Posted on 10/24/2006 8:23:05 AM PDT by Dumb_Ox
Bad music is destroying Nashville, TN, Too.
Of course.
Regardless, the answer to the question of the use of musical instruments in worship is, for me, quite simple. Until I am convinced of a clear, Scriptural basis for either prohibition or requirement, my "okay" and anyone else's "not okay" shall remain a matter of preference.
Just like pews or chairs, carpet or vinyl, paper or plastic. :)
See #107.
The use of pews or chairs is an example of an expedient. Christians are commanded to assemble, and the use of pews or chairs is for that purpose. It does not add to the command, or take away from it.
I do mind.
You didn't have to answer, you chose to.
I didn't come onto a thread spouting "the truth" in absolutes like you did.
You didn't come on here and say, "my belief is _________(fill in the blank)", you made all kinds of claims.
It was a form of trolling, and now you got your way, you got to defend all that stuff.
I have made no claims, I have nothing to defend here, and no need to tell you where I worship or why.
Thanks. I'll try to get to one before Christmas. I was researching this myself, and was surprised to discover that Garrison Keillor was raised in a Plymouth Brethren church in Anoka.
It's a denomination I have not visited, so it's interesting. I've rarely found any church that doesn't welcome visitors. It has happened a couple of times, but very rarely.
Still, I usually contact the church before attending, just to find out what the best time would be and to let them know that I'll be there as a visitor. It helps prevent any awkwardness that might occur (I speak from experience.)
I am here to defend the truth. It doesn't matter what I believe, it only matters what God says in His Word. If you consider this trolling, then why do you even bother to participate?
You don't know the truth, so you won't be good at defending it.
You trolled, you got bites, no problem.
I'm here to defend the truth too, and I say you are wrong and telling untruths, how about that?
If you have Scripture to back up your claim, then I am willing to listen.
Can I get cheese on the hamburger?
One thing that's occurred to me is that since the post VCII enablers demanded contemporary praise music, shouldn't the crap that was contemporary 30 years ago be being retired now and new contemporary crap be being put in its place?
BTW, I have listened to your claims, but they have not changed my mind and your listening to my claims won't change your's either so it's irrelevant to me if you are willing to listen.
There IS an absolute truth but, you are not in possession of the "truth" anymore than I am.
I have never said that the entire OT is null and void, so obviously you haven't read what I have said very closely. As for absolute truth, we all have the access to it in the Word of God.
You are claiming that I am wrong, but are unwilling, or maybe unable, to backup those claims.
Thank you for your thoughts on this. Believe me, I am not attempting to try to cause you to sin by going in a building where instruments are being used to praise the Lord accompanied by singing. What I say here is more for others here who are intimidated by you. So, please read no further. - In my OPINION, it is a matter of your own OPINION of what IS permissible to the Lord and what is not (provided you are in the Lord and in His Word). I may eat only vegetables and be of the OPINION that YOU should only eat vegetables and no meat. If you do not respect my OPINION and conviction and pressure me to eat meat, then YOU are guilty of causing me to sin - and possibly perish.
So, you, and I, must be fully in our own minds convinced and convicted that what we are doing is scriptural and godly.
The CHURCH is NOT an earthly building, the CHURCH is built by the Lord Jesus Christ of lively stones or living human beings trusting Christ as the Son of God. Any building is NOTHING; it seems to me that they are ALL going to perish by fire in the end. If you go into any other earthly edifice (school, concert hall, etc.) and listen to instrumental music of any kind, then that is as much of a sin as going into an earthly church edifice where instruments are used, and even worse, hypocritical.
I have the conviction that in my church building, the piano that they use (for old shaped note hymns and sacred music only) is NOT a sin - TO ME - not to YOU. YOU do as YOU are convicted and "Let him who thinketh he stand, take heed lest he fall". Christ is the ultimate judge - not YOU - not ME.
As to your statement that you "appreciate my thoughts on this", I doubt that. In which case, you should search your heart for the POSSIBLE sin of lying (and please don't accuse me of accusing you of lying - I don't know your heart).
I am amazed at just how much glee certain sects (I am of Paul, I am of Apollos), of Christendom enjoy when savoring the OPINION that some little nitpicking legalistic OPINION that only THEY hold (with very little real scriptural foundation) will bring only their little sects to a place in the glorious ultimate Kingdom of God and forever doom everyone else to Hell. There ARE sins which will preclude from the Kingdom of God - - but I wish for all to come to repentance and for all to be there in that Kingdom. . not gleefully glad if only my little sect has a part in the first resurrection at the return of the Lord. The glorious city that will come down from God out of Heaven is, if I have the right information on measurements, the city alone is 1,500 miles by 1,500 miles foursquare, which would be 1,500 miles high. Your little group is certainly going to rattle around in such a large place, for an eternity with a capella singing. - There are "good" Christian sects who major on the headcovering, and if your group doesn't do it, then you don't get into that city or the Kingdom of God - and to them, that is an issue that is totally scriptural and not an issue that is a matter of personal choice.
The Kingdom of God will have harps and all sorts of musical instruments, even the bells on the cattle will be inscribed "Holiness Unto the Lord". God changes not; He liked David's harp playing back then, and He will enjoy David's harp playing in His Kingdom - in spite of OPINIONS.
Your real enemy is not your brother in Christ.
So I've heard. He's gotten a lot of mileage out of it.
Sure you did. You didn't use those words, but you sure said it.
As for absolute truth, we all have the access to it in the Word of God.
You have access to the brain, but you cannot claim to know how it works.
You think that YOUR interpretation of the word is correct to the exclusion of all others. And you have a few confederates who follow the same delusion.
But in the end, you are just like every other group of people struggling to know but pretending you already do.
News Flash! You don't, and neither does anyone else who claims to.
You might want to play the little game of dueling verses, but thats a fools game, and I'm not playing.
You said a number of times that the OT is "not binding."
For the sake of your argument, please define what you mean by that.
You are free to feel about me any way you wish. However, I doubt anyone is intimidated by me. If you really feel that I am wrong on this issue, please back up your claims with Scripture. You can post extremely long posts all day long if you wish, but it will not carry weight with those who care about what the Word of God says about a matter.
The idea that listening to instrumental music of any kind is a sin is laughable. I have never said, or implied, that instrumental music in general is sinful. I am speaking only of praising God in worship. We have been given a specific command to sing, and that is what we are authorized to do. Mechanical instrumental music is not part of that command, nor is it even implied in the command.
As Christians, we are no longer under the Old Law. That was a covenant with the children of Israel and converts to the Jewish faith. There is a new covenant, which is the covenant under which Christians get their authority.
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