Study Guide to Matthew

In January, we began an eight-year curriculum to study every book of the Bible in our Sunday morning adult and teen classes. We will of course be unable to go in-depth and verse-by-verse in only eight years, but in such a curriculum every book will be touched on to some degree. We are beginning with Matthew. I have attached the schedule for the curriculum and study guide for Matthew in .zip format below. Feel free to use these worksheets to the benefit of God's chidlren.

DOWNLOAD AS ZIP FILE.

Instrumental Music in Worship

1906. Almost anyone within the churches of Christ who has picked up a magazine or newspaper produced by members of the church this year knows the significance of that year. It was 1906 when the United States census officially recognized two separate religious bodies within what is commonly called the restoration movement – the churches of Christ and the Christian Church. One of the major barriers to fellowship that led to this official division was the use of instrumental music in worship, the churches of Christ denying there was Scriptural authority for such a practice. Conversely, members of the Christian Church argued that since there was no prohibition in the Scriptures, they were free to practice what they saw fit.

Now a century later, controversy still surrounds the issue of the use of instruments in worship. The issue has never gone away, but this year, the one-hundred year anniversary, it seems to be everywhere. Over the years, a number of debates have been held between members of the churches of Christ and the Christian Church, both privately and publicly, about the question of instrumental music. The most recent major discussion occurred in last month (October 14) at Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, Tennessee, between Ralph Gilmore, a staff member at FHU, and David Faust, president of Cincinnati Christian University. Milton Sewell, president of FHU, said, "I would love to see us all back together again, but we're not going to worship with the instrument, and we're not going to promote it here." (source)

It is a sentiment that has been echoed by many members of the Lord's church: we want unity, but we refuse to compromise truth. Alan Highers stated, "Everyone would like to see unity between those who are estranged, but unity based on false premises is no unity at all. Some are seeking unity without any discussion of the rightness or wrongness of instrumental music in worship. They want to sweep the issue under the rug and ignore the real cause of division. I do not believe this can be done." (source)

Take for instance the president of Abilene Christian University, Royce Money, who called the use of instrument "a potentially divisive issue." (source) He has deceived himself into thinking that the division is not real, but only "potential." If division is merely "potential," why are there so many so-called "unity movements" taking place now across the United States?

Mike Cope, a preacher in Abilene, wrote on his blog earlier this year: "Maybe we need to quit talking about those areas where we disagree. We don't have to agree on everything to be brothers and sisters. 'You don't have to be twins to be siblings.' Bob pointed out that most Christian Churches aren't going to become a cappella, and most Churches of Christ aren't going to become instrumental. So why keep talking about it? Does it really matter?" (source)

The answer, of course, is that it does matter. As Alan Highers said in an interview with The Christian Chronicle, "There are thousands in the brotherhood who cannot conscientiously worship with an instrument. What kind of unity would it be if people who claimed to be united could not even worship together?" (source)

What is really the issue?

With all this in mind, allow me to make a bold statement: instrumental music in worship is not really the issue. Yes, that is the topic of discussion 99% of the time when discussing the difference between churches of Christ and the Christian Church. But the truth of the matter is that the real issue is the authority of the Scriptures. How does the Bible authorize? What role does silence play in understanding what God desires of us?

Romans 10:17, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Our faith must be built upon the Word, or else it is not Biblical, God-pleasing faith. The Scriptures instruct us in a number of areas, including worship. Colossians 3:17, "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." We must have authority for what we practice. Where in the New Testament are we told about music as worship?

After the institution of the Lord's Supper, Jesus and His apostles "sung an hymn" (Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26). Paul and Silas "sang praises unto God" while in prison (Acts 16:25). The apostle Paul also spoke of singing with the spirit and understanding in his discussion of tongues (I Corinthians 14:15).

Ephesians 5:19 also addresses the issue of music in worship: "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." Also observe 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."

In both instances, the type of music God desires is made clear: singing. There is no mention of using a mechanical instrument of music for worship in either passage, or in any other passage found in the New Testament. The Bible is silent on the instrument, but clearly authorizes singing in worship. No other form of music is authorized.

A number of arguments are raised in favor of the instrument, but none of them are Bible-based. One might say, "If God gave me the talent to play a piano, I ought to be able to use it to praise Him." But where is the Scripture? Another might say, "But it sounds so much better with the piano." But where is the Scripture?

A look through history

History is not authoritative when it comes to what we do as Christians. Only God's Word has the authority to tell us what to do. But we can learn a number of lessons from learned men of history, and see things from their perspective at times. How has instrumental music been viewed historically in the religious world?

"The general introduction of instrumental music can certainly not be assigned to a date earlier than the fifth or sixth centuries; yea, even Gregory the Great, who towards the end of the sixth century added greatly to the existing Church music, absolutely prohibited the use of instruments. Several centuries later the introduction of the organ in sacred service gave place to instruments as accompaniments for Christian song, and from that time to this they have been freely used with few exceptions. The first organ is believed to have been used in Church service in the 13th century. Organs were, however, in use before this in the theatre. They were never regarded with favor in the Eastern Church, and were vehemently opposed in some of the Western churches." (source)

Phil Sanders noted the opinion of the so-called "Church Fathers" concerning instrumental music was that they were "worldly," "denounced," that "their only use was the arousement of the sensuousness." (source)

He further quoted a number of reformers and denominational leaders:

Martin Luther: "The organ in the worship to God is an ensign of Baal."

John Calvin: "It is no more suitable than the burning of incense, the lighting of tapers, or the revival of other shadows of the law. The Roman Catholics borrowed it from the Jews."

John Wesley: "I have no objection to the organ in our chapels provided it is neither seen nor heard."

Adam Clarke: "I am an old man and an old minister, and I here declare that I have never known instrumental music to be productive of any good in the worship to God, and have reason to believe that it has been productive of much evil. Music as a science I esteem and admire, but instruments of music in the house of God I abominate and abhor. This is the abuse of music and I here register my protest against all such corruptions in the worship of that infinite Spirit who requires his followers to worship Him in Spirit and truth."

Charles Spurgeon: "I would as soon pray to God with machinery as to sing to God with machinery." (source)

Again, statements such as these are not authoritative, but they show that opposition to instrumental music in worship is neither new nor strange. Controversy has always surrounded the addition of the instrument to worship.

What is the conclusion?

The answer is simple, and it's found in the Bible: "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (I Cor. 1:10). The instrument must be abandoned for true Biblical unity to result.

For further study...

For a very good study on Biblical unity, check out the book entitled Seeking True Unity and the website, http://www.seektrueunity.org.

I'm back...

Wow, it's been a while since I posted here, hasn't it? A lot has happened since my last post. I'm now working for the city of Covington's police department as a 911 operator and dispatcher. It's a good job with great benefits. I just started a couple of weeks ago, so I'm still learning the ropes, but so far it hasn't been too overwhelming.

I may start posting more frequently than I have over the past several months, but I'm not really sure yet. I have a lot of free time with my new job, but I also have a lot of projects that I want to work on during that free time. Perhaps I will try to take a least a few minutes each week to post something here.

The main reason I wanted to post something tonight was because I just finished reading a new book, Seeking True Unity. It is a very good book about the division that occurred a century ago between the churches of Christ and the Christian Church. The book describes some of the history behind the split, and examines the main issue that caused it: the authority of the Scriptures. It also attempts to warn us against a repeat offense, which many believe will come sooner than later. There are too many in the Lord's church who are ready to compromise the truth in the name of unity, even though the unity that would result would not be the unity of the Spirit.

I encourage you to order a copy of this book and read it, give it to your elders, to the preacher where you worship, to the deacons, to the person sitting next to you in the pew. We need to be aware of what's going on around us, and we need to teach the younger generations about the authority of God's Word and the necessity of submission to that authority.

For more information on Seeking True Unity, go to http://www.seektrueunity.org/.

In Christ

I was privileged last night to speak at the congregation where I grew up. The theme was "In Christ." You can see the outline by clicking here or you can listen to the sermon by clicking here.

e-Sword

e-Sword is a fantastic computer program for Bible study. You can download a number of different Bible translations, dictionaries and other study tools such as the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, and commentaries by Clarke, Barnes, Keil & Delitzsch, and several others. Click on the logo to go to the download page and check out all e-Sword has to offer. Oh, and I forgot to mention, it's FREE.


In addition to those modules created by Rick Meyers for e-Sword, there is a page for others to upload the modules they have worked on. There are several additional Bibles, commentaries, and other resources available on this page. Of particular interest (to me, at least) is the Living Oracles New Testament (LONT) (1835). Again click on the logo to see everything available on the User Modules page.

The Authority of God's Word

God told Adam, "Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" (Genesis 2:16-17). This information was relayed to Eve, as she told the serpent what God had said (Genesis 3:2-3). The serpent twisted what God had said by adding one little word when he said, "Ye shall not surely die" (Genesis 3:4).

God's Word can be twisted and perverted in many ways. Paul warned against such perversions in Galatians 1:6-9. The apostle John warned against adding to and subtracting from God’s revelation in Revelation 22:18-19. Despite these warnings, the gospel is perverted by many in the religious world. God's Word is not respected as it is changed to fit one’s personal desires. Following are just a very few examples.

• God's Word says: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16). Religious leaders of today say: "He who believes will be saved and then, at a convenient time for him in the future, he will be baptized if he so desires."
  
  
• God's Word says: "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). Religious leaders of today say: "Repent, and you shall receive remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit, and then those who wish to be baptized as a sign of their salvation may."
  
  
• God's Word says: "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:19). Religious leaders of today say: "Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart, and with your hands, and on the piano, and drums, and guitar, and whatever other instrument you desire, to the Lord."
  
  
• God's Word says: "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved" (Acts 2:47). Religious leaders of today say: "And the religious body will determine who will be added to the church by the democratic process of voting, after they are saved."
  
  
• God's Word says: "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence" (I Timothy 2:12). Religious leaders of today say: "And I permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, for it is a shame for her talents to go to waste in silence."

There are many more examples that could be offered, but the point is clear: God's Word is not esteemed as the final authority among many religious leaders of today. They refer to their creed books before they search the pages of the New Testament.

It is the aim of those in the churches of Christ to restore first century Christianity. One early restorer coined the phrase, "Speak where the Bible speaks; be silent where the Bible is silent." Such is a Biblical position. The apostle Peter instructed, "If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God" (I Peter 4:11).

We will not worship in a way that has no command or example in the New Testament, the inspired guide for all Christians. "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" (Colossians 3:17).

Excuses, Excuses

The following poem by an unknown author appeared in a religious paper sometime last century.

We're a mile and a half from church you know,
And it rains today, so we can't go;
We’d go ten miles to a dance or show,
Though the rain should fall and the winds should blow,
But the church is different, we'd have you know,
That's why when it rains, we just can't go.

Isn't it amazing the excuses some will come up with when they "miss church"? The sniffles that are so bad Sunday morning aren't enough to keep one home from work on Monday. Try calling in to work in order to go shopping sometime, and see what response you get from your boss. Or maybe you just stayed up too late Thursday night, and Friday's work day starts too early to make it on time. Would your boss care if you were habitually late or absent from work? Do you think Christ cares when one treats His church for which He died so flippantly?

In general, the church is not as valued by its members as it should be. The psalmist exclaimed, "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord" (Psalm 122:1). When is the last time you let someone else know how happy you were that it was Sunday, and how excited you were to gather together with the saints of God?

The church serves a very important role in our spiritual welfare, encouraging us and building us up. "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching" (Hebrews 10:23-25).

The church of our Lord deserves more respect, more admiration, more love than many people give it. Let us esteem Christ's church in our hearts and lives, and do whatever we can to promote the truth of the Word to all those around us.

Please Note: I will be starting a new job today, so I will not be able to respond to comments as quickly as I have over the past several days. I still welcome your comments, but do not expect a quick reply.