Dr. Terry L. Miethe: Speak Where the Bible Speaks
Response to an E-mail Update 12.03.11 4:40 12.04.11 3:26 Revised 1.02.13
Subject: Re: Index
From: Dr. Terry L. Miethe
<tmiethe@tds.net>
To:
Kenneth Sublett <knthsublett@gmail.comt>
From Terry L. Meithe: Royce
Money is no friend of mine. But, you "sir" are
a true idiot! It is just a real shame that you know
how to type and use the WWW!
It is because of people like you that it is a "dangerous"
place full of garbage!
Dr. Terry L. Miethe E-Mail:
You just do not get it. Evidently cannot get it.
The use or
nonuse of instrumental music has NOTHING to do with
the
"Bible" at
all. And, NO what you post is not in agreement with the Bible
or your
so-called "known" history. It is in agreement with your
bigoted misuse
of reason and "history" to incorrectly argue a
point that shouldn't
even be argued! You are just the kind of person Chesterton was warning
about with regard to the "irrepressible half
truths masquerading as
Truth."
From the time that "singing" as an ACT was
first introduced in abut ad 373 people have sowed discord in order to
force people to sing (not tunefully) their own songs as propaganda.
It is true that the music word as in tuneful melody or harmony is never
used in the Bible in connection with congregational assemblies.
It should not be an issue. However, working with the NACC,
Rick Atchley: The era of the progressive Church of Christ is over.
Well, we discipled the
children of those progressive churches
for a whole generation to grow
past us Boomers.
They never heard the sermons we heard.
They never
heard the rationale for a cappella music.
We sent them to youth
rallies and Church of Christ events
with some of the finest Christian
bands in the world.
We discipled our children to leave our Movement!
The only legalistic concept promoted today is using the Levites making
loud sounds during the burnt offering of the goats for Israel which had
already defected in a civil war.
Rick Atchley says: that the Levites -- following the NACC pattern -- were
commanded to make instrumental
music and this is used to say that "God
commanded instrumental music" and "you had better not be disobedient."
They say that Onstrumental music has therefore been the identifying
mark of godly
people: there is no longer an option because Jesus did not say thou
shalt not use instruments.
In fact the Bible said that the Levites--under the not-commanded king--were SOOTHSAYERS with INSTRUMENTAL accompaniment.
- It was because of musical idolatry at Mount Sinai that the Levites volunteered to execute 3,000 of the "brethren."
- Moses then commanded that the Levites stand in ranks to warn any one not of Levi that they would be executed if they came later.
- It was David who commanded the Levites to make noise during the burnt offering of the goats in the Hezekiah example.
- The godly congregation was "outside" the gate or outside the camp to escape being executed.
- Christ through the prophets especially Isaiah 1 and Jeremiah 7
said that God DID NOT command sacrifices or burnt offerings: they were
imposed when God turned them over to worship the starry host at a
Jebusite High Place, Jerusalem, called Sodom by John.
- Sorry, but God will never let them read BLACK text on BROWN Paper.
2Chronicles 29:27 And Hezekiah
commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar.
And when the burnt offering began,
the song of the LORD began also with the trumpets,
and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel.
- If the NACC says that God commanded Instrumental Music for the Ekklesia - Synagogue of Christ.
- And Christ in the
prophets or Jesus in the flesh says that God DID NOT command king,
kingdom, temple, priests, Levites, sacrifices or instrumental music as
they were ABANDONED to worship the starry host.
- Then Christ in Jeremiah 23 says that they despise God and are BLASPHEMERS.
- There is no hope for blasphemers.
- Why are not insult those who boast about "diverting" other people and stealing the church houses of widow.
Those boasting
about "infiltrating and diverting your congregation into a theater for
holy entertainment" are the ones who make "music" into an issues.
All disciples [students] of Christ understand with the Restoration
Leaders that church is A School (only) of Christ (only).
I believe the quote is [JANUARY 9th] THE thing from which England suffers just
now more than from any other evil is not
the assertion of falsehoods, but the endless
and irrepressible repetition of half-truths.
Without wanting to be offensive, I am fairly
certain that theologians do not actually seek any fraction of truth as
defined by the Bible. Jesus ordained elders to "teach the Word as
it has been taught" and "refute those who oppose it." Even if you could
hallucinate modern singing in the School of Christ, the direct command
is to teach "that which is written for our learning using one mind and
one mouth." Doctors of the Law, said Jesus, have the task of
"taking away the key to knowledge." Theologians make or are
forced to make the blunder that the mysteries of God are deeper, richer
and more enlightening than any cuty song or sermon.
Bigot, french, hypocrite: a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; especially one who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance
I
believe that qualifies as a RACA word but is the only defense
instrumentalists or performers have left. Theologians do not grasp that
the resource for building or educating the disciples is the Word of
God. Non-disciples try to defeat that by disabling the Word or
Logical mind (spirit) by using music. A literaly hypocrite can
ONLY apply to those performing artists who sell the free water of the
Word.
The Christ-defined meaning of a hypocrite (Scribe, Pharisee, performer, writer) in Isaiah and Ezekiel:
Ezekiel 33:2 Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them,
When I bring the sword upon a land,
if the people of the land take a man of their coasts,
and set him for their watchman:
Ezek. 33:3 If
when he seeth the sword come upon the land,
he blow the
trumpet, and warn the people;
Ezek.
33:4 Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet,
and taketh not warning;
if the sword come, and take him away, his
blood shall be upon his own head.
Ezekiel 33:5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning;
his blood shall be upon him.
But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
Ezekiel 33:6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet,
and the people be not warned; if the sword come,
and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity;
but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.
Ezekiel 33:7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel;
therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
This was OUTLAWED for the Church in the
wilderness: Common decency when God's Word (only) is being
taught.
Ezek.
33:30 Also, thou son of
man,
the children of thy people still are talking
against thee
by the
walls and in the doors of the houses,
and speak one to another, every
one to his brother, saying,
Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word
that
cometh forth from the LORD.
Ezek. 33:31 And they come unto thee
AS the people
cometh,
and they sit
before thee
AS my people,
and they hear thy words,
but they will
not do
them:
for with their mouth they shew much love,
but their heart goeth
after their covetousness.
Christ's definition of
nothing of value: hypocrites.
Ezek. 33:32NET Realize that to
them
you are like a sensual song,
a beautiful voice and skilled musician.
They hear your words, but they do not
obey them.
Ezek. 33:33 When all
this comes true–and it certainly will–
then they will know that a prophet was
among them."
By absolute definition a HYPOCRITE is FIRST a
rhetorician as well as a MUSICIAN both called sorcerers because they
intend to deceive the SIMPLE MINDED.
-Hupokritikos 2.suited
for speaking or delivery, actor's
art, acting a part, pretending
to. Hupokrites 2.
of an orator, poikilos
rhapsodist, pretender,
dissembler, hypocrite , interpreter, expounder l Epos
A hypocrite is: A. A. Poikilos 2. of Art, p. humnos a song of changeful strain or full of diverse art, Pi.O.6.87; “poikilon kitharizōn” Id.N.4.14; “dedaidalmenoi pseudesi poikilois muthoi” Id.O.1.29; of style, “lexis poiētikōtera kai p.” Isoc.15.47 (Comp.); “skhēmatismoi” D.H.Is.3.
A hypocrite is: B.Epos A. vácas 'word', 'hymn', cf. eipon):
1. song or lay accompanied by music, 8.91,17.519.
IV. in pl., epic poetry, opp. melē (lyric poetry), iambeia, dithuramboi, etc., “rhaptōn epeōn aoidoi” Pi.N.2.2 ; “ta Kupria epea” Hdt.2.117, cf. Th.1.3, X.Mem.1.4.3, Pl.R.379a, etc. ; “epea te poiein pros luran t' aeidein” Theoc.Ep.21.6 ; “nikēsas epos” IG3.1020 ; poētēs epōn7.3197.9 (Orchom. Boeot.), cf. OGI51.37 (Egypt, iii B.C.).
ib.
The Nicolaitans were always the pagan musical clergy who TRIUMPHED over the Laity.
Nikaō , Ion. nikeō Democr.249, Herod.1.51, also GDI1413.16 (Aetol.), SIG265.4 (Delph., iv B.C.), v.l. in Apoc.2.7; Aeol. nikēmi Theoc.7.40, AP7.743 (Antip.); also in impf. nikē cj. in Pi.N.5.5, cf. Theoc.6.46: Ep. impf. 1pl.
2.
prevail, be superior, muthoisin, egkhei, Il.18.252; “doloisi” Od.3.121; kallei enika (sc. krētēr) Il.23.742; “pasan aretēn nenikēkōs” Pl.Lg.964c: c. part., “euergetōn n.” X.Ages.9.7.
4.
c. inf., succeed in . . , “enikēse skorpisai” Psalm.Solom.4.13.
Psalms of Solomon
4:7 Let God remove those that
live in hypocrisy in the company of the pious,
........ (Even) the life of such an one with
corruption of his flesh and penury.
4:8 Let God reveal the deeds of
the men-pleasers,
........ The deeds of such an one with
laughter and derision;
4:9 That the pious may count
righteous the judgement of their God,
........ When sinners are removed from before the
righteous,
........ (Even the) man- pleaser who uttereth law guilefully.
4:11 And their eyes (are fixed)
upon any man's house
that is (still) secure,
........ That they may, like (the) Serpent, destroy the wisdom of...
........ with words of transgressors,
4:12 His words are
deceitful that (he) may accomplish (his) wicked desire.
4:13 He never ceaseth from
scattering
(families) as though
(they were) orphans,
........ Yea, he layeth waste a house on account of (his) lawless desire.
4:14 He deceiveth with words,
(saying,) There is none that seeth, or judgeth.
4:15 He fills one (house) with lawlessness, And (then) his eyes
(are fixed) upon the next
house,
........ To destroy it with words that give wing to (desire).
........ (Yet) with all these his soul,
like
Sheol, is not
sated.
C. Phoebas
, ădis, f., a priestess of Apollo; hence the
inspired one, the prophetess,
IN LATIN
Simulatior. a falsely
assumed appearance, a false show,
feigning, shamming, pretence,
feint, insincerity, deceit,
hypocrisy, simulation,
pretend to be under a divine command.
Keep in Latin: Custodio II. With the accessory idea
of hindering free motion, A. In
gen., to hold something back, to preserve, keep:
Meaning to keep precepts or laws: Regula a rule,
pattern, measuring rod, formula sermonis
BUT NOT:
Loquor to
speak, talk, say (sermo in the lang. of common life, in the
tone of conversation
Custodio:
hold something back, preserve, hinder free motion, watch, preserve.
hold back simulation.
Excito I.
to call out or forth, to bring or send out, to wake or rouse up (freq. and class.; cf.: provoco, evoco; irrito, lacesso, invito).
“ignem,” to kindle up, excite, Caes. B. G. 7, 24, 4; Lucr. 6, 308: “incendium,” Cic. Phil. 7, 1, 3: “invalidas flammas admoto fomite,” Luc. 8, 776.
ignis A.
(Mostly poet.) The fire or glow of passion, in a good or bad sense; of anger, rage, fury:
raving, inspiration, Stat. Ach. 1, 509: “quae simul aethereos animo conceperat ignes, ore dabat pleno carmina vera dei,”
B.
Figuratively of that which brings destruction, fire, flame: “quem ille obrutum ignem (i. e. bellum) reliquerit,” Liv. 10, 24
“of Aurora,” id. ib. 4, 629: “arcano florentes igne smaragdi,” [emeralds]
smăragdus (in many MSS. written also
zmăr- :
I.
“
smărăgdus,”
Mart. 5, 11, 1), i, comm. (m.,
Plin. 37, 5, 16, § 62;
Luc. 10, 121; f.,
Mart. 4, 28, 4;
Claud. VI. Cons. Hon. 563), =
σμάραγδός,
a transparent precious stone of a bright green color; including not only our
emerald, but also the
beryl,
jasper,
malachite, etc.,
Plin. 37, 5, 16, § 62;
37, 5, 18, § 73;
Lucr. 2, 805;
4, 1126;
Tib. 1, 1, 51;
2, 4, 27;
Ov. M. 2, 24;
Stat. Th. 2, 276 al.
Stozzi, Tito Vespasiano
circum candentia flammae
150Et virides radiant innexo adamante smaragdi.
Ipsa manu sceptrum,
mira quod Mulciber arte
This Mulciber is the same as the Roman god
Vulcan as well as having the qualities of Lucifer
*] c.
Mulciber,
Vulcan, has
-berī and
-brī in the genitive. The barbaric names
Hibēr and
Celtibēr
retain
ē throughout.
Ars ,
1.
With the idea extended,
any physical or
mental activity,
so far as it is practically exhibited; a profession,
art (
music,
poetry,
medicine,
etc.); acc. to Roman notions, the arts were either liberales or
ingenuae artes, arts of freemen, the liberal arts; or artes illiberales
or sordidae, the arts, employments, of slaves or the lower classes.
musicam, litterarum cognitionem et poëtarum, atque illa, quae de naturis rerum, quae de hominum moribus,
Thou
hast been in Eden the garden of God;
every precious stone
was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the
onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle,
and gold:
the
workmanship
of thy
tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in
the day that
thou wast created [cast out]. Ezekiel 28:13
Thou art the anointed cherub
that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast
walked up and down in the midst of the stones of
fire.
Ezekiel 28:14
Thou wast perfect in thy ways
from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
Ezekiel 28:15
By
the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the
midst of thee with violence,
and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of
the mountain
of
God:
and I will destroy
thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Ezekiel 28:16
Carmen , ĭnis, n. (old form cas-men , Varr. L. L. p. 86 Bip.) [Sanscr. çasto declaim, praise; cf.: camilla, censeo],
I.
a tune,
song; poem,
verse; an oracular response,
a prophecy; a form of incantation (cf.: cano, cantus, and canto).
I. In gen., a tune, song, air, lay, strain, note, sound, both vocal and instrumental (mostly poet.; in prose, instead of it, cantus; cf. “also versus, numeri, modi): carmen tuba ista peregit ( = sonus),
varios sermones, Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 10, 2: “quantas tragoedias,” Cic. Mil. 7, 18
“acutus et excitatus sonus,” Cic. Rep. 6, 18.—Comp.: “clamor,” Liv. 4, 37, 9: “haec lumina,” Quint. 12, 10, 49: “schema,” id. 9, 3, 10 Sŏnus , i (collat. form sŏnus ,“non exaudito tu
Because this writer is simple
minded he leaves it to those who IMPOSE to DISPOSE people of their
spiritual inheritance to find legalistic loopholes by defining these
verbal forms into a text which DOES NOT doom them.
A TEACHER POINTS DISCIPLES TO THE RAW RESOURCES AND LET THE WRITERS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
NOW THAT WE KNOW THAT THE BIBLE AND RECORDED HISTORY KNOWS THAT A BIGOT OR HYPOCRITE IS A PERFORMING PREACHER, SINGER OR INSTRUMENT PLAYERS, THE NARROW VISION LETS YOU SEE THAT:
THE SERPENT IN THE GARDEN WAS A MUSICAL ENCHANTER.
Christ said that Lucifer (Venus, Zoe) was a singing and harp-playing
prostitute in the garden of Eden. He / she / it had wind, string and
percussion instruments when she was "created" or Cast as profane out of
heaven. In Revelation 17 the Babylon Mother of Harlots (Jerusalem) used
lusted after fruits as speakers, singers and instrument players John
called sorcerers in Revelation 18. John says that they will be (have
been) cast alive into the Lake of Fire at the same time Jesus removes
their lambs.
Miriam was a Soothsayer with instrumental accompaniment: the Levites
were Soothsayers with instrumental accompaniment. They stood in ranks
and made "noise" to warn you that you would be executed if you came
near or into any holy thing or place.
h5175.Nachash from h5172.
 |
h5172.Nachash
|
AFTER THE FLOOD.
Inanna,
like Istar the
mother/bride of Tammuz worshiped by the women in the Jerusalem
temple, got Ea drunk and forced him to give her the ME which were
supernatual gifts. Perverted sexuality and instrumental music were
two prized gifts:
The
ME, Inanna
- Ea - Gift of Wisdom and Music
- He
gave me the art of lovemaking.
- He
gave me the art of kissing the phallus.
- He
gave me the art of prostitution.
- He
gave me the resounding musical instrument.
- He
gave me the art of song.
- He
gave me the art of the elder.
- He
gave me the kindling of strife
As in all
temple-states, the common
people
were not involved in the temple worship rituals:
"Each
of the important
deities had, in one or
more of the Babylonian cities, a large temple in which he or she was
worshiped. Temple services were generally conducted in open
courts containing
fountains for ablution and altars for sacrifices.
Only
the high
priest and other privileged members of the clergy and court were permitted to enter
the cella, or inner part of the
temple, which held the special
statue of the deity
[Only
these were
involved with the musical animal sacrifices for purifying temple or
personnel in the court or slaughter pit but never IN the Jerusalem Temple. The Levites performed as Soothsayers with instrumental accompaniment: they would execute anyone not authorized. That is what God commanded]
The
needs
of the deity were provided for in accordance with impressive
ceremonies carried out
by a vast institutionalized clergy
that included
priests,
musicians, magicians, soothsayers, dream
interpreters, astrologers, and hierodules (temple slaves or
prostitutes). Sacrifices of food,
drink, or incense were offered daily. Numerous festivals were held,
the most important of which was the celebration of the new
year
at the spring equinox. Encarta Encyclopedia
Musical worship teams seem
to have unnatural
power over the minds of lower class or immature people. For this
reason, it was an early belief of the Babylonians that sensual (read
sexual) enjoyment from women singers (and men singers for the
priestly classes and others) had magical power. In the end, of
course, anything directed to the human emotion and bypassing the
rational (spirit) was really idolatry which is always self worship.
In defining Christian singing as "filling up with the Word or spirit
and then speaking that truth to one another to teach and warn" Paul
understood that:
"According
to the
system which Nimrod
was the grand instrument in introducing, men were led to believe
that
a real
spiritual change of
heart was unnecessary,
and that so far as change was needful,
they could be regenerated by mere external means.
"Looking
at the subject in the
light of the Bacchanalian orgies (Read Ephesus and
Corinth), which, as the reader has seen,
commemorated the history
of Nimrod, it is
evident that
he
led mankind to seek
their chief good in sensual
enjoyment,
and
showed them how they might
enjoy the pleasures of sin, without any fear of the wrath of a holy
God. (Voodoo,
Rock,
Boogie Woogie becomes Contemporary Christian Music)
"In
his various
expeditions he was always accompanied by troops of women; and by music and
song,
and
games
(ritual
drama) and revelries,
and everything that could please the natural
hearts,
he
commended himself to the good graces of
mankind." (Hislop, Alexander, The Two Babylons, p. 55, Loizeaux
Brothers)
Parkes notes that most
groups normally do not
exceed about 150 (the Mormons understand that) and there is normally
no professional leadership. However, in the ancient religions during
a crisis, someone often emotionally or sexually abnormal might chant
a song during a dry spell.
Sure enough, it rains the
the non-productive
member becomes a prophet. It isn't too long before he turns from
servant to master. "If you want your pigs to be born alive you had
better pay me." Or, "I can solve your marriage problems if you attend
my church."
"Awed
by the
mysteries of his own
spirit (See 1 Cor 14) no less than by those of nature, primitive man
was likely to attribute to divine influence any abnormal emotional state,
whether above or below the usual
level. Medicine men customarily went into states of trance
in
which they were
believed to be in communication with the gods,
and many tribes supposed lunatics and sexual deviants to be divinely
possessed.
"In
most early
societies, moreover, men evolved techniques
for
deliberately
inducing the abnormal forms of consciousness
in
which they supposed
themselves to achieve union with divine power,
sometimes
by the use of
drugs and other physiological stimuli,
sometimes
by hypnotic
dances and music.
The
wild
utterances (speaking in tongues) to which they
gave vent on such occasions were regarded as the words of a god and were interpreted as
divine commands
or predictions of future events." (Parkes, H.B., Gods and Men, p.
32-33).
THIS IS WHAT GOD ABANDONED ISREAL TO DO WHEN HE TURNED THEM OVER TO WORSHIP THE STARRY HOST.
CLEMENT
"But when all these things were done, men turned again to
impiety; [There is a similar chapter in Homily IX. 7, but in
a discourse: on the following day.-R.] and on this account a law
was given by God to instruct them in the manner of living.
But in process of time, the worship
of God and righteousness were corrupted by the unbelieving and the
wicked, as we shall show more fully by and by.
Moreover, perverse and erratic
religions were introduced, to which the greater part of men gave
themselves up,by occasion of holidays and solemnities, instituting drinkings and banquets, following pipes, and flutes, and harps,
and
diverse kinds of musical
instruments, and indulging themselves in
all kinds of drunkenness and luxury.
Hence every kind of error took rise; hence
they
invented groves and altars, fillets and victims, and after drunkenness they were
agitated as if with mad emotions.
By this means power was given to
the demons
to enter into minds of this
sort, so that they seemed to lead insane dances and to rave like
Bacchanalians; hence were invented the
gnashing of teeth, and bellowing from the depth of their bowels;
hence a terrible countenance and a fierce aspect in men, so that he
whom drunkenness had subverted and a demon had instigated, was
believed by the deceived and the erring to be filled with the
Deity
AFTER THE FALL FROM GRACE AT MOUNT SINAI BECAUSE OF MUSICAL IDOLATRY.
Christ commanded the Qahal, synagogue or Church of Christ in the
Wilderness and the godly tribes were restricted to their area (about
700ft.) and commanded to Rest, Read and Rehearse the Word available to
the sub-elders of the local group. The sabbath or REST outlawed
ministers of God from going out.
A laded burden is a song that has a repeat, repeat, repeat almost always falsehood.
All of the massive sowing of discord would go away if someone could grasp the absolute fact that Qahal, synagogue
or Church in the wilderness which never changed was as A School of the
Word. The synagogue of Christ is built upon the Prophets and Apostles
and the silencing of the hypocritic arts is always the pagan THESIS and
using one mind and one mouth to teach "that which is written for out
learning" as the only resource for which the assembly is called out of
its living out their faith before the watching world.
Those who offend up to half of the "owners" of congregation often tell
them that a "spirit" is speaking to them and YOU have no right to
question the leadership. Well, people have questioned the music issue
from the beginning but God in His wisdom breathed (the Spirit) on
Jesus of Nazareth so that he spoke the words without METRON.
We know that Jesus didn't speak ALL of the words in God's Mind (Spirit)
or without "measure" in a limited sense. The word "metron" is most
often used in the Greek text to means METER. The word SPEAK in
fact outlaws meter in any tuneful sense. Perhaps that is why you
cannot SING any of the Bible as written and why the word LOGOS means
the opposite of poetry or music or meter.
We can be dogmatic about that because the Catholics did not accompany
congregational singing and when the big city churches inherited the
Cathedrals they clamoured to be able to sing like the opera (organum).
Calvin permitted some psalms (only) to be radically rewritten and set
to a simple meter to be sung in unison (only). That is what Paul
commanded in Romans 15 although the singing was not related to modern
melody.
People may not believe or ever had read that the command is to use ONE
MIND and ONE MOUTH to teach that which is written for our learning.
I DON'T THINK ALL OF THE GREEK WRITERS ARE RELIGIOUS BIGGOTS?
It is doubtful whether you can find even
one of the great Greek Scholars who didn't know that all of the
performers in theater or religious center who did not know that "men
set their lies to melodies to deceive the ignorant."
Plat. Laws 10.885b it has been
already stated summarily what the punishment should be; and in respect
of all the outrages, whether of word or deed, which a man commits,
either by tongue or hand, against the gods, we must state the
punishment he should suffer, after we have first delivered the
admonition. It shall be as follows:—
No one who believes, as the laws
prescribe, in the existence of the gods
has ever yet done an impious
deed voluntarily, or uttered a lawless word:
he that acts so is in one
or other of these three conditions of mind—
either he does not believe
in what I have said; or, secondly, he believes that the gods exist,
but
have no care for men;
or, thirdly, he believes that they are easy to
win over when bribed by offerings and prayers.1 [hymns]
Plat. Laws 10.885c Athenian
In derision they would probably say this: “O Strangers of Athens, Lacedaemon and Crete,
what you say is true. Some of us do not believe in gods at all; others
of us believe in gods of the kinds you mention. So we claim now, as you
claimed in the matter of laws,
Plat. Laws 10.885d that before threatening us harshly,
you should first try to convince and teach us, by producing adequate
proofs, that gods exist, and that they are too good to be wheedled by
gifts and turned aside from justice. For as it is, this and such as
this is the account of them we hear from those who are reputed the best
of poets [ poiētōn], orators [rhētorōn], seers [manteōn], priests, and thousands upon thousands of
others;
and consequently most of us,
instead of seeking to avoid wrong-doing,
do the wrong and then try to make it good.
Manti^s , Apollo, Casandra, Pythian priestess, Dionysus
THE CLASSICAL MEANING OF LEGALISM IS OBEYING A SET TRADITION ABOUT HOW MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS WERE TO BE PLAYED.
Nomos , ho, (
[nemô] ) can mean "the
Law of God"
without respect to MOSES.
A.
that which is in habitual
practice,
use or possession, not in Hom. (cf. J.Ap.2.15), though read by Zenod.
in Od.1.3.
I. usage, custom,
[Mousai] melpontai
pantôn te nomous kai êthea kedna Hes.Th.66n.
archaios aristos
A.
Mousa
1 [known as
filthy adulteresses and the LOCUSTS of Revelation]
I.
the Muse, in pl. the
Muses, goddesses
of song, music,
poetry,
dancing, the drama, and all
fine arts, Hom.: the names of the nine were Clio, Euterpe, Thalia,
Melpomene, Terpsichore, Erato, Polymnia or Polyhymnia, Urania, and
Calliope, Hes.,
II.
mousa, as appellat., music, song, Pind.,
Trag.:--also eloquence, Eur.:--in pl. arts,
accomplishments, Ar.,
Plat.[hypocrites]
Homer,
Odyssey 1:[1]
Tell me,
O Muse, of the man of many devices, who
wandered full
many
ways after he
had sacked the sacred
citadel of Troy. Many were the men whose cities he saw and whose mind
he learned, aye, and many the woes he suffered in his heart upon
the sea
B.
Melpontai Melpo celebrate
with song and dance. Od.4.17, [make
melody with singing and the phormizon
or HARP of Apollo.] dance a war-dance in
honour of Ares, Sing and play the kithera, sing and
play the aulos or flute. Epithet of Dionysus.
Od.4.17 Homer Odyssey 4.[15] So
they were feasting in the great high-roofed hall, the neighbors and
kinsfolk of glorious Menelaus,
and making merry; and among
them a divine minstrel was singing
to the
lyre, and two tumblers
whirled up and down through the midst of them,
as he began his song.
Making literal MELODY is the MARK of
sorcery: Paul said do that IN the heart and you won't HARM people.
This
"arousal singing" was always associated with
Phoibos who was the BRIGHT ONE who is also Lucifer
and Zoe.
He competed with the Pythian spirit Paul cast out of the little
TRAFFICING girl USED by men.
II. melody, strain, oida
d' ornichôn nomôs
pantôn Alcm.67 ; n. hippios Pi.O. 1.101 ; Apollôn
hageito pantoiôn n. Id.N.5.25; n. polemikoi Th.5.69 ;
epêlalaxan Arai ton oxun n. A.Th.952 (lyr.); krektoi n. S.Fr.
463 , cf. AP9.584: metaph., tous Haidou n. S.Fr.861
.
Pindar, Odes 5.
The most
beautiful chorus of Muses
sang gladly for the Aeacids on Mt. Pelion, and among them
Apollo,
[Abaddon, Apollyon] sweeping the seven-tongued lyre with a golden
plectrum,
[25][25] led all types of strains. And the
Muses
began with a prelude to Zeus, then sang
first of divine Thetis and of Peleus; how Hippolyte, the opulent
daughter of Cretheus, wanted to trap
him with deceit
2. esp. a type of early
melody created by Terpander for the lyre as an
accompaniment
to Epic
texts, n.
orthios Hdt.1.24 ; n.
Boiôtios S.Fr.966 ; n. kitharôidikoi
Ar.Ra.1282 , cf. Pl.Lg.700d, Arist.Po.1447b26, Pr.918b13, etc.; also
for the flute, n. aulôidikos Plu.2.1132d ; without sung
text, n. aulêtikos ib.1133d, cf. 138b, Poll.4.79;
later,
composition including both
words and melody, e.g.
Tim.Pers.
NOTE: the use of
the HARP had ceased over 400 years beforee the time of Paul
Epic verses were originally sung to musical accompaniment, but after the time of Terpander, as lyric poetry
became more independently cultivated, the accompaniment of
stringed instruments fell into disuse;
[40]
The fortune that is born along with a
man decides in every deed. And you, Euthymenes from Aegina, have
twice fallen into the arms of Victory and attained embroidered hymns.
WAS MARTIN LUTHER A BIGOT?
Writing on Romans 15 and 15, Luther dismissed
everything but praise to God through HIS WORD as
useless:
"That with one
accord ye may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ."
52. All the good we can do to
God is to praise and to thank him. This is the only true service we can render him, according to his
words in Psalm 50, 23:
"Whoso offereth the
sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifieth me; and to him that ordereth his way aright will I
show the salvation of God."
We receive all blessings from
him, in return for which we should make the offering of praise. If
anything else purporting to be service to God is presented for your
consideration rest assured it is erroneous and delusive.
For instance, the distracted
world attempts to serve God by setting apart houses, churches, cloisters; vestures, gold-trimmed, silk
and
[50] every other kind;
silver vessels and
images; bells and
organs, candles and lamps;
the money for which expense should have been appropriated to the
poor if the object was to make an offering
to God.
Further, it keeps up a
muttering and wailing in
the churches day and night. But true praise and honor of God, a service that
cannot be confined to place or person, is quietly ignored the world
over.
The pretenses of priests and
monks about their system of exercises being service to the Lord, are
false and delusive.
53. Service to God is
praise
of him. It must be free
and voluntary, at table,
in the chamber, cellar,
garret, in house
or field, in all places, with all persons, at
all times. Whosoever teaches otherwise is no less guilty of falsehood than the
Pope and the devil himself.
But how shall there be with us
honor and praise of God, true service to him, when we neither love
him nor receive his blessings? And how shall we love him when we do
not know him and his blessings?
And how shall we
know him and his blessings when no word is
preached concerning them and when the Gospel is left to lie under the
table?
Where the Gospel
is not in evidence, knowledge of God is an impossibility.
Then to love and praise him is
likewise impossible. As a further consequence it is necessarily
impossible for divine service to exist.
Even if all the
choristers were one
chorister, all the
priests one priest, all the monks one monk, all
the churches one church,
all the bells one
bell; in brief if all the foolish services offered to God in the
institutions, churches and cloisters were
a hundred thousand times greater and more numerous than they are,
--what does God care for such carnivals and
juggling?
54. Therefore, God complains
most of the Jews in the second chapter of Micah,
because they
silenced his
praise, while at the
same time, they piped,
blared and moaned
like we do.
True divine service
of praise cannot be
established with revenues,
nor be circumscribed by laws and statutes.
High and low festivals have
nothing to do with it.
It emanates from the
Gospel, and certainly
is as often rendered by a poor, rustic servant as by a great
bishop. [51]
Titus 2: Here is a very quick linked resource to understand why Luther knew what modern scholars repudiate.
WERE ALL OF THE RECORDED LITERATURE WHICH IDENTIFIED MUSIC AS SORCERY OR SOOTHSAYING BIGOTS?
What the real Campbell said in 1826: Bigotry.
AMONGST the indiscriminate usage and application of the term bigotry,
it is not uncommon to find it very unwarrantably
applied.
It is used to excite public odium, where
the thing which it is used to represent is no way disgusting.
Hence
some are called bigots, and accused of bigotry, for rejecting
all written creeds except the bible; for being strict in worshipping
God according to his commandments;
for requiring the members of a christian community to obey God rather
than men. And I have known infidels accuse a christian church of
bigotry, because they would not retain in their fellowship immoral
persons, or persons who denied the Lord that bought them; and those
who, in the apostles estimation, denied the faith and were worse than
an infidel.
Those who dislike the institutions of the Messiah are often
found reproaching those with bigotry who love and
obey them.
Indeed, there is no term, whether received in a good or a bad sense,
that may not be most egregiously misapplied
Dr. Terry L. Miethe E-Mail:
:
You do not know nearly as much as
you think you do about church
history, the Bible, or Campbell, etc.
In fact, you are the
perfect
example of the danger of a "half education."
I have worked with
dozens, perhaps hundreds
of engineers and there is a reason they have a
reputation for having "tunnel vision."
I wrote two Ph.D. dissertations at two major universities - USC and Oxford
- on Alexander Campbell's
Social Ethics and Educational Theory, and own and have read
the
complete Millennial Harbinger,
as well as owning Campbell first editions.
From page to page God commands that we only
teach what He has commanded to be taught: knowing that He is God and I
am not I try to faithfully copy the text and see how "tham wurds" are
used in contemporaneous literature. They won't let you get beyond
McGuffy's Lexicom and usually scholars quote other scholars to gain
favor. Maybe the meek will inherit something?
Dr. Terry L. Miethe E-Mail:
Campbell
found himself at
the "head" of a movement of bigots
and reactionaries very early on.
But not wanting to have a split in his young movement, he
when to the
extreme of having others voice his opinion in the Harbinger.
MANY -
not all - of the church of Christ "creators" were of
this reactionary
and hotheaded lot! A FACT OF HISTORY!
No, that's a RACA statement. The Campbells would not have
attracted all of those Stoneites and Baptists if he had been a hothead.
Lots of preachers then and now get too aggitated when the
instrumentalists boast about infiltrating and diverting their church
away.
Spiritual Worship means RATIONAL WORSHIP: the LOGOS words are the opposite of the EMOTIONAL or feminine practices.
None of the Restoration leaders fighting the musical invaders in MOST
religious groups at the time ever said or did anything which could be
used as a weapon to refute any part of the Biblical Message.
Christ in all of the Prophets may have been pretty unsocial when He
warned that God would drive His enemies into "hell" to the beat of
wind, string and percussion instruments. Jesus issued the same warning
by marking the rhetoricians, singers and instrument players as
SORCERERS and said that they would be cast ALIVE into the lake of
fire. Richard Hughes had some bones to pick and was not a very
good reader of Campbell. For instance, he has everyone pushing
the "apocalyptic" vision of Campbell when Alexander Campbell CLEARLY
refuted all of the millennial views.
Isaiah 30 is parallel to Revelation 17-18
Campbell always used another "name" to represent the absolute
views of the Disciples/ Christian Chruches with whom the Church of
Christ was never united and held almost nothing in common: Stone dened
the Atonement. The E-mail writer is in fact threatening me for using
his name. Then, always, Campbell answered with HIS OWN
VIEWS. He did this against the Trinity, the Clergy, and
Instruments. This would make Alexander a Coward.
In answering Mr. G
"being founded on the Jewish
pattern of things--baptism being given to all
born into the world of these politico-ecclesiastic
communities--
I
wonder not, then, that an organ, a fiddle, or a
Jews-harp,
should be requisite to stir up their
carnal hearts, and work into
ecstasy
their animal souls,
else "hosannahs languish on
their tongues, and their
devotions die."
And
that all persons who have no spiritual
discernment, taste, or
relish for their spiritual meditations,
consolations and sympathies
of renewed hearts, should call for such
aid, is but natural.
Pure
water from the flinty rock has no
attractions for the mere toper or wine-bibber. A little
alcohol,
or genuine Cognac brandy, or good old Madeira, is essential to the
beverage to make it truly refreshing.
So
to those who have no real devotion or spirituality in
them, and whose animal nature flags
under the oppression of church service, I think with Mr. G., that
instrumental music would be not only a desideratum, but an
essential prerequisite to fire up their souls
to even animal devotion.
But I presume, to all
spiritually-minded Christians, such aids would be as a cow bell in a
concert.
Calling
Campbell and me a biggot will not change any of the universal
connection between instruments and men intending to silence the "voice
of the victim."
As a
Presbyterian the Campbells had always rejected the use of instruments.
That is why it would be pretty silly to accuse church of
Christ bigods. See
John Calvin.
Of
Psalm
71:22.
We are not,
indeed, forbidden to
use, in private,
musical instruments, but they are banished out of the
churches by the plain command of the Holy
Spirit, when Paul, in 1 Corinthians 14:13, lays it down as an
invariable rule, that we must praise God, and pray to him only
in a known tongue.
By the word of
truth,
the Psalmist
means that the hope which he reposed in God was rewarded, when God
preserved him in the midst of dangers.
The
promises of God, and his
truth in performing them, are inseparably joined together.
Unless
we depend
upon the word of God, all the benefits which
he confers upon us will be
unsavoury or tasteless to us;
nor
will we ever be
stirred up either to prayer or thanksgiving,
if we are not
previously illuminated
by the Divine word.
So
much the more revolting,
then, is the folly of that diabolical man,
Servetus, who teaches that
the rule of praying is perverted
as
if we could
have any access into the presence of God, until he first invited us
by his own voice to come to him.
Then
those who attack people because they will not be forced to use "machines for doing hard work" are right and ALL of history is
wrong! All musical terms in the Greek language speak of enchantment or
sorcery in John's word.
Plato
Ion "[534a] just as the
Corybantian worshipers do not dance when
in their senses, so the lyric poets do
not indite those fine songs in their
senses, but when they
have started on the melody
and rhythm
they begin to be
frantic, and it is
under possession--as the bacchants are possessed, and not
in their senses, when they draw honey
and milk from the rivers--that
the soul of the lyric
poets does the same
thing, by their own report. For the poets tell us, I believe, that
the songs they bring us are the sweets they cull from honey-dropping
founts.
Note:
The Corybantes were priests of
Cybele or Rhea, mother of Zeus and
other Olympian gods, and she was worshipped with wild
music and frenzied dancing which, like the
bacchic revels or orgies of
women in honor of Dionysus,
carried away the
participants despite and beyond
themselves. Cf. Eurip.
Bacchae.
Dr. Terry L. Miethe E-Mail:
Let me
give you just one example, which "prayerfully" will help clear things
up for you; e.g. what the Campbell's really meant by the
slogan:
"Where the Scripture speaks, we speak; where the
Scriptures are silent
we are silent." which has so, so often been interpreted as
exactly the
opposite of what it meant by the fundamentalists in the church of
Christ.
SCRIPTURE IS NOT FOR ADDING OR IMPROVING: A DISCIPLE TEACHING ONLY THAT WHICH IS WRITTEN
Paul commanded that we speak "that which is written for our learning
with one mind and one mouth." That is the Biblical meaning of speak
where the Bible speaks.
The Campbells, being Bible students, understood
the inclusive and exclusive commands for the Qahal or Church in the
wilderness: they defined church and worship the same way as did Peter
and Paul in the epistles.
In The Necessity
of
Reforming
the
Church
(1543) Calvin wrote:
"In inveighing
against ceremonies
themselves, and also in abrogating a great part of them,
we confess that
there is some
difference between us and the prophets.
They inveighed against their
countrymen for confining the worship
of God to external ceremonies,
but
still
ceremonies
which God himself had
instituted; we
complain that
the same honor is paid to frivolities of man's devising. They, while condemning
superstition,
left untouched a multitude of ceremonies which God had enjoined, and which were useful
and appropriate
to an age of
tutelage; our business has been to correct numerous rites which
had either crept in
through oversight, or been turned to abuse and which, moreover, by no
means accorded with the time.
For,
if we would not throw everything into
confusion,
we
must never lose
sight of the distinction
between the old and the new dispensations, and of the fact that
ceremonies, the
observance of which was useful under the law,
are now not only superfluous, but vicious and absurd.
But in
regard
to the former, it is plain that
they
are destitute
of authority from the
scriptures,
as well as of any approved
example of such
intercession; while, as to the latter,
Paul
declares that none can invoke
God,
save those who have been taught
by
his
word to pray. On
this depends the confidence
with which it becomes pious minds to be actuated and imbued when they
engage in prayer.
But
is it not altogether at
variance with reason that the
ploughing oxen should starve, and the lazy asses be fed? They will say,
however, that they serve
at the
altar. I answer, that the priests
under
the
law
deserved
maintenance, by ministering at an
altar;
but
that, as Paul declares, the case under the New Testament is different.
And what are those altar
services, for which they allege
that maintenance is due to
them? Forsooth, that they may perform their masses and chant in churches, for
example,
partly labor to no
purpose,
and partly perpetrate sacrilege, thereby provoking the
anger of God.
See for what it is that they are alimented at the public
expense!
Now,
if you will prove that
your ceremonies proceed from
faith, and do
please God,
you must prove
that God
in
expressed words has commanded them;
or
else
you
shall
never prove that
they proceed from faith, nor yet that they please God;
but they are
sin,
and do
displease
him,
according to the words of the apostle,
"Whatsoever
is
not
of
faith
is
sin." John Knox, Works, 1:195-96.
Everyone, including Christ in the prophets defines "silence" as NOT
teaching anything in His name not revealed by Him. Not only do you
TEACH and violate Isaiah you use the LAW to impose and inculcate:
Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony:
if they speak not according to this word,
it is because there is no light in them.
Thomas Campbell: 3. That in
order to this, nothing ought to be inculcated
upon
Christians as
articles of faith;
nor required
of them as terms of
communion,
but what is expressly
taught and enjoined upon them in the word
of God. Nor ought anything to
be admitted, as of Divine
obligation, in their
Church constitution and managements, (Locke
LT)
but
what is expressly enjoined by the authority of our
Lord Jesus Christ and his
apostles upon the New Testament Church; either in express terms or by approved precedent
4.
That although the
Scriptures
of the Old and New Testaments are inseparably connected, making
together but one perfect and entire revelation of the Divine will,
for the edification and salvation of the Church, and therefore in
that respect can not be separated;
yet
as to what
directly and properly belongs to their immediate object, the New
Testament is as for the worship, discipline, and government of the New Testament
Church, and as perfect a
rule for the
particular duties of its members, as
the Old Testament was
for
the worship, discipline, and government of the Old Testament Church,
and the particular duties of its members. (Declaration
And
Address
Alexander
Hislop,
Presbyterian,
on
Instrumental
Music
1858
The worship of the Christian Church has not
been left to be determined by the mere judgments and imaginations of men. There are principles laid down, there are precepts
given, there are examples recorded, which show
the mind and will
of Christ in
this matter; and the statements of Paul, in regard to
"will-worship" (Col. 2:18-23),
decisively prove that those
who
violate
the
purity
of
Christian worship,
are
not only those
who introduce practices which God has forbidden,
but those who introduce what
God has not authorised, or commanded.
There
can be no meaning attached to the
term, "will-worship," but that such
"worship" rests, not on
the "will" of God,
but on the mere "will" or fancy
of
man.
Based on ALL who wrote about God's authority you must find a Command,
Example or Inference that Jesus taught anyone to sing or play
instruments in HIS presence in the church.
"Hebrew singing or rhymic prose had no fixed meter: "Since
in all languages a sentence changes its meaning by mere intonations
without adding or removing nounds, verbs or particles, the Syrian
scholars who laid the fundament of correct language discovered a way by devising accents...
and since these accents are a form of musical modulation, there is no
possibliity of learning them except by hearing and through tradition
from the master's tongue or the pupils hear. It follows from Bar
Hebraeus' statement that the main concern was to secure an unadulterated and unadulterable version of the text
This required (a) correct vocalization and (b) correct intonation.
(p.87) " Nor is there a constant number of feet in a verse. Hebrew
poetry is poetic p;rose. "Hebrew prosedy differes fundamentlly from classical prosody. No poem is written according to a repeating meter scheme.
Classical verse is mechanical; Hebrew verse is dynamic (p 89. Music in Ancient Western Orient
Curt Sachs
The word Law or nomos defines a legal form of performance dedicated most often to Apollo (Abaddon, Apollyon)
The godly Jews who rested on the Prophets (by Christ) understood:
To the
law and to the
testimony:
if
they SPEAK not according to this word,
it is because there
is no light in them.
Isa 8:20
Dīco , Only speak, only to affirm Lŏquor , 1.
To speak out, to say, tell, talk about, mention, utter, name
Testĭmōnĭum , ii, n. testor, I. witness, evidence, attestation, testimony (oral or written):
Christ in Spirit supplied ALL of the Testimony: 2 Cor 3; 1 Peter 1:11; Rev 19:10
Synagogue singing
"
It has been shown in the article Cantillation (Jew. Encyc.
iii. 537b) that the desire to read the Scriptures in the manner
indicated in Neh. viii. 8 has from time immemorial resulted in the use
of some sort of musical declamation for the passages uttered aloud in
the synagogue. For reasons very similar to those there discussed, the
prayers and praises equally with the lessons have always been thus
musically declaimed; and this declamation... the absence of instruments from the synagogue in no way modified the
system of the song itself. This presented little that to modern ears
would appear worthy the name of melody, being, like the Greek melodies
which have been deciphered, entirely of the character of a
cantillation; that is, a recitation dependent on the rhythm and
sequence of the words of the text instead of on the notes of the tune,
and influenced by the syntactical structure of the sentence instead of
by the metrical form of the musical phrase. Nor would the style of
singing, nasal, shrill, and alternately full of intricate graces and of
sudden pressures on emphatic notes, altogether commend itself to
Western ears as graceful or harmonious.
If you care to look up the meaning, Jesus and the apostles SPOKE just one hymn.
Both Jew and Gentile were "wise unto salvation" because they both
attended the synagogue to hear the Word of God Read: this is the way to
SPEAK where the bible speaks:
Acts 15:18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
Acts 15:19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them,
which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
Acts 15:20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
Acts 15:21 For Moses of old time
hath in every city them that preach him,
being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
Paul affirmed that the PATTERN was to READ or SPEAK: that masculine thingy.
2Corinthians 3:11 For if that which is done away was glorious,
much more that which remaineth is glorious.
2Corinthians 3:12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
2Corinthians 3:13 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face,
that the children of Israel could
not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
2Corinthians 3:14 But their minds were blinded:
for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away i
n the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
2Corinthians 3:15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
2Corinthians 3:16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, [at baptism]
the vail shall be taken away.
2Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
2Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord,
are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
SO THE CAMPBELLS KNEW THAT CHRIST PROVIDED A WAY FOR US TO ALL SPEAK
THE SAME THINGS exactly as in the synagogue where He STOOD up to read
and then decently SAT DOWN. If you are a Disiple of Christ
that IS the pattern from
the synagogue in the wilderness onward.
Dr. Terry L. Miethe E-Mail:
You cannot make an argument against something based
on
silence! You cannot use this slogan to say that because
something is
not mentioned that it is prohibited. In fact, the slogan
means EXACTLY
the other position.
That's true but the Disciples/Christian
churches said that you cam make an argument FOR something "if God hath
not said Thou Shalt Not." The Campbells consistent with recorded
history say that you cannot IMPOSE something divisivel based on
silence. You can say something is prohibited it if sows discord: God
hates musical instruments in the Holy Place and He hates sowing of
discord.
The Campbells followed the understanding of all historic scholars that
adding anything to what they called "A School of Christ" which sows
discord or hinders letting Christ do the speaking is called heresy.
However, it is a prophetic certainty is that doctors of the Law "take
away the key to KNOWLEDGE" so that they cannot SEE or READ the
outlawing of "vocal or instrumental rejoicing" when the Qahal,
synagogue or Church of Christ in the wilderness is assembled only to
Rest, Read and Rehearse the Word of God.
The historic Church of Christ made the argument
-- after Calvin and the Reformation when congregational singing was
made possible by rewriting some Psalms (only) that Scripture is NOT
Silent when it speaks of SPEAKING one to another with "that which is
written for our learning."
Speaking the Logos (Logical) happens in the left hemisphere of the
brain: singing in the right. Therefore, you cannot speak EXTERNALLY and
sing EXTERNALLY at the same time.
A simple-minded view shich cannot comprehend that they are not
God, is that if God has NOT OUTLAWED something then everyone is free to
do whatever they want to do knowing that they are sowing discord. There
is no historic reader of the Bible who does not understand that it
always uses musical instruments as the MARK of the hypocrite (Ezek 33)
and proof that people have no intention of using Christ's Words or
obeying them.
The
Bible speaks about SPEAKING The Word of God (only): since the Campbells
knew that church was "A school of Christ" there was nothing about
"doubtful disputations" or human preferences which are permitted (Rom,
14. Paul then defined what Paul called "synagogue" which demanded:
Romans 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak,
and not to please ourselves.
Romans 15:2 Let every one of us please his neighbour
for his good to edification.
Romans 15:3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written,
The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning,
that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Romans 15:5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you
to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
Romans 15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God,
even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 15:7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were
written aforetime
were written for our learning, (doctrīna)
(Christians are Disciples: not ritualists)
that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Romans 15:5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be
likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
Romans 15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth
glorify God,
even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
[4]
quaecumque enim scripta sunt ad nostram doctrinam scripta
sunt ut per patientiam et consolationem scripturarum spem
habeamus
What is the meaning of Scripture?
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach (dŏcĕo didasko) all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:
and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:20
The word for "observe" has no statute of limitations. Jesus said that the Kingdom does not come with Religious Observations.
Does that exclude silly willy and his praise ditties?
Homophōn-ia , hē, in Music, A.
unison (v. homophōnos II), Arist.Pol.1263b35 ; “adontōn [sing of, chant] homophōnia”
Aristot. Pol. 2.1263b. For in one way the state as its unification proceeds will cease to be a
state, and in another way, though it continues a state, yet by coming near to
ceasing to be one it will be a worse state, just as if one turned a harmony into
unison or a rhythm into a single foot.
Stoma 2. esp. the mouth as the organ of speech, speech, utterance e.
ex henos s. with one voice, Id.Eq.670. Pl.R.364a, PGiss.36.13 (ii B.C.), Gal.15.763; so hōs aph' henos s. Speaking of the musical idolatry at Mount Sinai:
Romans 10 [6]
But the
righteousness which is of faith says this, "Don't say in your heart,
'Who will ascend into heaven?' (that is, to bring Christ down);
[7]
or, 'Who will descend into the abyss?' (that is, to bring Christ up
from the
dead.)"
[8]
But what does it say? "The word is near you, in
your mouth, and in your heart;" that is, the word of faith, which we
preach:
[9]
that if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus,
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will
be saved.
[10]
For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness;
and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Glōssa , Ion. glassa, 2.
tongue, as the organ of speech
3.
people speaking a distinct language, LXX.Ju.3.8
1.
in Music, reed or tongue of a pipe, Aeschin.3.229,
Aeschin. 3 229 But when a man who is made up of words, and those words bitter words
and useless—
when such a man takes refuge in “simplicity” and “the
facts,”
who could have patience with him?
If you treat him as you might
a clarinet, and take out his tongue, you have nothing left!
Aulos pipe, clarionet 2.
hollow tube, pipe, groove, peronē tetukto auloisin didumoisi the buckle was furnished with two pipes or grooves (into which the tongue fitted)
Genesis 31:27 Wherefore didst thou flee away
secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might
have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with
harp?
Yes! the universal message is WITHOUT your wives, children and catttle! As "Lucifer":
Ezekiel 28:12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus,
and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum,
full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
Ezekiel 28:13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every
precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond,
the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the
carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created (cast down)
Ezekiel 28:14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have
set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked
up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
Ezekiel 28:15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
Ezekiel 28:16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
Profane: play the flute, steal people's inheritance, pollute, prostitute.
Ezekiel 28:17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou
hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee
to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
Ezekiel 28:18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of
thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I
bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I
will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that
behold thee.
Dox-azō , II. magnify, extol, “epi pleon ti hauton d.” Th.3.45, cf. LXX Ex.15.2, al.; “ton theon”
Ep.Rom.1.21, al.:—Pass., to be distinguished, held in honour, magnified,
Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God,
neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations,
and their foolish heart was darkened.
Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, (morons)
Those Jesud called "hypocrites" alwayss think they are wise and even inspired.
Sophos , ē, on, A. skilled in any handicraft or art, clever, harmatēlatas s. Pi.P.5.115, cf. N.7.17; “kubernētēs” A.Supp.770; “mantis” Id.Th.382; Margites Fr.2; but in this sense mostly of poets and musicians, Pi.O.1.9, P.1.42, 3.113; en kithara s. E.IT1238 also en oiōnois, kithara, E. IT662, 1238 (lyr.
Romans 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image
made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Romans 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness
through the lusts of their own hearts,
to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Romans 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie,
and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator,
who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Rising up to PLAY means to play instruments and play sexually: a terminal sin.
ALL modern church music intends to glorify the song writer or the
singer even if it is the whole congregation competing to "do their
part."
Thuc. 3.45 [6]
Fortune too assists the illusion, for she often presents herself unexpectedly, and
induces states as well as individuals to run into peril, however inadequate their means;
and states even more than individuals, because they are throwing for a higher stake,
freedom or empire,
and because when a man has a whole people acting with him,
he magnifies himself out of all reason.
[7]
In a word then, it is impossible and simply absurd
to suppose that human nature when
bent upon some favourite project
can be restrained either by the strength of law or by
any other terror.
Music, Art
concerned with combining vocal or instrumental sounds for beauty of
form or emotional expression, usually according to cultural standards
of rhythm, melody, and, in most Western music,
ROMANS
15 SOME LATIN: prove it or not before one can deliberately sow discord
with musical instruments, you have to neutralize almost all of the
words defined in the actual Greek or Latin text.
Romans XV. 1
debemus autem nos firmiores imbecillitates infirmorum sustinere et non [by no means] nobis
[Ego] placere
Sustinere I.
to hold up, hold upright,
uphold, to bear up,
keep up, support,
sustain 1.To sustain,
support, maintain, by food,
money, or other means (maintain,
preserve with dignity of a citizen II.
Concr., the citizens united in a community,
the body - politic, the state,
and as this consists of one city and its territory, or of several
cities, it differs from urbs, i.e. the compass of the dwellings of the
collected citizens.
Outlawed:
Placeo to please, to be pleasing or
agreeable, to be welcome, acceptable, to satisfy (class.).
1.
In scenic lang., of players or pieces
presented, to please, find favor, give satisfaction: scenico placenti
Rom. 8:8 So then they that are in the
flesh cannot please God.
Rom. 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the
Spirit,
if so be
that the Spirit of God dwell in
you.
Now if
any man have not the Spirit of Christ,
he is none of his.
Outlawed: Scaenicus I. of or belonging to
the stage, scenic, dramatic, ORGANA,
theatrical
I.
Lit.: poëtae, dramatic
poets, ludi, stage-plays,
theatrical representations, : fabula, a drama,
2. Placere sibi, to be pleased or satisfied with one's self,
to flatter one's self, to pride or plume one's self
I. Lit.: poëtae,
dramatic
poets, ludi, stage-plays,
theatrical representations, : fabula, a drama, organa, Suet. Ner. 44 :
coronae, id. ib. 53 :
habitus, id. ib. 38 : gestus, Cic. de Or. 3, 59, 220 : modulatio
Comedy. Orator
Poi-êtês II. composer of a poem, author, p. kômôidias Pl.Lg.935e ; p. kainôn dramatôn, b. composer
of music, 2. author of a speech
Outlawed:
Organum Vitr. 10, 1.--Of musical
instruments, a pipe,. Gen. 4, 21; id. 2
Par. 34, 12 et saep.--Of hydraulic engines, an organ, water-organ: organa hydraulica,
Gen
4:21 And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of
all such as handle the harp and organ.
H8610 manipulate, figuratively to use
unwarrantably:--catch,
handle, (lay, take) hold (on, over), stop, X surely, surprise, take.
H8608 taphaph to drum, that is, play (as) on the tambourine:taber,
play with timbrels.H8611
tôpheth to'-feth From the base of H8608 ; a smiting, that is, (figuratively) contempt:--tabret.
MEANING HELL
Outlawed: Modulatio. In partic., a
rhythmical measure, modulation; hence, singing
and playing, melody, in poetry and music, Quint. 9, 4, 139:
modulatione produci aut corripi (verba), id. 9, 4, 89 : modulatio
pedum, id. 1, 6, 2 : scenica, id. 11, 3, 57 : vocis,
melody, id. 11, 3, 59 : musica, Aus. Ep. 25, 13 .
Clement of Alexandria: "After having paid
reverence to the discourse about God, they leave
within [at church] what they have heard. And outside
they foolishly amuse themselves with impious playing, and amatory
quavering (feminine vibrato),
occupied with flute-playing, and dancing,
and intoxication, and all kinds of trash.
[2] unusquisque vestrum
proximo suo placeat in bonum ad aedificationem
[3] etenim Christus non sibi placuit sed sicut scriptum
est inproperia
inproperantium tibi ceciderunt super me
LOQUOR I. inf.
loquier, Naev. ap. Gell. 1, 24, 2), v. dep. n. and a. [Sanscr. lap-, to
talk, whisper; Gr. lak-,
elakon, laskô], to speak, talk, say (in the lang. of common
life, in the tone of conversation; cf. Quint. 9, 4, 10; 11,
3, 45).
1. To speak out, to say, tell, talk about, mention, utter,
name: A. To speak, declare, show, indicate or express clearly:
Aedificatio III. Fig., building up,
instructing, edification.
(a). Absol.: loquitur ad aedificationem, Vulg. 1 Cor. 14, 3 ; 14, 26.--
(b). With gen.: ad aedificationem Ecclesiae [church],
Vulg. 1 Cor. 14, 12 ; ib. Eph. 4, 12.
Eph. 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some,
prophets; and some, evangelists;
and some,
pastors and teachers;
Eph. 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the
work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body
of Christ:
Eph. 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge
of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature
of the fulness of Christ:
He did NOT include musicians in the list of required TRUTH
speakers. The method of edification was by.
Rom. 15:4 For
whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning,
that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures
might have hope.
Doctrina A. Object., the knowledge
imparted by teaching, i. e. science, erudition,
learning. B.
Subject., the habit produced by instruction, principle.
Opposite natura
Hor. C.4, 4,33
I would suggest that those who substitute rhetoric and music for the
Scriptures do not intend that you learn doctrine and have no hope: we
mist suggest that such heretics have no hope.
If that is not enough then the fact that
singing or
any kind was
not part of the historic church until the year 373 when they also
violated direct commands and wrote their own "hymns." History notes
however, that these were not sung in the assemblies. Seems that they
understood the Bible back them.
SPEAKING WHERE THE BIBLE SPEAKS MEANS "Speaking whatever it is you find in the Bible."
WHO WAS THAT "SCHOLAR" WHO SAID THAT? The Disciples of Christ "the Organ and Society Party."
W. S. PRIEST: A saintly man had
just delivered a remarkable discourse in which he had uttered the
now familiar sentence, "Where the Bible speaks, we speak; where the
Bible is silent, we are silent." Little did he then know where that
statement, followed to its logical conclusion, would lead him and his
associates; how it would revolutionize their whole religious teaching
and practice; and yet, brave man that he was, he did not hesitate to
say that he refused to acknowledge as obligatory upon himself, or to
impose upon others, anything as of divine obligation for which he could
not produce a "thus saith the Lord," either in express terms or by
approved precedent.
Presently, submitting himself in
obedience to a plain commandment of the Lord, a commandment hitherto
not seen in all its relation to the preaching of a full gospel, the
author of the "Declaration and Address," his family and some friends
were baptized and formed a group of earnest advocates of that simple
faith once for all delivered unto the saints.
From the utterance of that sentence,
"Where the Bible speaks, we speak; where the Bible is silent, we are
silent," may be dated, as Dr. Robert Richardson says, "the formal and
actual commencement of the Reformation." And thus came into being the
great religious body represented in this city at the present time by
thousands of men and women from almost every quarter of the globe.
The Disciples of Christ are just
closing, in these opening days of the twentieth century, a hundred
years of wonderful achievement. The hand of the Lord has been with us
in a marked degree. It is in no spirit of vainglory or boasting,
however, that we, during this Centennial celebration, shall recount
what God has wrought in us and through us for the ongoing of his
kingdom, but with grateful recognition of the leadership of the Captain
of our salvation and with devout thankfulness that we have been deemed
worthy to be good soldiers of Jesus, we come to rejoice together and to
plan and to pray for yet greater victories in the century upon which we
have entered.
Of course, Thomas was a student of John Calvin
But in
regard
to the former, it is plain that
they
are destitute
of authority from the
scriptures,
as well as of any approved
example of such
intercession; while, as to the latter,
Paul
declares that none can invoke
God,
save those who have been taught
by his word to pray. On
this depends the confidence
with which it becomes pious minds to be actuated and imbued when they
engage in prayer.
REJECTION OF THE BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE
Rubel
Shelly: We repeat Rubel Shelly's statement: "Where the
Bible
speaks, we speak; where the Bible is silent, we are silent."
But
hold on! Where
did that dictum come from? It's not a Bible verse. It's a well-worn
religious slogan that I think has some very positive value.
But
is it
foundational enough to build a hermeneutic or theology on it? Is this
human rubric (Rubric means: Red
chapter
heading) so
sacred that it
would be worth dividing the Body of Christ for the
sake of our
different slants on it?
THAT DICTUM IS SPREAD BETWEEN THE COVERS OF THE BIBLE AND RECORDED HISTORY.
No, it is not worth dividing the church over: That is why SECTARIAN
happened when the people confessed that they needed musical instruments
because of the huge "space race" of building grand buildings after the
carpet bags ran empty. Those who imposed instruments
deliberately
divided the Disciples but those known as the Church of Christ were
never "joined" in any sense of organization: you cannot UNITE
congregational groups with another.
REJECTION OF THE BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE
However,
it is a huge concession since
the slogan
comes from
God!
The Post-Modern
"hermeneutic" of the Latter Rain (or Latter Reign) asks:
"Are
you having
difficulty discerning or receiving this "new
revelation"?
Then you have been interpreting your Bible in the "old way,"
comparing
Scripture
with Scripture, studying diligently to account
for every jot and
tittle and being careful to rightly divide the Word of truth.
"If
this describes you, then
you belong to the "Old Generation"
which
will
not
enter
in to "possess
the land" in the Latter Rain Revival. [New Wineskins]
You may even be a member
of a denominational church, with its dogmatic confession of faith and
statement of doctrine.
These
legalistic
forms
will be relics of
the past in the up and
coming "Post-denominational Church."
Paul
Cain advises that you
"dump all that carnal stuff" (doctrine)
and listen to what the "spirit"
is saying to the churches through the Latter
Rain Prophets and
Apostles, who
are dispensing many "new, sacred truths."
The
reason the "scholars" think
the Laidity are stupid is that they do run in a rare atmosphere of
"theology" not knowing that Jesus said that "doctors of the law take
away the key to knowledge." They measure their views by peer
review but prove that they have never read anything which existed
before the NEW PROPHETS AND APOSTLES. The rest of the world
considers them the irnorant ones.
WHY THE REJECTION OF THE BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE
Captain
Edward Johnson, in about 1631, wrote on what became
Harvard University. The learned, reverend, and
judicious Mr. Henry
Dunster had received a patron for establishing a college. And he
notes:
"And as in all the
other passages of this history the
Wonder-working Providence of Sion's Saviour hath appeared, so
especially in this work,
the Fountains of
learning being in a great measure
stopped in our native Country at this time, so that the sweet
waters of Shilo's streams must ordinarily
pass into the Churches through the stinking channel of
prelatical pride, beside all the
filth that the fountains themselves were daily encumbered withal,
insomuch that the Lord turned aside often from them, and refused the
breathing of his blessed Spirit among them, which
caused Satan (in these latter days of his transformation into an
Angel of light)
to make it a means to
persuade people from the use of learning
althgether, that so in the next generation they
might be destitute of such helps as the Lord hath
been pleased hitherto
to make use of,
as chief means for
the conversion of his people and building them
up in the most holy faith, as also for breaking down the
Kingdom of Antichrist."
WHAT THE VERY ANCIENT AND UNIVERSAL SLOGAN MEANT PRE DENOMINATIONS
Thomas Campbell Declaration and Address. Centennial Edition published when the Deciples declared their status as a denomination to "include all of christendom."
IV. That this Society by
no means considers itself
a Church,
nor does at all
assume to itself the powers
peculiar to such a society;
nor do the members, as such, consider
themselves as standing
connected
in that relation;
nor as at all associated for the
peculiar purposes of Church
association;
but merely as voluntary advocates for
Church
reformation; and, as possessing the
powers common to
all
individuals, who may
please to associate in a peaceable
and orderly manner, for any lawful
purpose, namely, the disposal of their time,
counsel, and property, as they may see cause.
V. That this Society,
formed for the sole
purpose of promoting simple evangelical Christianity, shall, to the utmost
of its power, countenance and
support such ministers, and such only, as exhibit a manifest conformity to the original
standard in conversation and
doctrine, in zeal and diligence;
only
such as
reduce
to
practice that
simple original form of
Christianity,
expressly
EXHIBITED upon
the sacred page;
without
attempting to
inculcate anything of human authority, of private opinion, or inventions of men, as having any place in
the constitution, faith,
or worship, of the Christian Church, or anything as matter
of Christian faith or duty,
for
which
there
can not be
expressly produced a "Thus saith the Lord, either in express terms, or by approved precedent.
Therefore, the
express commands to preserve and maintain inviolate
Christian unity and love, ought not to be set aside
to
make way
for exalting
our inferences
[25]
above the express
authority of God.
Our inference, upon the whole, is, that where a
professing Christian brother opposes or refuses
nothing either in
faith or practice,
for
which there can be expressly produced a "Thus saith the
Lord,"
that we ought not to reject him because he can not see with our eyes
as to matters of human inference,
of private judgment. "Through
thy
knowledge shall the weak brother perish? How walkest thou not
charitably?"
They got that idea from Paul who outlawed doubtful disputations
which were confined to the marketplace (Romans) while the "synagogue"
is defined in Romans 15 for Bible study ONLY.'
It refers to an opinion and then to a
deliberating and a questioning about what is true as in Luke 24:38.
It is found in the Greek writings from Plato down where it referred to
the thinking of a man deliberating with himself (Lu 2:25, 5:22, 6:8,
9:46ff, Ro 14:1). It was used to describe the reasoning of those who
thought themselves wise (Ro 1:21, 1Cor 3:20). James 2:4 uses it to
mean opinion referring to judges with evil thoughts or who follow
perverse opinions or reprehensible principles.
Vine notes that
dialogismos is...
chiefly in the N.T. in an evil
sense, of reasonings that are the outcome of self-will, reasonings of
the natural mind in independence of God. So in the LXX (e.g., Lam.
3:60), “imaginations.”...Dialogismos sometimes means inward
questioning, sometimes dispute... the inward reasonings which find
expression in controversy and contention. (Vine,
W. Collected Writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson
)
The Spirit of Christ defined the true Sabbath or Rest which outlawed seeking one's own pleasure or "speaking one's own words."
Scholars who claim to be experts on
Augustine
who like the Bible and church history before him articulated the "speak
where the Bible speaks." Augustine
of
Hippo (354-430) "Where the Bible Speaks."
Letter LV. or Book II-VII. of Replies to
Questions of
Januarius. (a.d. 400.)
while
the play-actors may interfere with our
mentioning the harp in the book of Psalms.
Let
them therefore
say, if they please, that,
because similitudes for the
exhibition of the mysteries of God's word are taken from the
things which I have named,
we
are chargeable either with consulting
the
omens
given by the
flight of birds, or with concocting the poisons of the charmer,
or
with taking
pleasure
in the
excesses of the theatre,-a statement which
would be the clime
of
absurdity.
XVIII:
34. I am surprised at your expressing a
desire that I should write
anything in regard to those ceremonies which are found
different in different countries,
because there is no necessity for my doing this; and,
moreover,
"one
most excellent
rule must be
observed in
regard to these
customs,
- >
"when they do not in any way oppose either true doctrine or sound morality,
- >
but contain some incentives to the better life,
[But
once they have been introduced they become the rule and to try to
return to true doctrine is to sow discord] viz.,
that wherever we see them observed, or know them to be established,
we
should not
only
refrain from finding fault with them, but even recommend them by our approval and imitation,
unless restrained by fear of doing greater harm than
good.
"In such a
case we ought by all means to adopt it,
>
especially
if it be something in defense of which Scripture
can be alleged: as
in the singing of hymns and psalms,
- >
for which we have on record both the example
and the precepts
of the Lord and of His apostles.
-
- This,
dear Campbell critic, means Command, Example or Precept!
In
this religious exercise, so
useful for inducing
a
devotional frame of mind and inflaming the
strength of love to God, there is
diversity of usage,
and
in Africa the
members of the Church are rather too indifferent in regard to it; on
which account the Donstists
reproach
us
with
our grave chanting
of the divine songs of the prophets
in our
churches,
while they inflame their passions in their revels by the
singing of psalms
of
human
composition, which rouse them
like the stirring notes of the trumpet on the
battle-field.
(In the assembly) But when brethren are assembled
in the church, why should not the time be devoted to singing of sacred
songs,
excepting of course while reading
or preaching is going on, or while
the presiding minister prays
aloud, or the united prayer of the congregation is led by the
deacon's voice?
(outside the
assembly) At the other
intervals not thus occupied, I do not see what could be a more
excellent, useful, and holy exercise for a Christian
congregation.
Origen Book VI,
Chapter
XLI speaking of the "god" to whom God abandoned Israel because of
musical idolatry.
In
the next place,
as if he
had
forgotten that it was his object to write against the Christians,
he
says that, "having become acquainted with one Dionysius,
an Egyptian musician,
Alawys denounced: "the
latter told
him, with respect to magic
arts,
that it was only
over the uneducated
and men
of corrupt morals
that
they had any power,
Alawys approved: "while
on philosophers
they were unable
to produce any effect, because
they were careful to observe a healthy
manner of
life."
That
was how you played the
blame game 1600 years ago. Elijah knew something about the attack of
the musical prophets of Baal and Asherah under Jezebel, another
end-time patternism.
Dr. Terry L. Miethe E-Mail:
The
rather obvious emphasis of this
slogan was
that the authority of the scriptures must be the basis of Christian discussion.
In recorded history the slogan FORBIDS
imposing anything not clearly demanded to be a synagogue or School of
the Word. It was Paul who outlawed "doubtful disputations" in Romans 14
which did not go specificially to edification which in Romans 15 means
EDUCATION. Disiples of Christ synagogue as STUDENTS of Christ and not
for the pagan purpose of "worship." Then, Paul outlaws any of
they hypocritic arts and crafts with the SELF-please words.
Dr. Terry L. Miethe E-Mail:
When the scriptures are silent on any matter,
then that
matter should not, indeed must not, be made a test of
belief or communion
among Christians.
Assuming that Scripture is silent about the instrument (which would be false) then why would people IMPOSE performance music and MAKE it a test of fellowship
where many of the "owners" are forced to "keep silence or find another
church" (Re J.W.McGarvey). A sectarian or heretic is ALWAYS the one who
IMPOSES something not necessary to carrying out the original purpose of
the founders.
Dr. Terry L. Miethe E-Mail:
Matters not specifically delineated in
scriptures could be discussed, but they must not be made
points
of theology or tests of fellowship. [Duh!]
While this slogan
was
instantly accepted by the new group in
theory, it proved much more
problematic in application in the years ahead....
either
Paul outlaws "doubtful disputations" or discussions about one's
personal DAY to go to the Agora or marketplace to get food and
fellowship. In Rome the three sects permitted ONLY in the Agora were
the Orphics and Dionysiacs clearly recorded in history. None of the
PRACTICES were permitted to be performed or discussed when the Ekklesia
was assembled at the Pnyx. The "psallo" meaning is of the polluted red
rope used to drag and mark anyone who dallied around the wine, women,
speakers and musicians so that they would be MARK as polluted in the
ekklesia not not permitted to speak.
Even while the MUSIC word is never used once in
connection with the
assembly of God's people--for instruction only--most religious groups
were fractured in the 19th century by people using the "Lucifer
principle" to bleed off worship and money too themselves. It
cannot be a test of fellowship UNLESS someone forces an instrument into
a peaceable church knowing that it will sow discord: those who opposed,
like J.W.McGarvey and others were silenced and most were
disfellowshipped because their mouths were shut.
The view of Scripture and Augustine and everyone was that you cannot
IMPOSE on others that for which you have no Scriptural authority.
The Campbells followed Paul and defined church as "a school
of
the Bible" and worship as "reading and musing the Word of God."
The whole society can gather on the Lord's day if you follow
that
Biblical and minimally-ethical "rubric." Paul specificially
outlawed "doubtful disputations" which are opinions which arise out of
one's own thinking: this flies in the face of Peter's outlawing private
interpretation or further expounding.
However, that community "bible study" was wrestled by the
merchantile
class into "churches" where they followed their own agenda which
included music as a way to "fill the coffers" even when the Bible and
church history denies that there is a "law of goving.
What they IMPOSED to destroy the ekklesia or synagogue of Christ was
always identified as sorcery because it used exrternal means to FORCE
people to experience some sensation of the flesh. Strabo speaks of the
"lord lord prophesying" which Jesus denounced:
Strabo
Geography
10.3.9
"The
religious frenzy seems to afford a kind
of divine inspiration
and to be very like that of the Soothsayer.. "For although it has
been well said that human beings then act
most like the gods when they are doing good to others, yet one might better
say, when they are happy; and such happiness
consists of
rejoicing, celebrating festivals, pursuing philosophy,
and engaging in music; for, if music is
perverted when
musicians turn their art to sensual delights at symposiums and in orchestric and scenic performances and the like, we
should not lay the blame upon music
itself, but should rather examine the nature
of our system
of education, since
this is based on music.
Dr. Terry L. Miethe E-Mail:et
me
give you just one example, which "prayerfully" will help clear things
up for you; e.g. what the Campbell's really meant by the
slogan:
"Where the Scripture speaks, we speak; where the
Scriptures are silent
we are silent."
which has so, so often been interpreted as
exactly the
opposite of what it meant by the fundamentalists in the church of
Christ.
You cannot make an argument against something based
on
silence! You cannot use this slogan to say that because
something is
not mentioned that it is prohibited. In fact, the slogan
means EXACTLY
the other position.
The Disciples of Christ or Christian Church first used SILENCE: where the Bible is silent "I have the right to speak and that becomes the Word of Christ."
Rubel
Shelly: We repeat Rubel Shelly's statement: "Where the
Bible
speaks, we speak; where the Bible is silent, we are silent."
But
hold on! Where
did that dictum come from? It's not a Bible verse. It's a well-worn
religious slogan that I think has some very positive value.
But
is it
foundational enough to build a hermeneutic or theology on it? Is this
human rubric (Rubric
means: Red chapter
heading) so
sacred that it
would be worth dividing the Body of Christ for the
sake of our
different slants on it?
No, it is not woroth dividing the church over: That is why SECTARIAN
happened when the people confessed that they needed musical instruments
because of the huge "space race" of building grand buildings after the
carpet bags ran empty. Those who imposed instruments
deliberately divided the Disciples but those known as the Church of
Christ were never "joined" in any sense of organization: you cannot
UNITE congregational groups with another.
However,
it is a huge concession since
the slogan
comes from
God!
The Post-Modern
"hermeneutic" of the Latter Rain (or Latter Reign) asks:
"Are
you having
difficulty discerning or receiving this "new
revelation"?
Then you have been interpreting your Bible in the "old way,"
comparing
Scripture
with Scripture, studying diligently to account
for every jot and
tittle and being careful to rightly divide the Word of truth.
"If
this describes you, then
you belong to the "Old Generation"
which will
not
enter
in to "possess
the land" in the Latter Rain Revival. [New Wineskins]
You may even be a member
of a denominational church, with its dogmatic confession of faith and
statement of doctrine.
These
legalistic
forms
will be relics of
the past in the up and
coming "Post-denominational Church."
Paul
Cain advises that you
"dump all that carnal stuff" (doctrine)
and listen to what the "spirit"
is saying to the churches through the Latter
Rain Prophets and
Apostles, who
are dispensing many "new,
sacred truths."
The
reason the "scholars" think the Laidity are stupid is that they do run
in a rare atmosphere of "theology" not knowing that Jesus said that
"doctors of the law take away the key to knowledge." They
measure their views by peer review but prove that they have never read
anything which existed before the NEW PROPHETS AND APOSTLES.
The rest of the world considers them the irnorant ones.
Captain Edward Johnson, in about 1631, wrote
on what became
Harvard University. The learned, reverend, and judicious
Mr. Henry
Dunster had received a patron for establishing a college. And he
notes:
"And as in all the
other passages of this history the
Wonder-working Providence of Sion's Saviour hath appeared, so
especially in this work,
the Fountains of
learning being in a great measure
stopped in our native Country at this time, so that the sweet
waters of Shilo's streams must ordinarily
pass into the Churches through the stinking channel of
prelatical pride, beside all the
filth that the fountains themselves were daily encumbered withal,
insomuch that the Lord turned aside often from them, and refused the
breathing of his blessed Spirit among them, which
caused Satan (in these latter days of his transformation into an
Angel of light)
to make it a means to
persuade people from the use of learning
althgether, that so in the next generation they
might be destitute of such helps as the Lord hath
been
pleased hitherto
to make use of,
as chief means for
the conversion of his people and building them
up in the most holy faith, as also for breaking down the
Kingdom of Antichrist."
As an example, Terry L. Miethe claims to be an expert on
Augustine who like the Bible and church history before him articulated
the "speak where the Bible speaks."
Augustine
of
Hippo (354-430) "Where the Bible Speaks."
Letter LV. or Book II-VII. of Replies to
Questions of
Januarius. (a.d. 400.)
while
the play-actors may interfere with our
mentioning the harp in the book of Psalms.
Let
them therefore
say, if they please, that,
because similitudes for the
exhibition of the mysteries of God's word are taken from the
things which I have named,
we
are chargeable either with consulting
the
omens
given by the
flight of birds, or with concocting the poisons of the charmer,
or
with taking
pleasure
in the
excesses of the theatre,-a statement which
would be the clime
of
absurdity.
XVIII:
34. I am surprised at your expressing a
desire that I should write
anything in regard to those ceremonies which are found
different in different countries,
because there is no necessity for my doing this; and,
moreover,
"one
most excellent
rule must be
observed in
regard to these
customs,
- >
"when they do not in any way oppose either true doctrine or sound morality,
- >
contain some incentives to the better life,
[But
once they have been introduced they become the rule and to try to
return to true doctrine is to sow discord] viz.,
that wherever we see them observed, or know them to be established,
we
should not
only
refrain from finding fault with them, but even
recommend them by our approval and imitation,
unless restrained by fear of doing greater harm than
good.
"In such a
case we ought by all means to adopt it,
>
especially
if it be something in defense of which Scripture can be alleged: as
in the singing of hymns and psalms,
- >
for which we have on record both the example and the precepts of the Lord and of His apostles.
-
- This,
dear Campbell critic, means Command, Example or Precept!
In
this religious exercise, so
useful for inducing
a
devotional frame of mind and inflaming the
strength of love to God, there is
diversity of usage,
and
in Africa the
members of the Church are rather too indifferent in regard to it; on
which account the Donstists
reproach
us with
our grave chanting
of the divine songs of the prophets in our
churches,
while they inflame
their passions in their revels by the
singing of psalms
of
human
composition, which rouse them
like the stirring notes of the trumpet on the battle-field.
(In the assembly) But when brethren are assembled
in the church, why should not the time
be devoted to singing
of sacred
songs,
excepting of course while reading
or preaching is going on, or while
the presiding minister prays
aloud, or the united prayer of the congregation is led by the
deacon's voice?
(outside the
assembly) At the other
intervals not thus occupied, I do not see what could be a more
excellent, useful, and holy exercise for a Christian
congregation.
That
was how you played the
blame game 1600 years ago. Elijah knew something about the attack of
the musical prophets of Baal and Asherah under Jezebel, anoth
That
was how you played the
blame game 1600 years ago. Elijah knew something about the attack of
the musical prophets of Baal and Asherah under Jezebel, another
end-time patternism.
Terry L. Miethe E-Mail: The
rather obvious emphasis of
this
slogan was
that the authority of the scriptures must be the basis of Christian discussion.
When the scriptures are
silent on any matter,
then that
matter should not, indeed must not, be made a test of
belief or communion
among Christians.
Matters not specifically delineated in
scriptures could be discussed, but they must not be made
points
of theology or tests of fellowship. [Duh!]
While this slogan
was
instantly accepted by the new group in
theory, it proved much more
problematic in application in the years ahead....
It was the NACC and now ACU who is making tests of fellowship by
INSISTING that people can IMPOSE instruments. A sectarian or heretic is
the one who IMPOSES a Practice not required for the function of the
group: A heretic imposed instruments. A person who refuses to BEGIN
DOING something they have never done in the stream out of Calvin cannot
be the cause of IMPOSING something. No professor or preacher has ever
banded together and sown massive to INFILTRATE AND DIVERT churches to
REMOVE their instruments.
Even while the MUSIC word is never used once in
connection with the assembly of God's people--for instuction only--most
religious groups were fractured in the 19th century by people using the
"Lucifer principle" to bleed off worship and money too themselves.
It cannot be a test of fellowship UNLESS someone forces an
instrument into a peaceable church knowing that it will sow discord:
those who opposed, like J.W.McGarvey and others were silenced and most
were disfellowshipped because their mouths were shut.
The
Catholic Encyclopedia notes:
McEvilly
in his "Commentary" applies them to
public and private meetings. St Augustine (Ep. cxix, ch. xviii) says:
"As
to the singing of
psalms and
hymns, we
have the proofs, the examples, and the
instructions of the Lord Himself,
and of the Apostles". (Cf. also Col.,
iii, 16; I Cor., xiv, 26.)
In
the ancient congregational singing both
sexes took part; the words of St. Paul imposing silence on women in
church being interpreted to refer only to exhorting or instructing.
Duchesne
describes how the earliest
worship of the Christians was parallel to that, not of
the Temple of the Jews
at Jerusalem, but of the local
synagogues, the Christians borrowing
thence their four elements of Divine service-
the
lections (reading parts of
Scripture),
the chants
(of the Psalter),
the homilies (explaining those
passages of scriptures),
and the prayers.
The view of Scripture and Augustine and everyone was that you cannot
IMPOSE on others that for which you have no Scriptural authority.
The Campbells followed Paul and defined church as "a school
of the Bible" and worship as "reading and musing the Word of God."
The whole society can gather on the Lord's day if you follow
that Biblical and minimally-ethical "rubric." Paul
specificially outlawed "doubtful disputations" which are opinions which
arise out of one's own thinking: this flies in the face of Peter's
outlawing private interpretation or further expounding.
However, that community "bible study" was wrestled
by the merchantile class into "churches" where
they followed their own agenda which included music as a way to "fill
the coffers" even when the Bible and church history denies that there
is a "law of goving.
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