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Waldron Mission Fund |
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Under the oversight of the elders of the Crossville church of Christ, PO Box 211, Crossville, TN 38557 |
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ENEMIES OF THE CROSS Jim E. Waldron
The apostle Paul wrote, “For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ” (Phil. 3:18). In light of this admonition observe how certain brethren walk/talk. The following quote appeared in The Christian Chronicle, Louisville, KY, Pg. 1, Aug. 2006. MINISTERS EXCHANGE BIBLES AT CONVENTION “Jeff Walling blinked back tears as he held out his worn personal Bible — the one his 89–year-old mother, Mildred, gave him in memory of his late ‘earthly father, T.J.’ Walling, minister of the a cappella Providence Road Church of Christ in Charlotte, NC, had studied and preached out of this same Bible for more than a decade, evidenced by a tattered handful of pages that he pulled from Ephesians. But on this night, after preaching to thousands at the North American Christian Convention, Walling presented the Bible to Dave Stone, minister of the Southeast Christian Church in Louisville. ‘I want to tell you tonight, you are my brother,’ Walling said to Stone. Stone handed Walling his own Bible and told him: ‘The great thing about these Bibles is that they are exactly the same. They are the same translation. They are God’s word.’ In an emotional display of love and acceptance, several prominent leaders of a cappella Churches of Christ and instrumental Christian Churches joined Walling and Stone in exchanging personal Bibles. Walling challenged the 6,000 people who packed the Kentucky International Convention Center that night to go home and do the same.”
The previous quote illustrates the bold effort Jeff Walling has made for years (See Bulletin Briefs, July 2006) to push churches of Christ into adding instruments of music to their worship. He boldly proclaims that such is simply a matter of judgment; but it is not so; for the worship of the church is according to the divine pattern found in the word of God (Hebrews 8:5; 2 Tim. 1:13, cf., Rom. 6:17). The New Testament in nine places (Mt. 26:30; Mk 14:26; Acts 16:25; Rom. 15:9; I Cor. 14:15; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; Heb. 2:12; James 5:13) authorizes by command and example the singing of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs in worship to God. In no place do the apostolic writers approve the use of instruments of music with sacred songs. Walling and his fellow change agents are like the priests in ancient Israel, whom God described through Ezekiel, “Her priests have done violence to my laws and have profaned my holy things: they have made no distinction between the holy and the common…” (Ezekiel. 22:26 ASV) Under the Old Testament strict compliance to truth as codified in the law was expected; and there was great emphasis on outward acts, e.g., special robes for the priests, the burning of incense, instruments of music, the sacrifice of animals, etc. but under Christ emphasis is put on worshipping according to the truth and from the heart (John 4:24). To add common (non-authorized) instruments of music to God’s divinely approved singing of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs is to subvert the truth. Those who do such rest under a curse. Please note: “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:6-8). The Chronicle article also reported, “The session at which Walling spoke, (June 29, 2006, 7:00 p.m.) mixed instrumental and a cappella hymns as praise teams from Richland Hills in Texas and Southside Christian Church in Orlando, FL performed together. Keith Lancaster from the group Acappella led a non-instrumental rendition of Awesome God, followed by both praise teams singing a modern-day Rock of Ages, accompanied by a piano, drums, electric guitars, a trombone and a trumpet.” One cannot even find a jews harp (sometimes called the jaws harp or colloquially referred to as the juice harp, in Europe it’s known as the j harp) in the worship of New Testament Christians, but these men and others like them with all boldness add pianos, drums, guitars, trombones, trumpets, et. al. Well did Peter speak of men with such audacity saying they are “presumptuous (and) self-willed” (II Pet. 2:10). When Nadab and Abihu in their arrogance offered a different fire in the tabernacle worship “which (God) commanded them not,” He sent fire and burned them to death (Lev. 10:1-2). Walling and his compatriots in this folly of self will have heard the story of Nadab and Abihu for years, but are like those described by Jesus, “the heart of this people has grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing and their eyes they have closed…” (Matt. 13:15). Elders everywhere must be aware of Walling’s influence on our youth at places like Winterfest and also be aware of the influence of these six thousand he challenged to infiltrate the churches.
A POWERFUL TOOL
One issue of The Spiritual Sword on the question of Instrumental Music needs to be in constant use by congregations and individuals. We hope that elders will consider ordering these for their members, and all who need teaching on the theme under consideration. “Why Churches of Christ Do Not Use Instrumental Music in Worship” January 2004 — (Vol. 35, No. 2). This issue contains three lectures on the topic, covering over a hundred years of teaching. “Walking by Faith” was proclaimed by M. C. Kurfees in Louisville, KY, in March 1898. “Instrumental Music in Christian Worship” was delivered by Foy E. Wallace, Jr. in Wichita, Kansas, September 1933. “Why Churches of Christ Do Not Use Instrumental Music in Worship” was presented by Alan Highers at West Palm Beach, FL, in May 2002. Read all three of these lectures in this one issue. Bundles may be ordered — 25 copies for $30.00; 50 copies—$55.00; 100 copies—$100.00. Add 10% for postage. Please order (not from us at Bulletin Briefs) from Spiritual Sword, Getwell Church of Christ, 1511 Getwell Road, Memphis, TN 38111.
RETURN TO THE OLD PATHS
The above heading is the title of a book on the history of the restoration movement in these United States by V. Glenn McCoy of Yorba Linda, CA. Change agents among us are working to restructure the churches of Christ into being community churches that mimic the compromising attitude of worldly churches. They (the change agents) are fond of saying that the church of Christ is a denomination started in this country in the early 1800s by men like A. Campbell and Barton W. Stone. Such is slander on the lives and work of the pioneers of the restoration effort and is contrary to the historical record. Brother McCoy’s book documents the fact that those godly men were leaving various denominations to be members of the one apostolic church, Jesus’ kingdom, founded on Pentecost, May 28, 30. The book has 359 pages and comes in hard back. One retails for $16.00 including $3.00 for postage. However, if bought by the case (32) the cost is only $274.00 including postage. That is only $8.56 each. This book needs to be in the home of every God-fearing person and to be read and discussed by families who love the Lord and His word. To order (Not from us at Bulletin Briefs) send a check or money order to McCoy Publications, 22470 Mission Hills Lane, Yorba Linda, CA 92887
BIBLE AUTHORITY
A common expression that is often voiced about the churches of Christ and the Christian church being separate is “the only difference is the question of the instrument.” Yet, this is not true. In fact, the use of mechanical instruments of music with sacred songs is just the tip of the iceberg. The real problem is the question of biblical authority. That is, does God authorize such innovations to be introduced into the pattern for the church, whether the doctrine, worship or work of the church. If a person goes to the doctor with a high fever a good doctor wants to ascertain what disease is causing the fever. The introduction of pipes, strings, and percussion instruments into the simple pattern of worship is the fever. The disease is a rejection of biblical authority. JW
INSTRUMENTS WITH HYMNS FOR ENTERTAINMENT?
(Ed. Note: Charles Spurgeon was strong in Calvinism but he knew the truth on the use of instruments in worship to God. JW) Someone may say we use instruments with hymns when we are simply singing for joy. Yet, the Holy Spirit said, “Is any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms” (James 5:13). God says sing for happiness, not sing and play. Like Charles Spurgeon said, “We might as well pray by machinery as praise with it.” Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892) joined the Baptist church in 1850 and was “one of the greatest British preachers of his time.” In 1854 he moved from Cambridge to London where the Metropolitan tabernacle with 6,000 seats was built to hold the huge crowds who came to hear him preach twice a day for more than thirty years (World Book, Vol. S, p. 635). Knowing that the sacred music authorized for Christians is a cappella, he refused to allow any mechanical instruments of music to be used in the great hall. The above quote is taken from his comments on Psalm 42:4. Here it is in context, “David appears to have had a peculiarly tender remembrance of the singing of the pilgrims, and assuredly it is the most delightful part of worship and that which comes the nearest to the adoration of heaven. What a degradation to supplant the intelligent song of the whole congregation by the theatrical prettiness of a quartet, the refined niceties of a choir, or the blowing off of wind from the inanimate bellows and pipes. We might as well play by machinery as to praise with it.”
Spurgeon, C.H., The Treasury of David, www.searchgodsword.org/com
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