"Old Hymns" vs "Contemporary Christian Rock"
| Posted On: 06/13/08 01:31:23 PM |
Age 51, OH |
I could be wrong, but the one church that stated "We sing the old hymns" may have been using that as shorthand for letting people know that worldly influence had not infiltrated their worship music. There are many Christians who recognize that coming out from the world and being separate includes a separation from worldly music styles as well. While there are some areas where compromise may be made biblically between Christians, such compromise may not be with the world in any fashion. Our so-called "churches" are morphing into nothing more than G-rated entertainment venues, and sometimes (with dancers, etc) PG-13! It's shameful, and our country's moral decline is a direct result of our ignorance of the Bible. We use our liberty in Christ as license to do whatever we "feel" is right - even when that flies in the face of clear teaching in Scripture. Unless there is a national repentance, we will go the way of ancient Rome and America will be no more. If God spared not Israel, what arrogance we display in thinking that America will be treated any differently!
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Mixed-Up Eisegesis
| Posted On: 06/13/08 11:08:21 AM |
Age 46, MN |
While the overall premise is good, the author presents several non-Biblical statements:
"Once converted to the Savior there was never any question that new believers were to live together in a new Christian culture..." Where is it written of a new Christian culture? And, how is this culture defined? The Apostolic scriptures only refer to being obedient to God's Word through the example of the Living Word (Rom. 16:26, 1Pet. 2:21). And, where is it written of conversion to the Savior?
"This well-bred Jew (Paul), who once believed that Gentiles were dogs..." Where is it written that Paul considered Gentiles dogs? Jesus refers to a Gentile woman as a dog (Matt. 15:26), but this is not recorded of Paul.
"In fact, it was the “mystery” long hidden and now revealed, that Gentiles and Jews are included in Christ, which comprised his (Paul's) main message." That is not what Paul says in Ephesians, Eph. 3:6 - This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise, in Christ Jesus. The mystery is that Gentiles are heirs together with Israel - sharers in the promise, not that "Gentiles and Jews are included in Christ." Paul elsewhere defines what this gospel and promise is.
"When Peter began to remove himself from his Gentile brothers upon the arrival of some professing Jewish followers, Paul rebuked him before everyone." Have we forgotten that both Peter and Paul were professing Jewish followers too?
"Remember, as well, that Peter was the one who received the vision of the unclean animals in the sheet, which was intended to reveal that the Gentiles are welcomed by God into His family when converted!" That is not the interpretation of the vision that Peter gave, Acts 10:28 - He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean." Peter says nothing about being converted; conversion is not mentioned in Acts 10; conversion is not the context.
Secondly, the Master and His apostles never sang any traditional Christian hymns, old or new. They historically sang the Psalms (Matt. 26:30, Mark 14:26, Acts 16:25, Heb. 2:12). BTW, the author of the book of Hebrews in 2:12 quotes Psalm 22.
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Its The Style Not The Words
| Posted On: 06/12/08 06:28:31 PM |
Age 61, GA |
I also am curious about the suspect words and/or theology. I like the hymns from the 1700s and early 1800s. Please let me know which ones are dangerous so that I may flee from them. I'm also curious as to why you feel I am dishonest when I said it is about style and music and then you wrote I needed to be honest that it is about style and music. This appears to be confusing and written to be argumentative. Maybe this is a big reason I do not attend "mixed-up" churches.
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Yvan
| Posted On: 06/12/08 05:35:10 PM |
Age 48, SD |
I think some people are missing the main pointof the article,it's about the unityof the body of Christ. We are all one in Christ.We are making the same mistakes the Corinthians made in dividing the 'Body' along cultural, language, music, denomination, race, etc... He who has the Son has life, he who does not have the Son does not have Life; there is only one head! How could there be many bodies? In the NT it was the church in Ephesus, in Corinth...One locality, One Church ! Wecan all learn from each other and grow, if we are willing!!! Let Christ have the preeminence!!!! Amen
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Mixed Up Church...
| Posted On: 06/12/08 08:28:26 AM |
Age 65, CA |
The article was pretty good and I have only two things to say. Firstly, it seems everyone has locked on to the Hymn content image that was given in the article. Here's the point...it is not whether the hymns are sung from a book or are projected on the hitek screens...it's the Biblical Context of the hymns that must be saught. If it is Biblical, sing it...if not, don't even humm it.Secondly,to give off the idea that God's a "show off" is not only wrong, but coming from a pastor, proves that pastor spritually ignorant. Just think about it for an extra moment before you use this phraise again.
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re
| Posted On: 06/11/08 04:13:03 PM |
Age 31, IA |
I'm curious what hymn lyrics you're talking about. Could you give some examples?
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It's the Style not the Words
| Posted On: 06/11/08 08:54:20 AM |
Age 51, MN |
I think it's fine you like the old hymns - but I also think you should be honest and say it IS about style and music. Many words in many of the old hymns have very suspect theology - but due to TRADITION we continue to sing them.
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Mixed Up- Or Obedient?
| Posted On: 06/10/08 09:16:51 PM |
Age 61, GA |
If you wish to attend what you refer to as a mixed up church, fine. I do hope you are satisfied and productive in that body. As for me, I am more at home and rest in a church that sings traditional hymns from a book. I am after the message of those hymns.
It would seem to me to be more important for us to be obedient to the Spirit of God by obeying His lead in where we attend church. As all members of the body are different, but one body, we will probably do well to fit into the Body where He places us and not suffer quilt over attending a church that is not "mixed up".
To address the song/singing issue briefly, I have attended churches that have 7/11 singing. By that I mean seven words sung eleven times. I am not concentrating on making a joyful noise when I find myself becoming bored and then annoyed by the incessant repetition of the same few words. There are those who really find this fulfilling. That is fine with me.
Different cultures and different ethnic groups bring to their services many culture traits others find unacceptable or strange. To sit in a service where people are continually jumping up and down in their seats shouting out while the preacher is delivering the message is not for everyone.
There are teachers and preachers. They each have their doctrinal place in the body. They reach different people. We are not all alike and we all have different needs. Allow the Spirit to direct each of us to the church body He has decided we should attach ourselves to so that our growth needs are met and we may minister to others.
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