Posted on 10/24/2006 8:23:05 AM PDT by Dumb_Ox
Do not post private messages on the open forum.
But you've neglected to mention the list of things that you do along with this "in our heart" bit. You DO sing and make melody in your heart, in a building, while wearing clothes, with artificial climate control, in harmony, in a mixed-gender setting, along with your children, on Sunday morning or Wednesday evening...
But that's rather beside the point. You'll never concede, because you find the very idea threatening. Very well, I don't mean to make you feel threatened.
If you really believe that somehow Christ's death and resurrection made God quit liking the music of the harp and the lyre, the timbrel, the horns, and the drums, and that these are now forbidden for worship...well, far be it from me to try to change your mind on that point. I don't mind praying for the Lord to deliver us each from our ignorance, however. =]
I have already covered the difference between an expedient and an addition.
You've certainly applied those labels, but never gave any kind of rationale for why they applied.
It's all right. May there be peace between us.
"What on earth is "Bionic Son" ?"
Maybe you don't want to know. You can listen to it here:
http://www.spiritandsong.com/jukebox/songs/67147
Or imagine a dance/rock beat, fuzzy guitars, sappy synthesizers and these lyrics:
Well I heard a story just the other day, about a man of God and all the people say,
this mighty man of God was a fisherman.
Then I heard a story about a man named Saul,
who's zeal and hate brought fear to all,
until his fall from pride changed this man that we know as Paul.
Do you know it's true? He can change you too!
If you love, you will feed my sheep. He said to me.
If you love, you will feed my sheep; unconditionally.
Chorus
Hold on as tight as you can, we're gonna blast upon this land
With a supersonic kind of love, dripping from God's Bionic Son!
Then I heard a story about a man who died for the things I did
T o change what's inside, transforming everyone with Gospel news.
If the Great I Am can heal a fisherman, and the God of Peace can change a Pharisee,
Then I know His love can change a man like you, and a man like me.
Do you know it's true? He can change you too!
Interlude
Chorus
I understand the distinction that you're trying to draw, but for the life of me I cannot grasp how you mean to apply it to the example you cite. How is it that singing along with an instrument "adds to a command," but singing in a polyester sweater is merely an expedient?
It seems to me that your distinction is an awfully thin one to hang a doctrine on.
I will use your example. If I am wearing a polyester sweater and singing praises to God, I am still just singing praises to God. However, if I am playing a mechanical instrument and singing, then I am both singing praises to God, and playing an instrument. Those are two different types of music. There is one specified in the command, and that is singing.
Now we've run the distinction into the ground, and I still fail to get it. I think that makes it time to give it up.
Here is another point that should make the difference even clearer. In Ephesians 5:19, we see the phrase "speaking to yourselves". In Colossians 3:16, we see the phrase "teaching and admonishing one another". Mechanical instruments are unable to speak, teach, or admonish.
Also please notice that "yourselves" and "one another" are reflexive pronouns. This means that everyone is to be doing the speaking, teaching, and admonishing.
Well, of course they are...yet we certainly use mechanical devices as aids for teaching, speaking, and admonishing. Such as now, you and I conversing via computer and network.
This process isn't invalidated because computers are involved, is it?
You know that I am speaking about mechanical instruments of music.
Yes, I do.
And I'm asking you, what's the difference between using musical instruments for worshiping, and using electronic devices for teaching/preaching/admonishing?
Don't both of these modify a New Testament command?
No, they do not. Once again, there is a difference between a specific command and a generic command. We are commanded to sing in worship. Using mechanical instruments of music adds to that command because it is a different type of music, and the other reasons I have shown.
We are also commanded to spread the Gospel to every nation. The medium we use, be it preaching in an assembly or publishing articles on the internet, does not add to or take away from the command.
This distinction of yours simply escapes me.
sorry. #232 meant for ALL
Suppose you are a mechanic, and I come to you and ask you to change the oil in my car. After a couple of hours, you come get me and tell me that you changed the oil, replaced the brake pads, and rotated the tires. Did you do as I asked? By what authority did you do the extra things?
And if he did all those things simply because he loved you and didn't charge you for them, would you complain?
You're analogies really are disconnected.
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