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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Baptized before serving in choir | 1 Cor 12:13 | DocTrinsograce | 183196 | ||
Dear Sister Azure, Our brothers CDBJ and BradK have given very good answers. You might want to look into what the Puritans called the "Regulative Principle." It seeks to address the question of how we ought to worship God. The Westminster Confession states it this way: "The light of nature showeth that there is a God, who hath lordship and sovereignty over all, is good, and doth good unto all, and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the heart, and with all the soul, and with all the might. (Romans 1:20; Psalm 19:1-4a; 50:6; 86:8-10; 89:5-7; 95:1-6; 97:6; 104:1-35; 145:9-12; Acts 14:17; Deuteronomy 6:4-5) But the acceptable way of worshiping the true God is instituted by Himself, and so limited by His own revealed will, that He may not be worshiped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representation, or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scripture. (Deuteronomy 4:15-20; 12:32; Matthew 4:9-10; 15:9; Acts 17:23-25; Exodus 20:4-6, John 4:23-24; Colossians 2:18-23)" Although this does not have direct bearing on your specific question regarding choir members, perhaps the notion conveyed has some value for your efforts in your church's music ministry. I believe it is very clear that a lost person cannot worship God, nor would I deem any effort to do so by a lost person as worthy of God! Indeed, I'd rather hear one tone-deaf believer praising God than thousands of perfectly trained singers who are lost. This perspective is not shared by everyone in American churches. In some churches it is not uncommon to actually hire professional musicians for worship services, without concern for their personal relationship with God. By the way, if you look into the Regulative Principle, realize that the discussions of these old theologians were distinctly Western. In some cases they may have erred by misconstruing cultural norms for Scriptural norms. It seems to me that Christian thinking has only gradually and recently begun to understand transcultural mandates from Scripture. Regarding the question of baptism among Jews, you might be interested in my post #157451. Baptism is, indeed, practiced by Jews. As you might expect, the fundamental ideas behind baptism differ substantially between Jews and Christians. We all will be praying for you, sister, as you serve the Body in the music ministry! May God grant you wisdom and insight as you seek to honor Him. In Him, Doc |
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2 | Baptized before serving in choir | 1 Cor 12:13 | azurelaw | 183296 | ||
Dear Brother Doc, Thanks for your godly advice which I always value. You might have read my follow up note to brother CDBJ. You say: In some churches it is not uncommon to actually hire professional musicians for worship services, without concern for their personal relationship with God. Our church is very traditional and will not consider such kind of arrangement except for skill training. However, we have observed a few choir members (these young men/ladies are grown up in our church and are pretty gifted in music) diverted the service focus a bit with the tendency of self-centre (in other words - pride). Our elders and I are considering how to give proper guidance for adjustment. May I conclude that a choir member should be a baptized christian under the notion that a true believer will follow the Lord's instruction to be baptized. Concerning children choir member, I really don't know if there is any specific scripture for reference. However, I think I might get some clues from the below instances: Our Lord's concern on children: Matt 19:13 Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. 26 Matt 19:14 But Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." The little boy was willing to serve and contribute: John 6:9 There is a little boy here, who has [with him] five barley loaves, and two small fish; but what are they among so many people? Again, thank you all (Bradk, CDBJ, Doc, Justme, Jeff) who have helped me on the issue. God bless you all. Shalom Azure |
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3 | Baptized before serving in choir | 1 Cor 12:13 | DocTrinsograce | 183297 | ||
Dear Sister Azure, Thank you for your kind words. Clearly, in all the situations you have mentioned, there is opportunity to provide careful instruction whenever possible. Those so engaged in worship must undrestand that the audience is not the other church members, but the Lord God Himself. When the saved accurately understand our own true nature, and accurately understand the revealed attributes of God, pride has a harder time finding somewhere to root. In Him, Doc |
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4 | Baptized before serving in choir | 1 Cor 12:13 | Paul Birston | 183302 | ||
Dear Doc, Azure, Bradk, CDBJ, Doc, Justme, Jeff Thank you for your thoughts. The perspective that God is the audience of worship is a lovely and important idea, He is the one we worship in "spirit and truth" (John 14:24). Scripture teaches us that it is important to balance this with the edifying nature of worship for all the members of the church as Paul taught: "Let all things be done for edification" (1 Corinthians 14:26; Romans 14:19), for building up the church. Paul says some beautiful things about this balance of the "horizontal" and "vertical" dimensions of worship which involve the whole congregation when he writes: "be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:19); "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God" (Colossians 3:16). Paul emphasizes that our worship is from our hearts to God but as we do this in our assembling together and singing we also teach and build each other up. Thanks again for openly sharing your thoughts. Paul |
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