By What Authority part 3

The Bible is not silent regarding the importance of worship. Jesus said that those who worship must do so in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). We must have all of our hearts involved in worship to God and we must worship according to the biblical pattern of truth. The worship must include three key elements: (1) Worship must be directed to God. Worship is not about what I want or feel but about what God wants. Worship is not entertainment to reach the people in attendance but is a kiss directed toward God. (2) Worship must be done in sincerity. Our hearts are involved. We must put our hearts and mind and energy into our prayer, singing, giving, study and the Lord’s Supper. (3) Worship must be done according to Scripture which is truth (John 17:17). We must worship according to the New Testament direction given from God to man through His word. It is important to worship God as He demands of His people.

In the article in the Abilene Reporter News, Instrumental Music Coming to Highland Church of Christ, Loretta Fulton said, “The decision to add instrumental music to the Sunday morning worship came after a long discussion and eight weeks of gathering feedback from church members.” (Let me remind you that instrumental music is not new to Highland as they have been using it in classrooms and other areas throughout their building for over 10 years. What they are doing now is making it a part of their worship services in their auditorium.) Brethren, the authority to how a Christian and how a congregation worships God is not in a group, committee, polling the audience (which they did), an eldership, or in the opinions of men. The authority for how we worship in song belongs to God. He has recorded for us His desire in the pages of the New Testament. The truth of God’s word records for us that God wants us to sing from the heart, with gratitude, with Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, to one another, teaching and admonishing one another, with words and with our voices (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). It doesn’t matter what the general consensus is...it matters what God said.

Additionally, an eldership is not to govern by finding out what the people think, what other congregations are doing, what a college or university is doing or what is popular in the world. He is given his marching orders from the New Testament. He must fulfill his role as an elder in pointing people to the word of God and show them God’s plan for worship and for life. But sadly, the eldership at Highland didn’t seek biblical authority as the source of its decision. Instead, they wanted to appeal to the people, even seeking their input and opinions of men claiming they haven’t had a single negative comment about the change to the worship (that is telling of the spiritual condition of the congregation...where are the brethren with character to stand up against the error being put forth by the eldership). Our worship is not a matter of opinion but of authority of the Scriptures.

David Green, who is called “the chairman of the elders” (I don’t know where that is found in Scripture either but apparently Bible authority isn’t necessary for worship and practice at Highland), said, “No one in the eldership believes it is scripturally prohibited.” Brethren, that is when a congregation must demand of these men repentance and/or removal from the eldership. 1 Timothy 5:19,20 says, “Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.” It is time for brethren to get out of their comfortable pews and stand up for something. It is time for those who love the Lord and who love the truth to go to the eldership and show them the error of instrumental music. It is time for these men to see the Scripture as the authority and repent of their sinful behavior and erroneous leadership. Then they can restore proper New Testament worship, leading the people to worship in a way that is pleasing in the sight of God. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks, feels or wants. What matters is what God wants! Let us strive first of all to worship as He desires (John 4:24).