Comments on: Leroy, Richland Hills, and Instrumental Music

By: Nathan

Nathan — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:52:09 +0000

Paul, from April 22, 2007. Thank you, what a great article about our worship in music. Well put!

May the Lord bless the minds and work of those who unyielding use His book to worship and live by.

nate

By: Jason Dodson

Jason Dodson — Tue, 12 May 2009 03:49:35 +0000

Mark 16:16
‘Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not” worship correctly will be condemned.
But for the record, I oppose instrumental worship and feel ashamed that some in the brotherhood feel the need to be like other nations. What was written aforetime was, afterall, written for our learning. Let us then learn something from it.

By: Carlos Perez

Carlos Perez — Tue, 12 May 2009 03:13:54 +0000

Leroy you have done a fantastik job uniting the local church in love. I hope all the churches of Christ see this great example of love and unity. The love of God go beyond any opinion we might have. Let the Bible and the love of God be our authority.

In Christ
Carlos Perez
Evangelist

By: Carlos Perez

Carlos Perez — Tue, 12 May 2009 02:58:05 +0000

Hello brothers
May the Lord bless you all. Please see my blog-site at:
http://cperez92763.blogspot.com
Please share it with the churches or christian that want to be part of this work. I will be posting twice a month new info, baptism, events, etc. to keep the churches informed. Thank you and may the peace of God be wiyh you.

In Christ
Carlos Perez
Evangelist

By: David

David — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 03:10:08 +0000

small correction to the text: 3rd paragraph, 3rd line: the word abibe should read “abide”.

The second to last sentence should read: Becareful that we do “not” judge the “righteousness” of one another, whether it be of instruments or meat.

By: David

David — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:11:11 +0000

I realize that this thread has fallen off back in January, however, I am reading it for the first time. I note the premise assumed by almost all if not all the writers of this thread. My observation is: the passages of Scripture cited for music in the corporate worship time are taken from Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16. Both of these passages of Scripture are cited to prove or disprove the use of instruments when the church gathers together and sings in worship to God. The problem I find in this argument is that the context of both are Christian living, not corporate worship. I would also suggest that if your conclusion is that we are not to use instrumentation in the public gathering of Christians, then – for the same reason – we ought not use it at any time in order to be consistent.

The main proposition made by those believing acapella is the only accepted form is from the silence of Scripture. The statement has been made, “If the Bible does not authorize it, it is not acceptable to God.” If this is true, then let us be consistent in all areas of life and not just in the corporate gathering. For example: The Bible gives specific uses for the offerings of the church. One was to supply the needs of the church (the people) both local and universal. Another use of the offerings was for the support of those who needed funds for the preaching of the Gospel. There is absolutely no authorization in the New Testament for the use of God’s money to pay building loans including interest and extra fees. There is not authorization to purchase air conditioners, heaters, fans, etc. and other things for our comforts. We do have authorization from the Word to fill needs of the church (people). We do not have authorization to fill our wants!

If we are to use certain reasoning to understand God’s meaning, then we need to be consistent in all areas. This is a great challenge for us when we present “creeds” or create demands on people to abibe by our reasoning. I would suggest to you that the statement, “If God does not authorize it, it is not acceptable.” is a statement of reasoning that comes from the mind of man and not from the written Word of God. Therefore, it is open for debate. If it is true, it will stand up to the debate. Those who believe it will hold consistent to it in all areas of thier Biblical hermaneutic.

I challenge each one, not to reason with your feelings. I challenge all not to reason from your own personal experience. When you do that you place yourself into the judges chair, and say I am right and you are wrong.

What I am not saying and what I am saying:
I am not saying that we are free to do whatever we want, whenever we want to do it.
I am saying: Whatever you do in Word or deed, do all in the Name of our Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
(Col. 3:17 which follows the oft cited 3:16)

I am not saying that worship does not and cannot take place in a group setting.
I am saying that nowhere in the Bible is “our precious worship service”.
(John 4:23,24 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.)

I am not saying that the things we do on Sunday morning (or at other times the church assembles) are not a part of what we offer to God.
I am saying that the things we “do” are not necessary to God, but to us.
(John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.)

Becareful that we do judge the “righteousness” of one another, whether it be of instruments or meat. God has not authorized us to do so.

By: Robert

Robert — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 05:21:16 +0000

As one raised in a church with instrumental music, namely the organ and the piano, I can plainly state that it was much easier to sing along with the music, the choir, and the song leader. You didn’t have to worry much about singing off key either. In addition, now we see guitars, drums, flutes, violins, the bass and any other instrument of interest utilized in our worship service to God. I myself play the harmonica (as limited as I may be) and I enjoy playing spiritual songs.

However, in true worship to God, it’s not about me, it’s not about the instrument player, the band, the song leader or the soloist or the choir singing one of the favorite hymns or something new. It’s about True Worship to our Father in Heaven. “in Spirit and in Truth” It’s about our Saviour Jesus Christ, and spiritual edification of the brethren. Worship to God is not about conforming to wordly ways, or compromise with others and the way they feel, or what they like or prefer.

Let us put our attention to where it belongs. On our God, our Saviour, and in the Spirit, worship our heavenly Father, “singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord” collosians 3:16

If you can’t hear the words over the loud musical instruments, what edification is there. The worship service is not to be a provocation to jealosy or envy, in who can sing the best, or who can play the best, who makes the choir, but I’ve seen it be just that with many. Jesus, and he alone should be on the pedistal.

We could all argue and never agree, concerning instrumental music to be pleasing or not to God. But we can all agree that singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord, is pleasing to God.

I am not an advocate for instrumental music in Worship to God, for several reasons. There is to much of a worldly tone with their use in the worship service to our Father. You think, that maybe God in his wisdom, knew where the use of musical instruments would help to create a decadent society.

Ehesians 5: 18, 19. …;but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord; …

Not as I was taught or raised, do I choose to worship God in singing and without the use of musical instruments. I find singing as Truth, without question.

As the redeemed, we’ll someday be in the midst of Gods Glory, we will All sing in praise to God. If playing a musical instrument is included, we will All sing and ALL play in praise to God.

Love to all the brethren.

By: Andrea Lorick

Andrea Lorick — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 13:21:24 +0000

Who gave you the authority to change worship service. Are we worshiping each other or is our worship to God. Are we to
now be a part of the have it your way religion. I thank God
I attend the East Baltimore Bible Institue and College, were
we in the northeast still do it God’s way, Book, chapter, and verse, ” For it is notin man that walked to direct his wown steps”
Andrea Lorick
church of Christ in East Baltimore
Maryland

By: Calvin

Calvin — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 20:06:21 +0000

“Errors of the heart are far more serious than flaws in the form”, when I read this sentence from brother Garrett’s article, I literally broke down in tears. My study of scripture has convinced me that our past prohibition of instrumental music is in error and is similar to Jesus’ struggle with the Pharisees over picking and eating grain on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1-3) and healing on the Sabbath (Luke 6:6-10) and many other issues. The Pharisees added to the “Law of Moses” and called it the “tradition of the elders” (Mark 7:5-8). We have added to the gospel of Jesus Christ and called it the “gospel truth”. Just as the Pharisees were practicing a law of unnecessary prohibition, so are we as it relates to the prohibition of instrumental music. Jesus quoted Isaiah to rebuke the Pharisees (Mark 7:6-8).
He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:
” ‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
They worship me in vain;
their teachings are but rules taught by men.’ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.”
We should take note of this rebuke.

By: Sister in Christ

Sister in Christ — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:41:17 +0000

Many of you men are breaking my heart, not for me, but for Christ. Is there even one thing we do in our worship services that are exactly as they did them in the first century church. None of our “techniques” that we use in our worship services was specifically written out for us by God. The instructions for temple worship were tediously specific, but now we have freedom in Christ. Break yourselves from this bondage you are holding yourselves to. Yes, we have communion, yes, we pray, yes, we sing, yes, we read scripture, and we do it all in these beautiful buildings. Are these beautiful air conditioned buildings “scriptural”? We sing songs written by ordinary men. Is that scriptural? Richland Hills, I applaud you. You understand what freedom in Christ means. You’re growing because people are drawn to your church’s “heart”, not because you are trying to attract the denominations, as someone mentioned. Churches of christ are dying all over the country because they aren’t trying to attract these so-called denominations. Just listen to yourselves. The new contemporary christian instrumental music touches the soul and the heart to the core and you take this and make it into something ugly and sinful. Our teenagers are touched by it. Do you think they’re touched by anything you might say to them? You pick up your books and you do your “in-depth” studies and that’s all fine and good, but the only issue here is the “heart issue” and nothing more. I’m sure someone will say that it’s not this simple, but, yes, it is this simple. I can just see the Lord shaking his head and weaping and saying to himself, “After what I did for them, how did it ever come to this”.

By: Brandon

Brandon — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 23:07:02 +0000

I thank Richland Hills for stepping out of the so called church of Christ box. It is time that we get past all the petty things that those of us who call ourselves followers of Christ quarrel over.
It is imperative that we remember worship to the Lord is not just a Sunday morning service. Sunday morning should always be a time of communion, fellowship, and praise for the simple fact that through God’s infinite grace he delivered through his Son, empowered us through his Holy Spirit, and gave us another day. Worship is a Sunday through Saturday/24-7 life style. That is why Paul tells us in Romans 12 to be transformed into the likeness of Christ.
Paul also tells us in 1 Corinthians: ” 17Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 18Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. 19Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts.”
I have yet to find a command in any bible that states God does not look on us with love if we start using musical instrumetns. Keeping God’s command is what counts.
Remember 1 John 3:11 This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
It doesn’t state if you prefer musical instruments love one another, or if you love accapella love one another. The command is “Love One Another.”

By: matt elliott

matt elliott — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 18:29:17 +0000

I love the word “mechanical” whenever it comes up in these discussions. I always picture these giant gears, wheels, and cogs. My Martin D-18 acoustic guitar just seems so ordinary in the shadow of these “mechanical” instruments or “appliances” (a term used a couple of comments ago). I absolutely love the insider lingo. And I’m aware of the fact that I’ve added absolutely nothing to this dialogue. And I did it months after the fact as well. So sue me.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 16:12:34 +0000

I couldn’t understand some parts of this article , Richland Hills, and Instrumental Music at PreacherMike, but I guess I just need to check some more resources regarding this, because it sounds interesting.

By: Valerie

Valerie — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 16:40:11 +0000

I also grew up in the CoC, and just recently heard of the transitions that Richland Hills in TX and Quail Springs CoC in OKC made into having instrumental music in their churches…No matter what outsiders agree/disagree with on what they chose to do, leave them be…God called their hearts into doing something that they felt is what called them to do…This is a new day and age, and it’s time to do something different…It’s a higher calling of sorts, and it’s a good thing…I’ve always believed that instrumental music was a way of reaching into your soul, searching your inner self for God’s guidance…I don’t feel like I receive God’s guidance in the “old fashioned” way after graduating from high school/college, and now I feel closer to God with instruments…I feel myself growing closer to God in that way…

By: Frazier Conley

Frazier Conley — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 20:19:37 +0000

The issue is not mainly about music, but about a change in attitude toward Holy Scripture–from a high view–all of it fully God-inspired and all of it canonical, to a low view–fallible human inspired, non-normative. Many just have a one-sentence Bible now, “Believe in Jesus.”

However, I guess the liberals are right about us conservatives being ignorant: for the life of me I cannot understand how I, who cannot find mechanical music in the NT, can have fellowship with others at a Lord’s day assembly when they insist on adding whatever they want: musical appliances, etc. Neither do I understand why if I am excluded by the practices of others from having worship fellowship with them I am automatically assumed to have condemned them. Maybe an enlightened liberal can explain it so I can understand it.