Must the church change in order to grow?
Posted on February 13, 2008
Filed Under Church Growth, Cross Currents, The Church | Leave a Comment
by Matt Clifton
The recent discussion over Richland Hills and Quail Springs has spawned what should be an examination of some deeper issues. Specifically, some progressives in the church claim that the church will “die out” if we do not change with the times.
Is this a true statement of the state of the church? Should the church change in order to grow?
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Calling out Quail Springs: Judgmental, or loving?
Posted on February 12, 2008
Filed Under Cross Currents, Instrumental Music | 3 Comments
by Matt Clifton
Following the prominent interview of Mark Henderson of Quail Springs church of Christ in The Oklahoman, leaders of many congregations in the Oklahoma and Texas area joined together in publicly marking Henderson in an advertisement printed in the same newspaper. For more background on this story, also see BrotherhoodNews.com for a story on the interview, and a follow-up by Glover Shipp.
Part of the fall-out of this conflict comes from progressives who take issue with the public nature of how this debate is being carried out. Some argue that Henderson should have been approached privately, despite the fact that he made the departure from biblical doctrine in a public manner. Many have decried those opposing the addition of the instrument to the worship of the church as “judgmental” and “condemning.”
So, the Quail Springs conflict has brought up an important subject: If a teacher promotes biblical error or departs from the doctrine of the church, is it wrong to publicly expose him?
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Email subscription system to the7ones.com changed, please re-subscribe!
Posted on February 11, 2008
Filed Under Announcements | Leave a Comment
In the interest of providing our content in the best format possible, the7ones.com has changed its method of providing updates via email.
From now on, we will use FeedBurner to provide our email subscriptions. This method is easy and secure, and you will only get email when the site is actually updated.
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Is worshipping with instruments ‘darkness?’
Posted on February 11, 2008
Filed Under Bible 'Quick Notes', Instrumental Music | 3 Comments
by Matt Clifton
In a recent article, I discussed the decision of the leaders of Quail Springs church of Christ in Oklahoma City to add an instrumental service to their worship. A few readers responded to my article with the idea that those who opposed the Quail Springs decision are being “comdemning” and “judgmental.”
As a response, I asked the question, “How dark does darkness have to get before we oppose it?” I cited Paul’s admonition to the Ephesians:
Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
A couple of readers commented, in effect asking the question, “How can instrumental music be darkness?”
Since instrumental music is admittedly absent from the New Testament (both sides of the issue seem to agree on this), the burden of proof seems to lie on the side of the instrumentalist to show why it would be acceptable to God.
As for my understanding, Paul says that whatever is not of faith is sin (Rom. 14:23). Since faith comes by the word of God (Rom. 10:17) and instrumental music is not commanded in the New Testament, it would seem that instrumental music is, at best, not of faith.
Since many go to the Old Testament for justification for the practice of using instrumental music, it might also be noted that Paul said:
Gal 3:12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “THE MAN WHO DOES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM.”
If instrumentalists use the Old Testament as a standard, they put themselves into the postion of obeying the whole law.
So, whether one inquires of the Old Testament or New, instrumental music does not seem to be “of faith” according to the scriptures.
Therefore teaching others to use the instrument when the New Testament–the rule of faith for the Christian–includes no mention of their use by Christians is to digress from the teachings of Christ.
Those who oppose the use the instrument are not just scholars of the church of Christ. Pick up a copy of the book, “Old Light on New Worship” by John Price, a scholar of the Christian Reformed denomination. He does a good job of investigating the issue.
Please also consider this article by Basil Overton.
As always, thank you for your comments, and for reading.
BrotherhoodNews.com is new information source for churches of Christ
Posted on January 31, 2008
Filed Under Announcements | Leave a Comment
by Matt Clifton
A news and information site and churches of Christ will be launching soon. It is called BrotherhoodNews.com.
BrotherhoodNews.com will show the good news that is happening with faithful congregations around the world. It is amazing to see what is being done by congregations in the areas of evangelism, edification and benevolence without straying from God’s divine pattern as found in the scriptures.
Be sure and bookmark this site and stay up-to-date on the upcoming launch.
Quail Springs hits the slippery slope of instrumentalism, 300 walk out
Posted on January 29, 2008
Filed Under Cross Currents, Instrumental Music | 24 Comments
by Matt Clifton
According to news reports at Brotherhood News and an interview with The Oklahoman, Quail Springs Church of Christ in Oklahoma City, Ok., added an instrumental worship service on Sunday, Jan. 27.
The congregation’s pulpit minister, Mark Henderson, said in the interview with The Oklahoman that he understands fully the lack of biblical authority for the use of musical instruments in the New Testament. However, he and the elders of the congregation are interpreting the silence as freedom to do what they please in the worship, and thus begins the slippery slope.
There are plenty of theological arguments against the use of mechanical instruments of music in the worship. Some can be found on this site. What I would like to discuss is the boldness with which congregations like Richland Hills and Quail Springs are acting, alienating brethren. They are calling to mind the 1906 split with their actions, when faithful brethren were told “accept the instrument or leave.”
Henderson says that out of their approximately 900 member congregation, 300 walked out, many in tears, the day the instrumental service was announced. Henderson also says that the leadership’s position is that people are “free to worship with or without the instrument.” What it amounts to, then, is that Henderson and the eldership at Quail Springs are willing to watch 300 Christians walk out so they can have their instruments.
Why do they want the instrument? Henderson gives two reasons:
One is we want to keep more of our people that were leaving to go to instrumental churches. One of the ways I would describe it is the way we handled it doctrinally. We essentially said you are free to worship with instruments and you are free to worship without them. From just a doctrinal biblical standpoint, we, for a number of years, have treated this as a nonissue. And so to me it seems like we were giving our people freedom to leave. We were saying you’re free to worship with instruments — just not here. So one of things we’re trying to do is for those people who really connect more with instrumental music, even of our own people, we’re trying to give them a greater opportunity to stay and to worship and to serve and be a part of the church here.
In a desire to retain members who want to worship in a non-authorized manner, the congregation decided to add a worship service with a non-authorized practice! How’s that for shaping oneself after the world?
Henderson offered another reason:
The other thing we’re trying to do is to reach some people that we’ve been missing. We don’t do polls and surveys or exit interviews with people who are guests here, so all I can share is anecdotal evidence from some of our members. It’s interesting: One member will say, “I brought a guest, and they didn’t have any concerns about our worship style. They said the singing was beautiful, and they couldn’t believe how impressed they were with the a cappella worship.†And another member would say, “I brought a guest, and they really liked the church and everything, but they’re asking us what’s the deal with the musical instruments, and I really can’t get over this worship style.â€
So once again, the reasoning is that Quail Springs can grow if they allow the instrument in! What they’ve done is trade 300 faithful brethren for a possibly larger group with itching ears.
What’s next for Quail Springs? Now that they have allowed an unauthorized practice into the worship in order to draw people in, what else will they add to draw the masses? Perhaps “lighten up” on the plan of salvation? Quarterly observance of the Lord’s supper? Where will it end?
With the slippery slope Quail Springs is on, it is clear where it will end: Quail Springs will be just another denomination, failing to adhere to the New Testament pattern. Let the elders and Henderson be accountable for what they have done.
And let all Christians be in prayer for these men that they may repent of this action.
‘Can I Change?’
Posted on September 10, 2007
Filed Under Devotionals, Matt Clifton | Leave a Comment
by Matt Clifton
When a man or woman is confronted with the truth about Jesus Christ, there is a question that ought to ring loudly within the soul: “Can I change?†Nicodemus (John 3) seemed to be such a man. The woman at the well (John 4) seemed to be such a woman. Their positions in life were near opposites, one a religious leader, the other one of questionable morality. Both were confronted by the truth about Jesus, and both had decisions to make.
Nicodemus was a Pharisee, which was the strictest denomination of Judaism (Acts 26:5). He was not just a Pharisee, but was also a “ruler of the Jews†(John 3:1). Locked into the traditions of the Pharisees, it must have been difficult for him to come that night to question Jesus in sincerity. The Pharisees were on the lookout for religious leaders and Pharisees who listened to the teachings of Jesus, even implying that because none were “deceived†by Jesus, He must not be the Christ (John 7:47-49). But Nicodemus knew that Jesus must be a teacher from God, “because no one can do these signs You do unless God is with Him†(John 3:2). Jesus told Nicodemus he must be born again—born of water and Spirit—in order to see the kingdom.
The woman at the well was a woman of questionable moral standards, as Jesus indicates by His probing questions about her multiple marriages (John 4:16-18). While Nicodemus comes from a position of “respectability,†the woman at the well comes from the other end of the spectrum. She has these marital issues, and perhaps this issue has caused considerable problems for her socially, since she is drawing water at noon (John 4:6). Historically, the women in this area of the world drew water in the morning and evening. It was not unheard of to draw water at noon, but there would be fewer women coming to the well in the noon-day heat.
The tension we see in these two conversations with Jesus is crystal clear. Nicodemus is faced with the question, “Can I pull away from the religious traditions that I’ve held for so long?†The woman at the well is tugged by the question, “Is this the Christ? Must I change my way of life and worship, if He is?â€
Are you burdened with such questions? I want to tell you, it is possible to leave the religious traditions created by men. It is also possible to leave the world and worship God in Spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24)! If you need assistance in learning how to do this, please feel free to Contact Us.
The Power of His Word
Posted on September 6, 2007
Filed Under Devotionals, Matt Clifton | Leave a Comment
by Matt Clifton
Those who seek to live godly lives will generally agree: The world is a dark place! The apostle John tells us, though, that a light came into the world. Jesus Christ is called the Word, who was with God in the beginning, and who was God (John 1:1). Though all things were made through Him, the world did not know Him. Even His own rejected Him. Nevertheless, despite this rejection, Christ died to serve as a sacrifice for everyone who would ever live (John 1:29).
Having established that Christ is the Word, John proceeds to give examples of how powerful this Word is. Being the Word of God, Jesus is able to simply speak and alter physical reality! In John 2, one can read the story of Jesus turning water to wine. His mother Mary, having realized at this wedding feast that the host was running out of wine, entreated Jesus for assistance. She then tells the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do†(John 2:5). The servants, of course, followed the instructions Jesus gave them. The result was the presentation to the wedding guests an excellent product that was beyond in quality what they had previously.
How powerful is the Word! He merely speaks, and reality changes. Man, of course, must cooperate with His commands. One might remember the healing of the blind man in John chapter 9, where Jesus made mud and caked it on his eyes. He then told him to god wash in the pool of Siloam. (John 9:7). Now, Jesus could have surely healed him completely without requiring an obedience of faith on his part, but He did not.
Knowing that Christ, as the Word of God, has such power, why do some not obey Him today? Jesus says that by the words He has spoken we will be judged (John 12:48). Just like that simple water at the wedding of Cana, man can be transformed by the Word of Christ, if we will obey Him. He wants to save you, but like the blind man in chapter 9, He requires obedience of you! If you believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God (John 8:24) and will confess Him as such (Matt. 10:32-33), repent of any darkness in your life today (Acts 17:30), and be baptized into His name for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38). He can and will transform you into something far more excellent than you are now!
The night the lights went out
Posted on August 22, 2007
Filed Under Devotionals, Matt Clifton, Salvation | 2 Comments
by Matt Clifton
As so often happens, my young son awoke during the night crying. Bleary-eyed, I forced myself from the comfortable bed and staggered to his room, scooped him up and headed to the living room on the other side of the house. We sat in the rocking chair a while to calm him, and, neither of us fully awake anyway, we fell soundly asleep.
Some time later, I awoke hearing a scream from the other end of the house. It was one of my daughters, and I had no idea what was happening. I jumped from my seat, son on shoulder, and found to my surprise that it was pitch dark. Now, I don’t mean it was simply “dark,†as one might normally find in a residence during the night. I mean it was so dark, I could not see which way to walk! Apparently the power was out. There were no lights outside, either, and it was a “new moon.†I had never seen it so dark in a house in my entire life.
Barely awake, and absolutely sure I had gone blind, I yelled to my wife and children, who obviously were in the same predicament. There I was, unable to move well, with an 18-month-old on my shoulder. I was nearly powerless to help anyone in that moment of utter darkness, even though they were just on the other side of the house.
This event came to mind a couple of weeks ago as we began our study of the gospel of John. In the opening verses of chapter one, John says that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God†(v. 1-2). He goes on to say that in Him (Jesus) was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it (v. 4-5).
In this first chapter, John shows the contrast between the goodness and holiness of Jesus, God in the flesh, as contrasted with the darkness of the world. There was no light, and no life, in this world before Jesus came onto the scene. The majority of the world rejected the light, even though all things, including the world, were made through Him (v. 3,10). Later John reports that Jesus says that men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil (John 3:19). Everyone that practices evil hates this light, because he or she does not want their deeds to be exposed (v. 20). But those who love truth come to the light (v. 21).
As I thought about these passages, the state of the world became clear. The world is a dark place. On a daily basis, many reject the light, because they love their evil deeds, and do not want to change. Throughout our society, evil is being called good, and good is being called evil (Isa. 5:20). Lying is an “acceptable practice†at times in the business world, even though God says liars will not find a place in heaven (Rev. 21:8). “Fudging numbers†to reduce taxes gets off with a wink from citizens, though Jesus said to “render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s†(Matt. 22:21). Homosexuality is being called “natural†even though the Bible says it is unnatural, Rom. 1:26-27, and Christians are in essence being called “evil†because they oppose the practice of homosexuality. The list could go on and on.
When we think about the enveloping darkness of our world and society, it is surprising to see so many who claim to be “good.†There are many well-intentioned souls out there who desire to help someone. They have enough of a spark of morality within them to try to help their friends and neighbors from time to time. However, when one is in darkness, can one truly help another? Can someone in darkness help another who is in darkness to find the light?
Jesus said if the blind lead the blind, they will both end up in the ditch (Matt. 15:14). If one is unsaved and living in darkness, one must seek Christ! He alone is the light, and is the only source of eternal salvation (Acts 4:12). Listen to His word of truth! Jesus said that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Doesn’t that passage have so much more impact when we realize that the world that God loved is one that was plunged into darkness by man’s sin? Jesus said, though, that if you believe on Him (John 8:24), repent of those deeds of darkness (Luke 13:3,5), confess Him publicly (Matt. 10:32-33) and be baptized for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16) you will be saved! From that point, you will begin your walk in the light with Christ (1 John 1:7).
On that night the lights went out in my hometown, as I stood there around 2 a.m. in the total darkness, I knew I had to find a source of light before I could be of any help to others. We needed a flashlight, a cell phone, anything to shed a little light on the dangerous darkness all around us, so that we could walk safely. Likewise, when one is trapped in spiritual darkness, one must look for the light of Christ first, and then seek to help others to that light (Mark 5:19).
Are you living in the light of Christ? If you have questions about matters of salvation as described in the Bible, feel free to Contact Us. We are always open to questions! May God bless you as you seek His will.
Interesting read on instrumental music
Posted on August 21, 2007
Filed Under Cross Currents, Matt Clifton | Leave a Comment
by Matt Clifton
Denny Petrillo, president of the Bear Valley Bible Institute in Denver, offers an interesting review of A New Song for an Old World: Musical Thought in the Early Church by Calvin Stapert. According to Petrillo’s review, Stapert gives historical evidence from the history of the church to support the practice of vocal-only music in the worship of the church.
Stapert is on faculty at Calvin College, a school connected with the Christian Reformed Church.
As readers of this website may recall, a few other denominational works have surfaced recently arguing against instrumental music and for Biblical eldership. See our previous article for more information. It is good to see scholars considering positions that result from taking the Bible as our only guide.
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