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!
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.
“Dressed up?” Some of you would undoubtedly bleed from your eyes if you dropped in some Sunday at WFR in West Monroe, La. Of about 800 you might find a dozen ties and fewer suits. You will find lots of camo clothing, especially during hunting seasons. It is not unusual for some of the brothers to visit the duck blind before class.
We are A Cappella simply because we like it. Drop by some Wed at 7:00pm for “Peak of the week” and you will be amazed at the singing, it is heavenly in my view.
Acts, works, and traditions that do not dishonor Christ are up for grabs as far as I’m concerned. If you can do it while your heart is turned toward Christ, Go for it! After all, God looks at the heart, not the harp. (I could’n resist)
I am thankful for Mike, Max, Rubel, Randy, and other “change agents”. All of these men (there are many others) have one thing in common. They have discovered that we are saved by grace, based upon the merits of Jesus’ works and not our own. My prayer is that the message of grace will continue to spread in our brotherhood.
Grace and Peace,
Royce Ogle
I used to dress down for church so I wouldn’t stand out and be judged for dressing up. It’s really none of my business if other people want to dress down, but I feel better dressing up.
I will confess that I am a student minister, and in the 10 years I have been in youth ministry, I have not taught/preached a single lesson on why we don’t worship with instruments. and my congregation is an a capella, no praise teams, 4 parts or die church with a very rich singing tradition. I must tell you that I haven’t made this a point of my teachings because I have too much to tell them about Jesus. It honestly makes no sense to me to not tell the students about Christ so that I can spend quality time with arguments that are not core to our discipleship. And I don’t want to sound flippant about the issues involved with instruments, but I don’t think the next generation cares about instrumental worship or not. I have had several students come to our student ministry out of instrumental fellowships, and they don’t care! I have also had several students come to us from being lost without any faith background at all, and they don’t care either. What the students crave is Jesus Christ. And as long as I am teaching, I will teach Jesus and his Kingdom. (And our solution to the dress code “problem” is to dress to glorify God. It works for us.)
Anymore when I speak at a church (and I speak at a different church nearly every Sunday) I phone ahead and ask what the “dress code” is. No need to take a tie if no men are wearing them. But if they do, I do. What we don’t need is dressing down people for not dressing up. Thank God you have some people to whom you can share Christ with.
We’re not there to “please” ourselves - we’re there to GLORIFY God! Tradition? I think not. The example has followed from the first days of the church. The church spread from the East. Almost all Orthodox churches sing without instruments. This has been handed down from generation to generation.
As for what’s appropriate to wear . . . if we were on trial and going before the judge to decide our fate, would we want to look our best OR just show up in whatever was comfortable?? We seem to just want to be comfortable to come into the house of the Most High God and Judge. Very sad!
Wow! what an interesting last couple of days. I think for the most part this discussion has been healthy. To me the main reason why it is such a hot button issue is that is deals with something we do and not just something we believe. A case in point would be the Holy Spirit. I grew up hearing heated debated about the work of the Holy Spirit, but I never remember a church splitting over the working of the Holy Spirit. With the instrument it is difficult to remain neutral. I think in my case I would follow the practice of J. W. McGarvey. When the instrument was introduced at the church where he attended in Lexington, KY he quietly got up and went somewhere else. He could not in good conscience be a member where it was practiced, but did not want to be devisive over its use. I think the whole question gets us so worked up only because it is very public in nature and it is very difficult to remain neutral on a matter so public. I think this blog shows the need for more civil dialogue, but I am afraid that we are headed for another split. We seem to be pretty good and doing the very thing we claim to hate.
Julie
If you read my post a little closer~~~I only addressed SOME teenagers(not all) and was only talking about the girls in my description of short skirts and low tops. I was talking about boys mainly when I spoke of suggestive wordings on shirts, ratty jeans, sloppy plastic broken flip flops etc. I would have no problem with the teenager who had long hair and rode his motorcycle and sat on his helmet. HE IS NOT DRESSING INAPPROPRIATELY IN MY VIEW. I am speaking of SOME teens who I know have nice things and choose to not “bring their best” even in a casual atttire~It’s a modest vs. imodest dress. I’m not talking of the guy in an untucked golf shirt, the woman with jeans from New Mexico or the Motorcycle rider……
Again, just bringing God “your best” doesn’t mean “only in nice dress”. You can do that in a causual manner, but with TASTE.
p.s I’m a 38 yr. old female~~ I know many on this blog think I’m older and male
Lee, just for the sake of clarifying for comment…it was addressed to comment before. I didn’t see the last comment until just now. We must’ve posted close to the same time. You did ask…what are we teaching the young girls about modesty?
Feeling as though we are on trial at church? That’s what’s sad.
Churches are full of broken people. Broken people don’t always look their best. Jesus welcomes them with open arms regardless. We should, too. I’d rather a hurting teen or single mom come to church in sweatpants or ripped-up jeans than stay home because she doesn’t think she has anything appropriate to wear.
Clint that’s only allowed during VBS or in those vocal percussion bands your so proud of.
sorry Julie~I may not have clarified that. I was speaking to both male and female.
Thanks for the healthy debate. I have two girls and am just trying to teach them to be causual if they may~but in a modest way~~
Jordan Hubbard had a great post. To sing with or without instruments is irrelevant if one doesn’t know Jesus and his saving grace.
If church isn’t a place someone off the street feels comfortable coming, then I’m afraid something might be wrong with the church. How poorly a person is dressed should have no bearing in church; not to be confused with how modestly someone is dressed, though I doubt the sinful woman cared what she was wearing when she cried on Jesus’ feet. Isn’t that what church should be?
Speaking of a cappella and vocal percussion…when will we hear some at Pepperdine? I’m afraid that the next generations might be missing out on some good lectures because the music isn’t theirs.
30,000………………….
Children………………..
Dead!……………………
Today!………………….
and everyday!………..
while we stand by……
What are we thinking about?
I suggest that next week we come in sackcloth and ashes. And that the only sound should be our wailing over our complicity as we argue about our silly preferences.
I agree with so many others who’ve posted regarding arguments against instrumental music: it’s ok to tell me you don’t like something or it makes you feel uncomfortable, I can accept that…JUST DON’T TELL ME IT’S WRONG. And regardless of all of those arguments against instruments, I STILL suspect it had to do with the anti-elitist culture of the early CofC. I mean, we were some po’ folk back in the day!!! Who was going to pay for an organ at church when very few of us could even imagine affording one for our own home?? Anything that bright shiny new church did on the other (right) side of the tracks was suspect…therefore, instrumental music = WRONG.
That said, my husband and I couldn’t help but be dismayed a few years ago, when visiting the CofC we were both raised in (we attend an Episcopal church now…can’t bring myself to actually say “I’m Episcopalian now” (BTW, they can’t sing worth &*%$). The congregation is still acappella, but years of “praise songs” (most of them just plain BAD music) — combined with overhead projection of lyrics WITHOUT musical notation have taken their toll on the musical ability of the congregation. I have reached the conclusion, as others have, that although acappella music won’t get you to heaven and instrumental music won’t keep you out, acappella is a tradition worth hanging on to.
Nancy:
There was a ban against mechanical instruments in worship for centuries as any good encyclopedia of religious knowledge will show. Some of the great scholars of the 19th century including John Westley and Adam Clarke opposed their use. Our Puritan ancestors received a gift of an organ from England but rejected it for two generations.
Their use in Christian -related communions is widely noted for developments which follow, such as the building of relaatively small choirs of paid singers and musicians, and the greater and greater deemphasis of the singing which God commanded.Any big city pastor knows that the most unspiritual part of his church in the choir.
When instruments of music are introduced into the worship of God through Christ, such an action constitutes the entering point of a wedge leading to further and further departures from God’s word, the reason for this being that the same arguments that will justify instruments of music in Christian worship will also justify the use of holy water, the burning of sacred incense, the lighting of religious lamps and blessed candles, the sign of the cross, the rosary of the Virgin Mary,or any one or all of many other innovations which have perverterd Christianity, such as changes in the action that constitutes NT baptism, etc.
From time immemorial, even for long centuries prior to Christianity, instruments of music were notoriously associated with pagan worship, as for example Daniel 3:4-5. The pagan association alone is enough to make instruments of music inappropriate to the worship of the Son of God.
Taken from commentary on the Minor Prophets Volume 1
by James Burton Coffman pp165-166
Harris for Pope? hmmmmmmmmm
I have noticed that the writers of old always conveniently left out other “innovations” that are found no where in Scripture such as church buildings, song books, four part harmony, paid local preachers, separate bible classes, communion with plastic cups of grape juice and matzah crackers outside of the context of an agape meal, “gospel meetings”, invitations with altar calls, baptism in artificial bodies of water, etc.
Also conveniently overlooked or argued out of the Bible were Holy Spirit inspired meetings, women praying and prophesying in the assemblies, house churches, fasting, etc.
A book begging to be written and I hope to make a serious attempt at one in the future is how culturally imbibe or acquired most of our religious beliefs are. We always promote our beliefs as the ones that are found and come directly from the Bible, but as Richard Hughes accurately notes–we have become a people without a historical identity or a movement that denies that it has a historical identity.
We’ve always insisted that what we believe we got directly from the Bible and anyone can get this same teaching by just opening up the Bible and letting it speak. I can tell you that you could put a 100 novices in a room with only the Bible and they would never in a lifetime come up with the system of worship and practice that we’ve developed over our 180 year plus history. Why? Because most religious beliefs and practices develop over years of time within specific cultural settings and are passed along to others until they become accepted doctrinal positions.
On a much more serious note:
Has anyone taken note that greed, lust, and ignoring the poor, prisoners, and oppressed are the primary roots of paganism and affront to God rather than whether you pick a guitar or pluck a harp?
If one is looking for a standard by which to judge the merits of devotion and doctrine in God’s eyes, take a long look at Galatians 5:16-26.
God’s peace and blessings to all of his people within and without the restoration heritage.
Burton Coffman was a scholar and writer who only died this year. I wouldn’t really classify him as a “writer of old.”
He deserves much credit for the Manhattan church building and I pray his efforts will not be compromised by leaders today and in the future.
I’m responding (rather late!) to a comment made about identity by Mark. This is a conversation that I’ve been trying to have with my grandpa for years. He’s worried that we’re compromising our identity - the things that make Churches of Christ stand out.
I want to emphatically say: it’s important that we have an identity! However, we have built an identity for ourselves/ for Churches of Christ on the wrong things - external, superficial things. It’s not about whether we sing a cappella or not, or whatever the hot button issue of the moment is. An identity built by taking a certain side, be it “progressive” or “conservative,” on such issues is not substantial enough to sustain our communities of faith. That’s not the kind of identity I was baptized into.
The only identity that matters is our relationship with God through Christ. (Emphasis on the ‘our’ - we’re in this together!) There are many other things that go along with that, but being members of God’s household - that’s the crux. Why is it that we feel we need more distinction from other Christian groups than just that? (Could it be pride?)
I think it’s fine to delight or take pride in our tradition - I too love our a cappella singing - but when our emphasis on such distinctions begins to be exclusive or condescending, it’s time to reevaluate.
I am so glad I lived long enough to read…see…experience the stuff I said back as a hippie Jesus freak among the Harding folk( whom I loved) in 1973-75…..coming to light….I used to crack up because my folks would think it fine to sing gospel songs on Saturday night with a bluegrass band
BUT never in worship…A great line from my wonderful sweet but throughly old time CoC mom recently…I asked my mother if she had heard that the preacher at my sister’s church had been caught having an affair…she said “Yes, but the church probably won’t fire him or do anything about it” I said (slightly amused) really why?….she said “Well they use instrumental music in services!” I said, Mom you couldn’t possibly equate those two things…she just gave me that MOM look. I shut up!
Thanks for the reference to 2 Chronicles 29 and yes they did as God commanded, but the Israelites had worshipped for many hundreds of years in the tabernacle before the temple was built and this worship included instruments of worship. No place in the law, handed down to Moses, was there a command to use instruments in worship (at least no place that I can find). But the Israelites used instruments and God had no problem with it. Just as there is no mention of instruments in the New Testament.
God did not tell Cain or Abel what kind of offering to make but “By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings.”
I agree with the fact that Burton Coffman wa not a “writer of old”. He was a great student of the Bible. I think many should use his commentaries as an aid in their study.
On the thought of dress in worship. Would you wear an untucked golf shirt and shorts to a funeral where we are remembering the death of a friend? Why then would you wear it to worship where we are remembering the death of our Lord Jesus Christ?
As far as the instrumental worship is concerned. You have no idea how sad these postings have made me. We need to remember that worship is for God and not for us. With that in mind, we should worship the way God has commanded us through Scripture. I see no mention in Scripture of drums, guitars and the like. I will continue to pray that each of us remember that hell is a real place and those who do not follow the Bible and its teachings are following the path that will lead there.
wow…take a few days off Cope’s blog and see what you miss? This…THIS is why your name is Cope…you have to cope with all of us family members and our pontificating. It can be exhausting.
I think I would like Deana’s place of worship. I also was moved by what “Jim” wrote. It seemed to make the most sense of all.
I like to think of it as languages. When your first language is Spanish and you live in a culture where most people speak English…you’re gonna struggle some. It’s when those people begin to tell you that English is the only language that the limited view of their opinion seems to shine through.
Because of my background in CofC, I speak a cappella fluently. But, because of my background and experience in finding depth in worship while attending other churches for several years, I became fluent in instrumental worship. I find that being bilingual in worship has been such a blessing and God has used both styles to minister deeply to me. He has opened me up to all of my spiritual family and given me greater depths of fellowship. Why in the world must it be one or the other. It all seems like such an incredible waste of time and energy.
Gotta run and find some gopher wood.
As a life-long participant in the a cappella churches and long time minister in the same, I read these comments with a bit of amusement. Back in May of this year, I came to work with the Great Bridge Church of Christ in Chesapeake, Va. An instrumental fellowship. Interestingly, most of the churches of Christ in this area are instrumental. It’s helpful to remember that in some parts of the country the name on the sign out front is no indicator of the worship preference. I can’t tell you how many times visitors walk in to our sanctuary, see that piano and literally turn around and walk out. What a shame to miss worshiping with some sweet spirited folks who frankly don’t know or care what all the fuss is about.
I’m excited to hear what RH is doing. I grew up at Highland Oaks in Dallas back in the 80’s and was inspired by the Richland Hills church.
I hope more of the leadership in the a cappella tradition realize that a lot of the folks in the pews have let this issue go a long time ago…
Singing without the instrument has nothing to do with culture. It is the pattern of New Tesament worship. Christians from all over the world sing without the instrument in their assemblies in all kinds of cultures. They were , in their culture , taught the gospel and then responded to the gospel, obeyed the gospel , were baptized. Read the reports from the various brotherhood publications. On a daily basis souls are being added to the chuch by the Lord. Christians all over the world that love people and are involved in countless works of compassion, greatly concerned about hurting people. The same is true in this country. Many , numerous, constant labors of love. Look around in any local congregation and we might be pleasantly overjoyed to know of the unselfish acts of mercy manifested everyday.
I guess what I am trying to say is just because some have certain doctrinal convictions does not make them devoid of compassion and calloused to the world around them. Teach the great doctrines of scripture and love people.
The reason they let it go is because they are sadly not taught.
Suzanne,
I hear your passion to preserve the holiness of our assemblies. I appreciate that, so let me comment on how others view this issue. You talk about going to a funeral and dressing appropriately. Somewhere else in this huge thread it was described as going before a judge. If that is your view on church and the assemblies, you need to dress up! Don’t let anyone tell you not to do that!
If you ask others what they are doing when they go to church, they might respond, “I’m going to the hospital.” or “I’m going to a family reunion,” “I’m going to a wedding rehearsal,” or even “I am going to a celebration.” None of those responses are wrong either, but do you see how the people who feel those ways about church can dress in a different way and still have a clean conscience before our Lord?
Please understand, I think that dressing up can be very appropriate! But I also think that when you see people dressing down, they don’t necessarily do it out of disrespect.
I’m a CoC preacher’s kid, did 9 years on the Holy Hill of the Fair Mother City (that’d be Abilene), and for most of that time I regularly led worship with a guitar, and for a few years with a band. Now, when I do occasionally lead, I still use a guitar.
If I was right now forced to choose between a cappella or with instruments, I would personally go with a cappella (for a few reasons, none of which are doctrinal).
What I’ve learned is that “Instruments or no?” really makes little difference in the spiritual health of a church. The spiritual health of a church, and the dynamic-ness of the corporate worship gatherings, are decided by much bigger, more important things.
JIm,
“30,000………………….
Children………………..
Dead!……………………
Today!………………….
and everyday!………..
while we stand by……
What are we thinking about?
I suggest that next week we come in sackcloth and ashes. And that the only sound should be our wailing over our complicity as we argue about our silly preferences. ”
I just said this topic was what made us look effin stupid and you go and quantify it. Thanks man.
But let us continue to beat this dead horse, as long as it is not in church and construed as a drum.
“Most people I know who want to preserve it aren’t trying to make their case in terms of “it’s God’s way.””
Mike, I agree with you, but what greatly concerns me is that I think we’re in the minority on this within the CofC. I don’t think the people you’re talking to about this issue represent a good cross section of the CofC. The Christian Chronicle recently showed a survey where overy 50% of respondants said we (the CoC) ought not fellowship the Christian Church due to their use of instrumental music. That sounds like binding opinion to me.
Please understand, I’m not commenting about the pros and cons of instrumental worship. I’m making the point that I don’t think the CofC has moved as far as you think she has moved on this. Abilene, Nashville, Dallas, Malibu, and (even) Searcy aren’t composed of typical CofC members. These areas are a bit more open minded.
Do you have any data to backup your assumption that most CofC members don’t bind such a thing as a cappella music on others? I’m not so much concerned with the instruments vs. non-instruments as I am with the health of our movement at large. While there seems to be discussions that our movement is finally progressing into some deeper levels of maturity and unity, I fear in 100 years we may be having discussions about how to reconcile the a cappella CofC with the group that split off because God led them to use instruments.
That is, I agree with your opinion of instrumental music, but I think most people you know don’t represent the CofC at large. My guess is the majority of the CofC do still try to make their case in terms of “it’s God’s way.
I think more CofC people line up behind Mack Lyon than they do Rick Atchley on most issues.
For the record, the pattern of the NT is not vocal music, but Jesus Christ and him crucified. We went far astray when we lifte up a flawed system as the pattern and took Jesus away as the only model for Christian unity and maturity.
Peace.
Where I currently attend church, it has not been long since we’ve had the “instruments are wrong” sermon, with a dose of “it’s okay to listen to Christian instrumental music as long as you don’t worship while doing it”. There are a few of us who disagree with that, but most of the body would not. It’s a church of about 225.
I say that with the full acknowledgment that caring for the poor is more important than instruments. That said, these threads have been helpful to me and I’m glad to have had the opportunity to see what others are thinking on the subject.
Yes Jesus is the pattern for our C
No doubt that all of us should follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Being transformed into the likeness of Jesus should be the constant pursuit of every disciple of Jesus. I have never said that how we worship is the only patttern , but that there is a pattern for worship.
MOST OF WORSHIP IS OUTSIDE OF CHURCH ASSEMBLIES
Much of our fanaticism regarding music in worship, as well as other cultural adaptations, calls for a serious restudy of the nature of Christian worship.
Worship for too many of us has often been something which takes place at a certain time (Sunday “worship hour”) and place (church building) with special religious ceremonies and functions (especially when Lord’s Supper is served). Because of this, all related activities of these special gatherings are thought to be of very special importance to the Lord, in fact of the greatest importance to the Lord
The Lord’s Day assembly is perceived to be regulated by rules and directives which are not equally binding for the other times and places and occasions even when the congregation gathers. The predominate idea of worship for many Christians is the Lord’s Day gathering. The Lord’s Day gathering is often seen as an especially holy and a more sacred time of worship than other times and gatherings.
The biblical facts are that no gathering of the church in the New Covenant Scriptures was ever designated as “worship.” Equating Christian worship uniquely with a congregational gathering is a product of the institutional church which sometimes “winks the eye” at the grim reality that Sunday morning holiness is too often followed by Monday morning worldliness.
Jesus insisted that the time was already present for men and women to understand that faithful worship is living and serving the Father “in Spirit and in truth!” But most important of all, our Lord Jesus personally addressed the false notion of thinking that “worship” is a matter of special places, special times and special ceremonies. The Samaritan woman at the well at Sycar (John 4) was concerned about getting “worship right.” Jesus, in his ministry, did not “give in” to the Pharisaical notion that holy days or the temple or the Sabbath or the synagogues were to be seen as significantly different from other days and places in the sense of doing the will of Lord or even worshipping the Lord. Jesus insisted worship had little to do with the specialness of the Samaritan Holy Mountain or Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
In the letters of the Apostles, only Paul comes closest of all writers to giving a precise definition of what “worship” means and what it is all about: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-THIS IS YOUR SPIRITUAL ACT OF WORSHIP. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2)
Faithful worship is all of life, every day and every place. Worship is living and breathing the will of the Lord. This understanding makes all of life sacred and holy. No part of a believer’s life can become profane. There can be no secular dimension in a believer’s life. All of life is Christian Ministry. All of life is worship. To think of being “God’s holy people twenty-four/seven” is a great responsibility and yet very liberating at the same time. This is why the Apostle Paul can give the wonderful instructions about the intimacies of marital love, and see the marital relationship as sacramental because the relationship between a Christian husband and wife is a sacred covenant and embraces a sacred act of worship. Sex, in a Christian marriage, is not fleshly but spiritual. Marital intimacies for Christians derive holiness from their reflection of another marriage, the great mystery of Christ and his marriage with the church, his bride (Ephesians Chapter 5).
Several from our little community of faith, Jesus Community Center in Miami, experienced powerful worship Thanksgiving morning. Several sisters prepared traditional meals (just like we would all have later in the day the at our tables with family and friends) for the poorest of the poor, the most homeless of the homeless in our inner city.
We not only got to minister “to the least of these” but with them praised and glorified the Lord. The brothers (men and boys) took the meals down to streets where the largest community of our homeless neighbors live. With about half of those with whom we shared our meals, we also huddled in little circles or knelt in the dirty streets to pray for them as they poured out the painful stories of their lives.
We found two evangelists on the streets who had drifted far from the Lord’s will through drugs, etc. Both asked that we beg the Lord for deliverance from their demons. Both wanted deliverance and committed to stay within their transient community to minister to those who do not know the Lord.
One gentleman was suffering a fever and was shivering with cold–yes, it got down to 49 in Miami Thanksgiving morning. A non-Christian with us took off his new coat and gave it to the man. The man shed tears and insisted on giving the coat back to my friend because in that way, he insisted, “We can both experience the joy of knowing it is more blessed to give than receive!”
A buddy of mine, went around the van and took off his own new jacket and came back with the message, “I just found a spare coat in the van” and gave it to the shivering man. It was a jacket he had just received as a gift.
To me this is worship in the sense of pouring out adoration to our Heavenly Father while offering our gifts to Him as we serve the least of these. This kind of stuff is where the rubber meets the road in worship. This is what bringing our gifts to the altar is all about. This is what Jesus defined as the dividing line between those who are “good and faithful servants”
Harris for Pope! Harris for Pope! Maybe then he’ll come out with a “Harris Sings the Classics” too.
(That might just be scarier than this conversation!)
Eric, your view from a very conservative area (MS) is probably correct. Here in Searcy, what I see is that the young ‘uns coming thru HU (and I’m sure all the sister schools) have been brought up listening to the stuff on the radio, and it is a non-issue with them. Mike made this point, too, and I think that is where the change is happening. The Chronicle survey cited may be right for now, but I don’t think it is static at all.
I’ll add that my hope is that it really is a non-issue with them. That is, that they won’t reject the others in their midst to whom it does matter.
Kieth,
I doubt it could be said much better. Unfortunately, as human beings we have such a desperate need to institutionalize our faith. It’s so much easier to dig hard for the right rules (which of course change every decade or so) then to evaluate our faith based on the fruit we are producing for God’s Kingdom. And essentially, thats what this conversation is really all about. Jesus was so clear about how to follow him…how to worship in spirit and truth…how to become his “apprentice”….and it all had to do with the heart. Love God, love people and trust in the one that was sent. Our correct worship of God is determined by the decisions we make every minute of every day to love God and love others…that is the “pattern” of New Testament worship.
Every sectarian system is shaped by its unique use, misuse and ignoring of Scripture. This is equally true when we make our A Cappella praise a point of Christian doctrine and test of faithfulness to the Lord.
Examine the ways we have employed or not employed the “music” passages in the New Covenant Scriptures:
Luke 1522-32–This is a parable of lost sons coming home to the Father’s house (that is the church). This suggests that we worship the Father ause of his grace, mercy and salvation. We worship by celebrating the return of the lost. This celebration involves music (from symphona which means music from many instruments). How did we miss that passage in our “red letter” additions of the New Testament with the very words of Jesus?
Acts 2:42-47–The earliest Christians gathered daily in both private homes and the Jewish temple. When and whereever they gathered they were praising the Lord in the way the Lord commanded for the Temple. It seems very likely that the first congregation of the Lord’s church regularly (even daily) praised the Lord with instruments. How did we miss that “necessary inference”?
1 Corinthians 10:14-14:40–This is the only detailed discussion of the church assembly in the New Covenant Scr