Jonathan, a bond-servant of the Lord Jesus, set apart as His broken instrument so that the harmony of the chorus of Christ might be revealed to be all in all —
To the saints who are dispersed:
Grace to you and peace in the Name of God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I am writing to you, beloved, as I have heard there to be a great deal of discord and dissension among you lately as to what sort of music is the most worshipful and pleasing to the Lord. I can hardly believe my ears. I therefore charge you in the Name of the Lord Jesus to hear the counsel of the Word of God when it testifies of Him, "For it was fitting for Him, for Whom are all things, and through Whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the Author of their salvation through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, ‘I will proclaim your Name to my brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise.’" And again, "Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, 'The reproaches of those reproaching You fell on Me.' For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God. For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers, and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy; as it is written, 'Therefore I will give praise to You among the Gentiles, and I will sing to Your Name.' Again he says, 'Rejoice O Gentiles, with His people.' And again, 'Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise Him.'"
So, then, brethren: it is Christ who worships and sings to the Father in the midst of His people; and, as our Lord told us, wherever two or three of us are gathered together in His Name there He is in the midst of us — if it is truly in His Name, His character, that we assemble. Therefore, with such a wonderful and inspired Vocalist in our midst, let us ask ourselves: "Are we listening to Him, or merely to ourselves?Who, in all this dissension, is on the Lord's side? Above all, can anyone hear His voice? If so, is Christ's voice one of harmony or discord?" I ask those 'wise' and 'learned' among you, "What does Christ testify in your midst?" And, "What is this that you are testifying in His presence and the presence of those for whom Christ died by your own words and actions?" Christ is not divided is He? Is there no One among you qualified to judge in this matter? For by the testimony of two or three witnesses is every word of Christ established. Tell me, those of you who are so zealous for the worship of the one true God, are you so busy making a supposed 'joyful noise unto the Lord' with your own dissonant voices that you've forgotten the reason why you are supposed to be singing in the first place? For Christ is our Head and our Worship Leader, and His preferences ought to prevail above our own.
Therefore, let us render to God the worship that He desires and accepts; for as the Scripture says, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." And again, "Because this people draw near with their words and honor Me with their lips, but remove their hearts far from Me, and their worship of Me consists of tradition learned by rote, therefore behold, I will once again deal marvelously with this people, wondrously marvelous; and the wisdom of their wise men will perish, and the discernment of their discerning men will be concealed." Therefore, if anyone does speak now, let it be as the very oracles of Christ so that at last the Body might be built up into the Head. For when we find our true center in silent reverence before God in the mind of Christ — opening our hearts to His still, small voice — then and then alone shall we together find our one voice. Everything else is vain distraction and a striving after the wind: an offering of a strange fire of incense before the Lord that will not be accepted by Him. Just as the Preacher warns us, "Watch your step as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil. Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few." Now may all of God's family, in the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, destroy every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of Christ in their midst; and let us all take great care lest we inadvertently reproach Christ by disregarding any of those in whom He dwells, crucifying Him that we might be justified in our own eyes, exposing Him again to public shame. For as it is written, "The Name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you." And again, "All the day long I have spread out My hands to an obstinate and contradicting people." Finally, brethren, let us not forget the dying words of our Lord Jesus on behalf of His accusers, "Father, forgive them… for they do not know what they are doing."
So, in the words of our brother Paul: "What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, eachone has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification." As it was at the beginning, let it be so now, so that Christ’s glory might again be revealed in His temple, that is: His Body. When all of God's people finally return to worship in the tradition of the apostles, as set forth and approved by the Word of God, will there be any cause for division left among us? After all this petty quarreling about individual music preferences, isn't it time for all of us to do things God's way? Is not everyone in whom the Spirit of Christ dwells to be a sharer in the acceptable altar of Christ? Does not our Father delight to hear the heart-song of each and every one of His children? And shall not the family of God as well, as those who are called by His Name?
As Paul said, "If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." Such is the noise that grieves God's heart and sows discord in the hearts of His children. So then, if we would truly make a joyful noise unto the Lord — as one Voice that pleases Him — let us therefore love one another as God is love... for with such sacrifices God is well-pleased.
Now may the God of peace grant you to be of one mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, and bear you up in the fellowship of the unity that is the Spirit of Christ, to the praise of His great glory. Amen.
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When it comes to music I don't prefer christian rock music since I was delivered from that captivity and upon which I entered into all this gloriousness that we are partaking of today, the knowledge that the churches have fallen away and we seek another body (the true body of Christ now).
When it comes to music preferences should not we at least be taking into account the experiences of those around us. For instance, I can go around telling people that I have been delivered from christian rock music and they act like they don't even care. Aren't we suppose to care? Even if I would be a weak sister in this area, which I don't believe I am, should others wish not to put a stumbling block in front of me? Where is our concern for one another?
If I was required to repent from the darkness of christian rock music, then shouldn't others too? If it is darkness for one, isn't it darkness for others too?
The bible says to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs in our hearts to God, making melody in your heart. It encourages each to have a psalm in the assembling together. Jesus and his disciples sang a hymn before Jesus went out to the garden before He was crucified. If hymns were good enough for Jesus and his disciples then I guess THEY'LL BE GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME too.
Sad to say, many churches are dividing over what kind of music they think is appropriate. Usually it boils down to the older against the younger members. This happened years ago in the Churches of Christ. You'll see the word: "Non-instrumental" on some of their church signs, even today.
Isn't it interesting to realize that all the old hymns were once new. Isn't it interesting that some middle-aged christians have never sung a single hymn.
Several friends of mine just returned from Uganda. Missionaries used to try to import their own music but now are leaving that to the natives in most cases. Anyway, one of the songs being sung went on and on - they sing for hours and hours, you know. My friend asked what the name of the song was which was being sung with such passion. It was: God judged Sodom and Gamorrah for their sin of pride and homosexuality. How's that for a title?
Such would be a strange song to be heard in America but the judgment of Rev. 15 is indeed marked by singing: Revelation 15:1-4 I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by Go and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: “Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed."
The children of Israel praised the Lord and played their instruments "with all their might" and danced "with all their might", too. Much of the contemporary Christian music isn't for me and my house but I cannot dismiss all of it as useless. Jesus is Lord of all things which includes the very musical instrument which Satan employs.
Do you think the Song of Moses will be the one recorded in Deut 32? This is the song that the Lord gave to Moses just before his death when he was blessing Joshua and the people before they entered the promised land.
Regarding music in church, have you ever read or seen any materials from Dr. Garlock at http://www.majestymusic.com/ ? The material is really excellent. He has much to say about the effect of music on the physical person. There are rythms that sooth and other that agitate.
There is certainly extreme music on both sides of middle. All should agree on that. The disagreement is rather where the middle line should be drawn. I would rather a person govern themselves but what do you do when the world takes over your church? There has to be some order in our worship? Please?
Of course, today the first question might be whether God cares about anything anymore. Some suggest not by their demeanor, attire, speech, music, . . . you name it! They forget that while God accepts us as we are the salvation gospel is to bring us UP to God. Not God DOWN to us. We are to ascend ever upward revealing His character more and more.
Maybe instead of preaching on proper or improper music we should preach more about 1 John chapter 2. "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."
Does this suggest that our music should be "out of this world"--perhaps, heavenly? What is heavenly music? Nothing like we have heard here?
"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."
It involves worship and praise and humility and adoration.
"The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."
"And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."
Personally, I don't think we would have all these issues if our relationship with God were better. I think the divisions are caused by our minimalistic approach to Christian stewardship and consecration. And of course, these are not something we can fix ourself. Our life is shaped by our beliefs. And if our beliefs are wrong... well, if we are looking at another jesus we are going to become like whom we behold. Maybe the jesus we envision in our minds is a lot like us. We can be very compatible with a jesus like that. Not much need for change. No humility, no self-denial. No eternal life either.
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I can only go off of my own experience and what has happened to me in my life. I was a person who after I accepted the Lord became very concerned about what God thought about what I did. I heard my grandma talk about JFK being a God fearing person. Now I don't know if JFK was a god fearing peson but that one single small little sentence I heard my grandmother make sure that a profound influence on my life. I'm showing my age here I know, I was in second age when I heard of JFK's death.
After accepting Jesus Christ as my Savior after my youngest sister died when I was 15 I became a god fearing person. I lived this way for about 10 years. If there were books that I read but I felt God would not be pleased, I would quit reading them. If there were TV shows I would watch, I stopped. One day while reading the bible I heard a voice speak to me asking me if I had an abundant life. I believe this was God's drawing me, remember that Paul says that no one can come unless they are drawn. After attending a Bill Gothard seminar where I heard about rock music. I came home and literally made the decision that I no longer wanted to live the lifestyle of listening to rock music, whether it was the christian rock music I was involved in or secular. My husband and I went out and burned all our rock music. It is bibical to burn some things as they give account of it in the bible of some people doing this with books. I don't lift up Bill Gothard's ministry as a matter of fact I haven't been involved with his ministry for about 20 years now. I reckonize that what happened was something that God did for me not Bill Gothard. Well, something happened after this particular time of being "God fearing" unlike all the other previous times I had decided to no longer do something. After I stopped reading the books nothing happened, after I stopped watching certain tv shows nothing happened, but this time after I stopped listening to the mostly christian rock music we had something happened. I was baptised in the Holy Spirit, totally by myself, alone, without anyone's help, not knowing what is was that even happened to me, not even believing in it because I had been raised in a church that didn't believe that those gifts are for today. I believe what happened to me happened as a result of a principal in the bible called bringing forth works met for repentance.
But as a result of my burning, literally burning, all my christian and secular rock music I had a tremendous life change so say the least. My bondage was so great that for about 5 years I tried to speak with the gift of diversity of tongues. I was one of these people that you would see at churches and they were trying to teach them how to speak in tongues, lol. Now I don't say all people speak in this gift but I knew God was definitely trying to give this gift to me and I was having a real hard time functioning in it.
Now the rock music was out of my life for good. And let me tell you something I have gone on to experience in the Lord in the area of music. One day while praying for peace I suddenly started to sing a new song I had never sang or heard before in my life. I had to listen to myself singing and what the song was saying to even know what it was about. I still sing that song today and it's message to me is very comforting. It said that my Father has a peace that He pour forth from His throne that knows no fear. For someone who had been told all her life that SHE HAS A TERRIBLE VOICE by others, God sure didn't seem to care about that!!! I am one of the few that has heard the new song, I don't know if there are more new songs but if there are I'M OPEN HERE.
I don't have all the answers for the questions about music. But I know what God can do in a person's life that truly wants Him.
I know what I do in my life on a day to day basis with music in my life. I love music, I find it very interesting and very exciting and something that can be great in a person's life. It is enjoyable for me to think about music being a very interesting subject to teach my child that I homeschool. I love instruments. I love hearing hymns played on all different kind of instruments. Just recently we visited the summit of the Smokey Mountains and a woman had this instrument that I had never seen before up on top of those mountains people just would lay down their blankets and rest while overlooking the majestic view. Now that is my desire for music, I don't know maybe I'm just a little bit like David. I'd just simply like to get my harp out and strum some psalms. That just sounds really really really really good to me.
I don't think the question should be over music but RATHER over a person's life and their HEART. And then I think we will have all our answers on this subject. I really do.
There is no doubt in my mind that there is definitely abused music in this world, no doubt whatsoever. It is like the other person said "be in the world, not of it".
posted
Sorry to jump in but isn't prophesy more important than speaking in tongue - especially in this crooked and perverse nation?
quote:1 Cor 14:1-5 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual [gifts], but rather that ye may prophesy. For he that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth [him]; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men [to] edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater [is] he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
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Chu (sorry I keep forgetting how you spell you login name),
Speaking in diveristy of tongues is just one of the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given me, I also believe I have prophecy and discerning of spirits. The gift of tongues was not the first gift I functioned in.
This isn't a whole testimony of my life Chu, just a small section of it.
My post isn't about any gifts, Chu, I was just pointing out that I had a big change over the decision in my life about listening to rock music and what an impact that decision made on my life.
You seem to be almost missing the point of the whole thread.
All the gifts are important, all of them, but Paul does say to easnestly desire to prophesy to the Church. Paul saw that gift to be especially building up to the Church.
I didn't seek any gifts, I didn't even believe in them. I was baptised in the Holy Spirit whether I believed in it or not, unfortunately due to what churches can teach people today. You see what was really happening to me was God was bringing me out of everything that the man made churches were teaching and I had just found myself welcomed into the true church, the REAL CHURCH, the real thing.
I'm trying to say that it happened to me because I was bringing forth works met for repentance. One of those works was repenting from listening and having the lifestyle being surrounded with rock music, christian and secular.
It seems to me Chubenna that I feel a frustration on your part to my post. Did I say anything to upset you?
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Kim, I didn't make it clear. I believed you were on the right track and I might as well suggest that the best gift to ask for was the gift of prophesy. By prophesy I meant speaking God's will and not about the future.
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