Music Debate

Tom Alexander:

Reference the July 2010 issue of Gospel Advocate, "Music Debate."

While I like your article may I make a comment or two . . or three?

Charley Brown was shooting arrows and then drawing a circle around each arrow. Lucy asked him why he was doing that and Charley replied "this way I never miss."

Many times we do that to prove our positions. To use anyone other than the bible to support out point indicates we do not believe the prophets, apostles, etc are sufficient. Because someone in the second or third century did or did not do something does not provide evidence to support our position. The bible is enough or it is not. If it is not then anything goes.

Nowhere in the New Testament did anyone, including Jesus, tell the "good people" to separate themselves from the "bad people." You can reference Paul's letters as well as Jesus' instructions to the churches in Asia. I understand that to mean that nothing anyone else in the assembly does affects badly on me. Considering Jesus' instructions that our loving each other will show the world we are his disciples may suggest that splitting a congregation over any issue just may be the worst thing that can be done and that all sides are at fault and need to seek forgiveness.

Last, you base your position on the fact that our assemblies are for worship. Where do you find bible support for that view? Paul told the church at Rome that worship was when they presented their individual body as a living sacrifice. The author of Hebrews says our assemblies are for the purpose of encouraging each other to love and good works. I have asked many preachers and authors this question and I have never received a response. I take that to mean they consider my question so ridiculous it does not deserve an answer or most likely that they have no clue and that is their story and they are sticking to it.

For me I do not favor instruments in the assembly because I cannot find it in the Bible. Not that it is wrong just that I cannot find it. And once you get outside of the Bible anything goes. Anyone who wants instruments will hit a wall someplace. They like a piano but do not like drums; they like individual instruments but not bands and orchestras; everyone has a line in the sand and mine is the Bible.

Did the people immersed on Pentecost sign up to convert the world? Were they told on Pentecost if they did not they were going to Hell and having been immersed would not save them from that fate? I do not believe that to be the case so neither do we have that responsibility today. The church is nothing more and nothing less than a group of people who have been immersed and had their sins forgiven. Something no other group can claim. If we would live as if that were true others would see it and want what we have. As it is most live so close to the line that neither their brothers and sisters nor the world can see a separation. Our responsibility as a group is to encourage each other to love and to do good works; to follow Jesus' example, instructions and commands. We have made things much more complicated than they need to be.

I liked your article but I suggest it does not convince anyone who does not already agree with you.

This note is much too long so I will close. If you are still reading this I thank you for your time. If you care to explain how singing to each other, praying for ourselves, contributing primarily for our own comfort, listening to a speaker is worship I will be interested in your thoughts. We have memorial services all of the time for our friends and do not consider that worship so calling the Lord's Supper worship is a stretch.

I am John Jenkins. I am retired. My wife and I live in Gatlinburg and meet with Great Smoky Mountains Church of Christ in Pigeon Forge. Most of whom will agree 100% with your article.

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179 cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

Some people are like a Slinky ... Not really good for anything, but you
still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.