitate Christ’s humility discussed in Philippians 2.
F. Lagard Smith wrote a wonderful book entitled “Who’s My Brother?”. Our small group worked through that book and it really helped us to re-focus our attention on what is really important.
Back to Nancy Grace. I subscribe to Guidepost Magazine and guess who is on the front cover? None other than Nancy Grace! I’d never heard of her before but read her article and then heard about her on Mike’s blog. Read her article at: http://www.guidepostsmag.com/weekly_feature.asp?date=3/31/2006
She says shes a believer.
One thing that has always fascinated me is the account of Barnabas and Paul parting ways over the issue of John Mark. Apparently they had a disagreement and simply couldn’t agree on what to do. Barnabas wanted to bring him along and Paul did not. In the end they parted ways. Notice that they did not break fellowship. As far as I know, they didn’t write each other up in brotherhood journals, they just parted ways and served the Lord in the way that they saw best.
Today, it seems like we have this line of thinking that says, either you are with us or against us. Either you have the label MOTC or you don’t. It’s like a brand. Either you are in or you are out. But it seems from this passage that perhaps there is a middle road. Perhaps we can fellowship in such a way that we give one another the freedom to serve in our own ways.
The Jews have a tradition called Hakalah. It is a group of elders that serve at a local Synagogue. The elders set direction for the community and administer the Jewish Law for that community and their particular cultural setting. As a result, you may have different norms of Jewish practice depending on which community you are a part of. When a Jew moves to a different community, he places himself under that particular community’s Hakalah. The elders simply apply the law with the consensus of “this is the direction we feel the scripture is leading us.” They have freedom to apply the law in such a way that fits their community. (I’m sure that Mike could comment on this practice with greater insight than me).
The bottom line is, scripture and tradition provide much greater freedom in applying the law than perhaps we ave realized. I’m not saying that the differences are not important. They are. But like Mike says, we have to move forward. Fortunately, God has given us the ability and freedom to do so. I’d love to hear more discussion on this.
-j
Mike,
Thank you for your comments. I am of a generation that is beginning to not care at all about instruments or no instruments. We seek authentic community. How can one feel they are accepted as a creation of God if we are telling them all the things that we say will lead them to hell (like instrumental worship). I am not of the school of thought that instruments are wrong. I do, however, love accappella music. But if one is a baptized believer, I believe Christ calls me to accept them and to be united. I am thankful for the ACU lectures, restoration forum and Tulsa (among many others) who are standing for unity.
ah the next stumbling block
Guidepost..oh the irony!
I used to think differences of opinion in the body of Christ drew lines between the weak (that was everyone who didn’t think just like I do) and the strong (you know who). While there are weak and strong, I now know those lines don’t fall where I wanted to place them. Now I see people as free and enslaved. Free people are joyous, liberated and grateful. Slaves are in bondage to whatever holds them back– tradition, rationalism, legalism. As a freed person, it is neither my job nor my desire to lord my freedom over the slaves– that won’t make them feel better and it won’t set them free. I’ve got to just keep pointing to Christ. He holds the only key.
While discussions about instruments or praise teams or how (or how often) we take communion can be interesting and thought provoking, their importance pales in relation to Jesus. Point to Jesus. Point to God. Live lives filled with the Spirit of the Living God. That’s what’s important.
I have been blessed to be 4th generation C of C. However, the finest legal training I ever received was growing up in the churches of Christ. In 1974 I was sitting in a Legal Procedure classroom as a first year law student at Washington University in St. Louis, MO. The professor was teaching us rules of statutory construction, one of which is “uno exclusio inclusio alterius”, i.e. what is expressly included is, by implication, excluded. As I sat there, the light bulb went off in my head! I know this rule! This is how I was taught to interpret Scripture growing up in church. And, then it hit me. This is how lawyers interpret laws, and we do the same thing as Christians with scriptures. Suddenly, the words of Jesus to the Pharisees in John 5:39 came to mind: “You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to me.” Unity will only be based on the Lordship of Jesus Christ. If we think that we will ever get everyone to agree on “our” interpretation of scripture, we lose sight that life is in Christ and not in a book. The Bible is a compass that points us to the Lord. Without God’s Holy Spirit and love, “Restorationism” becomes an idol that will divide the body of Christ in whatever form it is debated. We can become legalists or lovers. I am choosing love!
WOW, imagine if a lawyer can make it to heaven anyone can, and with a daughter like Rachel God must love lawyers too.
Thanks Clint,
No doubt, letting a lawyer into heaven is a measure of God’s grace; but, remember, without the lawyer asking the question, “Who is my neighbor?” we might not have the parable of the Good Samaritan!
Okay, okay, I’ll give you instrumental music…. just don’t let WOMEN do the playing.
Patty,
Thanks for you comment about Freed-Hardeman.
“Freed people are joyous, liberated and grateful.”
Oh….you meant FREE people…..ok….
nevermind.
Sometimes it is just hard to admit that a position held for over a century is no only simply wrong, it is by any standard of Christian history heretical to boot.