E-MAIL QUESTIONS ANSWERED
DAVID L. ODOM
>A list member has brought up the subject
of music in church. This person says that >musical instruments are not
mentioned under the New Covenant. Would anyone care to >comment on this? This
person is a member of the Church of Christ, I assume?
I am very happy to be able to give answer for why
many people have not used 'mechanical instrumental music' in worship to Jehovah
God since the New Covenant has been in effect from the first century. I want to
state that I do not stand up for all of the 'churches of Christ' out there.
There are many of them that are practicing things religiously that are leading
them into denominationalism!
Since those in these groups are suppose to be
following only the inspired Word of God for all they practice religiously,
there is not suppose to be any religious organization on this planet larger
than the 'local assembly'. That means they are to be 'independent and autonomous
(self-governing) as they were back in the New Testament times! I say all of
this to make sure you do not think I am condoning all 'churches of Christ' on
the earth. I champion the 'church of Christ' I read about in the New Testament,
and all those who follow God' pattern without addition or subtraction to it:
Hebrews 8:5 (study context); Matthew 16:18; Romans 16:16; Galatians 1:22,23;
Ephesians 4:4; etc.
I would first encourage all of us to have the same attitude that the Beroean's
had in Acts 17:11. I am just a human being like yourselves, and I could be
wrong. I pray that we all will be interested in pleasing the Creator above all
else, and allow His Word to be the final authority in our convictions.
>I went to a church that believes
NO Music-only voices-
We need to understand that there are two types of music; vocal music, and mechanical
instrumental music. We can certainly find authority in the New Covenant for
vocal music (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16, etc.), but NO authority can be
found in the New Testament for this other type of music in worship to God.
There are many arguments used today to try and justify this 'additional' type
of music in worship to God, but I will not deal with them now. If you wish for
me to deal with any in the future, I will try to answer them as you ask them.
>The scriptures says nothing about
it-(mech. inst. music) I never followed the reasoning >behind their
prohibition of music, though. Why is something forbidden because it isn't >mentioned?
I would encourage you to think about the SILENCE OF GOD. You can find the precept
throughout the Bible. Look at Hebrews 7:11-14. Here the inspired writer is
discussing the fact that the Law of God has been changed by God, because the
priesthood has been changed by God. It says that the Lord hath sprung out of
Judah; "as to which tribe Moses spake NOTHING (silence, dlo) concerning
priests". When God selected the tribe of Levi out of which would come the
priests under the Law of Moses, that excluded all of the other
tribes concerning priests!!
You can see this precept at work in many places in the Bible. Study Leviticus
10:1,2; they offered "strange fire before Jehovah, which He had not
commanded them." God had instructed them where to get the fire from (Lev.
6:8-13; 16:12,13). In other words, when God specifies, that excludes all others
in that class.
Here is a question for you: God commanded Noah to use a certain type of wood to
build the Ark out of; Gopher wood. What do you think would have happened if
Noah decided to use some Oak, or Walnut, or any other type of wood in building
that Ark? I have never found anyone yet that could truthfully answer, "It
would be ok". Why, because all of us know that God means what He says, and
we must follow His specific instructions if we want to please Him (Deuteronomy
4:1,2; Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 18,19; II John 9; I Corinthians 4:6; I Peter
4:11; etc.)
This is why I believe that God's silence in religious activities prohibits! It
doesn't 'allow ' as many teach today. Even if we are sincere, that doesn't
change things! Uzza reached up to stop the Ark of the Covenant from falling off
the Ox cart, but God immediately killed him! Why, because he had violated a law
that God had put in effect! I Chronicles 13:9,10; 15:2,13,15; Numbers 4:15;
Exodus 25:14; 37:5.
The apostle Paul was sincere when he was persecuting christians, but he was completely
wrong! Acts 26:9; 23:1; 24:16! He had a 'clear conscience', but he was still
wrong! Think about it, I may 'feel' that I am right, I may 'think' that I am
right, but I could be totally wrong! The ONLY thing that can guide us to that
which is right is God's authority, His holy inspired Word!
So I hope you can see why all of this is SO
important! The religious world
around you will tell you that it ISN'T important, that it DOESN'T matter! But
what saith the Scripture's?
>I was raised in the Church of
Christ. I left because they told me I was "asking to many >questions."
I was 16.
If the group you were worshipping with said that, then they weren't following
the Scripture's in that attitude! The more questions you ask, the better, IF
you are truthfully seeking God's Will. (Matthew 7:7,8)
>One thing I'll give them---They
certainly encourage study of the Bible. They are way too >conservative for
me, though.
I want to be as conservative as the Creator is! If that means I must stand against
all of the doctrines and commandments of men, so be it! If that means I will be
hated of all men, and be persecuted by men, so be it! God must be glorified on
His terms, not man's! Remember that there are only TWO source's of authority in
religion, according to Jesus: Matthew 21:23-25; either from Heaven, or from
men! Which authority are we following? Do we
"....speak as the oracles of God"? I Peter 4:11, or do we follow
men's doctrine's and commandment's? (Matthew 15:8,9).
I trust that these thoughts will provoke you to study your Bible and seek only
Truth. May God receive all of the glory, praise, and honor, now and
forevermore.
Your servant in Christ,
David L. Odom
