A Cappella Music
A few observations from most discussions about a cappella singing:
First: Most people I know who want to preserve it aren’t trying to make their case in terms of “it’s God’s way.” Some do. One of our Christian college presidents — not the one where I teach! — once told me that he thought the use of instrumental music would send someone to hell. (Just when you thought no one really, really, really believed that . . . . “Yes, I know you served the poor, you lived an exemplary life of compassion, justice, and worship — but you used a piano in worship . . . .”) Most are talking about the strengths of the tradition — a tradition that is preserved by several tribes. See, for example, this conference being held next summer at Pepperdine.
Second: Why did we have to have a central focus of identity (a cappella music) that is so difficult to spell? Not a capella . . . or a cappela . . . but a cappella.
Third: Most people I know who express an interest in having instrumental music are not wanting to lose the a cappella tradition. It’s not an either/or. I seriously doubt that the Richland Hills Church will give up their a cappella heritage completely.
Fourth: As I said in the comments yesterday, just because something is a matter of opinion doesn’t mean it isn’t important how a church discusses and processes the issue. That’s what Paul is doing in 1 Corinthians 8-10. The topic is food sacrificed to idols: eat it or don’t eat it? Well, it’s a matter of indifference. Sure, go ahead and eat it. But that’s not all Paul has to say about it. For the way they approach the seemingly insignificant topic (at least insignificant from our historical distance) says a lot about how they are living out the gospel in community.
Fifth: The next generation has Christian music on their ipods. They go to Christian concerts. Rarely do they listen to a cappella radio stations. And they won’t buy the old arguments (from the few who are still making them). In many cases, it isn’t that they haven’t HEARD the arguments; it’s that they see how vacuous those arguments are.
Sixth: Those who yesterday pointed out that we should not obsess on this are right. We must discuss it in Christian ways — but we must not let such discussions detour us from joining God in his work in this world. (That’s what I love about RH. This is a church that is reaching out all over Tarrant County and the world. When our church discussed the ministry of women, some on the outside thought that had become our main topic. Hardly. It was almost a sidebar as we were making serious transitions to participate with God in what he was already doing in our neighborhood.)
Seventh: Just got to say it. The a cappella tradition is nothing to be ashamed of. The only thing to be ashamed of is the exclusivism and judgmentalism with which many defended it. I still find great joy in adding my voice to a chorus of voices of brothers and sisters in Christ. I love instrumental worship, but so often I find my head aching from the guitars and drums that are deafening and I realize I can’t hear anyone singing — except the faint sound of everyone singing unison. Nearly every time we have Christian speakers from other tribes come to the Zoe conference, they stop to mention how the four-part harmony they hear is such a powerful symbol of the unity-within-diversity of the gospel. (Admittedly, not all singing services sound like the Zoe conferences. But you get the point.) When I sing I remember that God is the audience, not me; and I remember that my job is to add my part — to participate with a grateful heart. Not saying that doesn’t happen in other settings; I just love that as a strength of my own heritage.
Eighth: Autonomous. Remember that word? Godly leaders making prayerful decisions. No brotherhood pope (unless we’ve elected Randy Harris to the post).
Ninth: The body of Christ is so wonderfully diverse. So much larger than any little groups. Celebrate the diversity of those who follow Christ!
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Mike,
Regarding #7. When Michael Card did his concert at the ACU Lectureship this year there was a moment when he played some hymns and had us sing along. At certain points he would stop playing and we would sing unaccompanied. Earlier in the concert he joked with us about our a cappella tradition. Apparently his wife has COC roots and this has been a family conversation for them.
Anyway, after singing a cappella with him for some songs, Card looked at the audience and said: “After we leave here today, I’ll deny I ever said this. But you’re right. You’re right on this a cappella issue. Because when we all sing together something special happens.”
His point, I believe, is your point. We’re not right as in “doctrinally right.” But right in noticing and preserving something precious in this style of worship. We are right in wanting, some of us at least, in preserving this style of worship in Christendom. But we preserve it joyfully. As a gift we offer the world.
(Other observation. As we sang with Card we started off singing the melody with him. He called out to us for some harmony. He knew THIS audience could do that form him. And we did. I do so love the Churches of Christ.)
Thanks for your energy on this issue Mike. I just got to say it…I bet that Pepperdine lecture on “The Theology of Sound” is a real hum-dinger.
My thoughts are pretty basic on this. I love the tradition, but hate the petty, ridiculous arguments folks try to force-feed me where they are certain they’ve figured out what type of worship makes God angry or happy. And, my personal preference is for no instruments. Unless the church has 500+ members singing with enthused voices, the organ and drum usually drown out the singing. The piano and acoustical guitar – not bad usually, and they do sometimes add something that is often pleasing.
Great words, Richard. That’s the very kind of observation I’m talking about. One of my friends who preaches for another church (different denomination) here in town has visited Highland several times during his vacations. He is a kind, godly man who wells up with tears as he speaks about what the singing means to him.
I should add this for full disclosure. I haven’t meant to seem overly defensive of RH. They hardly need me to defend them. They are a wonderful church, and I trust their leadership. But part of my interest is my long, close friendship with their preacher. It’s been one of the great blessings of my ministry life.
Most of the people I know DO think “it’s God’s way.” They wouldn’t argue for it if they didn’t believe it was the way most pleasing — by Biblical example –to God. Is it a salvation issue? No. But are salvation issues the only things that are God’s way?
Is being a good steward of your money a salvation issue? No. Is modest dress a salvation issue? No. Is attending corporal worship a salvation issue?
But we teach these things as God’s way. What is the difference?
Good balanced post.
Can’t help but notice that a cappella is misspelled on the Pepperdine website: “The Ascending Voice: An International Symposium of Sacred A Capella Music.”
Good points Lisa! I agree with Mike when he said instruments SOMETIMES drown out great singing. I have worshiped with it both ways and prefer Acapella. As long as we don’t “look down” on those using instruments and vice versa. Look at those STILL singing Acapella, when will they get with it and realize instruments are where it’s at! ha
Mike-
I appreciate your last post about autonomy. When I read material criticizing specific churches for decisions that have been made I always wonder about autonomy. If we truly believe in autonomy then not all churches will look exactly alike.
I’m confused. Did God change his mind on music somewhere between the Old & New Testaments? I’m serious – I didn’t grow up CoC, so I’m confused why it’s OK for David to praise God with tamborines & harps (and dance half-naked in the street too) and God never says He’s displeased, but somehow the are some who think He might be if we did the same thing now. Can someone give me a “Reader’s Digest” answer to this please?
if you don’t spell it right, will you go to hell?
My son goes to the Christian church and I attend with him when I visit. The drums and guitars are just too loud. I asked him “Would they ever allow a piano and a violin?” He just didn’t know. I often feel as I close my eyes in song with just voices, that I am reaching up to Him and feel His prescence. While I don’t feel it’s wrong to have instruments, I have never felt the power of His closness with them. That is just my choice and I am glad we just use voices.
Just one thought…how can a fellowship that stresses that Tradition is not authoritative find its identity in Tradition? Some are finding the Tradition argument far more exasperating than the “Scriptural Authority” argument for the simple fact that it is tremendously inconsistent with our “tradition is not authoritative” claim–also an important part of Church of Christ identity.
In my understanding of scriptures there is adifference in the way we worship now and the old tesament way. It seems we are we in the shadow, the types when the instrument is included. The reality is found in Christ. Colossians 2 : 16 and 17.
James – Excellent question.
I think there’s a difference between:
Tradition as the word of authority because that’s how the church has done it for hundreds of years;
and tradition as the story of how a group, family, or tribe has unfolded.
Families that ignore their stories and their heritages are troubled. So also are the ones that enshrine those stories in a way that prevents them from letting the stories evolve.
As we’ve often heard, Tradition is the living faith of the dead, while traditionalism is the dead faith of the living.
Let me say that there is irony all the way through on our insistence that we are traditionless. That irony was pointed out so well by Leonard Allen in The Cruciform Church, by Richard Hughes in Reviving the Ancient Faith, and by Leonard and Richard in Illusions of Innocence (still one of my favorite reads about restoration traditions).
Here are a few choice words from The Cruciform Church:
“A strong sense of identity requires a sense of continuity with the past.”
“Propelled by such an attitude toward the past, restoration movements like ours easily develop a kind of historylessness. By this term I refer to the perception that, while other churches or movements are snared in the web of profane history, one’s own church or movement stands above mere human history.”
“This sense of historylessness works in powerful and subtle ways. In the process it cretaes exhilarating (and damaging) illusions. Among Churches of Christ it often has meant that we simply discounted eighteen centuries of Christianity as, at worst, a diseased tumor or, at best, an instructive failure. And not surprisingly, the same attitude has led many people among Churches of Christ to dismiss their own history as itself irrelevant.”
“This sense of historylessness has predominated in our movement. And that predominance has inhibited and distorted our theological efforts in several ways.”
Mike, I “fell away” from the church several years ago but I enjoy reading your posts and the comments of your readers. Your posts have served as a great inspiration to me that the church is truly becoming a church of grace and is not still entrenched in the “we are the only one” ways of old. If I ever make my way back home – both to the US and to the church – I think I will experience a refreshing change.
All this being said let me put out my 2 cents regarding a cappella music. True enough the New Testament does not mention, and the argument is that God does not condone it. But where in the Old Testament did God command the Israelites to use instruments of worship? But they did and the worship was pleasing to God. Perhaps I am missing something but I do not find anywhere in the Old Testament that using instruments of music was a commandment of God.
If he did not command it in the Old Testament but yet it was pleasing worship why can’t we apply the same logic to the New Testament…or did God change in what was pleasing to him? I think not.
Having grown up in the a cappella tradition, I was one of the college students who realized how “vacuous” the arguement was. (though i still dont know what that word means- i hope its not a curse word). Then I lead an interdenominational Bible study in abilene called Grace, that was very instrumental. Now as a minister at an a cappella church I dont wake up with tears longing for drums. From my experience I have never seen or encoutered a person who became selfless, compassionate or who renounced materialism because of a guitar. I have grown to appreciate our tradition more because of that experience, but that issue means so little to me now. I think I would look for about 132 other things before choosing a church over instruments or a cappella. I wish that we would worship God with how we choose and sacrifice for others with their worship practices.
Coming from a church of Christ that has enjoyed instrumental worship services on Sunday nights for the past 3 – 4 years (and as not only the preacher for this church, but one who plays guitar, banjo, and keyboard … yes, we often have bluegrass renditions of the old, old Stamps-Baxter songs), I’m delighted to hear of the decision at RH. I appreciate your blog today as well. I might add one thought: Regardless of how one chooses to interpret Revelation, there is a comment of the redeemed receiving a harp from God. Interesting that God would place in the hands of the redeemed the very instrument that, on earth, would have sent that soul to hell??? Doesn’t make any sense at all.
I really enjoy reading your blog.
This issue raises some questions about autonomy and identity that are now being asked by many of us in erstwhile or might be International Churches of Christ as we try to figure out where we’re going. Several of your points about a capella music have to do with “identity.” One of the things many of my ICOC friends claim to hear from other Restoration Movement folks is along the lines of, “Don’t lose your identity.” I’ve heard it several times now, only second hand, and it always makes me ask, “Why not?” To me, our “identity” seems almost synonymous with our sectarianism.
I see things like this and realize that many of us grew tired of being known for not using instruments. Many ICOCs have recently ratified a document (many call it the “Unity Proposal”) akin to the Christian Affirmation that has similarly peripheral points, one of which (just as an example) is that we agree that single members should not date non-Christians. As grand as that may be, I find myself thinking that I don’t want to be known for not dating non-Christians. These things become Core Beliefs and neither (a capella music or who we date or marry) seemed worthy of being elevated to Core Belief status.
Wouldn’t it be better to be identified as “those people who really love Jesus” or something similar?
Bottom line: why is it so important to have an “identity?”
It still baffles me where anyone can get that not using instruments is a key to salvation. I just don’t understand it. I truly believe that some people don’t beleive that but they just don’t want to give up their argument against it so they simply spout things they really don’t 100% beleive.
Psalm 33
1 Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
2 Praise the LORD with the harp;
make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
3 Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.
4 For the word of the LORD is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does.
5 The LORD loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of his unfailing love.
I think Mr. Cope throws out these CoC issues when he wants the hit counter to round the next 100,000th.
I have worshipped with both methods. I think my heart was the same either way. So with our without instruments, my worship is the same — only the method changes.
Certain kinds of instrumentation can be more or less pleasing, and some of that depends on volume (as many here have pointed out). I offer this sidebar as one who is involved with worship leadership at an instrumental church … sometimes we sing a cappella, because we can. Sometimes we have only a keyboard, because we can. Sometimes we have one guitar (or two), because we can. We try to ask the question, “How would this song’s musical presentation most effectively aid people in their worship?” That’s what we shoot for. No different from what happens (at least in theory) at an a cappella church — what songs do we sing, at what speed, at what volume, and by what songleader — to most effectively aid people in their worship.
Also, let’s be honest in saying that for a smaller church (we are about 130 in attendance, many of whom are visitors), instrumentation consists of what we have on hand. I think violin and flute would be lovely on occasion, but we are not blessed with people who have those skills. We don’t have a full drumset because we don’t have a drummer. Would the sound be better if it were a full orchestra? Very likely would be. And it may be in the future if God provides the people. But we all know that the quality of sound is secondary to the sincerity of the worship. Whether a cappella or with instrumentation, we work with the voices and the instrumentation that God provides to the local body.
On the subject of autonomy I heard someone say (40 years ago) “We say we believe in autonomy, but if a congregation actually practices it, we think something’s wrong with them.”
I once had a Bible teacher at a Christian College argue with me that it’s quite ok for a Christian to play a guitar and sing praise songs OUTSIDE of the worship assembly just not in it. He also went on to say that it’s quite ok for a person to make sounds like a drum or bass guitar in the worship assembly because, after all, it’s only his mouth and not the real thing.
He also argued it was quite ok for a woman to speak up in class but not worship because it class was “not as formal”.
Nice, huh?
In the past when I thought of instruments in worship, I thought of piano and possibly organ. How did drums and guitars get in the mix? They seem so low class, like a bar room scene. Guess it shows my age.
In regards to #3 – I can’t see a congregation going through the changes they’re about to go through and still maintain the a cappella tradition over the long haul. I’m sure Rick knows this from watching Lucado over the past 3 years.
So many issues lie ahead on this one. I just deleted about 10 paragraphs of thoughts that most wouldn’t want to hear unless they’ve been through it and are on the other side of it.
“This sense of historylessness works in powerful and subtle ways. In the process it cretaes exhilarating (and damaging) illusions. Among Churches of Christ it often has meant that we simply discounted eighteen centuries of Christianity as, at worst, a diseased tumor or, at best, an instructive failure. And not surprisingly, the same attitude has led many people among Churches of Christ to dismiss their own history as itself irrelevant.”
Mike, I love this! I’ve had my own issues with our brotherhood over the years, this being one of them. God, however, is faithful, and I find myself back with my own people…these loveable, flawed, redeemed brothers and sisters whose paths have been so similar to mine. I love our tradition as I love the whole of 2000 years of Christendom and the heritage that I was adopted into, the root of Abraham.
Robert…looking for the command for instrumental music in the O.T. How about 2 Chronicles 29:25-26.
“He stationed the Levites in the temple of the LORD with cymbals, harps and lyres in the way prescribed by David and Gad the king’s seer and Nathan the prophet; this was commanded by the LORD through his prophets. So the Levites stood ready with David’s instruments and the priests with their trumpets.”
Since Chronicles has been invoked in support of instrumental music in divine worship, many of you will want to know that the ancient Syriac Peshitta version of Chronicles eliminates or minimizes nearly every reference made to instrumental worship in that book. The pressing question is whether the translator was Jewish or Christian. We cannot know for sure…
Tim, you bring up an important issue– the issue of “formality.” I was once told by a convicted brother that we could listen to instrumental music and even play it in “worshipful” ways that were in “informal” settings, but that our “formal” worship (Sunday and Wednesday at the building) had stricter guidlines. I asked for the source of these guidlines and where we got the idea that there was “formal” and “informal” worship and was directed to passages in which Paul is addressing having order in assemblies. It seems to me that on ALL occasions in which we come together in the name of God, we need to consider Paul’s instructions for considering the needs of my brothers and sisters and behaving in a way that exemplifies Christ’s love for us… Thing is, Paul was talking about issues that are always going to be “cultural.” Head coverings, length of hair, meat, gender roles… etc. If we allow ourselves to believe that somehow God has given us “special” rituals and instructions for “Formal” worship times then we are one step toward making those “formal” times the ONLY time we consider ourselves to be worshipping. That’s where many are… many in Christendom at large. That completely misses the point of Romans 12– being “transformed” becoming a “living sacrifice.” I fear that the “instrumental” issue is really indicative of our misunderstanding of what worship is. Worship happens when I bow before God in his temple. We ARE his temple… We should be always “bowed” in all that we do, when we come together, when we walk alone, when we sing, when we pluck the guitar, when we blog… Sound too informal? Sounds like “prayer without ceasing” to me.
It surprises me that everyone is overlooking the most important issue you have raised in this discussion: Randy Harris as pope. I believe that post needs to be reserved for someone willing to wear a necktie.
Scott, exactly. Same thing with “dressing up” for “church”. Remember how you used to be able to “dress down” on Sunday night and even more so on Wed. night? That was because Sunday morning was more “formal”. Good grief I am glad we are past that!! Well, for some churches we are.
Jeff Jenkins, I agree with you. Once they go instrumental, it will be hard to go back. Even with two different services you know that it will slowly bleed over to the other.
Beaner — actually, I don’t think David was half-naked, I think he was all-the-way naked. So I think we should really get back to the Bible and ditch the clothes in our worship services. That would take care of the dress-code issue, wouldn’t it? Think about it — no more frantic ironing on Sunday mornings, no more rush to get the kids dressed, no more having to get the tie just right. I think I’m on to something here.
And Greg England — a banjo? We’re at an instrumental church in Arkansas and even we don’t have a banjo.
Since the merger of our congregations, CofC and Christian Church, we use both instrumental and a cappella in the same service. The choice of music dictates which for which song.
I found, to my surprise, that when singing only a cappella, I focus on the sounding good part of my worship but with instrumental, I can focus on the worship. So, the heart is the real issue. My heart tries to focus when singing a cappella, but because I like to sing and have a fairly good voice that others compliment, then that seems to be my focus.
It has been a strange, interesting journey for us. We are still learning and growing what it means to be “church”.
One of our leaders found out that our Sunday School was watching videos with instrumental music – we didn’t watch the rest of the series if I remember correctly.
I agree with Tim in being “less formal” in our dress to church. I am however worried that in our attempt to be less formal SOME our young teenagers look as if they have literally climbed out of bed on Sunday mornings. We still need to teach our young men and women about modesty and presenting our best even in an “informal” setting. Informal doesn’t mean sloppy and not wearing much. Not all the young men and women dress this way~but I’ve seen many on Sunday mornings that are inappropriate. Just a thought~~
Lee, it all depends on who defines “sloppy”. Wearing your shirt untucked could be sloppy to some, not to others. Would you have an issue with some of those teens showing up like that to a youth event on Saturday night at someones home?
I see your point though.
The late Burton Coffman talks about instrumental music in a couple of his commentaries. In his commenatry on the Minor Prophets, page 164 and in his 2nd volume of Psalms, page 567 he wrote “Excursus on Mechanical Instruments of Music in Christian Worship.” I urge everyone to read these.
Remember than we are not unique in not allowing instruments. Most of the Protestant demonations have not used them for any great length of time. The Great Mother of all Apostasies, who first used them in the middle of the eighth century, does not use them in celebration of the High Mass.
As Dr. Coffman says, “Many churches today have found it necessary to resist the”Woodstock” excesses of such music. The whole current development in the field of popular ‘music’ indicates in unmistakable clarity the element of paganism that is inherent in all of it.”
Sometimes it is hard to see the forest for all the trees.
Violinist/Worshiper
My wife Stephanie is a violinist and in the past has been a part of several orchestra’s. Through years of training and experience, being a violinist has become part of who she is. She understands her own abilities and weaknesses and she understands her role in the orchestra.
When the piece they are playing is not her favorite, she plays.
When the conductor is old and his baton is shaky, she plays.
When others around her are not prepared, she plays.
When she is playing in a huge symphony hall, she plays.
When she is playing for our family after dinner, she plays.
When she is the most talented player on the stage, she plays.
When she is the least talented player on the stage, she plays.
You see, she’s a violinist, she plays the violin. It’s what she does. It’s who she is.
I think that is why she understands so well what it means to be a worshiper. I’ve worshiped with her in all sorts of settings with organs, hand bells, bluegrass bands, rock bands and acappella. In Lutheran churches, Baptist churches, Assembly of God churches, church of Christ churches, community churches, backyards, log cabins and living rooms. Through years of training and experience, being a worshiper has become part of who she is. She understands her own abilities and weaknesses and she understands her role in worship.
When the song is not her favorite, she worships.
When the worship leader is old and stodgy or young and screamy, she worships.
When others around her are disruptive, she worships.
When she is in a beautiful cathedral, she worships.
When she is in the woods or on the beach or in an ugly 1960′s church of Christ box, she worships.
When the notes are flat and so is her mood, she worships.
When she’s not sure what part to sing, she worships.
You see, she’s a worshiper, she worships. It’s what she does. It’s who she is.
Roland,
Someone’s shirt untucked would not be sloppy in my book~On Sunday morning’s~~~~~~~~~~~
I’m talking about messy, unkept clothes and hair! I think you all know what I’m talking about. Sure, it’s not about what we wear that God cares about~but HOW we wear it. Would any of us show up to a JOB INTERVIEW in dirty old navy flip flops, a shirt with an inappropriate sayings and ripped up dirty jeans? No!!!!!!!!!! So those who use this arguement of God doesn’t care what we wear just what is in our hearts is true to a certain extent~~~ so if that is your case~~~your boss shouldn’t care what you wear to a job interview~~~ if we used the excuse I’ve heard from many defending extremely casual dress–many would not GET the job~ we all know that!!
“Man looks at the outside, God looks at the heart.”
This is why we dress up for job interviews but can come to God (24-7, not just on Sundays) just as we are. Any further expectation is created by man, not God.
One of the fastest growing denominations are Cowboy churches (doesn’t every Texas county have one these days?), and I’m certain they would have a banjo, steel guitar, mandelin, and probably a harmonica. I do wonder what kind of dress code, or vehicle code, they have at the Cowboy church?
I agree Steve Jr. that God sees our heart not what we wear. However, I seriously doubt you would let your teenage daughter or son come dressed like I described above to any church related function, much less anywhere in society. ie: Inappropriate sayings on T-Shirts, suggestive sayings on T-shirts, ripped, messy jeans and shirts revealing too much along with skirts too short. I have seen all of the above in church settings and I think it is inappropriate. We try and teach our young girls about modesty and this is what they are looking up too???? C’Mon you have to agree that modesty and good ole common sense comes in to play somewhere here.
Voice a cappella or voice w/instruments – in our insistence on one or the other, are we not showing how dug in our heels are into comfort zones? Are we to be comfortable before the LORD, or are we to disregard our comfort zones and bow before Him, worship Him? IMO, if ANY tradition has become so important we forget the reason we’re even together for the hour+ on Sunday morning, we might as well stay home and play Balderdash. If any tradition has become so important we must fuss and fume at each other about our own preferences, has that tradition not been transformed into an idol, blocking our worship of the true God?
Can we not concentrate on Him? Can we not remember the wonderous worship described in Revelation of angels, elders, et al surrounding the Throne – where they cry out without ceasing, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD God Almighty.” Are these words the center piece of these scriptures, or is it whether the voices are accompanied or not? It is not rather, are we truly worshiping Him, bowing before Him, singing before Him [accompanied or not], dancing in our joy before Him? Is our worship of Him transporting us to the foot of His Throne or are we concerned more with the music we’re making, good or bad, accompanied or not?
I pray for an “identity” for this fellowship of being a Jesus following, Jesus worshpping fellowship that spends its time, energies and resources on helping those in need, comforting those that are hurting, and showing them Jesus, His Cross, and His Resurrection to the lost. If we MUST have an identity, may it be one in Jesus and Him crucified, of Him resurrected.
Inapproriate is wrong anywhere, not just church. Lee, you are right, common sense should prevail. I wonder though, I wear shorts and untucked golf shirts on Sunday Morning..with sandles. Would you be ok with me leading the prayer like that?
What if you like dressing up for church? Is that wrong?
Well, Lee, since church for us usually happens in a living room, folks can come pretty much however they wish — whether they have grass stains on their knees, body odor, messed-up hair, whatever. The question about my “teenagers” would have to be answered somewhat hypothetically, as I am barely out of my teen years myself (well, 5 years out…). But that’s a family-to-family decision, and one that shouldn’t be made on a church-wide basis (not saying that’s your position).
I have a friend who used to preach at a country church in New Mexico. There was this woman he befriended in the community who began to attend his church. She lived on a farm, and didn’t dress very lady-like to church — Wranglers, big belt buckle, button-up shirt, bowlin, hat… (you get the picture). I’ll call her Mary. Some of the more “sophisticated” women of the church came to my friend all “hot and bothered.”
“Mary is a sweet lady,” they asked, “but do you think we should buy her some nice dresses for church?”
Without flinching, my friend responded like this:
“I have an even better idea, ladies. Why don’t the rest of us begin dressing down for Mary instead of asking her to “come up” to our standards?”
I like that, not only as a principle for church dress codes, but as a broader principle for interacting with anyone who is considered to be on the “fringes.”
In reference to what Chris said:
Yes, I have noticed that certain times during Mass (via Direct TV) it is strictly a cappella. I never knew why.
With all the arguments about using instruments in worship and all the passages refering to the use of instruments and even naked dancing while worshiping God, one has to wonder how the a cappella tradition ever became prevalent enough to become a tradition. I mean, 800 years is an incredibly long time to worship without instruments. If it was a preference instead of an understanding, it had to have been a very strong preference.
Personally, I am glad that naked dancing didn’t catch on.
My father-in-law was somewhat of an icon among mainstream coC preachers in north Alabama and loved the old gospel groups such as the Florida Boys and the Kingsmen. One day he was singing along with a Kingsmen album and I happened to pick up my banjo and start playing along with the song. He immediately stopped singing. When I asked him why, he said he could not sing with an instrument, but was singing with all his heart to “recorded” instruments!
Untucked golf shirts with sandals, a women from New Mexico in her jeans and belt buckle are not what I’m talking about. I think that is great! They are in church and the above is not what I would call inappropriate. Again, shirts with suggestive, inappropriate sayings, messy, torn, dirty jeans, flip flops on teenagers that use to be white and are now brown…….short skirts and low tops on teenage girls(and we all know most of these kids I’m talking about have other items in their closet!)~~~~~~this is what I’m talking about. I guess we are so tolerant that when we see all these suggestive words on T- shirts (and don’t say you haven’t seen them) we don’t bat an eye. My point is that I’ve seen all the above on kids at church. I feel THIS is inappropriate.
And yes, I believe it’s still OK to dress up for church! ha I always feel better on days I choose to “dress up”.
Lee, you need to be careful about just addressing the girls about modesty. Girls are tired of hearing that it is all their fault.
I heard all these arguments growing up…about how we have to put on our best for the Lord…but I also remember the grownups complaining about one teenager who had long hair and would ride his motorcycle to church and sit on his helmet behind the last row of pews. That teenager grew up to be a marine and a man of God. Some of them lost out by not getting to know him and worrying more about his appearance than the fact that he was seeking God.
Someone else has given an answer to instrumental music being commanded in Old Testament worship. It is not commanded in New Tesament worship except to sing.
The teaching of first importance is the gospel , ICor. 15 : 1 – 7. Paul also spoke to the elders of Ephesus about the whole will of God in Acts 20 : 27. So why not teach all of the word ?
Jesus said we would be known by our love for one another John 13 : 34 and 35.
A new language has begun not found in the scriptures like “tribes,” “our movement” and ” our heritage.”
Just because someone believes strongly that we should follow the New Testament pattern of singing without an instrument is not an empty belief.
Some of our youth may have not heard very much teaching on the reason why we do not use the instrument.
Just some observations after reading the comments the last two days.