Worship in The New
Testament Church?
1.17.14 Here is some of the definition of Lying Wonders and Blaspheming the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation. Churches of Christ--under that name--have never violated the direct command NOT to engage in vocal or instrumental rejoicing when the Church of Christ (the Rock) was ordained for the Wilderness onward. To use all of the RACA words are to despise the Word (Logos-Regulative principle) and that is called blasphemy:
Just your HUMAN Tradition or Traditional 20 Times
Not submitting to Musical Discorders Imposing instruments caused CONTROVERSY 3 Times
Church suffers under ARCHAIC, OBSCURE, OR IRRELEVANT styles, methods or traditions
We need to use music to achieve UNITY 14 times according to John 17
If you REJECT using "machines for making wary" you are JUDGING those who IMPOSE. 20 TIMES
If WE IMPOSE instruments it will be in the name of PEACE 2 times
People who reject instruments is just based Style or Styles 13 Times
This is just their Method or Methods 10 Times
Need to change to speaking INTELLIGIBLY in the changing world 2 Times
They are Legalistic and and Judgmental 1 Time
Culture changes WE need to CHANGE 6 TIMES
Not using Instrumennts is just their Customs 2
WE need A NEW Language to explain the Spirit OF Christ 9 Times
People who reject instruments are Just defending THEIR Heritage 2
Freedom 22 Times--is something WE give YOU.
Not using instrumental noise is Just your Opinions 12 Times
People who reject instruments are Pharisee 2 times
WE offer Continuity with the Past 2 but IN ADDITION will offer instruments (based on this common White Paper from the NACC] 8 Times This is the Rick Atchley Both-And outrage
People who reject instruments are JUDGING others 12 Times
Not adding instruments may Eclipse the WORD Hinder the gospel
This will be CHALENGING [Discording) 4 Timess but WE will use GRADUALISM (The Serpent in Genesis uses twisting songs to gradually creep). It will be PAINFUL
- If you say that Churches of Christ which did not use INSTRUMENTS during the School of the Word from the Wilderness onwwars was just and evil tradition.
- And from Genesis to Revelation musical machines are said to have been brought by Lucifer (ZOE) into the garden of Eden and resulted in some sexual hanky panky to REVELATION when the Babylon mother of harlot rises again and ALL of her religious STAFF are called sorcerers and will be cast alive into the Lake of Fire.
- Then Christ in Jeremiah 23 says that you despise the Word and the Latin word is BLASPHEME
THIS PAPER WILL HELP YOU FLEE BABYLON whose Mother of Harlots (Revelation 17) uses "lusted after fruits" (Same as in Isaiah 8) as self-speakers, singers, instrument players and ALL religious craftsmen who were called PARASITES.
LINKS TO A FEW STEPS TO THE LAKE OF FIRE; FIXED LINKS 12.30
"RELIGION" REPLACING "SCHOOL OF CHRIST" AND: WORSHIP ANDROGYNY THE PAGAN SEXUAL IDEAL
TRIBULATION PROMISED FROM WITHIN: BUT, DAVID YOUNG AND THE ELDERS SAY------
THE COMMAND IS TO SPEAK: THERE IS NO COMMAND TO SING AS PERFORMANCE
HOW RECORDED HISTORY NOTES THAT SINGING AS AN ACT WAS IMPOSED AFTER CONSTANTINE AND WAS DIVISIVE
THE COMMAND: SPEAK THAT WHICH IS WRITTEN. NOTHING WRITTEN BY THE SPIRIT IS METRICAL OR TUNEFUL
ISAIAH 3 CHRIST'S PROPHETIC TYPE: CLICK BELOW FOR CHRIST'S WARNING ISAIAH 3: RELIGION" REPLACING "SCHOOL OF CHRIST" AND: WORSHIP ANDROGYNY THE PAGAN SEXUAL IDEA
ISAIAH 8 WHEN EMMANUEL COMES TO YOUR SCHOOL OF CHRIST YOU WILL NOT--CANNOT--PEEP AND MUTTER
CHRIST'S PURPOSE DRIVEN CHURCH DOES NOT BOAST ABOUT ITSELF.
ISAIAH 14 CHRIST'S WARNING OF THE SINGING AND HARP-PLAYING PROSTIITUTES CAST INTO "HELL"
A HUNDRED YEARS OF ATTACKS AGAINST CHURCHES OF CHRIST WHICH WILL NEVER IMPOSE INSTRUMENTAL IDOLATRY.
PROOF THAT ALL INSTRUMENTALISTS ATTACKS ARE BASED ON LIES OR IGNORANCE.
NUMBERS 11 THE REST OF THE STORY ABOUT MUTTERING AND MURMURING: Violates Christ's outlawing vocal or instrument rejoicing or speaing your own words in Numbers 10
DAVID YOUNG STILL SAYS THAT ALL THINGS ARE LAWFUL?
THE "LEADERSHIP" IS PURPOSE-DRIVEN TO SOW MASSIVE DISCORD WHICH GOD HATES.
ELDERS AND DEACONS ARE THE ONLY VOCATIONAL "STAFF" IN A CHURCH OF CHRIST
The role of PREACHER as SENT Evangelist
ISAIAH 8: THOSE WHO DON'T PREACH THAT WHICH HAS BEEN PROVIDED ARE MARKED AS BEING WITHOUT LIGHT.
THE MARKS OF THE FINAL SHAKING AND THE END-TIME SHAKER.
The MARKS of the BEASTS (Zoe) and the INSECTS-PARASITES (LOCUSTS or musical worship teams)
THE FIREY DESTINY OF THOSE WHO SOW MUSICAL OR RHETORICAL DISCORD
Revised 5.29.13
The tiny number of Church of Christ preachers who have been "transistioned" to the use of instrumental music (God used the word "noise") and used as wedges by the NACC claim that "a" spirit something told them or led them into DIVERTING other people's "investment." Because so many lives have been dramatically discorded by people who claim that a HOLY spirit guided them into something the Spirit OF Christ radically condemns, and the drum beat never seems to cease, I am taking the liberty to post the ways SPIRITUS is used in the latin: Spirit is never a "people." The Spirit OF Christ in the Prophets denies.
|
spiro,
a breathing
or gentle blowing of air, a breath, breeze
(syn.: aura, flatus).
1.
The air: imber et ignis,
2.
An exhalation, smell, odor:
3.
Breathed
air, a breath:
C.1. In
abstr., a breathing:
to stop the breath, suffocate,
choke,
2.
the breath
of a god, inspiration:
by a divine inspiration,
3.
The breath
of life, life: to
expire, die,
5.
In gram., a breathing
or aspiration
6.
The hiss of a snake,
II.
Trop.
A.
A haughty spirit, haughtiness,
pride, arrogance; also, spirit,
high spirit,
B.
(Mostly poet. and in post-Aug. prose.) Spirit,
soul, mind.
b.
Transf. (like anima, and the Engl. soul),
a beloved object,
2.
Spiritus, PERSONIFIED, a spirit
(late Lat.); the Holy Ghost, Holy Spirit,
Cod. Just. 1, 1, 1; an evil spirit, Christum et per Spiritum Sanctum, AND: Notice the SPIRIT of Phoebus (Apollo, Abaddon, Apollyon) is: II .(a). SPIRITUM Phoebus [Phoebus Apollo] mihi, Phoebus artem Carminis dedit, poetic spirit or inspiration, Camenae, spiritus ore tonat the desiring, coveting soul), Britannica Erōtos...sophian . sophian is here predicate (against Rόckert) and stands for sophias ergon. {ergon meaning hard work which also defines organon or a musical instrument Sophia , Ion. -iē, hē, prop. A.cleverness or skill in handicraft and art,Apollōn aneuren. For Apollo as the inventor of toxikē, see Hom. Il. II. 827; of mantikē, Il. I. 72; of iatrikē, 190 E ff. supra. See also h. Hom. Apoll. 131 ff.; and for mantikē in connexion with the cult of Apollo., Rohde Psyche II. pp. 56 ff. Apollyon or Abaddon was released from "hell" at the precribed time: c. ad 2000. He is the leader of the MUSES or musicians in Revelation 18. They are speakers, singers and instrument players under the Original and end-time Babylon Mother of Harlots worshipped as Ishtar in Jerusalem. John calls them sorcerers and says they will be CAST ALIVE INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE. Tox-ikos , ē, on, phoibos , ē, on (accented phoiban in B.12.139 Pap.): 2. prophet
Carmen I. In gen., a tune, song, air, lay, strain, note, sound, both vocal and instrumenta Cămēna (not Cămoena ), I.a Muse sing, whence carmen] II. Deriv: Cămēnālis , e, adj., of or relating to the Muses (post-class.): |
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The BEAST defined by the Spirit OF Christ in Jeremiah
and in the book of Revelation are gender-compromised
self-speakers, singers, instrument players and actors.
Jesus called the Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites:
in the Ezekiel 33 version Christ names mercinary
preachers, singers, instrument players and the
audience. The musical performances or in Revelation
"A New Style of Singing or Drama" are defined by
Christ: Jeremiah 15:2 And it shall come to pass, The MARK or SIGN (brand of
Character) is the PSALLO-rooted words the
scholars of the Septuagint used because they
understood that the Hebrew practices of singing
and playing spoke of making war or even making
love since the music-sex connection in
religionism is absolute. That is why Paul used LOGOS-based
speak words which are the opposite of poetry or
music since everyone knew that evil people set
their lies to melodies to deceive the simple:
that's why musical terms speak of enchantment or
sorcery (the Levites and performers in
Revelation 18). Paul clearly placed the MELODY or
Psallo in the PLACE of the human heart as the
only place God seeks our worship (John 4). When the PSALLO word broke
out for the first time used to demand
instrumental worship planning to sow discord in
the year 1878, this became a SIGN to Mark
and Avoid among the Disciples of Christ
whose earlier scholars had denounced imposing
the organ (only they promised). Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and
said, Sophos , ē, on, A. skilled in any handicraft or art, cleverThe Prophets by the Spirit OF Christ and the prophecies made more certain by Jesus and left from our memory by eye- and ear- witnesses are NOT subject to private interpretation or further expounding. That would DESPISE the finished Work of Jesus as the image of what God wants known of Himself and that means to blaspheme the Holy Spirit OF Christ. Click for 2 Peter 1 which OUTLAWS music which intends to FURTHER EXPOUND the finished work. Click for 2 Peter 2 which identifies Musical Corruption. This is the promise after one has A
holy spirit or A good conscience,
consciousness. Apo-ka^luptō , aor. 2 Pass. disclose, reveal, tode tēs dianoias reveal one's whole mind Greek and Latin total evidence on the word PSALLO which is a pretty ugly word explaining why any making melody or meditating should be IN the heart or spirit which is a PLACE. People are quite happy to deliberately sow discord based on a very simple lexicon. This paper separates all WAYS IN WHICH THE WORD IS USED together with Greek and Latin literature. There is no translation of Psallo other than to SING which does not point to making war or used by male and female prostitutes to seduce a young person. |
A Review of Ray Downen endorsing Jay Guin who suggests that everything that EDIFIES should be allowed in the assembly. However, the word EDIFY is defined in the Bible and historic literature meaning to EDUCATE. Paul commanded that "we use one mind and one mouth to speak that which is written for our learning." That was the SINGULAR PATTERN for the qahal, synagogue, ekklesia or Church of Christ (the Rock) in the wilderness.
The two texts we will look at RADICALLY condemn anything that CARRIED AWAY the people when they were still pagans: the primary weapon of creating charismatic ecstasy was the use of musical instruments used almost exclusively by women.
Read what Thomas Aquinas and most early church writers said about singing versus teaching.
Ray Downen challenging the WORSHIP word. #6 Paul's word for the ONE ANOTHER assembling themselves is a form of the word SYNAGOGUE. The synagogue was a school of the Bible and never had a praise service. Paul's unique "in the spirit" worship word is to GIVE HEED to God in Christ by reading and giving heed to His words which are Spirit and Life.
The worst part is that PRO instrumentalists use a hate crime against those who will not bow down when the pipes sound: Jesus refused. The term ANTI-instrumental is used as a RACA word and those who will not affirm instruments are identified, as by Tom Burgess and Charles Dailey in terms close to a "an ignorant, southern, red-necked mentality." Milton Jones who sold out a church of Christ and Rubel Shelly adde the word RACIST.
The fact is that ALL pro-instrument arguments are based on a PERVERTED view of Scripture. All of the scholarly quotations by Dailey and Burgess on the word PSALLO are taken from scholarly, published writings and NONE from the spoken Koine. Furthermore, 100% of their quoted resources PROVE that INSTRUMENT PLAYING always MARKED the prostitutes or Sodomites who performed for the men's gatherings marked by pederasty.
Non-Instrumental Position Must Be Destroyed: Introduction: Dwaine E Dunning submitted by Ray Downen
Instrumental Music Will Untie the Gordian Knot #2
1ST-CENTURY INFLUENCES on Instrumental Music? #3
See Was Instrumental Music Only For Israel #4
Making Melody in the Heart #5
A. Ralph Johnson in Instrumental Music, Sacred or Sinful.
1. Tom Burgess in Documents on Instrumental Music reviewed. Psallo and Instrumental Music: Proofs do not prove anything but the "music-homosexuality" connection. See more on Strabo's definition of the worship of Apollo or Abaddon or Apollyon: his MUSES are the locusts or musical performers in the book of revelation.
2. Tom Burgess More Review of Plutarch: if Psallo authorizes "church music" it authorizes a homosexual gathering.
3. Tom Burgess on Moralia confirms the "Music-Heresy-Perversion" connection which has no historical exception. 10/20/04
4. Tom Burgess on John Chrysostom: are the anti-instrumentalists ignorant rurals? 10/21/04 What about Paul and Martin Luther and John Calvin and Zwingli and--everyone who believed the Bible as authority.
Charles Daily Northwest College of the Bible Part One ..... Part One A .....Part Two ..... THRESKIA or CHARISMATIC
The pro-instrumental thesis is the latter day belief
> The Bible doesn't command any kind of collective singing.
> However, you sing without instruments and "violate the law."
> Therefore, we are free not only to sing but to add instruments even if it sows discord among brethren.
- << I decided to share with the Viewpoint Discussion
- group this exchange between me and Kenneth Sublett.
- -- Kenneth, Thanks. You wrote -->>
- Date sent: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 20:18:26 -0600
- From: kenneth sublett
- To: Ray Downen <outreach@sofnet.com>
- Subject: Re: A defense of the "law of silence" (5)
The Levi tribe had been
cursed by father Jacob and history knows that they were an
Egyptian infant burning sect and worshipped Molech. That
rose up at Mount Sinai, continued in the wilderness until
they rose up in musical idolatry and was common at the later
Temple.
Therefore, In Exodus 31
God outlaws profaning the Sabbath which word means "play the
flute, steal other's inheritance, pollute and
prostitute. In Exodus 32
they VIOLATED that direct command and were
sentenced to return to Babylon.
Christ
ordained the Qahal, synagogue or church in the
wilderness which excluded "vocal or instrumental rejoicing."
That quarantined the Godly
people defined by Christ in the prophets FROM the curse of
the sacrificial system. That was why the Jews and Gentiles
were Bible literate and ready for Christ to shut down the
"covenant with death."
Acts 15:21 For Moses of old timeGiving heed to the Words of Christ is the only WORSHIP concept in the church which is a School of Christ since we are His Disciples and commanded to teach what HE commanded to be taught.
hath in every city them that preach him,
being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
Here is the only thing that can change us into the image of Christ
2Cor. 3:12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
2Cor. 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:
2Cor. 3:14 But their minds were blinded:
for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away
in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
2Cor. 3:15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
2Cor. 3:16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
2Cor. 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit:
and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
2Cor. 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.
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.
Rom. 15:5 Now the God of patience and consolation
grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
Rom. 15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God,
even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rom. 15:7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
Peter outlawed pprivate interpretation or "further expounding." The PROPHETS by Christ and the prophecies made certain is that which REGENERATES our spirit or mind.
2Pet. 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy;
whereunto ye do well that ye take heed,
as unto a light that shineth in a dark place,
until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
Questioned Statement by Kenneth Sublett
Now, churches of Christ continued for 1800 years plus, a practice which all ancient scholarship agrees was the Biblical system. They did not add something to the worship ...
You may want to click here to see that when identified the church has always been named the church of Christ (it belongs to Him) or generically the church of God: Zechariah prophesied that Jesus or Joshua would sit on ONE throne as both king and priest. The NAME means Jehovah- Saved. Those who introduced instruments told the judge (with a straight face) that the instrument was not used for worship. The Judge didn't bite that one. However, the notion of the Core Gospel strips away all but a few facts about Jesus; the motive being to add their own "apple" back onto the core. By defining-away congregational singing as worship it is possible to add instruments as worship.
Next, Jesus didn't build a church or worship center but an ekklesia or synagogue or school of the Bible: there was no praise service in the synagogue. Indeed, it never occurred to the historic churches to think about MUSIC when they assembled. The word assembled or gathered used by Paul is a form of the word synagogue. Paul's almost unique WORSHIP words mean to give heed to the Word: that's what you do in school. Paul instructed Timothy the evangelist (who MUST go) to give attendance to the public READING of the Word.
The normal, moral people focused on the word SAY and not SING. Rhetorical singing or even reciting poetry in a stilted, poetic way was a MARK of sexual or homosexual tendencies. It always LED to spiritual anxiety and to homosexual feelings.
However, the new "praise craze" holds that the church "in plenary session" has only one purpose: to worship God. And the primary means is singing secular (self-composed) songs with "organic" instruments or mechanical instruments. Worship in the New Testament church never involved "praise" or "music" which is the word symphonia.
All ancient scholarship saw worship in the New Testament church as reading and studying the Word, eating the Lord's Supper and reading Biblical material to teach the Word. When the Greeks "read" a poetic piece they were said to "sing."
The purpose was to TEACH which means PREACH. The resources are "that which is written" as the only way to glorify God with ONE VOICE and ONE MIND (spirit) (Romans 15).
Before putting our trust in Greek words for music we should note from Britannica Online (cheap membership) that:
These musical fragments show that Greek music was predominantly vocal, although instrumental pieces were sometimes presented.
The music was homophonic; i.e., it consisted of single melodic lines. One of the most important compositions was the dithyramb, a poetic text set to music and sung by a chorus in honour of Dionysus.
Ancient Greek was a pitched language, so melody had to be an outgrowth of the natural inflections of the spoken language.
Greek vowels had long and short values that corresponded to long and short notes in the musical settings. Thus musical rhythms were derived from metric forms, and melodic movement was governed by the natural rise and fall of the text.
Ancient Greece appears never to have had a developed instrumental art. Percussion, brass, wind, and string instruments were all played, but
the two primary instruments were the aulos, a double-reed pipe that accompanied the chorus in the dithyramb, and the kithara, a hand-held lyre used to accompany solo songs.
The exact nature of the accompaniment style is unknown, but since no evidence of counterpoint or harmony appears in contemporary accounts,
the accompaniment probably played a version of the melodic line, occasionally adding two-note plucked chords.
It would have been insulting to have recited a poet's piece and backing it up with a "musical worship team" or orchestra. It was the introduction of worship as RELIGION which introduced both singing and playing instruments which was an insult to men like Homer who would be honored by the NORMAL singing which was well-developed RECITING. It is a well known fact that when the LESBIAN singers began to SING instead of SPEAK or SAY, history always repeats itself. First, music or rhetorical speaking was both a MARK and CAUSE of sexual and perverted sexuality in "worship." There is no exception as far as I can determine.
The word PSALLO is not a musical word: it simply means to PLUCK or pull out or tear or "grind into a powder" as is the base of SOP which Jesus hand ground for Judas. If one PLUCKS out the pubic hair then it was a MARK of the male prostitutes who were also flute or harp players. If one PLUCKS Abaddon's bow string to send a "singing" arrow then you could get anxious because one of two things was about to happen: you were about to get a literall arrow into your heart so that you "made melody" by the beat of the kicking of your heels. Or, most often, it meant someone was about to send you a LOVE ARROW in the drinking symposia which elders were not to COME NEAR. I can find of NO example of PSALLO meaning to both sing and play an instrument. However, if one SHOT FORTH A HYMN you might interpret that as MUSICAL. See Tom Burgess and some of the parallel words where PLUCKING was always HURTING you.
Accordingly, Solomon says,
"My son, if thou receive the saying of my commandment, and hide it with thee, thine ear shall hear wisdom." He points out that the word that is sown is hidden in the soul of the learner, as in the earth, and this is spiritual planting.
Wherefore also he adds, "And thou shall apply thine heart to understanding, and apply it for the admonition of thy son."For soul, me thinks, joined with soul, and spirit with spirit, in the sowing of the word, will make that which is sown grow and germinate. And every one who is instructed, is in respect of subjection the son of his instructor. "Son," says he, "forget not my laws."
Christ being Son to the Father meant that He spoke what He heard as "Mind" blows breath (spirit) through the lips (double edged sword) to produce words.
And if knowledge belong not to all (set an ass to the lyre, as the proverb goes), yet written compositions are for the many.
"Swine, for instance, delight in dirt more than in clean water."
"Wherefore," says the Lord, "I speak to them in parables: because seeing, they see not; and hearing, they hear not, and do not understand; "not as if the Lord caused the ignorance: for it were impious to think so.
But He prophetically exposed this ignorance, that existed in them, and intimated that they would not understand the things spoken.
And now the Saviour shows Himself, out of His abundance, dispensing goods to His servants according to the ability of the recipient,
that they may augment them by exercising activity, and then returning to reckon with them;
when, approving of those that had increased His money, those faithful in little, and commanding them to have the charge over many things, He bade them enter into the joy of the Lord.
Churches of Christ did not add something to that worship in the form of instruments.
Therefore, one of the key thesis of my total site is that Christianity is not about worship in the modern sense of the word. That is why you cannot "aide" it or "facilitate it." However, there was no MUSIC involved in the "in spirit" worship of God which never changed from the garden of Eden until worship in the New Testament church.
The externals were not called "worship" in the Synagogue or early church but "school."
The national worship of Israel on the way to captivity consisting of frequent animal sacrifices has been completed by Christ's one-time "worship" of offering Himself for the sins of the world: we remember that each Lord's Day but we don't force Jesus to suffer through the pagan Eucharist.
We worship what and whom we "give attendance to" or meditate about.
So, it is a fact that people believe themselves involved in "worship" with instruments although it may be vain worship. If they are "giving heed" to the sermonizing then they are worshiping the sermonizer. If they are giving heed to the musical performers who believe that they are mediators then they are worshiping the musicians. Churches of Christ did not add anything not Biblical to which one is diverted from the Word of God and the New Testament Church. There was no instrumental music as the Biblical ideal for 1800 years and therefore churches of Christ did not add or subtract in the instrumental sense. It is a fact that most have tried to do a legal end-run around "direct commandments" by using the "organic organ" and be self-justified by claiming that we are still "singing." But then, teaching and not singing is the subject of Paul's writings.
Ray Downen << Please explain to me where you find in the New Testament "the worship" of which you speak. Does Luke mention the worship practices of Christians during the time Paul was traveling to start new churches? Does Paul talk at any length about "the worship" in Corinth or Ephesus or the churches in Galatia? When Jesus wrote to the seven churches of Asia to commend and condemn, does our Lord describe the worship you speak of? I'd really rather not be told about "ancient scholarship" and what historians "agree" the early Christians did. I'd prefer you to tell me from the New Testament itself about this doctrine you hold and claim the apostles taught. Please point me to the verses which tell about "the worship" of the church in apostolic times. Thanks. >>
Paul uses only one key word for worship: it means to give heed to the Words of Christ. Because Jesus died to found an ekklesia or synagogue or school of the Bible he did NOT establish a worship center in terms or RELIGIONISM which was always pagan and always musical and usually perverted. Jesus commanded that we worship in the NEW PLACE of the human spirit and in TRUTH which is the Word of God. That is the meaning of worship in the synagogue "which had no praise service."
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Acts 17:11
Dilligent search is:
Ekzeteo (g1567) ekzeteo (g1567) ek-zay-teh'-o; from 1537 and 2212; to search out, i.e. (fig.) investigate, crave, demand, (by Hebr.) worship: - en- (re-) quire, seek after (carefully, diligently).
That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Ac.15:17
There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. Ro.3:11
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Heb.11:6
Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 1Pe.1:10
Ek (g1537) means point of origin or "out of."
Zeteo (g2212) dzay-teh'-o; of uncert. affin.; to seek (lit. or fig.); spec. (by Heb.) to worship (God), or (in a bad sense) to plot (against life): - be (go) about, desire, endeavour, enquire (for), require, (* will) seek (after, for, means). Comp. 4441.
IF ye then be risen with Christ, seek (g1567) those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Col.3:1
Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. 1 Cor 14:12
The Spirit of Christ and salvation are still hidden from the "many"
Thomas Campbell sought unity based on the clear fact that CHURCH was "A school of Christ" even as Jesus founded "A school of the Bible" or ekklesia or synagogue. Campbell also said that WORSHIP was reading and discussing the Bible as just minimal common sense. Paul identifed the assemblies NOT as churches but a form of the word SYNAGOGUE and we KNOW that there was no praise services in the synagogue. His UNIQUE "worship" word was to "give heed to the Words of Christ" or "that which is written." To the elders the DIRECT COMMAND was to "teach that which had been taught." And to Timothy the ACT of worship was to "give attendance to the public reading of the word." Then, as in the synagogue, he would exhort people to obey THAT PORTION of the Bible which had been read and to the DOCTRIN explicitly taught in that portion of Scripture. The early churches were NEVER mistaken into believing that chanting or speaking the Psalms was a MUSICAL performance.
Isaiah 2:3. " For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord From Jerusalem." Compare 8:16. "Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples." See 11:12.
And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me,
........... These are the true sayings of God. Rev 19:9And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant,
........... and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus:
........... worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Rev 19:10Proskuneo (g4352) pros-koo-neh'-o; from 4314 and a prob. der. of 2965 (mean. to kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand); to fawn or crouch to, i.e. (lit. or fig.) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore): - worship.
Those who are flaunting their body and talent are assuredly not involved in the worship of God but of their own human talent.
> I have never claimed that singing "Twila Paris" to complex harmony without instruments is "an act of worship in the New Testament church." The operative word is not "sing" but teach or preach. The COMANDED RESOURCES were "that which is written, the Spirit or the Word of Christ." You cannot teach by using Twila as resource and presenting it with four different groups singing four different sets of words at four different times to four different tunes. That is the ultimate message of instruments in Exod 32; Job 21; Isa 5; Ezek. 33 and Amos 5, 6 and 8: "We will not listen to your words any longer."
> The thesis of Dwaine E. Dunning is that worship is acceptable to God using instrumental music. Furthermore, refusing to participate makes one evil.
> Dwaine Dunning also attacks those who "added a law" to exclude instruments. But you cannot exclude that which was never included.
> My rebuttal was that the totality of scholarship, including the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia, is that instruments were borrowed from paganism (CE under "Candles") and was never the Biblical ideal. If you repudiate all historical scholarship but then claim that same scholarship as authority for instruments then you have told God: "I will not listen."
> My conclusion was that non-instrumentalists could hardly be the sectarians by refusing to do what they and their spiritual ancestors in all ages had not done from the institution of the "assembly" in the New Testament Church for edification but never called "the worship service."
> Yet, I am fearful that the urge to claim that the Spirit did not prescribe collective worship is to conclude that "we therefore have a blank silence into which we can add our own acts." And that authority is so overpowering that it justifies "sowing discord" and "offending those for whom Jesus died" without authority or without the need.
> > Since the "worship words" of the theologians are mainly the "bowing down" or serving variety, I want to introduce some new worship words which define what all those whom God seeks have always done even under the Monarchy period and commanded by Jesus and the Apostles.
There are several words translated as "worship" but they all have to do with literally bowing our body, our will and our attention to God in and through Lord Jesus Christ. If the speaker waves his hands or stomps his feet on the podium (the holy place) then we have no option but to "give attention to the speaker." If he speaks his "cut and past" view of Scripture then we give heed to that view. By analogy, a cut-off head is still a human body but it is not a living body: cut up words are still God's words but taken out of context they cease to be inspired.
Because synagogue was not a place for worship but for "giving attention to the reading of the Word," the worship in the New Testament church is never said to be the purpose but the result the giving heed to the word: edification or education.
At the same time, during the Lord's Supper if we "remember" or give our attention to the sacrifice of Christ then this attention is clearly worship.
If the "server" is smoke-infiltrated then we give heed or attention to someone getting that fellow to "church" by getting him on the "program."
If the "mediating praise team" feels like humming or singing as "background" to enhance the "experience" then they deliberately and with a high hand destroy any ability to "remember" Christ. I cannot "see Jesus" with you in my face.
There is no legal act of "taking up a collection" but if we serve Christ by serving others then clearly "giving" becomes our worship. Paul said that he wasn't issuing a "command" so it is not a "legal act." Here is what the early church which repudiated "located" prophets or apostles said about giving:
Didache 1:5 Give to every one that asketh of thee, and ask not again;
for the Father wishes that from his own gifts there should be given to all.
Blessed is he who giveth according to the commandment, for he is free from guilt;
........... but woe unto him that receiveth.For if a man receive being in need, he shall be free from guilt;
but he who receiveth when not in need, shall pay a penalty as to why he received and for what purpose; and when he is in tribulation he shall be examined concerning the things that he has done, and shall not depart thence until he has paid the last farthing.
Didache 1:6 For of a truth it has been said on these matters, let thy almsgiving abide in thy hands until thou knowest to whom thou hast given.
(1 Corinthians 16:1f asks to "lay by him in store" or to save up an amount for later collection. Then four or five pairs of hand would carry it to Judea to the poor only. Collections were taken from the "prosperous" for the "poor" and the poor were never asked to give.)
And yet giving of help to others becomes an act of worship.
If the "song leader" is waving his hands and blowing bubbles and yelling then the message is that we are to "give attention" to the leader. And this is not Christian worship but "the idolatry of talent."
Singing ancient songs was always a way to honor the dead composer now a "god" in the nether world. Therefore, if we sing the song of a human composer then we are giving heed to the composer and not to the Spirit of God. Their songs may contain religious sentiment but they quite often include false teaching or are erotic and sentimentally weakening. I have witnessed a total "service" built around honoring the dead composer.
Worship--Not What But Where?
Ye have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment? Mal 2:17
BEHOLD, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. Mal 3:1
But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiners fire, and like fullers soap: Mal 3:2
Seek is: Baqash (h1245) baw-kash'; a prim. root; to search out (by any method, spececially in worship or prayer); by impl. to strive after: - ask, beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure, (make) request, require, seek (for).
The Messenger Fulfilled this Prophecy:
When the messenger came, many refused to worship God by "rejecting the counsel of God by not being baptized."
When the Lord Jesus suddenly came, He honored the Father by speaking only what He heard in His Mind which is the Spirit (1 Cor. 2). Of course, this does not exclude dialog or explaining in human terms spiritual concepts. Nor, does it exclude using parallel passages to support the passage.
For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. Jn. 12:49
And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. Jn 12:50
We can only conclude that when a sermon is built on a "proof-text" as launchpad, there is no intention of imitating Jesus or of transfering "Spirit" in either sermon or song. See Dabney on how Christ wanted "preaching" to take place.
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63
God only Seeks Those Who Obey the Model and Command of Jesus:
Because the prophets were powered by the Spirit of Christ (1 Peter 1:11, Rev 19:10) His words put spiritual meaning into the Old testament words.
The seeking or worship Jesus commanded is not in the PLACE of the Gerizim temple or Jerusalem temple. Rather, worship is in the PLACE of "in spirit." That means in the mind. Worship is "in truth" which means to "dialog" with God through listening to HIS Words and reserving our words for prayer. The specific "worship" words agree with the statement that any other kind of worship will not find God listening.
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. John 4:23
........... God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24
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Clement
of Alexandria, Stromata:
Or go to the bee, and learn how laborious she is; for she, feeding on the whole meadow, produces one honey-comb.
Note 75: But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret (Covered or hidden); and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Matt 6:6
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. John 4:23
For the Jews require signs," in order to faith; "and the Greeks seek after wisdom," plainly those reasonings styled "irresistible," and those others, namely, syllogisms. "But we preach Jesus Christ crucified; to the Jews a stumbling-block,"
Whence their preconceived idea inclines them to disbelieve. For the advent of the Saviour did not make people foolish, and hard of heart, and unbelieving, but made them understanding, amenable to persuasion, and believing.
"But to them who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God, and the wisdom of God." |
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; John 8:31
........... And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32Continue is:
Meno (g3306) men'-o; a prim. verb; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy): - abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for), * thine own.
The New Testament Church is not the building, so worship in the church must take place somewhere else. If we are in the building and "worship in spirit and in truth" then we are engaged in worship in the New Testament church. However, being in the building does not mean that the activities are "the worship service" if someone has a calculated intention of forcing me to "give heed" to them.
This does not mean "worship externally with a good mental attitude." Nor, does it mean to worship "enthusiastically" in order to produce "exhilaration." Paul confirms that our spirit is the PLACE where spiritual worship takes place.
And be renewed (neos) in the spirit (mental disposition) of your mind (nous); Eph 4:23
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Eph 6:17Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Eph 6:18
Worship in the spirit does not mean charismatically or musically which means sexually but SPIRIT is contrasted to OUR flesh.
For we are the circumcision, which
........worship God in the spirit,and rejoice in Christ Jesus,
........ and have no confidence in the flesh. Philippians 3:3The reason was that if you CRACK the process to make it PHYSICAL or related to the flesh [music appeals totally to the flesh] then you permit the professionals to climb on:
Beware of dogs [catamite, flute-players], beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. Phil 3:2
Theree is no exception to the rule that the URGE for music or the PERFORMANCE of music was a MARK of the flute-girls or harpists who "got you piped down with wine" so that you COULD NOT hear the words of Christ. Getting drunk on wine also meant to "get piped down with spiritual arrogance."
I was in the Spirit on the Lords day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Re.1:10
And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus:
worship God:
for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Rev 19:10
So, God is "giving attention" only to those who are "giving attention" to Him.
That probably cannot be done in the modern collective "church" sense. So, what do we do?
Jesus said that "the kingdom is within you" and Paul said that to find Jesus we have to "go outside the camp" of the masses.
If we can find the commands or examples of this kind of worship we will know what Jesus meant. And we will find that the non-Biblical term "music" has no role to play in that worship.
We believe that Paul commanded this form of worship and that the New Testament churches engaged in it. More often, the Corinthian church defines modern worship but it was not Christian worship.
Worship is wherever or whenever we give attention to God by giving attention to His Words:
And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. Acts 17:10
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica,
in that they received the word with all readiness of mind,
and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Acts 17:11Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. Acts 17:12
Remember that Jesus defined worship as "in spirit" and "in truth." Sure, we eat the Lord's Supper but that too is a teaching or showing forth effort and does not earn us points which is the usual understanding of "worship."
Jesus also commanded that prayer be in the closet and in the mind (nous) rather than in the physical holy place or (naos). Jesus commanded that alms be from my "hand" to the "hand" of the needy. Jesus stood up to read the word and demonstrated the common decency to "sit down."
If someone is saying their own prayers next to me they are to make sure that it has rational meaning because I may want to say "amen." However, they cannot lead prayer for me. Therefore, personal worship is the same worship defined in the New Testament Church if it is done both "in spirit" and "in truth." It has to be Scriptural and it has to be done with the involvement of the human spirit. It may be collective but since we have about 166 personal hours and maybe 2 'church' hours devoted to collective worship, our worship is most often "speaking to ourselves" using God's Word and meditating in the heart.
Paul obeyed that as "an approved example":
The Colossian church lived in harmony because they refused to allow room for human teaching to infiltrate. Nevertheless, there was danger.
That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; Col 2:2
........... In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Col 2: 3
Or as Paul says later,
Let the word of Christ (spirit Eph 5:18; John 6:63) dwell (inhabit) in you richly in all wisdom;
........... teaching and admonishing one another
........... in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
........... singing with grace in your hearts
........... to the Lord. Col 3:16[In the Greek OT all of these are forms of Biblical Psalms]. IN defines WHERE the singing takes place.
If the churches ever "worshiped" collectively we have to believe that what they did was defined as worship for the New Testament church. Therefore, it defies the sense of the Bible and all church history to deny that they "assembled" to worship collectively which was reading the Word and chanting the poetic Word.
If we are not happy listening to His words then we tell Him: "We won't listen to you any more."
If you listen to what Paul called "super apostles" or trained rhetoricians you are in mortal danger. Therefore, use Christs "thesaurus" and you won't get slick willied like Eve.
And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing (pacifying) words. Col 2:4
Beguiling means using "para-logic." That is, the songs and sermons are sound-alikes. They get close enough to logic to look like "gospel sermons" or "gospel songs" but they are just to fool you. The "tares" look much like "wheat" but tares are weeds. Therefore, sermonizing and versifying are most often tares to, like Amos 5, 6, 8, starve you to death.
"The system of sermonizing on a text is now almost universally abandoned by all who intend that their hearers should understand the testimony of God." Alexander Campbell
Clement of Alexandria, Recognitions: Chapter XXI.-Heathen Oracles. See Alexander the Oracle Monger
Apollyon or Abbadon are names for Apollo who had a "money tree" oracle at Delphi. Paul alludes to this "uncovered prophesying by women" and indites the ancient Chaldean "familiar spirits" which had been updated from empty, polluted wineskins to large bronze echo chambers and ringing bells.
"Whence it is evident that they since they are demoniac spirits, know some things both more quickly and more perfectly than men; for they are not retarded in their learning by the heaviness of a body. And therefore they, as being spirits, know without delay and without difficulty what physicians attain after a long time and by much labour.
It is not wonderful, therefore, if they know somewhat more than men do; but this is to be observed,
that what they know they do not employ for the salvation of souls,
but for the deception of them, that by means of it
they may indoctrinate them in the worship of false religion.But God, that the error of so great deception might not be concealed, and that He Himself might not seem to be a cause of error in permitting them so great licence to deceive men by divinations, and cures, and dreams,
has of His mercy furnished men with a remedy, and has made the distinction of falsehood and truth patent to those who desire to know.
This, therefore, is that distinction: what is spoken by the true God, whether by prophets or by diverse visions, is always true; but what is foretold by demons is not always true.
It is therefore an evident sign that those things are not spoken by the true God,
........ in which at any time there is falsehood; for in truth there is never falsehood.But in the case of those who speak falsehoods,
........ there may occasionally be a slight mixture of truth,
........ to give as it were seasoning to the falsehoods.
Campbell agreed with Paul who said:
For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. Col 2:5
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
Sermonizing never establishes in the faith and does not speak what has been taught. If it die then the sermonizers could become evangelists if they are hardy enough and self-sacrificing enough.
It was important to teach "the explicit Words" delivered by Christ because the moment men begin to improvize or "meet your needs" or try to make spiritual changes through external means, you have opened the door to an unholy spirit: and they always come in where invited:
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy (sophistry)
and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Col 2: 8
........ For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Col 2: 9
........ And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: Col 2: 10
Paul does not exclude human philosophy or the learning of the age. However, that information may provide background to the Corinthian madness but it is not authority for Christian doctrine.
Paul describes how this false sermonizing works and concludes:
Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. Col 2: 23
Will Worship:
Ethelothreskeia (g1479) eth-el-oth- race-ki'-ah; from 2309 and 2356; voluntary (arbitrary and unwarranted) piety, i.e. sanctimony: - will worship.
Will worship, for instance, seeks to add mechanical music to "worship" God. Jubal and his sibblings are represented in many ancient texts as inventors of the Babylonian form of musical worship.
And his brothers name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. Genesis 4:21
Handle is:
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 "tambourine" and "Tophets" as a symbol of hell came from this word.
This was visible worship and will worship. Therefore, there must be true worship which does not depend upon the will of men.
Wrong or vain worship (para-worship) has a true worship as counterpart:
Threshkeia (g2356) thrace-ki'-ah; from a der. of 2357; ceremonial observance: - religion, worshiping.
From the orgies of Orpheus:
"Nor are these Thracian orgies, from which the word Worship (threskia) is said to be derived; nor rites and mysteries of Orpheus, whom the Greeks admired so much for his wisdom that they devised for him
........... a lyre which draws all things by its music. Nor the tortures of MithrasThroughout the world music is played at religious ceremonies to increase the efficacy and appeal of prayers, hymns, and invocations to divinities.
The power of music to charm the gods is movingly expressed in the Greek story of Orpheus. This mythical figure goes to the underworld to try to have his dead wife, Eurydice, restored to life.
By means of his lyre playing and singing he is able to win over even the god of death, so that Eurydice is allowed to leave the underworld. The continuing potency of the myth (including its tragic conclusion--Orpheus is forbidden to look back at his wife but does so and thus loses her again) is shown by the fact that it has been retold in Europe by numerous composers of opera since the early 17th century.
The word in the Bible is:
Threskos (g2357) thrace'-kos; prob. from the base of 2360; ceremonious in worship (as demonstrative), i.e. pious: - religious.
Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. Acts 26:5
But this I confess unto thee, that after the way (method or means) which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers,
believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: Acts 24:14
Believing is to entrust on'e spirit or have total trust in. Paul made it clear that worship according to the WAY was worshiping God in the spirit or mind which was in direct contradiction to "worship in the flesh."
For we are the circumcision, which
........ worship God in the spirit,and rejoice in Christ Jesus,
........ and have no confidence in the flesh. Philippians 3:3"Spirit" is contrasted to "flesh." Therefore, it is not possible to worship God with the flesh or in the flesh.
One does not just "believe" as a one time act but worship or giving heed to God means to give heed to what He has written for our learning.
And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. Acts 24:15
And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men. Acts 24:16
Askeo (g778) as-keh'-o; prob. from the same as 4632; to elaborate, i.e. (fig.) train (by impl. strive): - exercise.
To the Corinthians. Paul claimed that he would not speak a foreign language "in church." Therefore, we assume that by speaking the Word of God he endorsed the collective church as one of the places for "worship in spirit and in truth."
The Corinthians "speaking in tongues" was singing out of their own "spirit." And Paul told them not to do that.
So, how do we "worship" or get on the way to truth?
After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: Acts 15:16
That the residue (tiny remnant) of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Acts 15:17
Ekzeteo (g1567) ek-zay-teh'-o; from 1537 and 2212; to search out, i.e. (fig.) investigate, crave, demand, (by Hebr.) worship: - en- (re-) quire, seek after (carefully, diligently).
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Heb.11:6
You simply are not even remotely "seeking" God if you "give attention" to secular "make you spiritual" sermons taken from the latest book review. In fact, there can be no attempt to lead people into this kind of worship when we substitute our selves through our words.
Of David before the Warrior Levites were assigned under the king and commanders of the army for the future Temple:
In all that he did he gave thanks to the Holy One, the Most High, with ascriptions of glory;
........... he sang praise with all his heart, and he loved his Maker. Ecclesiasticus 40: 8.
........... He placed singers before the altar, to make sweet melody with their voices. Ecclesiasticus 40:9Using a "musical" term, the Psalmist noted of all "spiritual worship" even under the law:
I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. Ps.77:3
I call (Mention, burn incense) to remembrance my song (h5058) in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. Psalm 77:6Baqash (h1245) baw-kash'; a prim. root; to search out (by any method, spececially in worship or prayer); by impl. to strive after: - ask, beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure, (make) request, require, seek (for).
"Song" can be instrumental but David "spoke to himself in Psalms and made melody in the heart."
David is never said to have "worshiped" God by singing with a harp band. David never LEAD congregational worship.
Arnobius notes: For it is not he who is anxiously thinking of religious rites, and slays spotless victims , who gives piles of incense to be burned with fire,
not he must be thought to worship the deities ,
or alone discharge the duties of religion.
........ True worship is in the heart,
........ and a belief worthy of the gods;
........ ........ nor does it at all avail to bring blood and gore.Arnobius also notes that "music" or sound was part of this sacrificial system. Therefore, he says in many ways: "it does not avail to bring mechanical instruments."
If we hire the Top Gun of the Brotherhood in order to try to hang on to a huge congregation, we obviously are not seeking after the lord.
Diligent search is available only to that tiny residue of those who, in the words of Amos, do not go from sea to see searching for the Word to keep from hungering and thirsting for lack of the Word. Before quoting Amos note that the almost-universal view of Amos is that it was false:
"Sacrifices, rituals, festivals honoring Yahweh abounded, but these rites were tangible evidence of lack of knowledge, for they expressed the popular belief that Yahweh could be pleased and pacified by cultic ceremonies.
"The condemnation of cultic rites introduced in 4:4 f. and 5:4 f. is picked up again with new vehemence. It has been argued that Amos was not opposed to cultic ritual per se but condemned the mind set of the people by which responsibility to Yahweh was performed perfunctorily and without relationship to daily life and society.
"If we take Amos' words as they stand, there seems to be little doubt that he condemned the entire religious pattern--feasts, sacrifices, ritual music, offerings, tithes--everything. Gerald LaRue, History of the O.T.
See that the idolatry of musical worship at Mount Sinai caused God to take away THE BOOK OF THE COVENANT and give Israel THE BOOK OF THE LAW. Along with that He added the curse of "turning them over to worship the starry hosts" (Stephen in Acts 7). Israel condemned by Amos continued this idolatry. Otherwise even in the vilest paganism did singers or instrumentalists go into the holy precincts. See Amos Five.
Their musical worship was evil becaus the leaders said "we don't want to hear your words" and it caused the people to hunger and thirst for the Word and to go into captivity and death:
And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord God, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day: Amos 8:9
And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day. Amos 8:10
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: Amos 8:11
And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it. Amos 8:12
Seeking the Word of God is "worship in spirit and in truth." In Amos, true worship was not religious festival "worship" but:
Seek is: Baqash (h1245) baw-kash'; a prim. root; to search out (by any method, spececially in worship or prayer); by impl. to strive after: - ask, beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure, (make) request, require, seek (for).
Because Israel "gave heed" or sought God in wine, women and song, they failed. Consistent with the ancient stories of Enoch and parallel accounts, when they finally discover that they are dying they go SEEKING the Word of the Lord but they cannot find it.
After God's Messenger came to save us and put down pagan worship involving the external senses, the "little flock" would worship by seeking:
Ekzeteo (g1567) ek-zay-teh'-o; from 1537 and 2212; to search out, i.e. (fig.) investigate, crave, demand, (by Hebr.) worship: - en- (re-) quire, seek after (carefully, diligently).
The prophets understood that they were "filled" or "breathed on" to speak prophecy which was still "hidden from the foundation of the world." The prophets worshiped God by seeking to know the Mind or Spirit of God:
Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 1Pe 1:10
Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 1 Pe.1:11
The root of seek is really the only true "worship" concept in the Synagogue (assembly) or church (assembly). We know that the Jews considered the Synagogue as collective "worship" and so did the early church. Whatever they did, the true worshipers were searching for and giving heed to the Mind or Spirit of God:
Zeteo (g2212) dzay-teh'-o; of uncert. affin.; to seek (lit. or fig.); spec. (by Heb.) to worship (God), or (in a bad sense) to plot (against life): - be (go) about, desire, endeavour, enquire (for), require, (* will) seek (after, for, means). Comp. 4441.
Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying (teaching) of the church. 1 Cor 14:12
In the "singing" passages Paul laid the foundation to make our joint effort "worship."
IF ye then be risen with Christ, seek (g2212) those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Col.3:1
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Col 3:2
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. Col 3:3
This is what Jesus demanded:
God is a Spirit: and they that worship (prostrate self) him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24
Or as the Psalmists says:
My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises. Ps.119:148
........ When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. Ps.63:6Meditate means to "speak to yourselves in Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs."
This is how to "worship" because God isn't seeking those who cannot worship Him in spirit and in truth. The Affections or Mind is
Phroneo (g5426) fron-eh'-o; from 5424; to exercise the mind, i.e. entertain or have a sentiment or opinion; by impl. to be (mentally) disposed (more or less earnestly in a certain direction)...
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, (mind) the things of the Spirit. Rom 8:5
The human spirit has the same meaning:
Pneuma (g4151) pnyoo'-mah; from 4154; a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by anal. or fig. a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by impl.) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, doemon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit: - ghost, life, spirit (-ual, -ually), mind. Comp. 5590. (Rational or immortal soul)
And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Rom 8:27
From this we grasp that God doesn't look to our mouth or body or hand clapping or getting sexually stimulated by the nerve stroking of music. Rather, God seeks those who seek Him in mind or spirit.
Anything which diminishes the power of the "audience" to worship in spirit is anti-worship and therefore anti-Christ.
However, when two or three are gathered together the goal is unity. If you speak the words of Twila Paris and I do not agree with her "theology" then you sow discord and it is not possible to worship in spirit and in truth collectively.
Therefore, we have to establish an atmosphere and not provocation from the pulpit about personal opinions. The way to do this is to collectively speak the words of God by reading or reciting:
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. Col 3:13
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. Col 3:14
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,
to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Col 3:15Let the word of Christ (spirit Eph 5:18; John 6:63) dwell (inhabit) in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Col 3:16 [In the Greek OT all of these are forms of Biblical Psalms]
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name (authority) of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Col 3:17
If the Lord Jesus hasn't commanded it then we cannot "seek God" collectively if we use the LAW OF SILENCE to add something which jerks our emotions around.
Because God is only seeking those who are seeking Him in spirit and in truth, Paul, who spoke only what He heard from the Lord, shows us the only thing defined as worship in the collective sense--other than the one disappointed theoretical person in Corinth--would have fallen on his face if he entered a "church" devoted to teaching the Word. This is the true form of abandoning our words and our thoughts by giving attendance to the reading or teaching the Word of Christ.
The Unified Worship of Diverse Backgrounds (Romans 14).
In Rome, the church was made up of people out of the Orphic, vegetarian, highly musical sect, and the Dionysic meat-eating, wine--drinking, highly musical sect. Paul prescribed a way for people with diverse backgrounds to seek God collectively. The Son set the example by speaking only what He heard from the Father. Both the Hebrew and Greek identify the pleasuring as lifting people with instrumental music. This flowed from the sacrificial altars were the "music" was to give aid and comfort to the priests who took tens of thousands of innocent animals and lifted them up to CUT THEIR THROATS.
See Isaiah 25 which connects the Abominable Branch to SINGING WITH INSTRUMENTAL ACCOMPANIMENT. This was the MARK of the false BRANCH who was Lucifer to the TRUE Branch.
See also Isaiah 30 which shows how God will drive the false teachers into SHEOL to burn up by the use of MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.
WE then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Rom 15:1
Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification (education). Rom 15: 2For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. Rom 15: 3
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Rom 15: 4
Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: Rom 15: 5
That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Rom 15: 6
........ Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. Rom 15: 7
Receive means "fellowship" and included "meal fellowship" with those who hold strange views. However, just speaking the words of Christ as He spoke them would allow the "magical" power of truth to penetrate into spirit or mind so that "the morning star arises in our hearts."
It is not possible to "fellowship" those who refuse to follow this absolute rule for allowing diverse people to collectively seek the Word of God.
If the Romans had violated Romans 14 two or three groups would have had their flutes, cymbals and drums and would have been singing non-Biblical text. They would have been sounding brass, tinkling cymbals and piping with the instruments of warfare.
By speaking the revealed Word they could receive one another.
Those who miss apply Romans 14 do no want to receive those who obey Romans 15, Ephesians 5 and Col. 3.
Romans 14 and 15 has a Romans ten which warns about the musical idolatry at Mount Sinai and a chapter one which reminds them that God "turned Israel over to worship the starry host" at Mount Sinai. This was Molech, Saturn, Chiun and other versions of star worship which always afflicted Jerusalem which Revelation 18 dubs "Sodom."
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Rom 1:24
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped (venerated) and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. Rom 1:25
Rather than worship the "wandering stars" or planets (including the sun and moon), people are supposed to worship or seek the Creator of elemental principles:
Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The Lord is his name: Amos 5:8
Their musical worship which continued from Mount Gerezim and Zion proves that they were seeking the creatures rather than the Creator.
Seek means to give attention to or worship:
Baqash (h1245) baw-kash'; a prim. root; to search out (by any method, spececially in worship or prayer); by impl. to strive after: - ask, beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure, (make) request, require, seek (for).
However, there was always the PLACE called Gerezim and Jerusalem where the system took away the money and the Word of God. Like the later Samaritans, they knew something was wrong but they had lost their chance to worship God by seeking the Word:
And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it. Amos 8:12
Peter defined how we seek or worship God.
Furthermore, as an inspired apostle he knew that his task was to write down his direct teaching from Christ along with his experiences to show how people go wrong if they use anything other than "the truth" as a way to seek, give attendance to or worship God.
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 2 Peter 1:10
For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1: 11
Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. 2 Peter 1: 12
Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; 2 Peter 1:13
Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. 2 Peter 1: 14
Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things alway in remembrance. 2 Peter 1: 15
Sermonizing and Versifying Opens the Ddoor To Cunning Fables.
Like Paul, Peter made it important to teach the Word even as Jesus stood up and read the Old Testament or spoke His Word by directly listening to the Spirit Father. Why? Why, the moment you begin to cut and paste to "sermonize" or "versify" you open up the "narrow gate" to allow the false teachers a way to get in and market their own god, christ and bible:
For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 2 Peter 1: 16
Sophizo (g4679) sof-id'-zo; from 4680; to render wise; in a sinister acceptation, to form "sophisms", i.e. continue plausible error: - cunningly devised, make wise.
This is the Para-truth which is the only justification for sermonizing or versifying.
The world of commerce killed Jesus when they determined that He intended for the temple to come down for the third and final time and be replaced with a spiritual temple.
This meant that "doctors of the law" would have lost their place in the world. Stephen agreed with Amos and Ben Sirach by confirming that the Monarchy was anti-God but being lost beyond redemption, God gave the kings to lead them into the "like the nation's worship" they had chosen for themselves in the musical idolatry of Egypt. Speaking of Elijah:
Who heard rebuke at Sinai and judgments of vengeance at Horeb; Ecclesiasticus 48: 7.
........... who anointed kings to inflict retribution, and prophets to succeed you. Ecclesiasticus 48: 8.
In the world of "dominant theologians" or "dominant pastors" as opposed to ministers or servants, the elders have imitated the Israelite elders and demanded: "Set a king over us." And, therefore, there goes the "worship in spirit and in truth" because our king must be victorious over your king. God often grants our prayers but then sends leanness into our hearts:
O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help. Hosea 13:9
I will be thy king: where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes? Hosea 13:10
I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath. Hosea 13:11
The error in all of the "musical" passages is that it was both a cause but then a MARK that they had been branded because they refused to give heed or worship God by being devoted to "every word which proceeds out of the mouth of God."
This was not a minor sin but it was proof that they were not children of God but of the devil:
Jesus identified the Devil by his "speaking on his own." That is, his language is not Spiritual language. This "self-speak" makes the Devil a liar:
Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. John 8:42
Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. John 8:43
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44
........... And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. John 8:45
Therefore, Paul and Peter want us to grasp that there is no way to cut and paste the Word without destroying the Spirit power Christ put into it:
For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 2 Peter 1: 17
And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 2 Peter 1: 18
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye (1) take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the (2) day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 2 Peter 1: 19
What the commercial religious world did not grasp was (is) that when we get deeply into the Word of Christ we gain the Mind or Spirit of God.
1. Take heed is the one of the rare "worship" word connected with the Gospel:
Proserchomai (g4334) pros-er'-khom-ahee; from 4314 and 2064 (includ. its alt.); to approach, i.e. (lit.) come near, visit, or (fig.) worship, assent to: - (as soon as he) come (unto), come thereunto, consent, draw near, go (near, to, unto).
2. Day Dawn:
Diaugazo (g1306) dee-ow-gad'-zo; from 1223 and 826; to glimmer through, i.e. break (as day): - dawn.
But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness (sophistry), nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but,
by manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every mans conscience in the sight of God. 2 Cor 4:2
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 2 Cor 4:3
In whom the god of this world (age) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not,
........... lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 2 Cor 4:4
There are many ancient stories including the Book of Enoch which shows that Lucifer used Jubal under various names to introduce mix-sex choirs, instrumental music and other mind-control devices to seducce the people away from the "light" from the Word on God's Holy Mountain.
Therefore, like speaking in tongues, when men sermonize and versify the church violates direct commands and the example of Paul.
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus sake. 2 Cor 4:5
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Cor 4:6
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 2 Cor 4:7
Paul told Timothy to do the same thing. This is then the way to worship "in spirit" and "in truth" and follows the command and example of Jesus:
Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 1 tim 4:13
Give attendance is a "worship" word:
Prosecho (g4337) pros-ekh'-o; from 4314 and 2192; (fig.) to hold the mind (3563 impl.) towards, i.e. pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to: - (give) attend (-ance, - ance at, -ance to, unto), beware, be given to, give (take) heed (to, unto) have regard.
Jesus, Himself, gave attendance to the words He heard from the Father and did not speak His own words. This is both an approved example but He also commanded the Apostles to preach the gospel which was just what He preached or inspired. Paul preached only what He heard from Christ and commanded the churches to do the same thing,
Therefore, not even being inspired gives one the authority to compose their own songs and sermons:
Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 1 tim 4:14
Wherefore I put thee in remembrance, that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. 2 Ti.1:6
Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. 1 tim 4:15
Meletao (g3191) mel-et-ah'-o; from a presumed der. of 3199; to take care of, i.e. (by impl.) revolve in the mind: - imagine, (pre-) meditate.
(1) Take heed unto thyself, and unto the (3) doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. 1Ti.4:16
1. Take heed is:
Epecho (g1907) ep-ekh'-o; from 1909 and 2192; to hold upon, i.e. (by impl.) to retain; (by extens.) to detain; (with impl. of 3563 to pay attention to: - give (take) heed unto, hold forth, mark, stay.
Of the many things Paul has taught including obedience to masters he says:
If any man teach otherwise, and (2) consent not to wholesome words,
even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 1 Tim 6:3He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 1 Tim 6:4
Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. 1 Tim 6:5
Perverse disputing is meddling in the business of the local body. Being busybodies who are employed while God gave no room for employment (support) except for the evalgelist who does not abide or remain too long.
The person is misemployed and stays too long:
Paradiatribe (g3859) par-ad-ee-at-ree-bay'; from a comp. of 3844 and 1304; misemployment, i.e. meddlesomeness: - perverse disputing.
Diatribo (g1304) dee-at-ree'-bo; from 1223 and the base of 5147; to wear through (time), i.e. remain: - abide, be, continue, tarry
Furthermore, they actually claim that being godly means that they have a right to abide with you even if they are misemployed. However, this is the way the early church understood the great commission to "go" and Paul's allowance for evangelists. The Didache commands:
Whosoever, therefore, shall come and teach you all these things aforesaid, him do ye receive; Didache 11:1
but if the teacher himself turn and teach another doctrine with a view to subvert you, hearken not to him;
- but if he come to add to your righteousness,
- and the knowledge of the Lord, receive him as the Lord. Didache 11:2
There is no authority to "thresh the wheat over and over" until it is ground into meal. If the teacher knows something you don't know then listen. If he does not know anything new then send him on his way.
But concerning the apostles and prophets, thus do ye according to the doctrine of the Gospel. Didache 11:3
Let every apostle who cometh unto you be received as the Lord. Didache 11:4
He will remain one day, and if it be necessary, a second; but if he remain three days, he is a false prophet. Didache 11:5
And let the apostle when departing take nothing but bread until he arrive at his resting-place; but if he ask for money, he is a false prophet. Didache 11:6
And ye shall not tempt or dispute with any prophet who speaketh in the spirit; for every sin shall be forgiven, but this sin shall not be forgiven. Didache 11:7
But not every one who speaketh in the spirit is a prophet, but he is so who hath the disposition of the Lord; by their dispositions they therefore shall be known, the false prophet and the prophet. Didache 11:8
And every prophet who ordereth in the spirit that a table shall be laid, shall not eat of it himself, but if he do otherwise, he is a false prophet; Didache 11:9
However, if there are no genuine apostles or prophets:
Elect, therefore, for yourselves bishops and deacons worthy of the Lord, men who are meek and not covetous, and true and approved,
for they perform for you the service of prophets and teachers. Didache 15:1
These para-diatribers are no more to be tolerated than the para-logic people Paul warned against:
And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing (pacifying) words. Col 2:4
Paralogizomai (g3884) par-ad-ee-at-ree-bay'; from a comp. of 3844 and 1304; misemployment, i.e. meddlesomeness: - perverse disputing.
2. Consent from 1 Tim 6:4 above is:
Proserchomai (g4334) pros-er'-khom-ahee; from 4314 and 2064 (includ. its alt.); to approach, i.e. (lit.) come near, visit, or (fig.) worship, assent to: - (as soon as he) come (unto), come thereunto, consent, draw near, go (near, to, unto).
3. Doctrine is the teaching of Christ:
Didaskalia (g1319) did-as-kal-ee'-ah; from 1320; instruction (the function or the information): - doctrine, learning, teaching.
> Let the word of Christ dwell (indwell, inhabit) in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
Didasko (g1321) did-as'-ko; a prol. (caus.) (to learn); to teach (in the same broad application): - teach
> singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colossians 3:16
Your words may be "about" Christ or may be para-logical but they are not the words of Christ and if you do not "consent" then there is no truth in you.
> Speaking (preaching) to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
Laleo (g2980) lal-eh'-o; a prol. form of an otherwise obsol. verb; to talk, i.e. utter words: - preach, say, speak (after), talk, tell, utter. Comp. 3004.
> singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Ephesians 5:19
Paul commanded what God truly "seeks" from people worshiping in spirit and in truth.
> > Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 1 tim 4:13
Prosecho (g4337) pros-ekh'-o; from 4314 and 2192; (fig.) to hold the mind (3563 impl.) towards, i.e. pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to: - (give) attend (-ance, - ance at, -ance to, unto), beware, be given to, give (take) heed (to, unto) have regard.
Nous (g3563) nooce; prob. from the base of 1097; the intellect, i.e. mind (divine or human; in thought, feeling, or will); by impl. meaning: - mind, understanding. Comp. 5590
This word has the same meaning as spirit.
Other versions make it clear that this is the public assembly:
Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 1 Ti 4:13NIV, NAS, RSV,
Until I get there, read and explain the Scriptures to the church; preach God's Word. 1 Tim 4:13LIV
Timothy had "charisma" bestowed by Paul and with the elders. This was "deliverance from passion." However, this did not give Timothy the right to improvise.
Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 1 Tim 4:14
> > Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. 1 tim 4:15
Meletao (g3191) mel-et-ah'-o; from a presumed der. of 3199; to take care of, i.e. (by impl.) revolve in the mind: - imagine, (pre-) meditate.
Worship "in spirit" is giving attendance or giving heed to Christ's Word. Once it has been taught and explained where needed, then the purpose is that we can take it into the heart and meditate upon it. This is educational and true devotion to God.
Why the Biblical resources rather than human compositions?
All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
- and is profitable for doctrine,
- for reproof, for correction,
- for instruction in righteousness: 2 Tim 3:16
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Tim 3:17
Timothy had known the Old Testament Scriptures and had been taught and endowed by the teachings of Paul and the elders. We knew that he had the "oral" Scriptures as they were generally known before people received written copies. We do not know what New Testament letters Timothy had.
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Tim 4:1
Preach (herald, publish) the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 2 Tim 4:2
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching (didasko: teaching doctrine) in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. Mt.9:35
We noted that in the first letter Paul commanded what Timothy was to do:
Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 1 Ti 4:13NIV, NAS, RSV,
Until I get there, read and explain the Scriptures to the church; preach God's Word. 1 Tim 4:13LIV
Consistent with the syngaogue, there were no 'preachers' in the local church. Even a boy could read the Word of God in the synagogue and might be able to explain it.
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 16:16Imitating Jesus, Paul and Paul's command, spreading the gospel means teaching doctrine such as baptism.
The parallel between "the word" or Logos and "the gospel" is established. And the parallel between "reading" and "preaching" is established.
Worship In Spirit and Truth
Let's recycle to Jesus: He said that we will no longer worship at the PLACE of Gerezim or Jerusalem. Rather, we will worship in the PLACE of spirit or mind and in TRUTH which is His word.
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. John 4:21
Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship; for salvation (security) is of the Jews. John 4:22
Worship "in spirit" does not mean with excitement. Rather, it means that the temple, the naos, the mind is the only place of worship.
- For we are the circumcision, which
- worship God in the spirit,
- and rejoice in Christ Jesus,
- and have no confidence in the flesh. Philippians 3:3
If there is not stated place but the human spirit then there is no stated "personnel" except the senior males of the local group.
Alexander Campbell noted of the Regeneration of the Church:
"And, first of all, be it observed, that in some churches there appears to be wanting a proper method of handling the Scriptures to the edification of the brethren. It is admitted by all the holy brethren that the Scriptures of truth, called the living oracles,
........... are the great instrument of God for all his purposes in the saints on earth."Through them they are converted to God, comforted, consecrated, made meet for an inheritance among the sanctified, and qualified for every good word and work. Every thing, then, depends upon the proper understanding of these volumes of inspiration. They can only operate as far as they are understood.
"The system of sermonizing on a text is now almost universally abandoned by all who intend that their hearers should understand the testimony of God.
Orators and exhorters may select a word, a phrase, or a verse; but all who feed the flock of God with knowledge and understanding know that this method is wholly absurd.
"Philological lectures upon a chapter are only a little better. The discussion of any particular topic, such as faith, repentance, election, the Christian calling, may sometimes be expedient:
but in a congregation of Christians, the reading and examining the different books in regular succession, every disciple having the volume in his hand, following up the connection of things, examining parallel passages, interrogating and being interrogated, fixing the meaning of particular [250] words and phrases by comparison with the style of that writer or speaker, or with that of others; intermingling these exercises with prayer and praises, and keeping the narrative, the epistle, the speech,
so long as is necessary for the youngest disciple in the congregation to understand it, and to become deeply interested in it, will do more in one year than is done in many on the plan of the popular meetings of the day.
Your children under female domination are cutting out paper dolls.
The state rituals of a doomed nation were conducted at the temple. However, the Jews could always "worship in spirit and in truth" as many of the Psalms prove.
The Greek influence in both Gerezim and Jerusalem caused them to worship concepts such as wisdom (Sophia), life (Zoe) and even truth or Alethia. Israel had always been under the worship of Molech or Remphan or Saturn of Chiun. This was the worship of the starry host God had turned them over to as a result of musical idolatry at Mount Sinai. Amos shows that they continued this musical worship. Here is the "ecumenical urge of Satan."
In those days lawless men came forth from Israel, and misled many, saying, 1 Maccabees 1:11
"Let us go and make a covenant with the Gentiles round about us, for since we separated from them many evils have come upon us."
This proposal pleased them, 1 Maccabees 1: 12
and some of the people eagerly went to the king. He authorized them to observe the ordinances of the Gentiles. 1 Maccabees 1: 13
So they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem, according to Gentile custom, 1 Maccabees 1: 14
Sure, just like the Methodists.
The Levites also wanted to restore themselves to the role they played prior to the Return. According to Josephus, the Levitical musicians had brought evil on the kingdom before and would do it again. This is within the context of Agrippa's new Seeker Center.
However, Jesus Is the Spirit of Truth:
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. John 4:23
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24
You see, you don't have any choice: if you worship with your body and by stimulating your human senses then God isn't seeking you in the first place. Do your "worship" externally but it will be in vain.
You don't have any choice because Jesus told us where God would be seeking to meet us. That is in the spirit or the human mind. Therefore, if you want to go "boldly before the throne of Grace" in the mind (nous) as holy place (naos) then Jesus said that it is a MUST. That is a LAW.
Jesus said that we should not "seek" the kingdom of God in some external PLACE under the dominion of some neo-priest who sees godliness as a means of financial gain. Why? Why, because "the kingdom of God is within you." And God as Spirit dwells in our Spirit.
Jesus didn't say that worship was of the "attitude" or concept which was with enthusiasm a word coined by Philo: Enthus o mania. This was the madness of Corinth.
Rather, "in spirit" is a place to replace carnal temples because God (full Deity) lives in or indwells our spirit, mind or heart.
The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. John 4:25
Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. John 4:26
Since the Word of truth in the Old Testament came through the Jews we cannot begin to understand the "gospel" or spiritual worship without giving heed to the Old Testament story. This has always been the meaning of spiritual worship:
I call (Mention, burn incense) to remembrance my song (h5058) in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. Psalm 77:6
By learning by reciting the poetic version of Hebrew history, we are "brought to Christ" who is the final chapter.
And it will always come as a surprise when God identifies those whom He is seeking because they are seeking Him:
And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her? John 4:27
Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow,
...........considering the end of their conversation. Heb 13:7
........... Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Heb 13:8Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines: For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. Heb 13:9
........... We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. Heb 13:10For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Heb 13:11
Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Heb 13:12
Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. Heb 13:13
For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. Heb 13:14By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name. Heb 13:15
........... But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Heb 13:16
You see: the meaning of "speak to one another" does not mean "sing" to one another. And the fruit of the lips is not the fruit of the mechanical instrument.
What God Has Always Sought as Worship in Spirit and in Truth
The literal trumpet player:
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 (overseer): Eze 33:2
If when he seeth the sword (from "to parch through drought") come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; Eze 33:3
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. Eze 33:4
But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow (clang or clatter an instrument) 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 watchmans hand. Eze 33:6
Remember, that this is why the trumpet could not be used along with their "praise the Lord ceremonies" when they came into assembly to hear from God. (Num. 10:7)
The spiritual "trumpet player":
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. Eze 33:7
When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Eze 33:8
Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live? Eze 33:10
Isaiah also shows that the voice should sound like a trumpet if we want to communicate to people:
CRY aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. Isaiah 58: 1
Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God. Isaiah 58: 2
Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. Isaiah 58: 3
Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. Isaiah 58: 4
Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? Isaiah 58: 5
Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Isaiah 58: 6
Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Isaiah 58: 7
Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward. Isaiah 58: 8
Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; Isaiah 58: 9
And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: Isaiah 58: 10
And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. Isaiah 58:11
And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. Isaiah 58: 12
If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath,
from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him,
not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure,
nor speaking thine own words: Isaiah 58: 13Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father:
........... for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. Isaiah 58:14
But, what about Sunday Worship Services?
Well, we saw that Jesus took away the "contribution" by paying the temple tax and by directing our alms directly to the needy which eliminates the "overhead" or cut. Paul insisted that "giving" was not a command but a free will offering. We are not restricted about our money but the "authorization" was only for a one-time collection for "famine relief."
We quoted the Didache above which allowed even one who still claimed to be a prophet or apostle to remain only two or three days and if he asked for money he was a fraud.
However, when we serve others we worship God by "giving heed" to Him. The elders will accept a check on Thursday morning so that the worship is not in the act but honoring God by serving His children.
"Leading" someone else in prayer is one of those strange views. Even under the Law of Moses, people could pray for themselves and God would hear from heaven. If we have to be "led" in prayer no wonder we have to be "led in worship" and we are worse off than a Jew under the Law of Moses.
Jesus put our prayers in private places. Modern Jews use the "prayer cloth" as tabernacle or closet.
Jesus stood up to read the Scriptures and then sat down. That seems to do violence to the "pulpit and podium" which in the cathedral-church model is termed the holy place. The Restoration Movement got rid of the sermonizing task so the leader, imitating Jesus, can sit down and read and explain the Word.
The command was to teach the revealed Word of God. That seems to eliminate "singing" as the primary focus of the modern church. Because our form of singing did not exist, we are sure that Scripture does not anticipate modern inventions to make worship acceptable.
Corinth did not assemble to eat the Lord's Supper so we assume that they should have assembled for that specific purpose. But the Lord's Supper is called "remembering" or teaching. We do it and give heed to Jesus and therefore we worship. If we assemble to "do an act of worship" then we probably "give head" to the process rather than to Jesus.
Preaching meant evangelizing as a herald. That seems to knock the dominant pastor out unless there is such a thing as a "located traveling salesman."
The operative word in the established assembly was not preaching but dialoguing. So, there goes "preaching a chop-job as an act of worship."
The synagogue was more school and community learning center. It was not a pagan worship center and had no praise service. The Shema to acknowledge just one God person and the benediction was again quoting Scripture.
The Ekklesia term was used because there was no David-like "standing army." The people assembled for a specific purpose and disbanded. Paul didn't authorize "doing all things" but insisted that "all things" contribute to edification which is education. If it doesn't teach it isn't there.
Conclusion: we can "worship" God in the literal sense of "falling flat on our face." However, Jesus gave a more practical way which does not have to point the body toward Jerusalem and Mecca and repeat prayers by rote.
We can "speak to ourselves in Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs" and we can "make melody in the heart" even on the job.
This is the meaning of truth (speaking the Word to ourselves) and meditating on it "in spirit" or in the mind.
The other acts are not defined as worship because the word has a very narrow meaning of bowing or falling like a dog licking his mater's shoes.
However, Jesus said that we can worship "continually" by worshiping "in spirit." We can bow to Him by learning and meditating on His Word. This can but probably rarely happens when we are "giving attention" to the performance at the "holy place."
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Alexander Campbell noted: And, first of all, be
it observed, that in some churches there appears
to be wanting a proper method of handling the
Scriptures to the edification of the brethren. It is admitted by
all the holy brethren that the Scriptures of
truth, called the living oracles,
The system of sermonizing on a text is now almost universally abandoned by all who intend that their hearers should understand the testimony of God. Orators and exhorters may select a word, a phrase, or a verse; but all who feed the flock of God with knowledge and understanding know that this method is wholly absurd.
This searching, examining, comparing, and ruminating upon the Holy Scriptures in private, in the family, in the congregation, can not fail to make us learned in the knowledge of God and in the knowledge of man.
The congregations of the saints want system in furthering the knowledge of this book. The simple reading of large portions in a desultory manner is not without some good effect; for there is light, and majesty, and life, in all the oracles of God; no man can listen to them without edification.
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Clement of Alexandria noted that:
He who obeys Him has the advantage in all things, follows God, obeys the Father, knows Him through wandering, loves God, loves his neighbour, fulfils the commandment, seeks the prize, claims the promise.But it has been God's fixed and constant purpose to save the flock of men: for this end the good God sent the good Shepherd.
And the Word, having unfolded the truth, showed to men the height of salvation, that either repenting they might be saved, or refusing to obey, they might be judged.
This is the proclamation of righteousness: to those that obey, glad tidings; to those that disobey, judgment.
The loud trumpet, when sounded, collects the soldiers, and proclaims war. And shall not Christ, breathing a strain of peace to the ends of the earth, gather together His own soldiers, the soldiers of peace?
Well, by His blood, and by the word, He has gathered the bloodless host of peace, and assigned to them the kingdom of heaven.
The trumpet of Christ is His Gospel. He hath blown it, and we have heard. "Let us array ourselves in the armour of peace, putting on the breastplate of righteousness, and taking the shield of faith, and binding our brows with the helmet, of salvation; and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God," (Eph. vi. 14-17. ) let us sharpen. (hoplon)n)
Weapon and instrument are the same in both Hebrew and Greek
And even things without life (lifeless musical instruments) giving sound (musical note), whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? 1 Cor 14:7
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers (g2888) of the darkness of this world (age), against spiritual wickedness in high places. Epesians 6:12
Wrestle is:
Pale (g3823) pal'-ay; from pallo, (to vibrate; another form for 906); wrestling: - / wrestle
Of Vibrato: "Preliminary findings to this point in the research have led me to look more closely into frequency and resonance. The resonant frequency of our skulls is around 3.5 Hertz, and this coincides with the 14th sub-harmonic of G above middle C, which is the main frequency used in the 'Phoenix and the Firestone'. This is the frequency directly connected to the pineal gland and is, therefore, linked to the transcendent realm and the expansion of the subconscious. Sir Andrew Wagner.
Psallo (g5567) psal'-lo; prob. strengthened from psao , (to rub or touch the surface; comp. 5597); to twitch or twang, i.e. to play on a stringed instrument (celebrate the divine worship with music and accompanying odes): - make melody, sing (psalms)
Psocho (g5597) pso'-kho; prol. from the same base as 5567; to triturate, i.e. (by anal.) to rub out (kernels from husks with the fingers or hand): - rub
Psomion (g5596) pso-mee'-on; dim. from a der. of the base of 5597; a crumb or morsel (as if rubbed off), i.e. a mouthful: - sop.
The Rulers: Kosmokrator (g2888) kos-mok-rat'-ore; from 2889 and 2902; a world-ruler, an epithet of Satan: - ruler.
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 2 Co.10:3
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 2 Co.10:4
Hoplon (g3696) hop'-lon; prob. from a prim. heεpoΡ , (to be busy about); an implement or utensil or tool (lit. or fig., espec. offensive for war): - armour, instrument, weapon
FORASMUCH then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 1 Peter 4:1
Hoplizo (g3695) hop-lid'-zo; from 3696; to equip (with weapons [mid. and fig.]): - arm self.
"So the apostle in the spirit of peace commands. These are our invulnerable weapons: armed with these, let us face the evil one; "the fiery darts of the evil one" let us quench with the sword-points dipped in water, that,
have been baptized by the Word, returning grateful thanks for the benefits we have received,
and honouring God through the Divine Word. "For while thou art yet speaking," it is said, "He will say, Behold, I am beside thee." (Isa. lviii. 9.)
O this holy and blessed power, by which God has fellowship with men! Better far, then, is it to become at once the imitator and the servant of the best of all beings;
for only by holy service will any one be able to imitate God, and to serve and worship Him only by imitating Him.
"The heavenly and truly divine love comes to men thus, when in the soul itself the spark of true goodness, kindled in the soul by the Divine Word, is able to burst forth into flame; and, what is of the highest importance, salvation runs parallel with sincere willingness-choice and life being, so to speak, yoked together.
Wherefore this exhortation of the truth alone, like the most faithful of our friends, abides with us till our last breath, and is to the whole and perfect spirit of the soul the kind attendant on our ascent to heaven.
See material we have presented about the word PSALLO and PRICKING of the arrows shot forth by "singing" bows in contrast to melody as SHOOTING FORTH HYMNS.
However, the people did assemble and they thought that it was for "worship" and people have acknowledged for 2,000 years that we do something collectively and all call it worship. To that long history of "worship" music has been universally rejected as having any more to do with spiritual worship than did its pagan counterpart-dancing and sexual practices. In the classics, "music" almost always includes "singing and dancing." Since the Bible does not use the "music" word in connection with anything called worship, we are safe in concluding that it has no role to play.
See how Thomas Campbell understood these principles.
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