Interesting post on interesting blog

This blog was recommended to me by a friend; I'm still not sure what I think of it in general, but it is aimed at having a constructive influence on teens.

Here is an interesting article about chivalry today, makes for good reading; I haven't read Part 1 yet, but plan to. When Lancelot Comes Riding, Part 2

So, should girls always accept a guy's "chivalry" simply b/c it has been offered, or are there times when it is actually better to refuse, for everyone's sake....

Pause and Ponder

Music Discussion, Part 2: The Other Passages

Having considered some foundational passages on music, let's consider the other New Testament passages that deal with singing.

1 Corinthians 14:15 - What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
- The emphasis in this passage is that not only should praying and singing edify the individual doing it, but when done in public it should also edify the church.
- There is a somewhat mystical element to singing and prayer, which relates to worshiping God. This should be balanced with the fact that there should be a public edification and understanding of what is going on.

1 Corinthians 14:26 - How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
- This passage indicates two things.
o All congregational activity including singing is to build up the believer. (vs. 26)
o All congregational activity should be done orderly. This is derived from the context, for this section of chapter 14 is dealing with an orderly meeting of believers (vs. 27-33, 40). (This is not referring to having “orderly music” that follows pre-arranged rhythmic patterns or so forth, rather it refers to not having an orderly service, not having different people singing different songs at the same time.)

Matthew 26:30 & Mark 14:26 - And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
- These passages simply refers to the fact that Jesus and the disciples sang a hymn after the institution of the Lord’s Supper and before they went to Gethsemane. This may lend support to using music in the Church, but it doesn’t seem particularly significant otherwise (or maybe I’m missing something; that’s always possible).

Acts 16:25 - And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
- This passage does not refer specifically to music in the church. Rather, it applies to our discussion in that it shows the spirit which our song should exhibit. We should have a song of joy in our hearts which must praise God regardless of circumstance. And this ties in perfectly with the final passage.

James 5:13 - Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
- This passage gives us the source of our song: the joy of the Lord. Singing should be an overflow of our joy. This ties directly to the fact that singing should flow from a Word-filled, Spirit-filled, life; the intertwinedness of Scripture is fascinating.

Throughout the Old Testament, it seems that singing was used primarily as a means of ministering to the Lord by praising His name (or to heathen gods in their context). It does not appear to have the same expected purpose of horizontal ministry attached to it.  The Psalms give a vast array of instructions for how to praise God with music.

Throughout Revelation, singing is used to praise God for all He has done and is doing. In eternity, the only purpose of singing will likely be to praise God, for there will not be the same need of edification.

CONCLUSION: The dual purpose of singing appears to be that of praising and worshiping God and edifying those around us through teaching and admonishing them in truth. Thus, there should be Word- and Spirit-filling on the part of the singer, as well as understanding on the part of both the singer and the listener. Our singing should come from the joy of the Lord which has filled our hearts; often it will be a sign of our trust in God. My final thought/challenge is that if we were more fully controlled by the Spirit, we might not have so many problems with music in our churches (or homes).

Music Discussion, Part 1: The Foundation

Thoughts on Singing and Music as it relates to the Believer, Part 1

Rarely, if ever, have I heard the subject of music addressed from a Biblical standpoint, that is, with the Bible as the place from which we get our foundation for a philosophy of music (this doesn’t mean nobody does this; I just haven’t heard it.) So, over the course of the last several months I have been pondering what a Biblical philosophy of music would involve. I think that there is a difference in what music should be done in church and what could be listened to/sung at home. Most of the time if we were asked what the purpose of music is in the church, we would say “to glorify/worship God”, but that is the purpose of our lives as a whole. What does God want specifically from our ministry in song?

The discussion below is a discussion primarily concerned with proper music/singing in the church. I have attempted to find all the relevant New Testament passages and to discern what they mean in their context and how they apply to congregational worship. Four of the passages speak directly to congregational worship while the other three are more generic.

The NT only directly addresses the issue of singing in the church in two places, Colossians 3:16 and Ephesians 5:18b-19. These two passages are roughly parallel and bear a great deal of study. Once we have laid a foundation with these two passages, we will build the other passages upon it.

In Colossians 3:16, Paul is in the middle of a small section on Christian graces. He starts verse 16 out with the words “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom”; for most of us that does not sound like the beginning of a discussion on music. However, if we look at the parallel passage in Eph. 5:18b-19, we find that there Paul begins with the words “Be filled with the Spirit.” Thus, it cannot be accidental that these concepts are thrown together. The basis of our singing must be Word- and Spirit-filling; our song must overflow from our walk with the Spirit in His Word.

In the next section of Col. 3:16, Paul explains to us what the motives of congregational singing are, “teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs.” The motive of our singing is to be that of edifying our brothers in Christ through instruction and warning. The Greek word used for admonishing means "counsel about avoidance or cessation of an improper course of conduct, admonish, warn, instruct” (BDAG). Thus, our songs should have two effects on each other: we should be teaching and warning each other concerning the things of the Lord. In Eph. 5:19, it simply refers to “speaking to yourselves.” Here the details of the speech are not clearly given, but the fact that there is to be an emphasis on edifying each other is still kept in view by the “yourselves” phrase. Thus, it seems that the primary motive for singing in the church is edification.

But continue to read. The final section of Col. 3:16 says, “Singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.” The expression “with grace” could also be translated “with thanksgiving.” With grace is a fine translation, but I mention the other just to give a slightly clearly picture of what it would mean to sing “with grace” in our hearts. Thus, our singing which should be edifying the believers around us, is to flow from a heart which is thankful for and aware of the grace of God bestowed upon it. This is what might be called “praise” in the OT; we are speaking of God’s goodness and greatness to those around us. Thus, the “worship” motive of congregational singing does come into play, but it does not surpass the motive of edification, if anything it is subordinate.

This is my basic premise of singing in church: congregational singing should flow from a Word-and Spirit-filled life to edify those around while praising God from the heart.

So, a question for thought, how does the ordinary, average, pew-sitting Christian teach and admonish those around him through his singing? Choosing favorites each service? Just by sincere hearty singing?

I will plan to post Part 2 of this discussion sometime soon. That should be a discussion of all the other relevant NT passages, and a couple thoughts on the OT passages.

The Normal Christian Life - Is it Possible?

This is an oustanding post. I particularly recommend it to those of you who have read and loved Standford's Steps of Spiritual Growth or Nee's The Normal Chrisian Life.

Just as a teaser, I will tell you that my next planned post is on music. Some of my own thoughts and some questions that remain to be answered. :)

The Path of Righteousness
By Matthew – Summer 2006

A path to Heaven has been giv’n
For those whose destiny is doom:
A way to have their sins forgiv’n
By One who overcame the tomb.

A call to walk the narrow way
Appears to every man on earth.
A plea to “Come” and not to stray
Is made to fill each soul’s great dearth.

I left the wide gate at His call,
Joined the Way, the Truth, the Life.
I came and dwelt within His hall,
Forsook the road of sin’s black strife.

When Jesus brought me to the fold,
I then began to know His voice.
The Father grasps me in His hold;
And in His way, I now rejoice.

The Lord my God is leading me
In the way of His righteousness.
I hear His voice, and now I see
To follow Him through the darkness.

But how to know the path each day –
This quandary may perplex.
God will instruct and guide my way,
Daily directing all my steps.

For though the Way’s the same for all,
Each soul must walk a prepared path;
We follow Christ, go at His call
To know the special plan He has.

When I shall walk the shadowed vale,
I’ll trust Him through that way of death;
For at that end, He shall not fail;
He’ll give me life and make me rest.

So while this earthly course I steer,
His way of truth I’ll not forsake,
For steadfast love and goodness dear
Shall follow every path I take.

The Lord delivers

So, among the many friends that I have, it is really not surprising that I would have some that are saved and "in the world." But, when I was reading today in 2 Peter, I found a passage that is really encouraging concerning any of them: 2 Pet. 2:4-10a.
The passage bascially says that God is going to judge the wicked no matter what. But for the righteous that are around them, God "knows how to deliver the righteous from temptation." The passage deals with both Noah and Lot. This is interesting because Noah was not voluntarily surrounded by a wicked, corrupt culture; he was simply the only righteous person left standing. On the other hand, Lot voluntarily went down into that group of cities that God judged with the intention of setting an example of what He does to the wicked. God handled both situations the same with regards to the wicked: judgment and destruction. With regards to the righteous, He got them both out of the midst of the evil; the difference came though in whether they had to be dragged out or whether they went out willingly. But, the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation.
Therefore, we must trust that God will preserve and deliver His people from the evil one and that he will deliver the wicked who are seeking the destruction of God's people to judgment.

Trust in Him at all times; pour out your hearts before Him.

So, for the first time in over two months, I am back in the blogosphere. Although I have read and commented on a blog or two throughout the summer, I haven't actually done any posting.
But, since I don't have anything earth-shattering to say now (most of you already get my random news updates), I will post a poem that I wrote early this summer. I actually wrote the "refrain" significantly after the rest of the poem.


A Plea for Brokenness

Take me, Father, in Your hands;
Take my will and goals and plans.
Take the hopes and cherished dreams;
Take the strengths on which I lean.

Break me, Father, to Your will;
Break my self; the old man kill.
Break my comfort, sufficiency;
Break the sin which clutches me.

Make me, Father, by Your plan;
Make me rest within Your hand.
Make the Spirit rule within;
Make me know the Son of Man.

Refrain:
Oh, change me as I come to know you!
Renew me, Lord, that I may show You
To those around who live in darkness
So they are changed into Your likeness.