Frank Jamerson
The Times Daily, February 11, 2008, had an article on churches “wrestling with the idea of new worship styles.” The preacher at St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church said they had “an old organ and piano,” but he wanted drums also. He said “it nearly split the church,” over adding another kind of instrumental music! The fact is that when they chose to add one kind of instrument, there was no reason not to add others. That is the way error works. “If we can do that, then we can do this” becomes the standard of action—not whether God’s word authorizes that, or this!
The article said “Contemporary worship services are nothing new. They grew out of the charismatic movement of the 1960s when some church-goers were seeking a style of worship different from their parents.” Their “feel good” religion led them to look for ways to feel better. They cannot know how God feels simply by how they feel. That comes only from His revelation (1 Cor. 2:11,12). He didn’t say anything The Times Daily, February 11, had an article on churches “wrestling with the idea of new worship styles.” The preacher at St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church said they had “an old organ and piano,” but he wanted drums also. He said “it nearly split the church,” over adding another kind of instrumental music! The fact is that when they chose to add one kind of instrument, there was no reason not to add others. That is the way error works. “If we can do that, then we can do this” becomes the standard of action—not whether God’s word authorizes that, or this!
The article said “Contemporary worship services are nothing new. They grew out of the charismatic movement of the 1960s when some church-goers were seeking a style of worship different from their parents.” Their “feel good” religion led them to look for ways to feel better. They cannot know how God feels simply by how they feel. That comes only from His revelation (1 Cor. 2:11,12). He didn’t say anything authority, there is no stopping place for apostasy.
The Times Daily article on churches in business (Feb. 13), said “Mars Hill Church of Christ…(is) among the churches that operate schools.” They see no difference between good works of individuals and the church. Secular education is a good work, therefore the church may provide secular schools. Certainly, they would not want to be anti-education!
A member of Tuscumbia Church of Christ who attends a Baptist Church that has “pool tables, table tennis and snacks” said she would “like to see us have pool tables or Friday Bible studies” but she attends Tuscumbia Church of Christ because of all her friends. She said that she sees no Scriptural difference.
Recently, a member of the church said he would answer a question about church kitchens when those in line to use the rest room would explain where they got the authority for the rest room! He didn’t try to find a passage of Scripture to authorize churches building kitchens, but found all the authority he needed in the rest rooms. That shows a total lack of understanding authority. When God told Noah to build an ark of gopher wood, there were things that were expedient and necessary to accomplish that job—such as tools for cutting and ways of transporting the wood. Suppose Noah had decided that since he used a saw to cut the lumber, he would build another boat, or use another kind of wood to build the ark! He may get tired of staying in that ark and need a contemporary way of recreation or fishing, so since he used tools to build the ark, he could reasonably build another boat!
There is a difference between using expedients to accomplish what God authorized and doing something different. The authority to sing authorizes whatever is expedient to accomplish that—such as song books, projecting words on a screen or using a pitch pipe. When we sing words from a book, or a screen and sing on pitch, we have not added another kind of music. We have done what God authorized.
But what about the rest room, and we could add pews, air-conditioning and heating? The authority to assemble implies a place of assembly. And if we assemble for a very long period of time there are things that expedite that assembly. The things mentioned above help in doing what God authorized—assembling for worship. Building a gymnasium, which would include running water, seats of some sort and rest rooms, expedite recreation. Building a kitchen, with electricity, running water, tables and a rest room accommodates the work of providing social meals. Recreation and social meals are not a part of worship, and do not expedite it. They are different works, just as surely as playing a piano, drums, an electric guitar, etc. is another kind of music. Those who defend churches building kitchens and gymnasiums cannot consistently object to instrumental music in worship, and the young people know that. A young boy at Cross Point Church of Christ said he likes the “praise band” at the Baptist Church, and “he sees little difference between what he hears coming from the pulpits.” The reason he sees little difference is that there is little difference to see! Paul said “sing and make melody in your heart” (Eph. 5:19), and “if any man is hungry, let him eat at home” (1 Cor. 11:34). He is not likely to hear either of these truths taught at Cross Point.
A young girl in Lakeland had been attending Bible classes with us for several weeks when her mother wanted her to go to their church for a special entertainment program. She told her mother that she didn’t want to go there, she liked to go to the church of Christ “because we get to study the Bible there.” What a novel idea for a church to be involved in the work God authorized!