PART 7D

Initiating Cultural Change In Worship

Assembly is
de-emphasized

Mechanical 
instruments
tolerated

“Praise Worship” 
urged

Preaching de-emphasized

“Special Music”

Communion’s value lessened
 
 

Transparency 7/1
 
 
 

The De-valuation Of The Assembly!

Previous Efforts

World’s Impact

Elder’s Authority Compromised

Penchant to label as “tradition”

The “whole” Church is divided
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Transparency 7/2
 

The “Whole” Assembly
1 Corinthians 11:18,20; 14:23

Highlighting this is the exhortation of Hebrews 10:25

“The assembling of ourselves”

“Together”

“Forsake Not”
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Transparency 7/3

Violating the “Whole” Assembly

Perverts the purposes for assemblies.

Leads to absurd end.

Founded upon immaturity.

Contains seeds for congregation’s destruction.

Hinders communication of values.

Impractical -- WHICH to attend?
 
 
 
 
 
 

Transparency 7/4
Why Must Some
Changes Be
Opposed?

“Change” is condemned because:
It Distorts
Ex 20:5; 34:14; Dt 4:24; 5:29

It Compromises
Hb 10:35,39; Ep 4:14-16; 2 Pt 2:1; 3:17

It Weakens
Rv 2:4, 14-15, 20

Its Results In Disaster
1 Ths 1:8-9; 2 Ths 2:8-12

It Lessens
Tit 2:14; 1 Pt 2:9, 11, 12

It Violates
1 Pt 1:15; Lv 19:2
Transparency 7/5

Five Arguments FOR Using Mechanical Instruments 
With Songs In Worship

It is a “non-issue”

Only an “aid”

Not a part of worship

The problem is with those opposing and not the instrument

Allows “talents” to be used
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Transparency 7/6

“Praise” Gone Awry!

Cultural calls for our worship to include “praise worship” poses these problems:

INCONSISTENCY

EMOTIONALISM

SELFISHNESS

SUBJECTIVENESS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Transparency 7/7

Preaching
Compromised
 

Many pulpits have been compro-mised because of very little . . .

... citation of Scripture.

... demands for repentance.

... encouragement to obey.

... study and preparation.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Transparency 7/8

ADVOCACY FOR
SPECIAL MUSIC
IN WORSHIP
ASSEMBLIES

Biblical Authority
1 Co 14:26; Ep 5:19; Col 3:16; Ac 16:25; Hb 2:12; Jas 5:13

Different formats are allowed

“Freedom” in Christ permits

Opposition is “inherited”

Intolerance imposes self-willed laws
 
 
 
 
 
 

Transparency 7/9

The Process For Studying Accounts Of Action

Analyze Accurately

Consider Carefully

Apply Consistently

Conclude Reasonably
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Transparency 7/10
ANALYZING

 Ep.
5:19
 

         SUBJECT -- “You”

         VERB -- “Be Filled”

       PARTICIPLES -- “Speaking,”
“singing,” “making melody,” “giving thanks,” “submitting yourselves.”
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Transparency 7/11

Significant
Greek Terms
That Must Be
Considered!

“Speaking to yourselves”

eautwn
HEAUTON -- Simultaneously

ALLELON -- Individually
allhlwn

“The reflexive HEAUTON differs from the reciprocal ALLELON in emphasizing the idea of corporate unity”
(J. B. Lightfoot, St. Paul’s Epistles To The Colossians, p. 221)
Transparency 7/12
 

Analyzing
Col.
3:16
 
 
 

Subject -- The Colossian Church

Participles -- “Teaching,” “Admonishing”

How -- “One another”
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Transparency 7/13

SUMMARY:
Ephesians 5:19;Colossians 3:16
 

The Worship:
Singing

The Act:
teaching/admonishing/speaking

The Focus:
Psalms/Hymns/Spiritual Songs

The Participants:
All assembled

The Place:
When assembled together

The Urgency:
Imperative mode of command
Transparency 7/13b
THE PROBLEMS
With Using
1 Corinthians 14:26
As A “Proof-text”
For Worship Solos
 

It describes a unique assembly.

It requires absurdities.

It is used inconsistently.

It was written to correct, not command.

It reads too much into the text.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Transparency 7/14
SUMMARY:
1 Corinthians 14:26

In order for 1 Co 14:26 to provide a basis for solos (and thus suggest that special music is biblical), one must prove . . .

All assemblies are like this one.

Instructions found here are transferable.

All directives are consistently applied.

The “psalm” was actually a song sung as a “solo.”
 

Transparency 7/15
 

LAST RESORT
TEXTS!
 

These texts are used as a last gasp effort to provide Scriptural basis for special music presentations.

JAMES 5:13
No indication this is a public assembly.

HEBREWS 2:12
This was not Christ singing a solo.

ACTS 16:25
This was not a public worship assembly!
 
 
 
 

Transparency 7/16
CONGREGATIONAL SINGING
IS COMMANDED!
Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16
 

By the Greek terms

By the grammar

By its historicity

By its practicality
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Transparency 7/17

Communion’s PATTERN
 
 

The ONE CUP issue

The FREQUENCY issue

The DAY issue

The MEAL issue

The APPLICABILITY
 

The PARTICIPANTS issue

The UNIVERSALITY issue

The EMOTIONS of observance

The LITERALISM of the event

The PURPOSE of the event
 
 
 
 

Transparency 7/18
The Supper EVERY Week!
 

The EXAMPLE

The COMMAND

The VERIFICATION

The DEVOTION
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Transparency 7/19
The SUPPER Every SUNDAY!

ACTS 2:42
“continued 
steadfastly”

ACTS 20:7
“first day”
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Transparency 7/20

A VALID SUMMARY!

Regarding the Lord’s Supper, 
Christians are commanded to ...

Eat the supper
Mt 26:26-28

Assemble
Hb 10:25

Communion was IN
the assembly
1 Co 11:17-21

We thus know that Christians assembled ...
... to partake Communion (Ac 20:7).
... on Sunday (1 Co 16:1,2).
... to obey God (1 Co 14:37).
 

Transparency 7/21
The Supper WAS NOT 
A Common Meal!
 

It was the
“Lord’s Supper.”
 

The text is 
separated.

No Apostolic sanction is given.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Transparency 7/22

How Universal Is The Command To Observe Communion?

It is universally obligatory to oberserve it . . .

1 Corinthians 11:26
“till He comes”

Luke 22:19
“remembrance”

1 Corinthians 11:29
“discern”
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Transparency 7/23



Footnotes:
1. For material discussing the current cultural efforts to modify worship the reader is urged to consult the following references. James D. Bales.  Instrumental Music And New Testament Worship, Searcy, AR: Resource Publications, P. O. Box 1201, 72143 reprinted 1987. Curtis Cates, Worship: Heaven’s Imperative or Man’s Innovations? Cates Publications, 1993 Gary Colley, ed., Music In New Testament Worship, Southwest Publications, 1995. Freed-Hardeman University 1994 Lectures: Worship In Spirit & Truth. Thomas H. Holland, Man’s Worship To God Penman Publications, 1994. Jimmy Jividen, Worship In Song. Ft. Worth: Star Bible Pub., Box 181220, 76118, 1987. Bobby Liddell, ed., What Does God Authorize In Worship? 15th Annual Bellview Lectures, Firm Foundation Publishing House, 1990. Dave Miller, Piloting The Strait, P.O. Box 210667, Bedford, TX  76095, 1996. The Spiritual Sword, 1511 Getwell Rd., Memphis, TN. Issues specifically dealing with the questions on what kind of music is suitable for worship: Vol.  10, No. 1, October 1978; Vol. 21, No., 4, July 1990; Vol.  24, No. 2, January 1993; Vol. 24, No. 3, April 1993. G.K. Wallace, A Critical Review Of A New Modernism: A Plea For Unity, Gospel Defender Publications: Killen, AL. nd. Thomas B. Warren, When Is An “Example” Binding? National Christian Press, 1975.

2. An article in Wineskins, July 1992, presents the current liberal argument of this point (see "Right-Brain Christians in a Left-Brain Church," by Lynn Anderson, p. 28). An apt summary of worship being an "act" is given by Guy N. Woods, Gospel Advocate, September 2, 1982, Vol. CXXIV, No. 17, "Of What Does Worship Consist?" p. 514.  Jividen's observation regarding phraseology "acts of worship" is correct. "The phrase 'acts of worship' has had some bad press in recent times. One could just as well say, 'activities of devotion' which would mean the same thing. One could just as well say, 'human responses to the numious' which would convey the same idea. The last phrase might appeal to the theologian. The phrase 'activities of devotion' may appeal to the pious monk. The phrase 'acts of worship' is probably best understood by the man on the street. It is true that the phrase, 'acts of worship,' has been stereotyped by reactionary writers in some circles to mean 'cold ritual involving mere word worship in the assembly,' but such does not nullify the right use of the phrase" (p. 13,14).

3. We have referred to several books already which address this popular justification for instrumental music. One further that will be most useful is What Does God Authorize In Worship? 1990 Bellview Lectures. Bobby Liddell, editor. Firm Foundation Publishing House, P. O. Box 17200, Pensacola, FL 32522. Of special interest to this point will be the lecture on p.  288ff.

4.  M.C. Kurfees. Instrumental Music In The Worship. Nashville, TN: Gospel Advocate Co., 1969, p. 250.

5.  See Kurfees, p. 259ff; The Instrumental Music Issue, ed. Bill Flatt. Nashville, TN: Gospel Advocate Co., 1987, p. 60ff.

6.  The Spiritual Sword, January 1993, p. 32.

7.  Gene Frost, "Answering The Advocacy Of Choirs And Solos In Worship," The Gospel Anchor, July 1989, Louisville, KY: P.O. Box 36033, 40233, p. 163(3).

8.  IBID., 164(4).

9.  Ibid

10.See Guy N. Woods, Questions and Answers, Vol. 1, p. 106ff; Frost, 167(7).

11.Frost, 165(5).

12.IBID, 166(6).

13.Bobby Duncan, "Choruses, Quartets, and Solos," Sound Words, Vol XVII, October 1989, No. 10.

14.Ray Whitley, "The Lord's Supper And The Common Meal." Gospel Advocate, December 1992.  Nashville, TN.  Bonnie  Thurston, "Do This; A study on the institution of the Lord's Supper and fellowship limits." Restoration Quarterly, Vol. 30, No. 4, Fourth Quarter, 1988. P.O. Box 8227, Abilene, TX, p. 207ff.

15.Thurston, p. 209.

16.Liddell, p. 177.

17.Warren, When is an "Example" binding? p. 148ff. Also see "The Lord's Supper is to be eaten on every first day of the week and only on the first day of the week," The Spiritual Sword, Vol. 13, No. 4, July 1982.

18.Warren, The Spiritual Sword, July 1982, p. 3.

19. Walace, pg. 74, 75

20.  Woods, Questions and Answers Vol. 1, pg. 94ff

21.  Woods, Questions and Answers Vol. 2, pg. 38
 
 



Copyright 1999 by John L. Kachelman Jr. may be reproducted for non-commercial purposes at no cost to others.

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