In Cleveland's recent summer training and posted in their latest Fellowship Journal, the following "Comments" were highlighted and boxed for emphasis ...
Quote:
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Our Christian life must be governed by the Spirit rather than ways or methods, even though we need "ways" to carry out certain things. If our Christian life becomes governed by some way rather than the Spirit, that is a tragedy. For instance, we should be careful regarding anything that can lead or drive our singing beside the Spirit. Anything of Christ that is deep or profound can be spoiled by how it is carried out. Music can help us touch the Lord, but music should not take over. It is because of this that I am a "dissuader" when it comes to the use of drums in the meetings. We should not be against the possibility of using certain things, but neither should we allow anything to replace the Spirit. What should determine everything in the churchlife is whether our enjoyment is of the Spirit, or of something else. ... The problem is that so few Christians really know the Spirit. -- Titus Chu, July 2009
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My first reaction reading this was that the matter of "drums" was being used to signal a return to the old, old ways of dominance by "headquarters. Do you really think that all Christians who have drums in their meetings, qualify as
"so few Christians really know the Spirit." If you think that this is just quote is just "one person's views," let me note that the LC where I formerly served, no longer has drums to accompany their guitars during music worship. They abruptly stopped using drums.
It is so-called "fellowship" like this which is how all LC mandates were disseminated from above. Standard Modus Operandi. If one would challenge this "fellowship," then leaders would diffuse it saying, "TC is just sharing his feelings, based on his experience." But leaders know there is much more to this ...
The use of drums or not is 100% cultural. TC doesn't like them, but instead of just saying "I just don't like them," he shrouds his "feelings" in spiritual talks to persuade others under his influence. He provides no scripture, because there is none. Any item of a million things in the churchlife could have been been inserted in the above quote to replace "
drums." Could not the piano be used to "
lead or drive our singing beside the Spirit" and "
to replace the Spirit" thus becoming a great "
tragedy." That was Darby's "opinion" about pianos, and the very reason why exclusive Brethren, to this day, have never had musical accompaniment for their hymns.