Identifying the New Testament Church #4
A. When someone attends worship services of the churches of Christ
for the first time their
first question is "Why don't you have instrumental music
in your worship services?"
Thats a normal question. Except for a few Primitive Baptist
and strict Greek Orthodox
groups we are the only religious group who do not use instrumental
music. Our songs of
praise are "a cappella" Which means without the accompaniment
of an instrument in the
chapel.
Until 1859 the Disciples of Christ (known, today, as the Christian
Church) did not use instrumental music in worship. Their songs
of praise in worship were a capella. In 1859 a brother
by the name of J.J. Pinkerton introduced an organ in the worship
services at Cain Ridge, Kentucky.
a. This one man-made addition to the worship service created a
dispute so volatile it
divided the church at Cain Ridge. The introduction of the instrument
slowly spread
and the controversy became so strong that it split the Disciples.
The dissenting
group, those opposing the instrument, became known as the Churches
of Christ.
(A) How could something as simple and seemingly innocent as an
instrument of music bring strife and bitter division into the
body of Christ. Why was there such
an uproar, Why did people get so upset? First of all, for thousands
of years Christ's New Testament church had not used an instrument
of music in worship
to God.
(1) First Century Christians, under the guidance of the apostles
did not use such man-made instruments of music. For us to worship
God according to
their established pattern, we believe that the instrument of music
in worship
and as an accompaniment to singing praises is both unscriptural
and anti-
criptural. It is an innovation and an addition made by man that
is not
authorized by God in the New Testament. It is something man has
added
to Gods established pattern of worship revealed in the New
Testament.
According to scripture that is forbidden. Listen to what the scriptures
say about this. Paul gives instruction to the church at Corinth,
listen to what he says in 1 Cor. 4:16?17, Therefore I urge
you, imitate me (Follow my instructions and example). For this
reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful
son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, (My
ways means my inspired teaching, doctrine and example of worshiping
and serving God. And Ive sent Timothy to show you and teach
you how to do it.) as I teach everywhere in every church.
(Paul taught the same doctrine and pattern of how to become a
Christian and how to worship God acceptably and he taught exactly
the same thing in every church) There was an established pattern
that was to be followed. Man was never given the liberty to change
it an any way.
The same prohibition was placed on people in the Old Testament.
The prophet Balaam stated in Num. 24:13, I can not go beyond
the word of the LORD, to do good or bad of my own will.
When God gave Moses instructions about the Tabernacle and how
Israel was to worship God in Ex. 25:40, God told Moses, See
to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown
you on the mountain.
Thats exactly what Paul is trying to get us to understand.
Paul taught the same thing in every church. Why? To teach us to
do things Gods way and not our own way. Our purpose is to
please God and not ourselves.
In 1 Cor. 4:6, ...Learn from us, not to go beyond what is
written. Live by Gods word and dont go beyond
what it says. Dont add to it or take away from it. God is
looking for truth seekers. What are truth seekers? People who
will seek and worship God the way He wants to be sought and worshiped.
When Jesus walked on the earth, men worshiped God in many ways.
The Samaritans worshiped on the mount of Horeb and worshiped only
according to the Pentateuch. The Jews worshiped in Jerusalem,
some according to the Old Testament and some according to their
own man-made traditions. Only a few worshiped God according to
the Law of Moses.
The Samaritan woman at the well asked Jesus a question about this
in
Jno. 4:20?25, Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and
you Jews
say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship."
Jesus
said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when
you will
neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.
You
worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation
is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true
worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the
Father is
seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship
Him
must worship in spirit and truth."
God is seeking True Worshipers. A True Worshiper is defined as
one who worships God in spirit and truth. What does it mean to
worship God in Spirit and Truth? To offer God spiritual worship
according to the truth. Is that a fair statement?
(3) How do you define what is truth? Jesus said, in Jno. 8:31?32,
"If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And
you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
Jno. 17:17, Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
Notice what these two scriptures teach us about worshiping God
in Spirit and in Truth.
(1) Where do we learn the truth about who God is and how He wants
to be worshiped? In Gods Word. What is the truth that teaches
us how to be sanctified? Gods Word. What are we to abide
in so we can be sanctified and be Christs disciples? Gods
Word. Anything other than Gods Word is a lie and cannot
sanctify or teach anyone any truth about God.
(2) Where do you learn how to be a true worshiper who worships
God in spirit and truth? In Gods Word. Thats why Paul
says, in Rom 10:17, Faith comes by hearing, and hearing
by the word of God. I learn what to believe about God and
how to worship God by studying Gods Word and that is called,
Worshiping God in spirit and in truth. That is the
kind of worship God wants, the kind of worship God is looking
for. And thats the only kind of worship God accepts. We
dare not offer God anything less.
(3) By studying Gods Word we learn the truth about God and
how to worship God the way God wants to be worshiped. Gods
Word, which is truth, creates faith in God that causes us to become
true worshipers who worship God in spirit and in truth. That will
create in us obedient faith and obedient faith does what God asks.
Can you worship God with instrumental music and have obedient
faith? Where does God ask us to worship Him with instruments?
Thats the question we will answer in this study in the next
couple of weeks.
(4) Acts 20:32.
Spur - 05/19/2002 am
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