Our Plea

     Local congregations of Christ and the individuals who comprise them,
send  forth  an  unshakable  plea  to  the  ends of the earth. The appeal is
distinct from any statement made by any other religious body on the face
of the earth. In a world that is flooded with religious error and compromise,
the plea is refreshing like spring rain falling on roses soon to perish from
drought. What is "Our Plea?"

     We appeal to the denominational world to lay aside all religious
creeds and accept the sacred scriptures as the only rule of faith and
practice. God has given us the new covenant which is "the pattern of
sound words," and we are to follow it. (2 Tim. 1:13; ESV) It came
from God's mind, was  revealed  by the Holy Spirit and preached by
the   apostles  and   evangelists   who   lived    in   the   first    century.
(Jno. 16:13;  1 Cor. 2:10-13;  Eph. 3:5;  1 Thess. 2:13) The new
covenant is perfect in every way and nothing needs  to  be  added  to
it  or  taken  from  it. (Gal. 1:6-9; Jas. 1:25; 2 Pet. 1:3)  It  will  be  the
written   standard   of    judgment   on    the   last   day.  (Jno. 12:48;
Rom. 2:16)    Therefore,   we    urge  that  the Methodist  disciplines,
the  Baptist manuals, and the catechisms and dogmas of Roman
Catholicism   be   abandoned   posthaste!   They   are   in  part,  the
bases for religious division, strife, and unbelief. Anything less than the
scriptures is too little. Anything more than the scriptures is too much.
Anything that claims to be equal to the scriptures is blasphemous and
unnecessary!

     We  appeal to  the  religious  world  to  lay aside denominational
language,  and  to  call  bible  things by bible names. The new covenant
never speaks of  "baptizing  by  means of  sprinkling,   pouring, and/or
immersion." Immersion is the action authorized by God's word. The
very act itself is a portrayal of a burial and resurrection, neither of which
is pictured  by  sprinkling  and pouring. (Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12) The new
covenant never speaks of the Lord's Supper as a "sacrament." It is
called  the  breaking  of  bread; the  Lord's  Supper; and a communion
or participation in the body and blood of Jesus. (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 10:16;
11:20) The new covenant never calls God's people by such sectarian
names as Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, Jehovah's Witnesses, or any
of the other designations of the denominational world. The name by
which  the  believers  honored Christ  is Christian. (Acts 11:26; 26:28;
1 Pet. 4:16)

     We  appeal to  religious  leaders and their followers to respect the
silence of the scriptures. God's word teaches us that we do not have
the right to do what God has not revealed. We only have the right to
act in harmony with divine revelation. We must "speak the very words
of God." (1 Pet. 4:11) We must act on what God has commanded.
(1 Cor. 14:37) We cannot know God's will unless he tells us. He has
told us his will by the words that constitute the new covenant. (1 Cor.
2:10-13; 1 Thess. 2:13)  Silence  does  not  authorize  one to act; it
prohibits in that one must not do "what the scriptures do not say."
We ask, "What says the scriptures; what is written?" (Rom.3:4,10;
4:3) Jesus could not be a priest on earth because he was from the
tribe of Judah, and Moses spoke nothing about priests from Judah!
(Heb. 7:14) We may not use instrumental music in worship because
God has not told us to use such in the worship of the New 
Testament period. (Col. 3:16; Heb. 2:12; Jas. 5:13)

     We  appeal  to  the  religious  world  at large to refuse to practice
anything that God does not authorize by direct statements, approved
accounts of apostolic action, or the implication of the sacred text.
(Acts 15; Eph. 5:20; Col. 3:17) Therefore, we urge that women elders
and  preachers,  religious   titles  of  distinction,  church   sponsored
recreation  and  entertainment,  and  a  myriad  of other unauthorized
practices be eulogized as false, taken to the cemetery of  apostacy,
and buried beneath the pile of departures from the apostolic pattern,
and a grave marker be erected that reads, "Here lies the not so dearly
departed  and  we  pray  that  they  never be resurrected again!" This,
dear friends, is "Our Plea."
                                                                                               RD

Copyright 2011

"We Shall Be Distinct"

     After God through Moses led the people of Israel out of the land of
Egypt, he told Moses, "My presence will go with you and I will give you
rest. And he said to him, 'If your presence will not go, do not carry us
up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your
sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall 
be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the
earth.' " (Ex. 33:14-16) God's presence implies God's approval,
blessings, and protection. It is when God's presence is with his people
that they are distinct. Moses said, "In this way we shall be distinct."
In what way? When God's presence, that is, when God himself is with
his people in all their righteous endeavors.

     The New Testament teaches that spiritual Israel is a unique nation,
a people of God's own possession. (1 Pet. 2:4-5) God wants spiritual
Israel to be "distinct...from every people on the face of the earth."
Everything about those who are Christians is distinct; the lives they live,
the cause they plead, the worship they offer, and the mission they have.
There are some among the Lord's people who are doing all they can
to blur the line of distinction between the body of Christ and the
religious world at large.

     Instead of , "book, chapter, and verse" preaching that was so
prevalent a couple of generations ago (2 Tim. 4:1-5),  they want
"look, palaver, and nurse" preaching. "Look" at but don't act
against religious error, somebody might be offended. "Palaver"
because anything with substance might make people think. "Nurse"
because the current ecumenical spirit wants doctrinal differences
simply "patched up," not corrected.

     There are those among the Lord's people who are pleading for
a kinder and gentler approach. Why? Most of the time it is because
their friends and family are in religious error and they do not want
their feelings hurt. They care more about their feelings than they do
about their souls. Whenever the Lord's people turn from the militancy
that once characterized them they cease growing. I recognize that
softer preaching and teaching will often make it appear that we are
growing. Actually, it is not growth. It's called swelling. Honey will
get the bees in, but when you have to add a little vinegar to the mix
the bees take flight. We will never be able to improve on the way
the apostles went about the work of preaching and teaching the
gospel.

     God's prophets called the nation of Israel back to the "ancient
paths." (Jer. 6:16) The Lord's apostles called people back to the
"standard of sound teaching." (2 Tim. 1:13; NRSV) Love for God
and respect for the authority of his word are the bases of our
motivation to be distinct from all religious groups around us. We do
not seek to be distinct from denominations  in doctrine and practice
merely for the sake of being different. We seek to be distinct because
we want to be right with God. We want God to be with us in all that
we believe and practice. No journey is worth the effort if God's
presence is not with those traveling on the road of life. Though they
seek and  find  many  points  of  departure;  the  result is they  go
nowhere! With God we do not lose, without God we do not win.

                                                                                       RD

Copyright 2011

Balance In Preaching

     Paul wrote the following words to a young evangelist named
Timothy, "In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to
judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his
kingdom, I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent
whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke,
and encourage with the utmost patience in teaching."
(2 Tim. 4:1-2; NRSV)

     A careful reading of the passage cited above leads to an
inescapable conclusion: God demands balance in preaching.
Imbalance which takes one to the left or to the right, or from one
extreme to the other will culminate in the field of disaster! God
always knows what is best for his creation.

     There are preachers who accentuate the positive and minimize
the negative. On the other hand, there are preachers who capitalize
on the negative and say very little about the positive. Both ideologies
violate the will of God. It is so important to be balanced in preaching.
There are key phrases in 2 Tim. 4:1-2 that imply the need for balance.
Paul says "proclaim the message," or as some versions say, "preach
the word." The message to be proclaimed contains condemnatory
language against the sins of lying, strife, adultery, drunkenness, anger,
impurity, and the like. They are called "works of the flesh."
(Gal. 5:19-21) And the same context contains language that
commends love, peace, kindness, patience, gentleness, self-control,
and the like. They are called "fruit of the Spirit." (Gal. 5:22-23) Do
we not see the wisdom of God in this?

     The "trick" is in knowing when to be positive and when to be
negative. When a person is convinced that the time is right to be
positive or negative based on the teaching of sacred scripture, he
needs to make his stand without partiality or apology! Paul says,
"whether the time is favorable or unfavorable." Don't wet your
finger and test the wind. Just do what needs to be done, believing
that God is with you. (2 Tim. 4:17,18)

     The Holy Spirit of God through Paul's pen also teaches that
there is a time to "convince" (elencho; confront or expose
wrongdoing); "rebuke" (epitimao; implies to reprove or correct
with sternness); "encourage" (parakaleo; to urge or exhort one
to perform). Again we see God's wisdom in instructing the
evangelist about what is entailed in his work. If he is determined
to be faithful to God, he simply must confront false teachers; he
must correct those in error; he must encourage people to pursue
spiritual excellence. He must do this with "the utmost patience
in teaching." He must not grow weary and become agitated and
give up. He will not be as prone to become frustrated if he prays
often and strives for balance in preaching.

     There are times when preachers are to unhesitatingly  "name the
names" of false teachers. It should be done without apology and
God's people should be warned. (2 Tim. 1:15; 4:14-15) There
are also times when naming names is not necessary. (Acts 15:1,5;
Gal. 2:4-5) One must exercise wisdom in determining when to
name names and when not to do so. The scriptures indicate that
it was done both ways.

     Much of the preaching done by the prophets in the O.T. and
the apostles and evangelists in the N.T. would be stereotyped as
negative by the standards of some people today. First, may we
not forget that God by his Spirit was guiding those men. (Neh. 9:
30; Zech. 7:12; Mat. 10:19-20; Jno. 16:13) Therefore heaven's
approval was upon them. Second, O.T. Israel was unfaithful most
of the time and Yahweh wanted the issue of her unfaithfulness
addressed. There were issues that arose in the N.T. (Judaizing
teachers, division, immorality, and doctrinal errors about the
resurrection, etc. God guided the apostles into writing letters
and orally preaching about the issues. Both the prophets of old
and the apostles gave sentiments of hope along the way. There
was balance in their preaching. It was the kind of balance that
God decreed.

     Let us remember that each generation must be taught all the 
truth all over again. May we avoid capitalizing solely on the positive
or solely on the negative, but may we preach on both the positives
and negatives of God's will without fear or favor. Let's strive for
balance in preaching.
                                                                                  RD

Copyright 2011

"Making Melody to the Lord With Your Heart"

     Inasmuch as singing is an act of worship, and since our heavenly
Father regulates our worship, we should be careful to render homage
to him in the way he has prescribed. Singing is no less important than
the prayers, preaching, giving, and the Lord's Supper. Therefore, we
should give the same attention to it as we do the other acts of worship.
I would like to kindly suggest a few things designed to assist us in
making melody to the Lord in an acceptable way.

     First, let  us  remember  that  our  singing  is  not  only  directed
to "one another," but we sing to the Lord. The songs we sing should
be about God, his greatness , and what he has done. "Psalms, hymns,
and spiritual songs" are songs that praise deity, not humanity. Some
songs in hymnals have great melodies and catchy lyrics but they are
too general and are not suitable for worship even under the broadest
umbrella. Paul and Silas were singing hymns to God. (Acts 16:25)
Paul quotes a text in his writing that says, "Therefore I will praise you
among the Gentiles, and sing to your name." (Rom. 15:9) The same
writer  told  the  brothers  and  sisters  at  Colossae  to  sing "with
thankfulness in your hearts to God." (Col. 3:16) Songs that are
about secular, social, and political experiences have no place in the
worship of God.

     Second, I am amazed at the number of elders within congregations
who will not allow a preacher to get away with teaching doctrinal error,
but they will allow a congregation to sing error, and the elders even
participate!  Do we not realize that we are "teaching and admonishing"
one another as we sing? (Col. 3:16) What gives us the right to sing
error? Is it okay to teach, preach, and tell a lie as long as you put a
tune to it? Some congregations sing about Jesus returning to the earth.
It will never happen. (1 Thess. 4:16-17) Some congregations sing
that Jesus is coming soon. How do they know he is coming soon,
when God's word tells us that Jesus doesn't even know when he will
return? (Mk. 13:32)  Other congregations sing songs that promote
the concept of a direct operation of the Holy Spirit and other
tenets of Calvinism.

     I am aware that songwriting involves some degree of poetic
license. But, poetic license applies to language that is figurative,
not to language that is intended to be taken literally. Let's not use
poetic license as an excuse to sing doctrinal error. The song, Jesus
is Coming Soon, was written by a premillennialist, to promote
premillenialism, and is based on a misinterpretation of Mat. 24 and
related texts. We should study songs like we study other documents
to be certain that we understand what we are singing.  

     Third, have you ever noticed how many people will criticize a
preacher or Bible class teacher for being unprepared or disorganized,
yet song leaders are allowed to sing songs that are known by only
a few within the congregation, or the song leader himself does not
know the songs, or they sing them slower than a snail crawling on oil?
The hymns that our fellow-believers sang in the days of the apostles
were simple, profound in the sentiments expressed, and they were
full of emotional verve. We have some hymns that are recorded in
the New Testament. (Cf. Col.1:15-20;1 Tim. 3:16)

     May God help us to realize that acceptable singing involves more
than catchy lyrics, great melody, and artistic performance. May we
evaluate the songs we sing and may we realize that many of them
were written by denominational people whose writing is based on
the numerous errors they were taught. "Singing and making melody
to the Lord" not only involves the "ear," but we should sing with our
mind also. (1 Cor. 14:15)

                                                                                                 RD

Copyright 2011

"Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs"

     Paul, the Lord's apostle, wrote the following words to the Ephesians,
"And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled
with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart."
(Eph. 5:19)

     Two questions of importance are before us at this time: (1) What are
"psalms,  hymns,  and  spiritual songs?" (2) Is  there  a sharp distinction 
in meaning between "psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs" in the passage
cited above?

     The plural noun "psalms" is the translation of psalmois and refers to
"a vocal musical expression in NT worship, song of praise." (The 
Concise Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, Frederick
William Danker, page 386) The word "psalm" refers generally to a
song of praise. (1 Cor. 14:26; Col. 3:16)

     The plural noun "hymns" is the translation of humnois and it refers to
"a song with religious content, hymn, song of praise." (A Greek-English
Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature,
Bauer-Danker, page 1027) "Hymn" denotes any festive hymn of praise.
(Isa. 42:10{Septuagint}; Acts 16:25; Heb. 2:12)

   The phrase "spiritual songs" translates pneumatikais odais. The
reference is to non-secular, spiritual, or sacred songs in honor of
God. (op. cit., pages 837, 1101) "Songs" denotes compositions
in which God's acts and greatness are praised and glorified.
(Rev. 5:9; 14:3; 15:3)

     It is likely that no sharp distinction between "psalms" (psalmois);
"hymns" (humnois), and "spiritual songs" (pneumatikais odais) is
intended. It appears that they are used synonymously, and should be
interpreted to mean all forms of sacred songs used to praise God.
They describe the full range of singing which extols the praises of
the deity.

     What do we learn from the phrase "psalms, hymns, and spiritual
songs?" We learn that our singing is to consist of songs that praise
God, that express joy to God, and that extol God's glory.
                                                                                                        RD

Copyright 2011
      

Is Instrumental Music In Worship An Important Issue?

     It depends on whether or not God regulates the worship that is
offered to him. I have shown in a previous post (Does God Regulate
Worship?)  that God has always regulated the acts of reverence that
human beings offer to him. Since this is true, the issue of instrumental
music in worship is important. The concept of  "Burger King" worship,
that is, the idea that you can  have it your way has never been and is
not now acceptable to the most holy God. We must worship God in
spirit and truth. (Jno. 4:24)

     It is sometimes argued, "God could care less if we worship with
mechanical instruments, because he hasn't said anything about it one
way or another in the New Testament. " Friends, if this is true, a
person has the right to act in areas where God is silent. If one may
act in areas where God is silent, then truly the sky is the limit and
human wisdom is the standard. (Prov. 14:12; Jer. 10:23; 1 Cor. 4:6;
1 Pet. 4:11)

     The fact is, a person cannot know that his actions are pleasing to
God if God has not revealed his will! A person can only know that
his actions are acceptable to God if God has told him so. Therefore,
we see the need for divine revelation. In the absence of revelation
from God, any steps that man takes are presumptuous, for he can
only assume that he has warrant to do whatever he does. In religion,
"assuming" is like a person who stands in total darkness with death
on every side; any step he takes will be the fatal one!

     The New Testament clearly teaches that God expects people to
conform to what he has spoken, and anything more in this context
is fatal. Paul wrote, "For who knows a person's thoughts except the
spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends
the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God...And we impart this
in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit,
combining spiritual things with spiritual words." (1 Cor. 2:11-13)
God has given his plan through the revelatory process, and this has
come by means of words.

     When we sing as an act of worship, we know of a certainty that
we are pleasing Yahweh. Why? Because he has told us to sing and
we have examples of our early brothers and sisters singing hymns to
God. (Acts 16:25; Rom. 15:9; 1 Cor. 14:15; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16;
Heb. 2:12; 13:15; Jas. 5:13) Those who use mechanical instruments
in worship are doing something God has not told them to do. They
are not respecting God's revelation. They are adding to the word
of the living God. They are acting presumptuously. Their motives may
be sincere, but sincerity alone is not a model of acceptability to the
creator. (Prov. 14:12) They are afflicted by the Naaman virus. God,
through the prophet Elisha, told Naaman to go dip seven times in the
Jordan. Naaman's first response in anger was to say, "Behold, I
thought..." (2 Ki. 5:11-12) It was only after he yielded to God's word
spoken by  the prophet that he was cleansed of leprosy. We plead
with those who use mechanical instruments in worship to recognize
the seriousness of adding to the word of God, and to yield their will
to God's will thereby abandoning a practice that is without divine
authority.
                                                                                    RD

Copyright 2011

"Mark Them"

   "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and
offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them."
(Rom. 16:17; KJV)

     It is quite common to hear people say, "The Bible says that we are to
mark false teachers, and I'm going to mark him!" They are using the word
"mark" in the sense of  "brand" or label." There is no doubt that the word
of the Lord teaches that proponents of error should be labeled as such,
but that is not the significance of the word "mark" in Romans 16:17.

     "Mark" is the translation of the Greek verb skopeo. It is used 6 times
in the Greek N.T. It means to "pay attention to, look out for, notice."
(Bauer-Danker Greek-English Lexicon of the N.T., page 931 ) The
English Standard Version translates skopeo in the following ways:
Luke 11:35  "be careful;"  Rom. 16:17 "watch out for;"  2 Cor. 4:18
"look;"  Gal. 6:1  "keep watch;"  Phil. 2:4 "look;"  Phil. 3:17 "keep your
eyes on." It is apparent that skopeo does not have the sense of  brand or
label in any of the texts where it is used. Most of the modern versions
reflect the proper use of skopeo. (Cf. RSV, NASB, NRSV, ESV,
NIV, TNIV)

     Why have so many people used it in the sense of "brand?" The fact
that the KJV uses the word "mark" in Rom. 16:17 has led many people
to assume that such is the meaning. This shows how important it is not
to take anything for granted in Bible study. Check it out. It is never right
to misrepresent God's word. "Will you speak falsely for God, and speak
deceitfully for him?" (Job 13:7; ESV) Much misrepresentation and harm
could be avoided if  people would do their research in order to be sure
they are "rightly explaining the word of truth." (2 Tim. 2:15; NRSV)

     Though Rom. 16:17 does not teach us to identify and label heretics,
there are passages that do indicate that it is proper to do so. "As for a
person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice,
have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped
and sinful; he is self-condemned." (Tit. 3:10-11; ESV) Paul told Timothy
that "Phygelus and Hermogenes" had turned away from him. (2 Tim. 1:15)
He also named "Hymenaeus and Philetus" and said they are men who
"have swerved from the truth." (2 Tim. 2:17-18) He told the young evangelist
that "Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm...be on your
guard against him." (2 Tim. 4:14-15; TNIV)

     The point the apostle is making in Rom. 16:17 is to "keep an eye on"
people who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine
you have been taught..." Or, as the old southern cliche says, "Watch them
like a hawk watching a chicken." Watch out for them and when you see
them, avoid them.


                                                                                                RD


Copyright 2011

Where's The Organ?

     It is not unusual for first time visitors in a congregation of Christ to ask,
"Where's the organ?" They are amazed by this major dissimilarity between
the congregations of Christ and the denominational world. Their allegiance
to human  tradition  has  led them so far down the road  of religious error,
that they  have  become  accustomed  to  doing  whatever  seems  right in
worship, irrespective of what the New Covenant teaches. It is always
appropriate to ask, "Where's the organ? Why do congregations of Christ
not use mechanical instruments of music in their worship of God?"

     First, while on earth Jesus promised the apostles that when he returned
to heaven, that he would ask the Father to send them another Helper, the
Spirit of truth, who would guide them into all the truth. (Jno. 14:16; 16:13)
The teaching of the apostles was of utmost importance in the first century,
and remains the same to this very day. (Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 14:37) On this
basis, inasmuch as the Holy Spirit did not reveal anything through the
apostles allowing the use of mechanical instruments of music in worship,
no faithful congregation employs such in its worship. It's use in the
worship of God in this age is no part of  "the truth" into which the Spirit
of truth guided the apostles. Therefore, it is rejected as an unacceptable
addition to the will of God.

     Second, God wants people to do what he authorizes in worship and
to shun all else. We have no right to do anything in religion except what
God authorizes. (Col. 3:17; 1 Pet. 4:11) We  learn  from  the apostles
that God authorizes people to act by  means   of   direct  statements,
approved  accounts  of  action, and implication. There is no direct
statement in the New Testament that tells us to use instrumental music
in worship. There is no account of action that shows any congregation
following the apostles lead by using instrumental music in worship.
Neither is there a text in the New Testament that leads to the unavoidable
conclusion that we may use instrumental music in our worship. Therefore
we reject its use since there is no authority from God permitting its use.

     Third, God has not left humanity in a state of doubt as to the kind
of music he desires. He has told us in specific terms to "sing and make
melody with the heart." (Acts 16:25; Rom. 15:9; 1 Cor. 14:15; Eph. 5:19;
Col. 3:16; Jas. 5:13; Heb. 2:12; Heb. 13:15) God's wisdom is perfect and
his plan is all sufficient. We demonstrate acceptance of God's wisdom and
trust in his plan when we worship the way that he has revealed. "God is
spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." (Jno. 4:24)
When we alter God's plan and supplant it with human schemes we imply that
we know more about what is right than God knows. Those who use
instrumental music in worship indict God with not knowing what he says he
knows. It is wrong to replace divine wisdom with human logic. God says
sing. Those who play on instruments in worship are presumptuous with their
substitute.

     Fourth, the New Testament teaches that people who live now are not
under the Old Covenant. (Rom. 7:4; Gal. 3:24-25; Heb. 8:8-13; 9:15)
Our worship does not consist of the same elements that were allowed in
O.T. times. We do not burn incense, offer animal sacrifices, or use
instruments of music as the Jews did under their law. We do not follow
David's instructions in Psa. 150. Christ Jesus is the great prophet through
whom God speaks. (Mat. 17:5; Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18;  Heb. 1:1-2)
Those who use instrumental music in worship fail to understand the
distinction between the Old and New Covenants.

     Fifth, the New Testament is clear that we are to "sing and make melody
with the heart." (Eph. 5:19) Not with drums, tambourines, guitars, pianos,
or the harp, but "with the heart." He did not say to make melody with the
h-a-r-p, but with the h-e-a-r-t. God has specified the means by which we
are to make melody. The person who loves God will do things God's way.
God's way is to sing, for that is what he said. We return to the original
question, "Where's the organ?" We know where it is not...it is not in the
worship of the faithful people of God!
                                                                                                RD

Copyright 2011