Few things make me angry than misrepresenting people and misleading people. While Christ responded with anger and love, I try to do the same. In the following, my reply to the rejection of following biblical examples and patterns found here: “PATTERNISM IN CHURCHES OF CHRIST: A TEMPLATE FOR SIN.”
You are a poor blind guide in this matter. What prejudice that you show in judging patternists by your own pattern! Don’t you know that we are to be imitators of the Christian example (1 Cor. 4:16-17, 11:1; Eph. 5:1; Phil. 3:17; 1 Thess. 1:7; 2 Thess. 3:7, 9; Heb. 6:12; 3 John 1:11))? Do you not know the words for example and pattern are the same (2 Tim 1:13; Rom 5:14; 6:17; 1 Thess 1:7; Phil 3:17; 2 Thess 3:9; 1 Pet 5:3)? Has Christ not set a pattern for us in worship? Do you not follow a pattern for baptism and the Lord’s Supper even if just simply calling them these names? Open your eyes. You who call others Pharisees! For the Pharisees were not patternists according to the Word. Their pattern was their traditions. These were man-made inventions, which went further to neglect God’s instructions (Matt 15; 23; Mark 7). Pharisees were just as much liberals as they were legalists. Do not be a white-washed tomb and condemn churches for having the same problems that so many had in the first centuries. You’re not going to change any minds with this contempt.
Can you not open your eyes and see the spiritual worship of singing alone? Or are you hard of heart and dull of hearing? Do you not see that God commanded just singing and how completely sublime it is? How completely disgusting to alter what God has made perfect? Yes, we’re all guilty in profaning the image of God, and yet let’s not profane the blood of Christ and His words which are spirit and life. Do you not know that preaching, praying, and singing in unknown languages were condemned in 1 Corinthians 14:9–15? Why? Why not do anything in the assembly? It didn’t matter how beautiful it was to hear another tongue, or that this ability was a gift from God. It was misused. For all worship including making melody was to be of the spirit and the mind (1 Cor 14:15). Yet, they excluded the mind. They had not set the Christian pattern, example in worship. See also that Paul was no “legalist” for correcting them to repent. No matter the beauty of musical instruments, there is no message that could be taught by them other than verse 7 and 8 of 1 Corinthians 14. Yet, we must stand against such additions for we are convicted by the words of Christ that we must observe all things (Matt. 28:19), and to do otherwise is sin. God blessed us with His grace, but not to keep us from striving in love to obey His words. Until “progressives” stop griping and start teaching His words, how will we “patternists” repent? I’ve read words upon words condemning legalism and not a word that confronts darkness with the light. Have you become as much a Pharisee in “liberalism” as those that you despise for “legalism”?
Let us look to the planks in our own eyes now. You said, “What about those earliest Christians who, for perhaps two generations, got along quite well before many of the proof texts were written, and for sure before they were widely distributed? Were those early believers not able to worship God acceptably?” This statement is a common speculative conjecture. These Christians received all things for life and godliness in the 1st century via prophecy from the Spirit of Christ. Paul expected the Corinthians to have understood the teachings of the Lord concerning the Assembly and the worship in and out of the assembly. They did not lack except correction.
On another point, a careful study of the Scriptures show that the Scriptures were collected together in the 1st century and distributed to all. http://Godsbreath.wordpress.com/2007/05/03/new-testament-collection/
May God bless us all in the grace and peace in Christ.
Seeing God's Breath 
Your attempt at playing innocent doesn’t set well. Take your games some place else I have
read your writings before. I have heard your labels and your poison. You may fool some but take your arrogance some place else I am not fooled by your or your tribe. Peace
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Go on.
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Not Sick. Just tired of the Jr. Police Squad tearing down the brotherhood.
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See, where does this libeling come from? Why the prejudice? Why say “keep your judgments to yourself” and yet I said nothing? You are certainly confused.
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Then keep your judgments to yourself. For you know not what you speak.
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Wow. Are you alright? I’m sincerely concerned for you. May God bless you to get well.
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Do you really know about John? I knew him before he came to Arizona. Did you?
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No. I’ve just read his papers. Go on.
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John Waddey knows what legalism is and he knows how to give a consistent definition of it.
http://www.zianet.com/maxey/reflx435.htm
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Yes, I’ve read the article already. Strange to turn to a so-called “legalist” for the answer as Maxey did. Yet, Maxey or Waddey never concisely presented what a “legalist” was from what I read. The very term “legalist” makes no sense even in the light of the dictionary’s understanding.
Ironically, those following the words of Christ are often libeled as “legalist” and then a “liberal”. When no one consistently applies a singular definition to “legalism”, being that there are dozens of definitions being thrown around simply to slander. One says that legalism is observing all things, another says that it is inventing laws and forcing them on others, and another says that it any expediency taken to accomplish an action expected of all participants.
Merriam Webster’s definition, “strict, literal, or excessive conformity to the law or to a religious or moral code”. Even here, there are two definitions where by one Christ and His Apostles and prophets would be “legalists” by conforming strictly and literally to the law of God while by the other “excessive conformity” is not even possible for the laws that God has intended for our hearts. If we observe what Jesus said, then you do good and love God, but if you add to His commands, then “legalism” is extra-biblical rather than biblical. Legalism cannot be kept by the Law of Christ, but only the laws of men. The only other form of legalism is serving the law rather than worshiping God, which is also extra-biblical and is based on the laws of men.
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Extra-biblical legalism goes hand in hand with extra-biblical liberalism.
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Here are Al Maxey’s observation of Waddey’s conclusion. Waddey is absolutely right about digressives. “Great article, John!! Which is why it distressed me to see what he wrote near the end of that article. He stated, “As a people, we have been influenced by legalism more than we realize.” That is so true. Few of us have escaped the influence of this “doctrine of demons.” John then, in the very next sentence, spoke of the “mortal battle with digressive brethren who divided the church with their instrumental music and missionary societies.” Good grief!! And here I was beginning to think we were seeing a new John Waddey. However, he immediately proves the truth of the statement he had made in the previous sentence about the insidious influence of legalism. Instruments and societies — two perfect examples of men elevating personal perceptions and preferences to the level of LAW, and then seeking to bind those dogmas upon the rest of humanity. “Digressives”? From what exactly did these people digress?! It wasn’t from God’s commands or principles, because God nowhere established law governing either matter. Thus, these “digressives” had dared to “digress” from the “decrees of men.” Who, then, were the ones responsible for the sad division? Those who exercised their freedom in Christ? Or, those who sought to bind upon others their own personal or party convictions? After writing several marvelous articles on the pitfalls of legalism, Waddey reveals he is still inside that pit himself. John, you’ve come a long way toward freedom; your articles demonstrate that. Please come the rest of the way; you are still within its clutches! John, if I can be of any help, please let me know! You are in my prayers!”
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Actually, psallo is a verb that indicates the use of a musical instrument. The Psalms were generally sung (chanted, actually) accompanied with a harp. Psallo actually means “to touch or strike the chord, to twang the strings of a musical instrument so that they gently vibrate.” Churches of Christ generally do the same thing with baptizo, going back to the infant baptism issue. They claim that it can only mean immersion, but it actually means “to wash or to cleanse.” Luke 11:38 is an example of this. Besides, Churches of Christ “add to the word” by insisting upon congregational singing even though NOTHING in the New Testament even hints that the entire congregation was singing, so it’s a wonder why they claim that churches which use choirs are “unscriptural.” Choirs are just as scriptural as “song leaders.” Moreover, the early church chanted the Psalms together as was the custom of the Temple, however rarely will you ever hear Churches of Christ singing the actual Psalms.
What needs to be clarified is the Church of Christ position of sin. Most Christians (the vast majority) consider sin to be wickedness or evil. Churches of Christ go even further and say that well-meaning Christians who serve the poor, give to charity, etc yet worship with instruments are committing a sin. The extreme legalism in this needs to be highlighted. One should also note how backwards Churches of Christ generally have it- they’ll claim that because they’re worshipping “in spirit and in truth” without instruments then they are the true Christians, and doing works of mercy and kindness are secondary to the life of a Christian. Wonder how that squares with Matt 25.
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Every statement that you’ve made is an assertion. You have no premises for your conclusions. Because of hard hearts people like you wrangle with the authority of the words of Christ via His Apostles and prophets.
I don’t know why you enjoy slandering Jesus Christ’s Church. The Church was complete as Jesus built it and bought it with His blood. Yet, you judge our convictions with contempt.
Psallo does not mean to pluck an instrument in the 1st century and following. A number of scholars have shown this like Everett Ferguson. Even Strong’s gives this definition to classical Greek and yet not Koine. First Corinthians 14 shows as many commentators have pointed out very clearly that psallo excluded musical instruments and all music void of meaningful words. This music is singing that was always done “among yourselves” as Col. 3:16 and Eph. 5:19 say and with one voice (mouth) as Romans 15:6 says as an expression of unity. Clearly, the Church never sang in choirs and they certainly did not sing in chanting without a melody for which psallo means to make melody. Choirs, solos, quartets and the like are all unscriptural since these undo what God had established for spiritual singing for worship in spirit and truth. You strike at the heart of worship and do not understand the very importance of words over sounds. Song leaders are not Scriptural but this does not make them unscriptural.
There is no such thing as “well-meaning Christians” as church leaders who advocate “worship with instruments”. Two hundred years ago, only the Catholics were so arrogant to invent their own worship to God via lifeless instruments. Worship is a salvation issue. If you don’t worship God how He said worship Him, then you are not obeying Him and you don’t love Him. Those who obey Christ will be saved and those who do not will not be saved (Matt. 7:21-23, Heb. 5:8-9). Works of kindness are not secondary, but many to appease their conscience do good even the atheists and pagans. It is the numerous errors of so-called Christians who alter worship make worship a subject to be addressed. If people were not serving others, we’d address that even more.
Lastly, you don’t even know what legalism is. You can’t give a consistent definition of it. It is a term for libel.
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I will not take the time to go point by point on your lengthy comment. I will ask you one question. How do you explain a history in churches of Christ of church splits with one side or both damning the other to hell? And, most of these folks were considered to be “conservative”?
Do you believe people are going to hell who use instruments in worship? That is a “Yes” or “No” question. If you answer “Yes” you are guilty of exactly what I addressed in this post. You nor anyone else can site a biblical passage that forbids instruments. The well worn practice of finding commands from what the Bible does not say is not valid. The problem is that one guy believes the “necessary inference” is one thing and another, just as sincere, reaches a different conclusion from the same silence of Scripture.
I have never even hinted that Christians should not do all they possibly can to follow Christ, His teachings, and the Apostolic teachings. The Word of God is the final authority for both faith and daily living (including worship).
My problem is this. A preacher prints in the church bulletin that those members who do not attend Sunday night services will go to hell. A so called evangelist teaches that a whole congregation is going to hell because they sung a song (a cappella by the way) as the communion trays were passed. This is only two examples of false teaching, adding to the gospel.
It is one thing to impose extra-biblical rules on yourself, it is quite another to impose them on everyone else, and that is a sin.
Royce
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In the 1st century, there were false teachers and congregations led astray. These are those who are divisive. Yet, allowing the first Christians to have false teachers leading astray and then calling the same thing today “splits” and “divisions” is the result of prejudice. Every rising of a false teacher is not always the err of a congregation’s leadership, and it is certainly not a division no matter who controls the congregation’s property. Yes, there are “non-institutional” churches who have drawn the line all over the place regarding extra-biblical things. These are false teachers “who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine ” and so are those divisive who have liberated from the Gospel. Most of these people are not “conservative” just look at the Boston Movement and the Promise Keepers.
Following Jesus’ pattern, I’ll give you a yes or no to your question when you answer mine. Will those who teach singing only go to Hell? Or should we make such judgments? I cannot say that a young member of the Christian church or the ICOC will be judged for what their leaders have allowed.
First Corinthians 14 does say that musical instruments are wrong to preach, pray, and make music by as presented above. Making musical instruments the focal point of unity for true worship is misguided. It is addressed by us mainly because it is the most common error that the members of denominations hold on to and ask about. Instead of dodging the subject, we address it. First Corinthians 14:15 makes it very clear that all praying, preaching, and making melody (psallo) using non-intelligible sounds is contrary to God’s Word. It is a sin. It cannot be any clearer. Musical instruments are certainly additions to the music that Jesus specified. There is no passage that tells us not to baptize in mist, bubbles, or flower pedals, but the specifics of God’s instructions are clear. I don’t know anyone practicing sin who will be saved. Those denominational leaders who sit decade upon decade with the Bible on their desk and do not understand worship enough to observe all that Jesus commanded will be judged by His words. By questioning worship in the Scriptures, then you clearly think that you do not believe in following Christ as all possible.
Members who forsake the Assembly are guilty before God (Heb. 10:24-25). I mean the Biblical meaning of the Assembly as the gathering of the whole congregation in one place to partake of the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:20, 33, 14:23). They have left Him and they have fallen away. To do so is to teach a false teaching by example and these should be punished to save them (1 Cor. 5, 2 Cor. 2). Singing during the Lord’s Supper is not what Christ did. He waited. This is not what the Apostles and prophets taught the churches to do. Even though it is not Scriptural, it is not wrong, but singing during the Lord’s Supper is rarely about the Lord’s Supper or the death of Christ being that not enough care and consideration has been put into that. I’ve been there in those congregations and assemblies, and only once was the singing appropriate for the Lord’s Supper.
About the extra-biblical rules, you’re right, and yet you are guilty of same in claiming these men sin who oppose altering the music of worship.
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When I was a young preacher as Scott obviously is, I too knew all the answers. As I have grown in the Lord I have realized that all is not as it once seemed. If Scott lives long enough he too will grow. God bless
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You must not despise my youth, lie, and mock words that I’ve never spoken. “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” May God bless me to be such a pattern.
If only Paul instructed Timothy as you do, we would all know that the Gospel cannot be understood in youth and that the Gospel changes before our eyes and it is not eternal.
If only one of you were not a blind guide, maybe you’d instruct us, young people, in the words of Christ instead of asserting your traditions on all.
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This reply speaks volumes.
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I’m glad you agree now.
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