Those who visit the assemblies of the Lord's people sometimes ask, "Where's
the Choir?" They are astonished that faithful congregations of Christ seek to tenaciously
adhere to the teaching of the apostles when they worship God in spirit and truth.
(Jno. 4:24; Acts 2:42) The New Testament does constitute a "pattern" and we must be
careful to do only what it authorizes. (Col. 3:17; 1 Pet. 4:11) This brings us to the
reason we do not see choirs, choruses, duets, solos, trios, quintets, sextets, or
any other kinds of "tets" singing to or performing for faithful congregations when
they are assembled for worship. The New Testament does not authorize such things.
If you believe these things are authorized, I ask, "Where is the passage that warrants
choirs, choruses, duets, soloists, and the like to sing to or perform for the local
congregation?"
Paul wrote "to the holy people and faithful brothers and sisters at Colossae" and said,
"whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks
to God the Father through him." (Col. 3:17) Before an act can be right in God's sight it
must be authorized, or done "in the name of the Lord Jesus." We do a thing in the name
of our Lord when he authorizes it by means of a direct statement, approved apostolic
example, or implication in the sacred text. For instance, by direct statement we learn
that people are to be immersed in order to receive forgiveness of their sins. (Acts 2:38)
By apostolic example we learn that water is the element in which one is to be immersed.
(Acts 8:36-39; 10:47) By implication, that is, a necessary or logical conclusion, we learn
that when a person is immersed in water in order to have his sins pardoned, he becomes
a Christian and a member of the body of Christ. (Mat. 28:19; Acts 11:26)
There is no direct statement in the New Testament that tells us a choir is to perform
for a congregation with God's approval. There is no apostolic example that shows us that
a choir did perform for a congregation with God's approval. Neither is there a passage that
implies a choir may perform for a congregation assembled to worship God. Therefore
there is no divine authority for choirs, choruses, and "special" singing groups in our
congregational worship. When we "gather together in congregation" (1 Cor. 11:17-18),
we " speak to one another" and "teach and admonish one another," as we sing and make
melody with our hearts to the Lord. (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16) The "group" that God tells to
sing is the congregation. Singing is an act of worship and is to be a corporate experience;
an act in which the voice of every man, woman, boy, and girl is lifted up to Yahweh.
We do not sing for show or entertainment! "Where's the choir?" You won't find one in the
congregations of Christ that are faithful!
Ron Daly
Copyright 2012
the Choir?" They are astonished that faithful congregations of Christ seek to tenaciously
adhere to the teaching of the apostles when they worship God in spirit and truth.
(Jno. 4:24; Acts 2:42) The New Testament does constitute a "pattern" and we must be
careful to do only what it authorizes. (Col. 3:17; 1 Pet. 4:11) This brings us to the
reason we do not see choirs, choruses, duets, solos, trios, quintets, sextets, or
any other kinds of "tets" singing to or performing for faithful congregations when
they are assembled for worship. The New Testament does not authorize such things.
If you believe these things are authorized, I ask, "Where is the passage that warrants
choirs, choruses, duets, soloists, and the like to sing to or perform for the local
congregation?"
Paul wrote "to the holy people and faithful brothers and sisters at Colossae" and said,
"whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks
to God the Father through him." (Col. 3:17) Before an act can be right in God's sight it
must be authorized, or done "in the name of the Lord Jesus." We do a thing in the name
of our Lord when he authorizes it by means of a direct statement, approved apostolic
example, or implication in the sacred text. For instance, by direct statement we learn
that people are to be immersed in order to receive forgiveness of their sins. (Acts 2:38)
By apostolic example we learn that water is the element in which one is to be immersed.
(Acts 8:36-39; 10:47) By implication, that is, a necessary or logical conclusion, we learn
that when a person is immersed in water in order to have his sins pardoned, he becomes
a Christian and a member of the body of Christ. (Mat. 28:19; Acts 11:26)
There is no direct statement in the New Testament that tells us a choir is to perform
for a congregation with God's approval. There is no apostolic example that shows us that
a choir did perform for a congregation with God's approval. Neither is there a passage that
implies a choir may perform for a congregation assembled to worship God. Therefore
there is no divine authority for choirs, choruses, and "special" singing groups in our
congregational worship. When we "gather together in congregation" (1 Cor. 11:17-18),
we " speak to one another" and "teach and admonish one another," as we sing and make
melody with our hearts to the Lord. (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16) The "group" that God tells to
sing is the congregation. Singing is an act of worship and is to be a corporate experience;
an act in which the voice of every man, woman, boy, and girl is lifted up to Yahweh.
We do not sing for show or entertainment! "Where's the choir?" You won't find one in the
congregations of Christ that are faithful!
Ron Daly
Copyright 2012
No comments:
Post a Comment