"LIGHT FOR OUR AGE"

January, 2019

Volume 11

Issue #1

Feature One: Editorial

         

THE CHALLENGE OF A NEW YEAR

 

         I see this challenge as at least two-fold. First, we should challenge ourselves to be faithful to Christ in every respect. The second, like it, is to challenge ourselves to hold fast to our Christian brethren.

         We live in a world that seems to be falling apart all around us. There are more attacks, physical, mental, and social against the body of Christ. But I believe this can be a great new year for God's people. We sometimes lose sight of what is really important. It is not really this life, but the life to come. Jesus actually said in Matthew 10:28, "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." I believe we sometimes get so caught up in this life we forget that this is not the life for which we strive. To help us reach heaven we must first be faithful to Christ.

         Jesus said in Luke 6:46, "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" We often use this passage with those that refuse to believe in baptism, but what about looking inward. Here are a few things God tells his children:

        We need to sacrifice our bodies as a living sacrifice to God. We see in Romans 12:1-2 the following reading, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."By the word "sacrifice" Paul was not speaking of that which we do not need. God expects our best. 

The definition of sacrifice is, "an act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy. New Oxford American Dictionary. Our Father in heaven expects us to realize that what we have on this earth is not what He intends for us to have. 

We need also to realize one of the greatest blessings we have are others that have the same aims and goals as do we, that is, other brothers and sisters in Christ. In fact, it is a command from our Savior that we love each other. John 15:12 reads"This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you."John further commented on this point when he wrote in 1 John 3:15"Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him."I recently heard a Christian say that they hated several people that were also Christians. We need to be very careful, for the record says in Matthew 12:37 "For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."

We need to remember that the only real purpose of this life is to prepare us for the next. Are you ready?

 

Feature Two: an article by R. C. Oliver

R C Oliver

 

THIS IS THE FIRST WRITTEN LESSON I HAVE FROM MY FATHER:

 

RADIO ADDRESS

Grand Rapids, Michigan  1942

 

 

 

 

       It has been my privilege to talk with a great number of religious-minded people, several ministers included. They are very much surprised when I make the remark that, "I believe instrumental music to be sinful when used in the worship of God." They are usually eager to enquire as to why and how I have reached, to them, such a strange and absurd conclusion. I remember an occasion that took place some two years ago. That occasion I shall never forget, I received word that I was to speak for the church of Christ in Sebring, Ohio. This was a congregation of about five-hundred, and I was to speak for both the morning and evening services.

 

       I did not know until shortly before I left that it was the Christian church and that they used the instruments of music in their worship. Nevertheless, one of the elders, knowing the position that I took, silenced the organ in both services; and Brother Butterfield of River Rough, Michigan, conducted the song service for me. I did not request them to do this, neither did I know they were going to until after I had arrived. That night, just before service, I was questioned by a fine young man, of the congregation concerning the "silent organ." I suggested that he wait until after the evening service, and I would be glad to talk to him and all others interested about the matter. At the close of the service, a class of about forty assembled, including the elders and with Bibles in hand; and we began our study.

 

       We continued the class until almost mid-night. Some of the points of discussion in the class I will give to you for your own investigation that the joy of that study might live in you as it has continued to live in me.

 

 IT IS NOT OF FAITH

 

       Where there is no testimony, there can be no faith. In that instrumental music is not one time commanded in the teachings of Christ or the apostles, it is impossible to offer it to God by faith. "For faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17.) Therefore, in that there is no testimony for instrumental music, it cannot be offered by faith. In that it cannot be offered by faith, it is sin. "For whatsoever is not of faith is sin."(Romans 14:23). Hence, instrumental music in the worship of God is sinful.

 

IT IS PRESUMPTUOUS

 

       A large percent of the class reasoned from the standpoint that it "seems alright" therefore, it is alright. But wait a minute! Where has God ever said: "Feel" on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved? Where has the Lord said: "Just as long as a thing "seems" right it is right? It may have "seemed" right to Nadab and Abihu to offer strange fire unto the Lord, but that didn't make it right. It seemed right for the prophet in 1 Kings 13 to eat in the home of the false prophet, but that didn't make it right. These people died because of their presumption. Instrumental music is not a question of knowledge or faith, but is purely an opinion and full of presumption. David said: "Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins." (Psalm 19:13.) 

 

IT IS NOT IN THE TEACHING OF CHRIST

 

In 2 John 9-10 we are told who has God and who doesn't have God. John says: "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son." It is impossible for one to uphold the use of instrumental music in worship and do it by the authority of the New Testament. In no place does the New Testament (teachings of Christ) command us to use instrumental music in the worship of Jehovah. Hence in order to teach the use of the instrument, one must go "outside" the teachings of Christ to do so. When you go outside the teachings of Christ, John says: "hath not God". Therefore, those churches who use instrumental music in worship do not have God and are, therefore, not churches of Christ. If in any sense they were ever His churches, they are in grave danger and should repent and turn unto him quickly!

 

THE LAW OF EXCLUSION EXPLAINS IT

 

In that Christ has commanded "vocal" music instead of "instrumental" music, the law of exclusion forbids the latter. Consider the following Biblical example. God commanded Noah to build an ark of "gopher" wood. The command to use "gopher" wood excluded the use of any other kind of wood. (Genesis 6:14). When the Lord tells us what he wants, that should be sufficient. When He tells us what He wants, He doesn't have to tell us what He doesn't want. Just like when you go to the grocery store, you tell the clerk what you want, not what you don't want. Just so, the Lord commanded the "vocal" music, and that excludes the "instrumental" music.

 

CHRIST COMMANDED VOCAL MUSIC

 

There are two "kinds" of music: vocal and instrumental. Has Christ commanded just one or both? In the following passages we find "vocal" is the command:

 

Colossians 3: 16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (17)And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."

 

[Editor's note: I added verse 17, for it shows that "whatever we do" it must be done by the "name" meaning the "authority" of Jesus. There is no authority whatsoever for the use of instrumental music in worship. That makes this a salvation issue. RTO]

 

Ephesians 5:19 "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;"

 

In the following places we find both: the sanction and example:

 

Matthew 26:30 "And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives."

Acts 16:25 "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them."

Hebrews 2:12 "Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee."

 

       The command to play an instrument can't be found, because it just isn't there. Hence, singing is the only acceptable music. Let me illustrate by again returning to Leviticus 10:1-4. We have two kinds of fire mentioned. One was fire which the Lord had commanded and the other was "strange" fire. Now the question is, were both fires accepted by the Lord? The answer is NO! Only one fire was accepted. Now why did God reject the other fire, and what made it "strange"? The answer is in verse one. It was "strange" because it was fire which the Lord had not commanded. If the fire was strange because it was not commanded, what about instrumental music, seeing it likewise is "not" commanded? Would it not be "strange" too? If not, why not? Remember, just because it was fire was not enough. It needed to be fire which the Lord had commanded. The result of offering strange fire meant death to Nadab and Abihu. God is no respecter of persons. The judgement is coming! None will be able to escape it. Whose side are you on? The Lord said that we are to sing. Satan wants you to use instruments. Which do you believe?

 

 

 

Feature Three: Sandy's Women's Corner

 

A SPECIAL GIFT

 

Feature Four: Our Communication

Feature Five:      Bible Question

Are we not to obey the entire Bible, or may we just pick and choose what we will do?

         The answer to the first part of the question is "no". If we were to obey the entire Bible we would be required to do the following:

        There are many other examples, but those should suffice to show that the entire Bible is not for us to follow. It was not written to us. The major portion of the Old Testament was written to the Jewish nation, including the 10 Commandments. Deuteronomy 5 shows us that these commandments were given to the Jewish nation, not all nations.

      What is interesting is that nine of the commandments are given to the church in the New Testament. The references are: Romans 13:9, Galatians 4:8-11, 1 John 5:21, Romans 2:24, and Ephesians 6:2. The one exception is the Sabbath command. Colossians 2:16-17 teaches that we are not to be bound by the Sabbath today, rather, God teaches us that we are to worship on the first day of the week (1 Corinthians 16:1-2 and Acts 20:7.)

We do not have the right to just "pick and choose" what we will obey and what we will ignore. What we need to do is "rightly divide the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). We need to know what God wants us to do, not what he told the Israelites. We know we can follow the example of the first century church, or obey a direct command Jesus gave to us such as loving our fellow Christians. (1 John 3:15). We also know we can do those things necessary to carry out a command of Jesus, such as riding in a plane to "go into all the world". (Mark 16:15).

        

Humor

In Closing 

 

abiblecommentary.com/lightforourage

 

Bob Oliver, editor

boboliver32446@gmail.com 

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