Dallas Burdette: A Spectacle of Worship. See the parallel to neo-paganism and witchcraft.

Home... Apocalyptic... Apocryphal... Awakening... Baptism.....Caneridge... Church.... Colonial... Godhead.... MaxLucado... Lynn.Aderson... Musical Worship... Preaching... Restoration... RubelShelly... Search Our Site... Tongues... Topical...

Gospel Announcement in Advance to Abraham

by Dr. Dallas Burdette in Grace Centered Magazine: reviewed by Kenneth Sublett. The Grace Centered mission is to discredit and bite the hand which does or once did feed them. Somehow by first discrediting that which they detest people are supposed to repudiated it. This sets up the condition to ADD that which is discredited. The Grace-Centered thesis seems to have "discovered" grace as "unlimited forgiveness for unlimited sins" but grace also means God's power to obey God's will. The other "new" alternative involves attempting to worship a Spirit God IN BODY or IN FLESH (see the spectacle of worship) to replace worship IN SPIRIT; to replace church as synagogue or "school of the Bible" with a "theater for holy entertainment."

This is apparently to give some level of authority to the new Postmodern dogmas. Unfortunately, the one-cuppers may have more Scripture and logic going for them than Dallas Burdette in proving the dogma of FAITH ONLY by noting that THE GOSPEL was preached to Abraham and since it did not include a pro-a cappella or anti-instrumental law, we are justified in using THE LAW OF SILENCE. This "law" is ONLY used by those who intentionally sow discord by adding legalistic music because God DID NOT SAY, 'THOU SHALT NOT.'

Thesis

Because God didn't speak about a cappella music or instruments in the ORIGINAL GOSPEL MESSAGE,

those who do not use instruments are left without authority for NOT doing what that ORIGINAL GOSPEL does not mention.

And apparently those who use "music" to sow discord are grace-empowered based on Abraham's experience.

Unfortunately, if you allow God and Paul to define the meaning of FAITH as KEEPING GOD'S COMMANDMENTS but without totally understanding, then the Grace-Centered, Faith Only dogma gets totally repudiated in DIRECT STATEMENTS.

In short, the need to pass harsh judgment upon conservative, Bible believers, the old legalistic method of proof-texting is used. Because it is misused, the thesis makes no sense and the judge is proven not to be aware of the actual message of the Bible "as it was delivered."

For instance, the answer to the meaning of the Gospel of Christ is somehow bound up in twenty-five "just made up" divisions within the churches of Christ.

Dr. Dallas Burdette: What is the Gospel of Christ? Within many of the twenty-five or more divisions within the Churches of Christ, one discovers that the basic definition of Gospel is associated with the twenty-seven books called the New Testament. Just recently, I listened to an editor of a very well known Christian journal advance the concept that the Gospel is the New Testament.

This is just a MADE UP NUMBER. After the witchcraft- influenced First Great American Awakening there were now 321 separate denominations, many of those were Baptists. Someone has now counted 146 separate Baptists Denominations meaning ORGANIZATIONS.

It is a fact that the word "gospel" is a TRADE WORD for those peddling some kind of program, seminar, book or effort they want to validate by pasting on the GOSPEL LOGO.

However, no one believes that the GOSPEL as defined in a dozen different ways in the Bible consists of the 27 books of the New Testament. For instance, it is complete, total GOSPEL or GOOD NEWS that Jesus fired the DOCTORS OF THE LAW because they TOOK AWAY THE KEYS TO KNOWLEDGE. However, that bit of good news does not comprise the 27 books of the New Testament.

The gospel Paul spoke about was the PROTOS or prototype. This consisted of what GOD IN CHRIST did: the Deity, death, burial, resurrection, redemption and all that Jesus taught as good news for those REDEEMED by the blood only at the time and place of baptism.

However, the ARCHE gospel Mark 1 wrote about was prophesied by Malachi (and others), prophesied again as the FOUNDATION PRINCIPLE God in Jesus Christ by Zacharias, the WAY made immediate by John the Baptist in going OUT and preaching the baptism preceded by repentance. The disciples of Jesus baptized more than John.

Because we are too late to do the prototype Gospel, Jesus taught that we can obey the arche gospel and obey that form of doctrine.

Dallas Burdette deliberately skips over the fact that churches of Christ are not centrally organized but congregational. Therefore, if I wanted to just judgmentally lash out and hurt people because of some personal sore Spot I might identify several hundred because they will all have different customs about how they DO CHURCH. However, if I use lots of cups and you want to use just one then you are not any more a sect of churches of Christ than one who decides not to use pews but sits on the floor. Would Dallas Burdette deprive people of the right to use one or many cups? If the Dallas community club decides to use paper plates what has that to do with the Nashville community club which uses fine china? It becomes a divisive issue only if the up-towners decide to judge the country people as somehow evil.

Those who count "divisions" label churches of Christ into three major division while they also label Baptists into up to 146. So, it makes no points to smash others in the face as an almost universal prelude to writing about anything Grace Centered. We might add the emerging church promoted by some in the Grace Centered movement and label it ancient paganism. Or we might assuredly label the Grace Centered Cult which believes that it is grace to misrepresent the facts just to convince the silly readers that churches of Christ are evil because they won't join in all the childhood games with music, dancing, clapping, etc.

Church is synagogue and not pagan worship center. Synagogue was a school of the Bible and not a pagan worship center. Thomas Campbell called church The School of Christ.

Dr. Dallas Burdette: As a young preacher, I also taught that the Gospel consisted of twenty-seven books. As a result of this mindset, I castigated every believer that did not agree with the particular faction of which I was identified. Ultimately, the meaning of the word Gospel boils down to the fact that many associate their understanding of the New Testament on par with the Gospel.

The gospel--at the working end--is "come to me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." Heavy laden is "spiritual anxiety created by religious rituals." The SABBATH or REST is the Greek PAUO which is dedicated to "stop the preaching, stop the singing and stop the music." You cannot speak "that which is written" in song and sermon and make music.



Some coins just flip over: I can remember about everyone being castigated because they would not subscribe to the
CORE GOSPEL of "seven facts about Jesus" where the Gospel and everything else is opinion. Now, that has evaporated as Just- Jesus which means Anti- Christ. This happens when God pours out His wrath by sending BUFFOONS to MOCK Him as the MARK that those applauding them are without redemption. See Just Jesus by Dennis Downing under Max Lucado. The Postmodern heresy is derived from know know nothing philosophers just now reading about the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle which originated in 1927: some are slow. They claim that you cannot project something from your eyes without altering the meaning of a scroll which Jesus may have read. However, for a price they will get you the NEW TRUTH. See Rubel Shelly and John York of the Flat Earth Society.

Scripture uses the word "law" to include everything in the Old Testament. In the same way, "gospel" can mean the New Testament. However, I have lived 73 years and never heard anyone claim that the gospel is 27 books. They couldn't know that gospel means 'good news' and claim that the 27 books were the gospel. However, in an accomodaive sense, the OT is called LAW and the NT is called GRACE or THE FAITH or THE GOSPEL.

The truthfulness of the judgmental Grace-Centered mantra rests on whether churches of Christ invented or uniquely speak of those things which provide the FUEL for the HOUSE BURING EFFORT.

Origen on the Law and The Gospel. While "thus saith the Lord" in the first four books are considered by Origen as Gospel as opposed to Law, he notes that the story repeated and taught by the apostles also becomes THE GOSPEL.

"Must we also show that the old Scripture is not Gospel, since it does not point out the Coming One, but only foretells Him and heralds His coming at a future time; but that all the new Scripture is the Gospel.

It not only says as in the beginning of the Gospel, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world; "it also contains many praises of Him, and many of His teachings, on whose account the Gospel is a Gospel.

"Again, if God set in the Church apostles and prophets and evangelists (gospellers), pastors and teachers, we must first enquire what was the office of the evangelist, and mark that it is not only to narrate how the Saviour cured a man who was blind from his birth, or raised up a dead man who was already stinking, or to state what extraordinary works he wrought;

and the office of the evangelist being thus defined, we shall not hesitate to find Gospel in such discourse also as is not narrative but hortatory and intended to strengthen belief in the mission of Jesus;
and thus we shall arrive at the position that whatever was written by the Apostles is Gospel.

Origen notes that this is true because words like LAW and GOSPEL are used in various ways. Because baptism was commanded by Jesus, when the apostles preached and practiced it it beame GOSPEL because it relates to the FIRST FOUR BOOKS which he defines as THE GOSPEL.

Martin Luther apparantly "fell from grace" before the old rotten legalists by noting that Paul uses different terms:

23. The apostle employs the words "letter" and "spirit," to contrast the two doctrines; to emphasize his office and show its advantage over all others, however eminent the teachers whom they boast, and however great the spiritual unction which they vaunt. It is of design that he does not term the two dispensations "Law" and "Gospel," but names them according to the respective effects produced.

He honors the Gospel with a superior term--"ministration of the spirit."
Of the Law, on the contrary, he speaks almost contemptuously, as if he would not honor it with the title of God's commandment, which in reality it is, according to his own admission later on that its deliverance to Moses and its injunction upon the children of Israel was an occasion of surpassing glory.

24. Why does Paul choose this method? Is it right for one to despise or dishonor God's Law? Is not a chaste and honorable life a matter of beauty and godliness? Such facts, it may be contended, are implanted by God in reason itself, and all books teach them; they are the governing force in the world. I reply:

Paul's chief concern is to defeat the vainglory and pretensions of false preachers, and to teach them the right conception and appreciation of the Gospel which he proclaimed.

29. Again, Paul in terming the Gospel a "ministration of the spirit"

would call attention to its power to produce in the hearts of men an effect wholly different from that of the Law:
it is accompanied by the Holy Spirit and it creates a new heart.

Luther speaks of the Grace Centered "super apostles" of Paul's time:

35. In this light Paul here portrays the false apostles and like pernicious schismatics,

who make great boasts of having a clearer understanding and of knowing much better what to teach than is the case with true preachers of the Gospel.

And when they do their very best, when they pretend great things, and do wonders with their preaching, there is naught but the mere empty "letter."

Indeed, their message falls far short of Moses. Moses was a noble preacher, truly, and wrought greater things than any of them may do.

Nevertheless, the doctrine of the Law could do no more than remain a letter, an Old Testament, and God had to ordain a different doctrine, a New Testament, which should impart the "spirit."

41. Now the meaning of the contrasting clause,

"the spirit giveth life," becomes clear.
The reference is to naught else but the
holy Gospel, a message of healing and salvation; a precious, comforting word.

That means that any provision of Christ for the world is good news and therefore "gospel" to those who have not narrowly restricted "gospel" to preclude others from teacing the epistles.

While these men are not inspired, they give the lie to the oft-repeated notion that if there is any false doctrine in the world it must have been invented by NON-INSTRUMENTAL churches of Christ.

Does anyone at Grace Centered speak of THE GOSPEL OF JOHN?

Sure, and we had Gospel meetings, Gospel tracts, Gospel singings, Gospel workshops, gospel preachers, Gospel everything. Just as LAW can stand for the entire Old Testament, GRACE can represent all of the Christian System. Gospel also as 'good news' is contrasted to the Law of Moses which was bad news. THE FAITH can represent the entire system of Christ.

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Col 2:6

Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in THE FAITH, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Col 2:7

Faith is both objective and subjective: it is both our own personal belief which leads us into action or it is THE FAITH or the Christian System:

PISTIS (G4102) pis'-tis; from 3982; persuasion, i.e. credence; mor. conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), espec. reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstr. constancy in such profession;

by extension the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself: - assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for THE FAITH which was once delivered unto the saints. Jude 1:3

For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men,

turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Jude 1:4

See A Spectacle of Worship

So, the building stones of the foundation are made of sand. If this is true, then one cannot APPROVE of instrumental music because IT IS NOT part of Dallas' view of the OLD TESTAMENT GOSPEL.

Yes, and I'll betcha that Dallas Burdette is going to define Gospel as "faith only" so the beat goes on. However, "gospel" is not an ecclesiastical word and cannot be constricted to mean the faith of Abraham "only." If we just use the term 'good news' then the system of gospel is good and the system of law is bad.

Make fun if you wish, but "gospel" or good news means more than a few teachings ABOUT Jesus but it also means the teachings OF Jesus. I think of it as GOSPEL or good news that I don't have to pay someone to mediate the GOSPEL MESSAGE to me in song, sermon or prayer.

Dr. Dallas Burdette: One of the first Scriptures that I memorized as a young Christian came from Galatians 1:6-9. Twice in this short pericope, the apostle pronounces a curse upon anyone who preaches another gospel other than the Gospel he preaches. Paul went so far as to even mention angels. Even if an angel preached any other gospel, one should let the angel be anathema. Thus, one can understand why so much emphasis is placed upon this section of Scripture.

That warning is still in my Bible. If it turns out that Dallas is teaching something different then the woes he once believed in will come back to haunt him.

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. Gal 1:8

As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Gal 1: 9

Dallas implies that because the GOSPEL preached to Abraham did not include a condemnation of instrumental music it must be approved.

However, Paul outlawed musical instruments when he used the word PSALMOS which defines the first instrument of choice as the voice and heart. The good news was that we can teach the Word of God without wine and music to induce a charismatic fit to make the spirits come.

If instruments are such a vital part of the Grace Centered "gospel" that it is worth sowing discord and offending many of these little ones then it is a DIFFERENT GOSPEL than that which Paul preached.

The meaning of gospel is debated so vocally perhaps because that is a substitute for the demand that WHATEVER the CORE GOSPEL is you have no right to hold ownership to it unless you GO INTO ALL THE WORLD.

Euagelion (g2098) yoo-ang-ghel'-ee-on; from the same as 2097; a good message, i.e. the gospel: - gospel.

Euaggelizo (g2097) yoo-ang-ghel-id'-zo; from 2095 and 32; to announce good news ("evangelize") espec. the gospel: - declare, bring (declare, show) glad (good) tidings, preach (the gospel).

Gospel is packed full of the fact that it MUST GO AND BESTOW rather than BATCH AND HATCH.

If you are preaching the CORE GOSPEL and are not GOING INTO THE WORLD TO TEACH THE UNTAUGHT then you are preaching a different gospel than what Jesus commanded and all of the apostles and evangelists obeyed--without exception.

If I sign on to "the faith of Abraham" or "seven facts about Jesus" and it turns out that Baptism as Christ's way to cleans us of sins so that we can grasp His Mind which is the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 2) then we have trimmed off an important aspect of "gospel" or good news.

The gospel also involves something about the kingdom:

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. Mt.4:23

But when Philip preached the gospel of the kingdom people were baptized.

But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God,

and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Acts 8:12

The GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM means THINGS CONCERNING THE KINGDOM of God. That FULL GOSPEL was preached and the response was to be baptized. Do you suppose that preaching the KINGDOM gospel included HOW ONE BECOMES A CITIZEN OF THE KINGDOM? Isn't the remission of sins as the obstacle to the new, spiritual kingdom GOOD NEWS OR GOSPEL? Luke apparently thought so.

Isaiah also prophesied about Christ as the ARM of God and the gospel but this was prophetically:

But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? Ro.10:16

The first thing commanded to BE OBEYED in connection with the gospel is BAPTISM. Therefore, the gospel is something which can be obeyed: it is good news because it asks God fo a cleansing.

When God gave Israel The Book of the Covenant it was "good news" because it rested on the Faith of Abraham and had no clergy or musical rituals.

However, Israel rose up to play which means the musical idolatry of Egypt.

As a result, God gave them the Law and all that went with it to regulate the lawless.

Therefore, Israel did not obey the "gospel" delivered in the Covenant. Yet, this was not the gospel which Jesus preached.

Whatever the gospel is, no preacher has a right to improvise or alter it to fit today's situation:

But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. Gal 1:11

For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. Gal 1:12

Paul KNEW only Christ and Him crucified because he MARKED the robbers by showing that he suffered for the cross. However, Paul TAUGHT what Jesus taught and later revealed to him in Spirit.

The invisible Spirit Lord identified Himself as "Jesus of Nazareth" and promised Paul to guide him into all truth. If the "seven facts about Jesus is the Gospel" that does not take much supernatural power to remember!

Therefore, it is good news or gospel that what Paul preached came from heaven. Woe to those who preach that Paul filtered old memories through philosophy and wrote to meet his own personal agenda.

If Paul preached just the CORE GOSPEL then we wonder why people were baptized? Is it because Christ associated baptism with gospel, Peter practiced it and it was something which could be obeyed?

Whatever Paul preached to make people believers and then disciples was the gospel because what Paul preached he called the gospel.

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mothers womb, and called me by his grace, Gal 1:15

To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Gal 1:16

God separted Paul from the womb but Paul did not predestinate him.

Preaching the gospel apparently meant preaching that circumcision was not part of becoming a Christian:

And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. Gal 2:2

But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: Gal 2:3

Isn't it "gospel" that we do not have to be circumcised or endure the trauma of a "penis check" to be in fellowship?

For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, Heb 12:18

And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: Heb 12:19

The 120 trumpets during the slaughter of animals was not music: it created a horrible sound to warn people not to rise off the ground.

And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: Gal 2:4

Then, does the 'gospel' mean liberty from the Law? Doesn't gospel mean that there is only ONE FLESH AND BLOOD of humanity?

But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? Gal 2:14

Doesn't the gospel make it possible for Jew and Gentile to be one body and even eat at the same table? Is that good news? What if we stopped at the one or seven fact gospel?

Doesn't this prove that "the gospel" has something to say about respect of persons? I think so: Paul thought so.

Dr. Dallas Burdette: Many interpreters find meanings in the text that is really not there, but rather the meaning found in one's own mind. If one is to understand correctly the meaning of the word "Gospel" as utilized by Paul, one must consult the context. In order for one to get the feel, as it were, for this particular word, then one must read the entire book in one sitting. One must endeavor to understand the text's theological meaning within the book itself. Many Christians jump into the text without any thought of what the author intended to convey with his use of the word "Gospel."

Yes, we note that the writer jumps into a gospel based on "the faith of Abraham" without defining "faith." Because gospel simply means "good news" some of us define the word by the context.

Dr. Dallas Burdette: Paul defines "Gospel" in verse four of chapter one of Galatians-"Who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age" (1:4, NIV). Paul opposed Peter when he failed to set forth the nature of the Gospel when he withdrew from the Gentiles. Some of the brethren insisted upon obedience to circumcision as prerequisite to salvation, other than faith in Jesus alone (2:1-21). In the course of this conversation, Paul draws attention to the fact that the Gospel is about how one is put in a right relationship with God.

Now, Paul didn't define that as the GOSPEL which he preached. Better spend some more time. Gving Himself is good news along with dozens of other teachings but GOSPEL means that we have to abandon our own rights of flesh to imitate Christ.

Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: Gal 1:4

The important point of the gospel as the events by which Jesus redeemed us by his blood. This is the PROTOS or prototype or TYPE for us to imitate.

Paul said that in baptism we obey THAT FORM OF DOCTRINE. Form is anti-type. This really means INSTEAD OF. Grace means that we are baptized instead of hanging on a cross for our own sins only to find that inadequate.

Those who believe (have trust) and are baptized are saved.

Those who DISBELIEVE do not just lack faith. Their disbelief means DISOBEDIENCE and calling God a liar by "rejecting the counsel of God. The word means TREACHERY against God.

Paul also defined "this evil age" to the Corinthians in warning against the musical instruments of soothsaying and warfare IN CHURCH by defining them in terms of "speaking in tongues."

He warned against the evil age to the Ephesians with a Dionysic background by telling them that they had better get filled with SPIRIT so that they could teach or preach to one another and leaving singing (a secular word) and melody (an anxiety-creating device) in the HEART. He paralleled the word SPIRIT with THE WORD OF CHRIST in Colossians and "that which is written" in Romans 15.

Circumcision is part of THE LAW as practiced by the Jews who did not see it as a sign but as proof of their own personal righteousness. However, by rejecting circumcision as proof of righteousness, Paul does not see this as outlawing keeping God's commandments as the meaning of FAITH or FAITHFULNESS:

Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing but the keeping of the commandments of God. 1Co.7:19

Getting rid of circumcision would seem like gospel or good news to this writer but that won't do away with keeping the commandments of Christ which are not Divine suggestions and must be laws.

If you want to flash your minister's badge to prove that you keep God's commandments that's ok with me. But the badge or claim means nothing: what MEANS is that you actually keep the commandments of Christ and commandment keeping is still a law.

The proof-text reads:

Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: Gal 1:4

How does one get delivered from the present evil world? Is that not part of what Jesus died for? Does God have a WILL in how we are delivered? Is delivery good news or GOSPEL? How did Jesus and Peter tell repentant believers how to be delivered? What did they do? The answeres constitute GOSPEL or GOOD NEWS.

The Abrahamic gospel of faith only does not speak of delivery from the world system under Satan which too many want to make into Christian worship under the umbrella of Grace Centeredness.

That is assuredly GOOD NEWS but it does not exhaust the plan Jesus had for the church and the salvation of mankind. For instance Paul stretches the meaning many times:

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and
        purify unto himself a peculiar people,
        zealous
of good works. Tit.2:14

Ephesians puts it:

That he might sanctify and cleanse it
        with the
washing of water by the word, Ep.5:26

Peter explained the gospel of cleansing this way:

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38

Dr. Dallas Burdette: For instance, he stresses that the Gospel is about justification by faith (2:15-17), not justification by law.

If faith is THE FAITH and law is THE LAW then we agree. However, obedience to the direct command of Jesus who died to abrogate the Mosaic Law (given because of the musical idolatry transgression at Mount Sinai) is keeping commandments but it is not according to THE LAW which never justified any one any where.

We believe that Paul uses THE FAITH to define the Christian System while THE LAW defines the Law of Moses which replaced The Book of The Covenant after Israel refused to listen to the Word and lusted for the reemerging Egyptian-Babylonian musical worship. We are not justified by a passive faith.

For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. Ro.4:13

For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Rom 4:14

Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. Rom 4:15

This is the meaning of THE LAW in Paul's discussion. Righteousness is doing what it right but since our actions cannot justify, God credits our faith in His power but He does not remove the demand to obey Him.

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by THE FAITH of Jesus Christ, Gal 2:16
        even we
have believed in Jesus Christ,
        that we might be justified by
the faith of Christ,
        and not by
the works of the law:
        for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. Gal 2:17

Therefore, justification by faith demands keeping Christ's commandments because SIN is the violation of a law or commandment.

THE LAW was a system of types quite antithetical to the Spiritual anti-types:

The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Heb 9:8

Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices,
that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Heb 9:9

Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. Heb.9:10

This is the meaning of THE LAW. This law had musical services added which means "hard bondage" during animal sacrifices. Those do not justify so adding instruments might make Dallas happy so he can sing and dance but they will divide and sow discord and WILL NOT do anything spiritual.

The fundamental "because of transgression" at Mount Sinai was "rising up to play" in the idolatrous, musical worship of the Egyptian "gods."

Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Gal 3:19

The promise was made to Abraham but the reality leap-frogs the Law of Moses. The promise made by the Spirit of Christ came through the Work of Christ:

That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Ga.3:14

And that blessing is not FAITH ONLY but the faith of Abraham which leads to obedience. The only commandment connected with remission of sins is baptism.

What? For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:26

How? For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Gal 3:27

Mark begins the gospel of Jesus Christ by connecting directly into the baptism of John:

THE beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; Mark 1:1

As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. Mark 1:2

The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Mark 1:3

John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Mark 1:4

And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. Mark 1:5

The trumpets of God signaled the offering of animal sacrifices. After David and the COMMANDERS OF THE ARMY reassigned the surplus warrior Levitical Musicians, they made a great crashing noise during the burning of animals. Therefore, as the law was added because of transgression, the temple worship was added after Israel's elders fired God and demanded a king like the nations so that they could worship like the nations.

The people were "strangers" and were put outside the gate during animal sacrifices. The Levitical musicians STOOD BETWEEN the people and the alter of sacrifice, the laver of total washing, the ongoing purification of hands and feet, the holy place as place of prayer and the Most Holy Place.

Therefore, to restore the LEVITICAL MUSICIANS makes them stand between the worshipers and God while the gospel is that Christ died so that we can "come boldly before the throne of Grace." No musical Levite would have been permitted to live if he went into the Holy Place as a type of Christ or into the Most Holy Place where we worship IN SPIRIT.

Dr. Dallas Burdette: Paul sought to solidify his arguments by reflecting upon Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness" (3:6). Then Paul drops the bombshell in calling attention to the very heart of the Gospel: "The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: 'All nations will be blessed through you'" (3:8). How did this blessing occur? Paul says, "The Scripture does not say 'and to seeds,' meaning many people, but 'and to your seed,' meaning one person, who is Christ" (3:16).

Let's hear it again: the promise of the Spirit (Christ) defined FAITH as belief plus obedience:

What? For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:26

How? For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Gal 3:27

But God told Isaac that Abraham was justified:

Because that Abraham OBEYED my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. Gen 26:5

Therefore, the faith of Abraham was a faith which acted because it was a LIVING FAITH. If Abraham had "believed" but not kept God's charges, commandments, statutes and laws God would know that Abraham had no faith.

The point Dr. Burdette misses is that Abraham lived BEFORE the Law so he could not have been justified by keeping THE LAW.

However, GOD says that Abraham was justified by keeping His commandments.

Therefore, keeping God's commandments for our time and place is NOT trying to be justified by keeping THE LAW which does not apply to us.

Conclusion: Paul who COMMANDS many times was not preaching a dogma of justification by FAITH ONLY.

Jesus said "my words are Spirit and Life" (John 6:63). Therefore, when Paul ministered the Spirit to the people he did it by his preaching and their hearing of the gospel. Abraham's family was to be a blessing to all of the nations. Later, the nation of Israel was to be a blessing and teacher of others. However, they focused their lives on "worship rituals" and, as God complained, "You offer the sacrifices to Me but you eat the meat yourselves."

Jesus was being a blessing to the nations when Paul brought them the Spirit of Christ:

He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Gal 3:5

Now, Paul did not lay hands on the Galatians in order to bestow a supernatural power of the Spirit. Rather HE worked miracles and ministered the Spirit by ministering the Words of Christ.

The Spirit of Christ does not work in Dallas' rituals any better than the one-cupper's rituals. Rather, the Spirit works when the evangelists go, preach, baptize and preach.

The contrast is vivid: work is NOT done by rituals which were not intended to be a blessing but work IS DONE by teaching and hearing and producing faith.

FAITH ONLY does not do the work of the Spirit. But, Dallas will tell us that the Abraham patternism is just to believe. Well, this same Paul will tell you the rest of the story about the meaning of faith:

Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Gal 3:6

Abraham believed God and it was ESTEEMED as "equity of character." When we ask someone to "please get this horse off me" and they go to work we "esteem" or count their faith and good intentions. However, if they whine: "But, I ain't gonna get the horse offa you" we don't count or esteem their good intentions for NOTHING.

Because that Abraham

OBEYED my voice,
and kept my charge,
my commandments,
my statutes,
and my laws. Gen 26:5

This was not a ONE STEP PLAN OF SALVATION. The next time God asked Abraham to do something he was deemed equitable based on his faith. Therefore, Abraham's one-time faith didn't PURCHASE him eternal salvation so that God's Grace-Centeredness would gain God's approval for Abraham to USE THE LAW OF SILENCE to add instrumental immaturity to his teaching-blessing program.

But Paul understood faith as more than just belief:

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance,
        obeyed; and he went out,
        not knowing
whither he went. Heb.11:8

Therefore, faith means that we obey the command of God without being able to see by sight. Faith means action.

By faith Abraham, when he was tried,
        offered up Isaac; and he that had
        received the promises

        offered up his
only begotten son, Heb.11:17

Faith is to offer up the son gained when Abraham believed that it was impossible. Belief without giving up his impossible dream would not have been faith.

This same Paul defined the Promise of the Spirit as that which the Spirit had promised to make one have the faith of Abraham:

Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. Gal 3:7

And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. Gal 3:8

So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. Gal 3:9

A blessing is to be spoken well of or be thanked or praised.

We should be aware that to Abraham and His descendants this was a land and nation promise as the type. Abraham did not hear the gospel which Jesus commanded be preached and which included baptizing believers into discipleship with Him.

Abraham didn't just believe God's command and then keep meeting with the musical pagans at the tower of Babylon at Ur. Rather, he went out without being able to understand why: that is the meaning of faith. If we don't obey then we do not have faith.

As long as temple, clergy, Levitical service (hard bondage) signaled with many loud instruments existed, there was no gospel as the GOOD NEWS that Jesus had denounced the temple as PLACE of worship once again, had fired the clergy burden laders where burden means "spiritual anxiety created by religious rituals.

However, in the fulfilled or ANTI-TYPICAL the faith of Abraham means the obedience of Abraham so that the promise of the Spirit or that made by the Spirit of Christ (1 Peter 1:11) made one a seed of Abraham by baptism:

GOSPEL to Abraham meant GOOD NEWS for his family. FAITH meant obedience to each commandment of God EACH time God commanded him to do something.

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15
He that
believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16:16

If baptism is not part of the gospel then cleansing by Christ is not part of the gospel. But Jesus connected baptism as the action word defining believeth. Peter understood this, preached much more than "Chris and Him crucified" and demanded repentance and baptism to get the GOOD NEWS of the forgiveness of sins and salvation.

And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; Gen 26:4
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. Gal 3:16

FOR ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:26

Because that Abraham OBEYED my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. Gen 26:5
FOR as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Gal 3:27

We can understand from Peter's obedience to this command that it is utter nonsense to go out preaching just "Christ and Him Crucified" without filling in the blanks beginning where Peter began. The gospel is not a PLAN OF CONDUCT but the fact that Lord Jesus Christ is the image of the One God and that the Infinite God of the Universe will not accept you into relationship unless you ask for it at the time and place of baptism (1 Peter 3:21)

Dr. Dallas Burdette: Two thousand years prior to Paul's writing the Book of Galatians, God announced the Gospel to Abraham.

If one assigns the traditional definition to the word Gospel,
one must naturally conclude, according to many Christians within the
Churches of Christ,
        that God spoke to Abraham about
a cappella singing versus instrumental music,

If God thought that Abraham needed musical instruments to teach his descendents to be a blessing to the 70 nations then God would have told him so. Since, God didn't command instruments, they were not part of the gospel nor of any value in blessing the nations.

Because Abraham had always seen "worship" accomplished by the mind-control methods of instrumental and vocal music (just as Solomon built the temple with musical slave drivers), removing him from the MUSICAL WORSHIP without commanding him to adopt the music while rejecting the parallel sexual activity must have some meaning.

The "praise" of David was the word halal which means "to make self vile, to make a fool of self." This was based on the idea that the "gods" will not punish the insane. With Dallas, apparently the Grace-Centered "logic" would FORCE those who hear the word GOSPEL in connection with Abraham to automatically believe, practice and castigate anyone who does not hold GOSPEL MEETINGS.

So, no, that is just made up and passing judgment that all of the churches of Christ have the same illogical thought patterns.

Neither, can Dallas get the idea of singing, clapping, dancing and falling into a charismatic, out of your mind experience. Therefore, he has no authority for a new style of worship somehow authorized by stripping away everything but FAITH ONLY.

And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. Gal 3:8

If the offspring of Abraham had obeyed their GREAT COMMISSION then they would have to time to do music. They would obey and go out and teach the oral laws of God and the Law of Moses brought about because of MUSICAL IDOLATRY at Mount Sinai would never have happened. The Israelites then would have lived under THE BOOK OF THE COVENANT which had no organized clergy.

If Dallas can prove, contra all of history's experience, that people can be BLESSED by having their nerves chopped into pieces with complex harmony teaching doctrinal error then he has the authority for instruments.

If, to the contrary, adding instruments to the synagogue or church has ALWAYS been a curse, sowed discord among peacable brethren and produced new MUSICAL SECTARIANS, then he is PREACHING ANOTHER GOSPEL and he will be cursed.

Therefore, the GOSPEL TO ABRAHAM excludes everything which is not a BLESSING to the people.

No, announcing is not the same thing as preaching the New Testament message with the expectation that Abraham would be baptized and be conformed to the image of Christ. Gospel has different meanings.

This gospel did not include either a cappella (after the Pope's castrates) or instrumental music because God knew that Abram was not effeminate and God knew that Spirit is not impressed by "children piping trying to get Him to sing and dance."

The Book of the Covenant at Mount Sinai was a restatement of the Abrahamic Covenant. That Covenant did not say: "Thou shalt not sing, dance and play instruments." However, when they rose up to play in Egyptian musical idolatry, God snatched the Covenant out of their hands and gave them a Law of Moses and a priesthood to keep the people out of His presence.

"Gospel" simply means good news whereas the Law of Moses to which David attached the Musical Levites for the service (hard bondage) of animal sacrifices means BAD NEWS. If we translate it "good news" we won't get so bogged down in trying to peel out the CORE GOSPEL or the KERYGMA or kernal of truth.

Rather, ANYTHING WHICH JESUS taught which relieved mankind of Jewish rituals is GOOD NEWS and therefore GOSPEL.

Dallas would have us sing, clap, dance and get sucked up in the vortex of personal feelings, but Jesus refused to SING or DANCE when the clergy PIPED. It is good news that we don't have to legalistically work ourselves up into a charismatic state of madness in order to get the SIGN that we are worshiping.

All music or praise singing is one of the world's oldest legalistic superstitions: that by doing enough PRAISE WORK we can aid the gods in doing their work. This is part of the creed of Grace Centered.

If Jesus personally paid the temple tax then that is GOOD NEWS or gospel. If Jesus fired the doctors of the Law then that is Good News or gospel. If Jesus removed the burden of charismatic worship rituals trying to get the "Spirit to come" then that is good news. If Jesus says that we can worship in our own personal SPIRIT or Mind as the PLACE of worship then that is good news. If Jesus says that we can have our sins remitted through baptism so that He will give us a clear sight of His word then that is good news. If Paul says that the members should preach one to another: that is good news.

What Abraham Knew that the Doctor does not know;

A lad of Abraham's time could extract the cube root of a number: bet the good Dr. cannot do that! Secular history says that Abraham was an expert in many things including astronomy which he taught to the Egyptians. However, Abraham maybe knew more that he is given credit for.

God removed Godly Abraham from Ur because Ur and all of Babylonia was under the oppressive Babylonian Harlot worship where people were controlled like animals by the mind-altering, goose-step inducing power of musical instruments.

Not in the VILEST pagan temples could singers or musicians or actors or preachers get into the Holy Place. This was a carnal type of the church of Christ. The Most Holy Place was where one went to be in the symbolic presence of God. Any rhetorician, sOPHISts (serpents), singer or musician who tried to enter, even to clean out the garbage, would be executed.

"The rectangular central shrine of the temple, known as a 'cella,' had a brick altar or offering table in front of a statue of the temple's deity. The cella was lined on its long ends by many rooms for priests and priestesses. These mud-brick buildings were decorated with cone geometrical mosaics, and the occasional fresco with human and animal figures. These temple complexes eventually evolved into towering ziggurats.

"The temple was staffed by priests, priestesses, musicians, singers, castrates and hierodules (Temple Prostitutes). Various public rituals, food sacrifices, and libations took place there on a daily basis. There were monthly feasts and annual, New Year celebrations. During the later, the king would be married to Inanna as the resurrected fertility god Dumuzi..." -

"there may have been large numbers of eunuchs, as well as temple slaves. Merlin Stone believes that "sacred women" celebrated their sexuality and fertility by making love in Eanna in Inanna's name. This seems to be supported as that H.R. Hays says that there were temple prostitutes associated with Inanna, which is not too out of line as that she is supposed to be the goddess of prostitutes." (Interpreter's Dict of the Bible, Music, p. 461).

"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.

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)

Read what Abraham knew and repudiated about instrumental music or he would not have been a man of faith.

I'll bet that Abraham didn't think so legalistically but when God told him to do something he just did it because he had faith. I'll bet that if God had explained it to him at the time he would understand that since God had never commanded anything about singing in any style in attempt to please, appease or threaten a "god" as the pagans did, then Abraham COULD NOT have used music AS WORSHIP and still had God's approval:

And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; Gen 26:4

Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. Gen 26:5

Obeying God is the meaning of faith while living by a Law whose ordinances "were not good" could not save. Legalism is trusting the act of punishment for salvation while faith is trusting God and obeying His commends: no obedience, no saving faith and no justification "each and every time God commands and we act."

Legalism is the use of music in any form in the belief that if we work hard enough then we can get our self into a charismatic fit and peddle it as "spiritual."

I'll bet that Abraham had heard the stories and knew that the serpent was not a snake but a Nachash or Naga: an enchanter, adept or musical performer used to "charm snakes" or Adam and Eve.

I'll bet that Abraham knew that Genun was the composite name of Jubal, Jabal, Tubal-Cain and Naamah: the founders of the Cainites who always tried to seduce Israel from a Spiritual God to the lust of the flesh:

And his brothers name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. Ge.4:21

Handle means:

Taphas (h8610) taw-fas'; a prim. root; to manipulate, i. e. seize; chiefly to capture, wield; spec. to overlay; fig. to use unwarrantably: - catch, handle, (lay, take) hold (on, over), stop, * surely, surprise, take.

The organ is derived from:

Agab (h5689( aw-gab'; a prim. root; to breathe after, i. e. to love (sensually): - dote, lover.

I'll bet that Abraham understood that the pagans from whom he was being removed ascended and descended the towers of Babylon with instrumental music in the false hope of meeting a god also ascending and descending. He knew that the priests as the AGENTS of the god was on top with a collection plate.

I'll bet that before David's time Abraham knew it was almost totally young females and effeminate males who got deeply involved in performing music. He would have know that if he called in his 'church' and played the flute, waved his hands and danced in the isles he would have been expelled from the community of MATURE MALES.

I'll bet that Abraham knew the fundamental CORE GOSPEL of Babylonian religion where Ea was reincarnated Lamech and how Inanna got him drunk and stole the MES or magical powers and incantations (praise hymns included). The great bull harp in the hands of the dead, sacrificed female harpist was found at UR and Abraham undoubtelly heard the following hymn sung often by the Babylonians:

"I, the Queen of Heaven, shall visit the God of Wisdom.
I shall go to Abzu, the sacred place in Eridu.
I shall honor Enki, the God of Wisdom in Eridu.
I shall utter a prayer to Enki at the deep sweet waters."
(Enki or Ea was the patron god of music and more)
 
Inanna set out by herself.
When she was within a short distance of the Abzu,
He whose ears are wide open,
He who knows the me, the holy laws of heaven and earth,
He who knows the heart of the gods,
Enki (Ea), the God of Wisdom, who knows all things,
Called to his servant, Isimud:

After Ea was drunk,

Enki raised his cup and toasted Inanna a second time:
 
"In the name of my power! In the name of my holy shrine!
To my daughter Inanna I shall give Truth!
The art of the eldership!
Descent into the underworld!
Ascent from the underworld!
The art of Musical Instruments!
The art of lovemaking!
The art of kissing the phallus!"

Inanna was the goddess of Sowing Discord among brethren: she was worshiped along with Tammuz in the Jerusalem Temple:

"As the goddess of war and strife, she (Inanna/Ishtar) held the title Ninkur-ra-igi-ga, "the queen who eyes the highland" meaning that other lands feared her.

Battle was called the "dance of Inanna, and she was at the very heart of it.

She was "the star of the battle-cry, who can make brothers who have lived together in harmony fight each other".

She is known for causing the fall of the city of Agade."

See The Curse of Agade and the Musical Connection.

See Enoch to see why ten-thousand angels will come to defeat the end-time Babylonian religion (Rev. 18)

I'll bet that Abraham knew what his kin Laban knew when he threw a musical party and got Jacob so drunk that he couldn't identify the woman he had purchased. Again, when Jacob slipped out of Laban's grasp

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? Ge.31:27

Oh Yes! And without MY women, MY children, My cattle and MY gods. Music always means "we gonna steal something from you."

I'll bet that Abraham knew the intimate connection between homosexuality in Sodom and Gomorrah and that is why he pitched his tent away from there. I'll even bet that Abraham had witnessed the rich musical rituals in Egypt which later totally consumed Israel while in Egypt and led to their musical idolatry at Mount Sinai. We know of no instance when any of the patriarchs PITCHED THEIR TENTS toward musical worshipers.

"the testimonies of neighboring civilizations are of little value, as they concern chiefly the music of courts or temples, which in Sumer, Babylon, and Canaan was then in the hands of professional priests-musicians. We have only a few remarks of Herodotus about Egyptian practices, which were similar to those of ancient Hebrew popular singing. He refers to the 'lament for Linos,'

also to women's chants in procession of the cult of Osiris and the Diana of Bubastis. "In Phoenicia and Syria almost all popular music reflected the worship of Ishtar, the goddess of fertility.

Thus, popular song was usually a prelude to sexual orgies in honor of the goddess, led and organized by her thousands of hierodules." (Interpreter's Dict of the Bible, Music, p. 461).

Therefore, I'll bet that is why you have no record of any attempt to worship a Spirit God with musical instruments in the Patriarchal period. That would have been from, say, 4004 BC (Ussher) to perhaps 1800 B.C. with no POSITIVE note about musical as a TOOL or WEAPON (instrument and weapon come from same word) and lots of negative comments and parable meanings which Jesus said hid the truth from the foundation of the world.

"The triumphal hymn of Moses had unquestionably a religious character about it; but the employment of music in religious services, though idolatrous, is more distinctly marked in the festivities which attended the erection of the golden calf." (Smith's Bible Dictionary, Music, p. 589).

"The trained musicians which eventually appear around the time of David and Solomon mark a distinctive change in the history of Jewish music. Before this time much of the music was made by women." (Zondervan Pict., Music p. 313).

"Before the establishment of the kingdom under Saul, it was the women who, as in every young civilization, played a major part in the performance of music. Such figures as Miriam, Deborah, Jephtha's daughter, and the women hailing the young hero David have become almost archetypes of female musicians.

Characteristic of all these cases is the familiar picture of a female chorus, dancing and singing, accompanied by frenzied drum-beating. This is the scene known to the entire Near East,

and not even the severe rule of Islam could wholly suppress this age-old practice." (Int Dict of the Bible, Music, p. 457). Click to see an Islamic defense of what Christian music should be.

It would be legalistically to insist that God issue a command: "Thou shalt not go in to the temple prostitute who seduces you with music" before we could get the message.

Dr. Dallas Burdette: the so-called sinfulness of Sunday school, the use of grape juice versus wine in the Lord's Supper, the organization of the church, the so-called church treasury, order of worship-five acts (rituals) to be performed in a prescribed manner-and so on.

Dallas probably lost out on the reason for the Sunday School conflict. Among the disciples there was an urge to write "so called Sunday School" material from central headquarters, say Standard Publishing. Then, the Sunday School board of each church would be under a wing of the Society quite independent of the elders of the local congregation. Therefore, the education of the congregation was conducted and controlled from the Tower of Babel-like headquarters at Standard. Perhaps if they had used the Bible no preacher problems would have existed.

J. H. Garrison defines the instrument as "matters of opinion" but if you don't share his opinion then you are disloyal to the "progressive" movement and to Christ. Furthermore, to allow Paul's instructions about singing in church to govern one's worship practices is equivalent to falling back under the Law of Moses. With that in mind it is easy to see how division was necessary.

"The same erroneous method of reasoning has been applied to the Sunday-school, to missionary organizations.

THE LATEST STEP TOWARD CHRISTIAN UNION.

"We come now to the consideration of the very latest of these efforts to give visible and tangible expression to the
growing unity of the Church, for the double purpose of
        utilizing this unity in the service of our common Master, and of
        promoting a still closer
unification of the religious forces of Christendom.

Garrison was also PostModern and anticipated Rubel Shelly:

J.H.Garrison: "There is God and Jesus: all the rest is opinion."

Rubel Shelly says there is JUST-JESUS but that is Anti-Christ. Dennis Downing says there is Just Jesus but that is Anti-Christ

That is still a major problem: if the elders are as "apt to chase a coon as apt to teach" they usually turn the educational program over to the sistern and they get their silly installment from so-called Sunday School Publishers. This material is shallow and often teaches rank error. The neo-pagan trinity view of three God persons able to stand side by side or face to face came out of the so called publishers who have an interest in profit and none in teaching the truth.

The church is normally under the control of women for that specific role Paul reserved for the elders. This is why the church is eaten alive with singers, clappers, dancers and men who bite the hand which feeds them.

If Dallas will pledge to CAST DOWN the idol of the "act of giving" to support the Missionary in Residence, I will (have) join him. If Dallas will apologize for spreading the notion that one has to do the work for God by praise rituals then I will (have) join him. If he will not seduce people into dancing or light shows until you have induced a charismatic fit and put the false logo of WORSHIP on it, I will (have) join him.

But what is the gain if Dallas convinces everyone to DO Sunday school with cut outs and paste ups into the 12th graders just to convince them of his Postmodern revelation about learning how to do so-called "worship" by adopting the methods of the world. Fred Peatross as part of the Grace Centered put down of everything the old churches of Christ ever did:

Fred Peatross: Popular culture, with its music, has brought a growing emphasis on sound. Rhythm has become a vital part of the new generation. Music use to have an emphasis on the first and third beats of a four/four rock and roll song (e.g., BOOM dah, BOOM dah). In the mid 1960s this changed to a focus on the upbeat (e.g., Ull CHAW, Ull CHAW). The way people clap differently either on the upbeat or downbeat shows their different generations. We are wired differently.

What speaks to my grandpa does not speak to me. What moves me, entertains me, and touches me, doesn't do the same for them. And we won't engage the younger generation until we concede that along with images, sound as beat is critical to them.

In this spectacle there is the development of anticipation or expectation about what is coming; there is pacing (a movement from fast to slow to fast); there is total participation by the audience.

Music plays a key part of the spectacle.

Sound, as a sensual component, enters us in a way in which the visual alone cannot.

Previous generations found meaning in words;
today's generations
find meaning in experiences.
In
concerts there is a convergence--the total experience takes place in the response of an audience to the multidimensional character of electronic events. There are music, words, the charisma of the artists,

the percussive use of light, images and beat, the behaviors of the crowd, the kinesthetic involvement of the audience in moving, dancing and typically staying on their feet the entire time. The power of the event for the participative audience occurs

in the convergence of the sensory experience.
They are drawn into a vortex of personal and social yearnings and satisfactions.

the percussive use of light, images and beat

Fred Peatross: Popular culture, with its music, has brought a growing emphasis on sound. Rhythm has become a vital part of the new generation.

the percussive use of light, images and beat, the behaviors of the crowd, the kinesthetic involvement of the audience in moving, dancing and typically staying on their feet the entire time.

When you get people in close proximity to one another, focus their attention on a common object,

and engage them in exercises that arouse emotions, bonding occurs.

God's story is fleshy and engaged with human practices, which means the emerging Church of Christ must take seriously the fleshy use of images, sound, and visualization.

It must pitch a tent through the practices of convergence, bonding, and commitment.

Dallas Burdette must agree in claiming that our praise rituals help God do His work. Dallas also appeals to Psalm 150 as authority for "self-abandonment" in worship.

Dr. Dallas Burdette: No! The Gospel preached to Abraham set forth the justification of sinful humanity through faith in God's Son. The Gospel is "good news" about what Christ accomplished for sinful humanity. When Jesus died upon the cross, He achieved for man what man could not complete for himself. The Gospel preached to Abraham involved God's methodology of justification-"God would justify the Gentiles by faith."

Just as Israel worshiped the Ark of the Covenant and David danced before the Lord because He believed that he had God captured in a box, he was totally ignorant of the law which the ark should contain.

And just as the Serpent was to be looked on as a type of Christ to heal serpent bites, the Jews came to worship it.

And the Law given to govern a lawless people came to be seen as being their justification.

No one under the law was ever justified by the law given because of the musical transgression at Mount Sinai. All who are said to be justified were justified by faith.

However, keeping the commandments without trusting ourselves as the commandment keeper was always the way to be justified.

One can stack up all of the religious practices from the day of creation until today and blaming them all on churches of Christ which implies that others are not guilty, but this will not alter the fact that Gospel means 'GOOD NEWS' and not the Core Gospel of "seven facts about Jesus."

Nor, will any of it disconnect faith in the Commander from obedience to the Commandments.

Abraham was not justified "by faith only" but knowing that God honored his FAITH when Abraham obeyed. Abraham was not so silly as to believe that leaving the land was going to earn him salvation as A ONE-STEP PLAN OF SALVATION.

This isn't too tough even for a Doctor. Again,

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance,
        obeyed; and
        he went out
,
        not knowing
whither he went. Heb.11:8
By faith Abraham, when he was tried,
        offered up Isaac; and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Heb.11:17

Paul understood that Abraham was not saved by faith as a one-step plan:

Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing but the keeping of the commandments of God. 1Co.7:19

In baptism we might also say: "Baptism is nothing and not being baptized is nothing, what God counts is keeping God's commandments."

And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. Luke 7:29

But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. Luke 7:30

Faith means trust and obedience. Disobedience is defined as REFUSING to be baptized. This called God a Liar and rejected His power.

Keeping Christ's commandments is not being justified BY THE LAW. By obedience to direct commands we JUSTIFY GOD or confess that He has a right to exist and command us.

Not keeping Christ's commandments spits in Chris't face because we REJECT HIS COUNSEL FOR OUR LIVES.

Preaching "faith only" and getting Divine permission through a Grace-Centered heresy encourages people to DECLARE CHRIST AS NOTHING and to REJECT HIS COUNSEL FOR OUR LIVES. The kiss of death is to accuse commandment keepers of being evil legalists.

Again, look at the parallel Paul draws to what God told Isaac and which the FAITH ONLY people missed out on:

And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; Gen 26:4
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. Gal 3:16

FOR ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:26

Because that Abraham OBEYED my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. Gen 26:5
FOR as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Gal 3:27

 

Abraham was approved by God because he obeyed, kept God's charge, obeyed God's commandments, statutes and laws.

Children of God by faith are those who have been baptized into Christ.

Here is some more MISSED GOSPEL:

And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. Jn.12:47

He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him:
the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. Jn.12:48

Atheteo (g114) ath-et-eh'-o; from a compound of 1 (as a neg. particle) and a der. of 5087; to set aside, i.e. (by impl.) to disesteem, neutralize or violate: - cast off, despise, disannul, frustrate, bring to nought, reject.

Those who rejected baptism in Mk 16:16 were treacherous and violent enemies of Christ Who was their only way out of destruction.

Now confessing the CORE GOSPEL of seven facts about Jesus IS REJECTING THE WORDS which He spoke and commanded:

If ye love me, keep my commandments. Jn.14:15

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Jn.14:21

A Commandment is: Entole (g1785) en-tol-ay'; from 1781; injunction, i.e. an authoritative prescription: - commandment, precept.

Even Jesus might agree: "No, you don't HAVE to keep my commandments" but this will just prove that you don't love me. That sounds pretty much like a LAW of Christ.

If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love;

even as I have kept my Fathers commandments, and abide in his love. Jn.15:10

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 1 Jn.5:2

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 1Jn.5:3

And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. 2Jn.1:6

If we love someone we are anxious to conform to their will. If we love the infinite God of the Universe we will not dare suggest that we IMPROVISE or INNOVATE and call that faith.

A law is "a statement of cause and effect." The gift of gravity is the free gift of God and we BY FAITH do not step off tall buildings. However, if we violate the law then we will suffer.

Everything is free but not unconditional:

And also that every man should eat and drink, and
        enjoy the good of all his labour,
        it is the gift of God
. Ecclesiastes 3:13

Behold that which I have seen:it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him:for it is his portion. Ecclesiastes 5:18

Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and

to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. Ecclesiastes 5:19

For the Grace Centered people, grace does not mean "unlimited forgiveness for unlimited sins." Nor, does it forgive sins for those who say: "We know that we are sowing discord but grace will cover it over." Sure, like a dead dog!

Grace is the power to be conformed to the will

And be not conformed to this world: but ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.Ro.12:2

For we

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us,  
        by the
washing of regeneration,
        and
renewing of the Holy Ghost; Titus 3:5

Only at baptism is one promised A holy spirit where baptism in the Greek world meant "regeneration." Peter promised A clear conscience at baptism. Those who reject baptism cannot receive A holy spirit or have their mind regenerated.

The Spirit is renewed through the word. Because the synagogue or church was a SCHOOL OF THE BIBLE there is no rationale for music of any kind as a superstitious, legalistic way to appease the gods.

The motive for a system of FAITH ONLY is to gain the authority to DO WORSHIP which is much more legalistic and works-oriented than the "old churches." Grace-Centered means "just in case we are wrong, it doesn't matter because Grace means license."

Musical Worship Index

Home Page

Home... Apocalyptic... Apocryphal... Awakening... Baptism.....Caneridge... Church.... Colonial... Godhead.... MaxLucado... Lynn.Aderson... Musical Worship... Preaching... Restoration... RubelShelly... Search Our Site... Tongues... Topical...

Counter added 9.10.07  7.09.20 

 <img src="cgi-bin/Count.cgi?df=piney/counter_DBGraceCenteredGospel.html.dat">