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Decisions on Hymn singing
We are indebted to our brethren for stirring us up to consider this important aspect of our Ecclesial life. Our criteria for deciding on acceptable worship has been from the guidance given by the spirit through the Word. Our conclusions are therefore made available for others to consider.
We have long been concerned about inclusions in the 1964 book of apostate hymns from the churches of Christendom one example will suffice:-
Hymn 51 "O little town of Bethlehem" This is included word for word in "The Royal School Of Church Music" hymn book. On the front cover it is asserted it is to be "Sung with the Spirit" which in church vernacular means "The Holy Spirit". We heard the Church choir sing this in the streets as part of their Xmas festivities in 2000.
Odd that the church is quite clear and open that this Hymn teaches that the Christ of the trinity is entering the hearts of believers through the holy spirit of the trinity, and yet some Christadelphians are reluctant to acknowledge that it teaches this!!
Christadelphians do not believe in direct guidance in the heart of the believer from the Holy Spirit other than the third party medium of the utterances of men moved by God to speak the infallible word of God which in this age is only available on record in the scriptures :-
2 Tim 3:16
16: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
The prophets also being students of their own utterances:-
I Pet I:11
11: 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.
As the gentiles called out of the nations for the Name of God (Acts 15:14) our desire as John taught, is to worship the Father in spirit and truth:-
John 4:23&24
23: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.
24: God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Our collective worship includes praise to the Father through singing but what shall we sing?
Paul writes about Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs. It is surely evident that to be "filled with the spirit" and to "let the word of Christ dwell in you richly" are synonymous terms. To let the word of Christ dwell in us we are all agreed comes from the mental digestion of scripture. It follows then that teaching one another in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs is to use these portions of scripture.
What are Hymns and Spiritual Songs. A little work with a concordance will show that "Hymns" are particularly used of "Psalms of Praise" and "spiritual songs" are confirmed as "Songs of the Spirit" of which there are many outside the collection of the Psalms.
Continued on News page Three
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