Respecting the Silence of the Scriptures
We must respect the silence of the scriptures. "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" Rom. 10:17. That is. we gain and grow our faith by what God has said. His Word is our final authority.
One topic that receives much attention is the matter of singing in worship to God. I have been asked, "Why doesn"t the Dalraida church of Christ have musical instruments or even clapping to accompany your worship in song?" On one hand, I"m glad the person notices a difference in our worship, on the other hand, it"s tragic that so many people don"t know the will of God on this subject
In the New Testament, God tells us to sing. There are numerous examples of followers of Christ singing in the New Testament. In Matt 26:30. Jesus and His disciples "sung a hymn." In Acts 16:25, Paul and Silas, "sang praises." Not only are there examples of early disciples singing to God, there are direct commands for Christians to sing. "Speaking to one mother in psalms. hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" Eph. 5:19. Col. 3:16 adds, "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."
There is not one passage of scripture to sanction mechanical instruments or clapping in the New Testament. That should be enough for faithful disciples of Christ who desire to speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where the Bible is silent. Reason from the scriptures to see whether these things are so. Is it wrong, even sinful, to use instruments of music in our worship to God just because He did not say we could use them? Is silence authoritative?
In Hebrews chapter 7, the writer is addressing the priesthood of Christ and how it is superior to the Levitical priesthood. In verses 12-14, read carefully, "For the priesthood being changed. there is made of necessity a change also of the law. For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the alter. For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah. of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood."
Why couldn"t Jesus be a priest under the old law? Because concerning the tribe of Judah, of which Christ came, Moses said nothing! Therefore, we have a standard of respecting the silence in the scriptures. In the old law, God specified the tribe of Levi as the only tribe priests could come from. All Levites weren"t priests, but all priests were Levites. The reason a person could not be a priest from the tribe of Judah is because Moses didn"t say anything about it! He told them that priests were to be Levites. Likewise, God has told us what to do in the Christian age. He said sing. Concerning the use of mechanical instruments or clapping, God said nothing! Now are you going to be governed by what God has said, or by what God has said nothing about? Faithful Christians will allow the Word of God to govern their obedient lives. Silence is authoritative. This answers why we don"t use instruments or clap during our song service. We must respect the silence of the scriptures.
Trae Durden
In Hebrews chapter 7, the writer is addressing the priesthood of Christ and how it is superior to the Levitical priesthood. In verses 12-14, read carefully, "For the priesthood being changed. there is made of necessity a change also of the law. For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the alter. For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah. of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood."
Why couldn"t Jesus be a priest under the old law? Because concerning the tribe of Judah, of which Christ came, Moses said nothing! Therefore, we have a standard of respecting the silence in the scriptures. In the old law, God specified the tribe of Levi as the only tribe priests could come from. All Levites weren"t priests, but all priests were Levites. The reason a person could not be a priest from the tribe of Judah is because Moses didn"t say anything about it! He told them that priests were to be Levites. Likewise, God has told us what to do in the Christian age. He said sing. Concerning the use of mechanical instruments or clapping, God said nothing! Now are you going to be governed by what God has said, or by what God has said nothing about? Faithful Christians will allow the Word of God to govern their obedient lives. Silence is authoritative. This answers why we don"t use instruments or clap during our song service. We must respect the silence of the scriptures.
Trae Durden
Trae, this is a Powerful Point, I have never seen this example before. Very Good Point. I love learning something New, to me!
Goose; The subject of the preisthood is of interest when speaking of Christ. If you would, expound on these scriptures for me. Gen 14:18 speaks of a priest, or priesthood that may have been even before Abraham. At the least was in existance during Abrahams lifetime, before any of the 12 tribes existed. Ps 110:4 speaks of a future restoration of that preisthood that proceeded the law in the person of Christ. The New Testament declares this was done. Heb. 5:6, 5:10, 6:20, 7:1, 7:10-11, 7:15, 7:17, 7:20.
If the law was a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, and Christ as a continuence of the old Preisthood of Melchisedec, a preisthood that continues forever, what lessons were to be learned by the types and shadows of the true? If the true priesthood cast the shadow, can the shadow show , or portray any other form or figure than that of the true image that creates the shadow? Does the fulfilling of the shadows and types reflected in the Law, alter or in anyway change the moral, spiritual, and devotional actions, deeds, or practices that was instituted by, and inhabited by,the true priesthood?
Hey Goose, Good to see you post. Hoping things are going well for you.
Quote:
Not only are there examples of early disciples singing to God, there are direct commands for Christians to sing. "Speaking to one mother in psalms. hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord"
I'm pretty unconcerned about this subject as far deeming it worthy of debating over, but would rather respect your churches conviction over it. However, I have to ask; when your speaking one to another in psalms do you ever speak in psalm 150?
__________________ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Hey Goose, Good to see you post. Hoping things are going well for you.
Quote:
Not only are there examples of early disciples singing to God, there are direct commands for Christians to sing. "Speaking to one mother in psalms. hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord"
I'm pretty unconcerned about this subject as far deeming it worthy of debating over, but would rather respect your churches conviction over it. However, I have to ask; when your speaking one to another in psalms do you ever speak in psalm 150?
Pss.150
[1] Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
[2] Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
[3] Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
[4] Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
[5] Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
[6] Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
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Jesus said, "he who stands firm to the end will be saved" Mark 13:13.
Live Life in such a way that those who do not know Christ will come to know Him because they know you
I'm pretty unconcerned about this subject as far deeming it worthy of debating over, but would rather respect your churches conviction over it. However, I have to ask; when your speaking one to another in psalms do you ever speak in psalm 150?
2.
(initial capital letter) any of the songs, hymns, or prayers contained in the Book of Psalms.
3.
a metric version or paraphrase of any of these.
4. a poem of a similar nature.
Paul didn't say "sing one of David's Psalms".
As for the Law being a shadow of things to come (think this was on a different thread).........
That "shadow" included animal sacrifices, multiple wives, the death sentence for many offences, restrictions on food, etc. etc. etc.Nothing has changed?
Does a shadow always reflect exactly the same as the figure which casts it? Not hardley--watch a "shadow puppet" show sometime to get an idea, or just step outside when the sun is low--does the shadow you cast look just like you? Could you identify someone just by their shadow?
The use of "shadow" is figurative speech--a shadow is not the real thing.
Chad
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"We can have no '50-50' allegiance in this country. Either a man is an American and nothing else, or he is not an American at all."-- Theodore Roosevelt
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. Ecclesiasties 10:2
The last four letters in American..........I Can
The last four letters in Republican........I Can
The last four letters in Democrats.........Rats
G5568
ψαλμός
psalmos
psal-mos'
From G5567; a set piece of music, that is, a sacred ode (accompanied with the voice, harp or other instrument; a "psalm"); collectively the book of the Psalms: - psalm. Compare G5603.
__________________ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
God's Silence...
