I remember hearing a Christian radio broadcast several years ago. The subject of it was regarding music. The premise of it being that the music leader of a church is one of the most difficult positions there is in the church, a premise that I do not hold on to, by the way.
So you probably can tell where I’m coming from, as well as where I am going.
The position was that the music director was in a difficult place, because half the congregation wanted old music, while the other half wanted new music. I can remember muttering back to the radio my disagreement with what was stated (as if I could be heard).
To be honest I have never faced that argument in our assembly. The content of the music follows the doctrine of the Bible, as does the content of our teaching.
We, by and large, stick with our particular hymn book, because the old hymns are, for the most part, solid in their content. There are, of course, exceptions, which we look at on an individual basis. We do have to remember, however, that the songs we find in our hymn books are not divinely inspired. They contain human error, unlike the divinely inspired Word of God!
A former pastor of mine used to say something like this: “The Bible and music go together in church. But, the Bible is king, and the music is queen.” I’m not sure if I ascribe to that any longer. But, in the landscape of what is called Christianity, I do think it’s relative.
You see, for some reason the worship service in a typical church is the emotion driven drivel that numbs the minds of its participants so that they will receive whatever is told to them from the pulpit, I mean, stage.
You see, a true church assembly can do without music. I agree that music is indeed wonderful to have in a congregation. The one thing we do need is the Bible. Everything is icing on the cake.
The Apostle Paul didn’t exhort young Timothy to be the “Lead Pastor” above the “Family Life Pastor,” the “Youth Pastor,” the “Outreach Pastor,” or the “Music Pastor!” There are more types of “Pastors” in the modern church today than one can count! What is going on? Simply put, the Word of God is being rejected more and more. Of course “there is nothing new under the sun.”
He was simply exhorted to:
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. – 2 Timothy 4:2
Titus was not told to gather together a “plant team,” including lighting equipment, and audio audio gear in order to start a local assembly.
He was told to:
For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: – Titus 1:5
Then, of course, were the qualifications for the pastorate in verses 6-9:
If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
Sometimes, we just have to check out different churches, and their ministries, compare what’s going on in the church today, and align ourselves, as much as possible, with what Scripture says, rather than what culture says.
I realize that I sort of veered off of the course of how I started this article. But, I guess that’s the point. The first place where a local church begins to swerve from the Truth of the Word of God is through compromising in music first.
The people in our assemblies should be able to think clearly about what the preacher is saying, and what the Bible says. Being a Berean is important for everyone.
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. – Acts 17:11
In closing, I want to share what I think is a wonderful, complimentary to Scripture, hymn, “Moment by Moment,” written by Daniel Whittle in 1893:
- Dying with Jesus, by death reckoned mine;
Living with Jesus, a new life divine;
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine,
Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.- Refrain:
Moment by moment I’m kept in His love;
Moment by moment I’ve life from above;
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine;
Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.
- Refrain:
- Never a trial that He is not there,
Never a burden that He doth not bear,
Never a sorrow that He doth not share,
Moment by moment, I’m under His care. - Never a heartache, and never a groan,
Never a teardrop, and never a moan;
Never a danger but there on the throne,
Moment by moment He thinks of His own. - Never a weakness that He doth not feel,
Never a sickness that He cannot heal;
Moment by moment, in woe or in weal,
Jesus my Savior abides with me still.
Bob Picard, Pastor, God’s Grace Bible Church, Millbury, Massachusetts
SUPPLY OF GRACE 
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