Quote:
Originally Posted by OBW
Ohio,
I'm completely with you on music. I really do have my preference. But I can't always get what I want. (And there's a song in there somewhere  )
The problem I have with so much of the rest is that what is right and what is wrong so often looks the same. There is always leadership. Sometimes they do right and sometimes they do wrong.
And it is arguable that getting anal about accompaniment as a doctrinal position seems really "out there."
But when you say something like "[w]hat does bother me even more are the teachings by church forefathers that regulate us today . . ." I see different possibilities. The example you give is grounds for suspicion.
But what about those teachings by church forefathers like Paul? I know that we will quickly differentiate his writings as scripture. And that is very true. But how we read and understand scripture is both static and in flux. And Paul isn't here guiding us beyond what was written. |
My point has always been that the average "Joe" or "Joe elder" ought to be able to read scripture on his own without the overlay of a controlling denominational headquarters. Sure I see the need for teachers and pastors and evangelists -- gifts to the body -- but their instruction should not go beyond the scripture, and yes I view Paul and the apostles as more authoritative than others since them.
For example, I talked to the C of C senior minister, a really dear brother, about having music during worship. I mentioned Paul's instruction of "
singing and psalming with our hearts to the Lord." I noted that some of the Psalms actually provide instruction concerning musical accompaniment. These Psalms were
meant to be sung with certain instruments. How can we then extract lyrics from a psalm, and still call it a psalm? It may be a poem, but not a Psalm. He, however, was every bit as persuaded against instruments as I was for them.
I didn't press that discussion beyond that because I understand his position. The limits of his "autonomy" as an elder only go as far as what has been established by those collection of churches within the denomination, based on the teachings of their founders. Yet the New Testament never speaks against musical instruments, so to establish church ordinances where the Bible is silent, is like saying that air conditioning during worship is not permitted either.
My point is that what really divides Christians and collects them into denominational camps are the denominational leaders which use extra-Biblical teachings and practices to partition the believers. The Recovery can not condemn denominations for what they also do. They are no different -- just another denomination following a leader instead of the Lord.