The greek word has a meaning that involves plucking a instrument.

Eph 5:19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,

The word music or qallontev in the Greek has various meanings.

Definition: 1) to pluck off, pull out
2) to cause to vibrate by touching, to twang
2a) to touch or strike the chord, to twang the strings of a musical
instrument so that they gently vibrate
2b) to play on a stringed instrument, to play, the harp, etc.
2c) to sing to the music of the harp
2d) in the NT to sing a hymn, to celebrate the praises of God in song

So with all those meanings and given the FACT that many in the early church were hunted people would they really want to strike up the band and cause as much sound as possible to bring down the wrath of the hunters?

No is the simple answer, I would forgo that to protect others and anyone else, but if the CoC would like to demonstrate how they can pluck their vocal chords or reach down their throats to play them then I would be all for seeing that demonstrated!

And more importantly in the time we have taken to argue over the use of musical instruments how many people have died in their sin and gone to hell?

Thanks for stopping in. I appreciate your comments, and your thoughts. I don’t have time to answer them all right now, but I do want to mention that all of these things you bring up DO exist in a trio (now a duo) of TV “evangelists” here. These comments you quote, they all came from our experiences with these men. BELIEVE ME – I wouldn’t have started using my precious time starting this blog if they did not.

Many of the things you bring up have been discussed here ad nauseum, but I’ll bring it up one thing in particular – the Lord’s Supper. Let me say this at the outset – I am not condemning the observation of the Lord’s Supper each first day of the week. I’ve attended churches in the past that have done this, and it was a great weekly reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice. However, there is no direct Scriptural instruction that we must do this (there is argument to be made that the “break bread” does not mean the Lord’s Supper, but just that – breaking bread). And moreso – there is no condemnation in Scripture of people who do not do this. And yet the men who we are attempting to provide an answer to claim that if you do not observe the Lord’s Supper each week, you are lost. They say this on TV!

As to your question about the “defeat destroy” comment – it is a direct quote. You can read this post to find out more about that incident: http://answeringchurchofchrist.wordpress.com/2008/08/03/what-does-johnny-robertson-say-part-ii/

Mike, I truly appreciate your prayers. Believe you me, I am happy to have Christians praying for me. I pray for our TV duo quite often! As to your suggestion that I have anger issues, I wouldn’t say that. I would say that I struggle with my flesh (just like all Christians do), and sometimes my flesh hits the “enter” button before the Spirit can stop him. But anyone who runs a blog has the potential for that happening. It’s one of the pratfalls of this sort of communication device, and it is something I am trying to do better with!

Anyway, thanks for stopping by, and please feel free to contribute more if you see fit.

Blessings,
Mr. Answer

“If you don’t take the Lord’s Supper each first day of the week you are lost!”

First of all, most of these statements are unfair misrepresentations of faithful Christians.

Secondly, rather than criticize, simply answer the issues. How often (to the best of our knowledge/understanding)did the first-century church take the Lord’s supper? My Bible tells me they did so “on the first day of the week” That was their main purpose for coming together “to break bread” (Ac. 20:7).

“If you play a guitar in a church service, you are lost!”

Can you cite for me one instance in the New Testament when the New Testament church on earth worshipped with the instrument? Just one example or command will do. My Bible says they simply sang (Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19) and the melody was in their heart, not on a stringed instrument.

“If you aren’t baptized exactly the way I say you should be according to my interpretation of Scripture, you are lost!”

I call foul on this one! I know of no one who has ever said this. If there is, then I disagree. What would be said is be baptized like the N.T. says to be: Full submersion (they “went down into the water” – Ac. 8:38); This is symbolic of the death of Christ (Rom. 6:3-5). Baptism is for the washing away of sins (Ac. 22:16) to add someone to the Lord’s body of saved believers – people who are saved are baptized (Ac. 2:47) baptism saves us (1 Pet. 3:20-21)it is where we meet the death of Christ (Rom. 6:3-5) need I go on? Can you be saved without encountering the death of Christ, having your sins washed away, being added to the saved body of believers, etc?

You aren’t arguing with me, you are arguing with the Holy Spirit, my friend.

“If you don’t follow the rules I have set up from my “study” of Scripture, you are lost!”

If a “rule” some man asks you to follow cannot be supported by scripture, share that truth with Him in a spirit of gentleness (Gal. 6:1-2) and by all means do not feel compelled to follow that rule! However if someone has a verse(s) to show we should be doing something, then by all means, do it! The only thing a faithful Christian should be teaching is obedience to the commands and examples the Lord has set before us.

“If you aren’t in a church that I approve of, you are lost!”

Who ever said that? Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12) and stop listening to whatever person is telling you these things!

And, finally, said to the “unbeliever”: “we are here to defeat destroy you and uplift truth”!”

Again, who are these people you say are members of the Church of Christ? Is this REALLY a direct quote, as you attempt to make it seem? I doubt it. You know, the end does not justify the means. You should not bear false witness against another, it is a sin.

I will be praying for you my friend. Sincerely. You have some anger problem that comes across in your writing. Calm down and thinkl about what you are saying. Unless you can PROVE WHAT YOU ARE TEACHING COMES FROM SCRIPTURE and not from man’s desire to set up his own religion, then you must admit you have been mistaken and are wrong.

For the life of me, I cannot relate to people who cannot prove what they are doing is clearly supported by SCRIPTURE and then argue that it is I who am legalistic and try to impose man-made laws upon others. I am afraid it is the other way around.

When you INSIST on having instruments in your service where there is no biblical example, you have created a tradition of man and bound others to it, not I.

When you say a man can be saved by saying a prayer to Jesus and that is all that is necessary, I say you have not studied your Bible carefully enough! Every conversion in the book of Acts involves baptism and Peter said it now saves us (1 Pet. 3:20-21).

When you complain about taking the Lord’s supper every first day of the week, which is to remind us of the love He had for us and the price that was paid for you, proclaiming His death (1 Cor. 11:26). If you are not coming together to remember the price paid for you by Christ and to bring glory to God for this, WHY DO YOU COME TOGETHER?

Answer your arguments with scripture…not an emotional plea. When you begin to do that, then you will truly be a New Testament Christian.

I was very firm with you, but you need to accept the truth from the Bible, as it is plainly stated. I do hope you submit to the Lord, before it is eternally too late, my friend.

Kindly,

Mike

When I stopped showing up for service, some members, including Jonathon, showed up at my house. When I did not answer the door they broke in. When they discovered I was locked in my room they would not leave until I came out and they prayed and tried to get satan out of me.

So is it the same one? If you can help me find out who these people are today, I’d like to know. I’m a big grown up lawyer now with an axe to grind.

Walkinin error, your definition is no better than you bible studies”

It’s a simple question faithful, one I am sure you can answer, so please do so. What biblical grounds do you defend fomenting rebellion?

Thanks!

Actually, looking back over your last several comments I am still trying to figure out just exactly what you do contribute. Pretty much just one-liners that make no sense.

We need to get Corey back. At least he attempted to help outsiders understand his position. Oh – but he was “librul”. (Sorry hypercons).

I am going to be posting a new discussion thread later to help give things some direction. I hope that folks will enjoy discussing. Stay tuned!

Hmmm…if one cannot even answer that question, it does make me wonder…

…and you are offering a basic English lesson? Oh my…

You are avoiding his questions, just like you did mine, and Lee’s, and I imagine the list could go on…