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ASK, Inc.2009 Newsletters
WHAT MUSIC? John H. Stoll, Ph.D. Executive Director, ASK, Inc. In Christian circles today, much controversy revolves around the type of music that is sung. This has caused congregations to have two worship services, one traditional and one contemporary. Generally, it is the older generation that attends the traditional, while the younger generation goes to the contemporary. This, in itself fractures the Christian family into two distinctive parts. In Titus 2:1-8 the Bible admonishes older more mature Christians to give wise counsel to younger, less mature Christians. The separation of two groups in the Church does not work to this end, since both groups hardly know each other, and the less mature younger ones, are deprived of the mature counsel and help of their older peers. As one reflects on the songs and hymns that are sung, there are two elements that consist of the singing: the one is the melody that awakens the emotions, and the other is the lyrics, that enter the mind, to challenge one’s thinking. Both elements are important to the spiritual fulfillment of the worshipper, that should prepare one for the message of God’s word. For hundreds of years Christians have sung the great hymns of the faith, which have enriched the soul, through the melody, and more importantly through the lyrics, that have been basically Biblical principles, couched in beautiful hymnody. Most of these great hymns have been written by Godly people, who through experiences in their lives, both good and bad, have inspired them to write great lyrics, put to music, that have blessed Christians for countless years. These hymns have stood the test of time. One may go to a Christian bookstore and find books that tell the story behind these hymns, and just the reading of how they came to be, becomes a blessing as one reads. In the past generation, there has been introduced into the music of the Church, the so-called “Praise Sings”, along with the “Praise Team”, a small group of musicians, that lead in the singing of these songs. Usually these songs employ few different words, which are repeated over and over, and though they exalt the Lord, and hopefully enrich the lives of those who sing, they do very little to teach the truths of God’s word through the lyrics. They may be classified as the “Seven-eleven songs”, that is, they are seven words repeated eleven times, which may emotionally minister to the individual, but in reality are “spiritual pablum”, that does not prepare one for the teaching of God’s word. The justification for these kind of songs, is that the old hymns of the faith, just don’t do it for the younger generation, and if the Church is to reach out to the youth of today, we must have a different generation of songs. This is understandable, in the desire to meet the spiritual needs of seeking people, but it is important to elevate them to the great truths of God’s word, rather than to descend to a lower level of lyrics that are fairly without much substance, spiritually speaking. Even the non-Christian music of the past, such as patriotic songs, symphonies, college songs, etc. still enthrall people today. Why should we jettison the Church’s marvelous hymnody to these songs that have little substance? Is it not the Christian's place to lead a searching person to a higher level of music that lifts up the soul, through lyrics that glorify the Lord, and teach one the great truths of the Christian faith ? The Bible teaches us that God reaches out to us, both through the intellect as well as through the emotions. These go together to convey the wholeness of God’s truth to we who are His children. In Hebrews 10:16, God’s covenant with His people is both through the mind and the heart. The youth of today know very little of the everlasting great hymns of the faith, as seen in our hymn books, which today are seldom used. The older generation, raised repeatedly on these great hymns, are many times blessed by the truths written into them. So, as one drives along the highway, or working in the house, or wherever, these hymns resonate in one’s mind, they lift the spirit, bless one’s life, and bring a sense of peace and joy, as they are repeated in one’s thoughts. The praise songs just don’t “cut it”. A whole generation has been deprived of what God has used to bless Christian’s minds. Emotions become the vehicle through which the lyrics enter the mind. And, the mind is that which controls character development and behaviors. The worldly music and beat opens young people’s minds to lyrics that are self centered, humanistic, and mostly against Biblical principles. Shouldn’t Christians emphasize the great hymns of the faith, to instill Biblical principles into the minds and hearts of our youth, so that Christian character development is Christ like and in accordance with God’s word? As pleasant and good the praise songs may be, they do not Biblically educate or develop Christ like character. An excellent illustration of how God would develop our character is found in the life of Moses in Deuteronomy 31, 32. Moses was coming to the end of a long and fruitful life, in leading the children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt, through forty years of wilderness wanderings, and on the verge of entering the promised land. Most of the people of Israel at that time, had never been in Egypt. They knew little of the four hundred years of bondage, and little of the desert wanderings. So, God in his wisdom told Moses to write their history in a song (Deut. 31:19,22,30). Deuteronomy 32 is the song of Moses, which he gave to the children of Israel. If one reads the lengthy chapter, it is easily seen the record of their past history. God knew that to place the lyrics of their past history in a song, would be a most excellent way to instill within them what God had done for them. And, the means by which this was accomplished was through song, because they would run it through their minds, over and over again. This is what the great hymns of the faith can do for Christians today, and especially for our young people, who are constantly beset with worldly music everywhere they go. They need to repeat over and over in their minds, the great truths of the Christian faith. And hymnody is the most excellent way in which to instill God’s ways in their character development, and affirm Biblical truths. If we, as Christians are to combat the ways of the world in our children, and instill in their lives and character development which is consonant with Biblical truth, we need to not only teach them Biblical principles, we need to use the great hymns of the faith, to affirm what is taught. We need to get back to using our hymn books, and for our choirs to sing the great anthems of the faith, so that in every aspect of life, our youth of today are inundated with Biblical truths. Only in this way will we be able to combat Satan’s ways in controlling the minds and lives of our children. God’s covenant with we who are His children is best seen in Hebrews 10:16, where He says, “This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, says the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts (i.e. their emotions), and in their minds (i.e. their intellect) will I write them”.
John H. Stoll, Ph.D. Executive Director, ASK, Inc. During the past few years, many changes have gone on, both in the world, as well as in the Church. In the world, significant changes in declension have come in most every aspect of life. The Church has tried to accommodate itself to these changes, in order to meet the spiritual needs of its people, as well as carrying out its mission statement to spread the Gospel to the world (Matt. 28:19,20). In order to be able to evaluate the ministry of the Church, it is important to understand what the purpose of the Church is, in an ungodly world of today. The mission of the Church is well stated, but on what foundation is it to be carried out. There have been many purposes suggested, and short, pithy statements have been given, most of which have merit. However, if one looks at the overall concept of the Bible, it may be found in one word, TRUTH. Therefore, the purpose of the mission of the Church of Jesus Christ, must be, “To Proclaim the Truth, as revealed by God, in the Bible”. If the mission statement of the Church, is to spread the Gospel to all the world, what is the Gospel? It is the truth, as revealed by God, that is found in the Bible. This truth is what the Church is to proclaim, therefore, its purpose. The most direct indicator of this revelation from God, was stated by Jesus Christ himself, when he stated in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes unto the Father, but by me”. This makes Biblical Christianity exclusive, and the only true way to eternal life. In John 17:3, Jesus said, “And this is life eternal, that they might know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent”. Again, in John 17:17, when speaking of Christians, Jesus said, “Sanctify (i.e. set apart) them through your truth, your word is truth”. In John 1:17 it notes that, “Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ”. The Bible claims that, “God was made flesh, and He (Jesus) dwelt among us, as the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). When Jesus was in his ministry, He said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32). Jesus told his disciples that when He returned to Heaven, He would send the Holy Spirit, as His replacement, who would guide them into all truth (John 16:13). The four Gospel accounts repeatedly speak of Jesus Christ, as the only means to eternal life, and that He spoke the absolute truth from God. In 2 Corinthians 5:19, we read that, “God was in Jesus Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself”. And, Jesus spoke the truth, so that mankind might know the truth, that would free one from sin, and give the assured hope of Heaven. This aspect of revealed truth is also seen in all the New Testament Epistles. In 1 Thessalonians 2:13, the Apostle Paul said, ”When you received the word of God - - you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God”. The Apostle John, noted in 2 John 4, that he was rejoicing because he found “God’s children walking in truth”. In the two single chapter books of 2nd and 3rd John, the word “Truth” is stated 12 times. Finally, the Apostle Paul admonishes Christians in 1 Timothy 3:15, to know how to live in the house of God, “Which is the Church (i.e. the body of believing Christians, not the building itself) of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth”. Mankind, because of his wickedness (Jeremiah 17:9) does not countenance the absolute truth of God. In Romans 1:18, it states that the wrath of god is against all ungodliness of mankind who, “Suppresses the truth in unrighteousness”. In Romans 1:25 God states that the wickedness of mankind has, “Changed the truth of God into a lie”. Finally, the Apostle Paul notes that in the last days perilous times will come (2 Timothy 3:1), which is much in evidence today, and Paul further states that at that time, “Mankind will turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned aside unto myths”. How right the Apostle Paul was, in describing what we see in the world today. The mission statement from Christ to the Church, is as much needed today as ever, and the absolute truth of God, as revealed by Him through Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the written word, needs to be proclaimed by God’s children, to a lost and searching world, both by example as well as by precept. An excellent commendation to Christians is given in Ephesians 5:9, where it says, “For the fruit of the Holy Spirit is in all godliness and righteousness and TRUTH”. Everything that the people of the family of God should do, preaching, teaching, evangelism, missionary effort, spiritual growth, etc. should have its foundation in the absolute truth of God’s revelation to us, in the Bible. John H. Stoll, Ph.D. Executive Director, ASK, Inc. With all the upheaval in the world today in every aspect, one wonders if the end of the age will soon come, and God will bring in the pronounced judgment on mankind, for his extended wickedness. Two thousand years ago, the Biblical writers and Jesus Christ predicted all these catastrophes would accelerate and become worldwide. It only remains for us to see the signs that would occur, just before Christians are taken to Heaven, followed by God’s judgments.
Throughout the following two thousand years, Christians have been
looking for His appearing. In Matthew 24:3, the Disciples asked Jesus what the sign of His coming would be. From verse 4-35 He gave an extended detailed response. He noted that many deceivers would come in His name to deceive many. Apart from the ancient oriental religions, all religions have come since the first coming of Christ, with one purpose, i.e. to deceive. Christ spoke of them in John 8:44. Then in verses 6-8 He spoke of wickedness of mankind down through the coming centuries, and the natural catastrophes that would come. All these have been in evidence through the centuries, but in the last century, all these have been exponentially intensified, enumerated, and disseminated to an accelerated degree, beyond anything mankind has seen in history. Living in today’s world we see catastrophic disasters every day. Jesus used a little analogy to the birth of a child, when He noted in verse 8 that, “All these are the birth pangs of sorrows.” A woman who conceives knows that nine months after conception, she will give birth. When pains are fifteen minutes apart, there is rest between pains, but when they are one minute apart, the birth is imminent. So, likewise, the birth pains of the world today, are about one minute apart. The judgment of God is coming soon, possibly in our generation. In verses 32-35, Jesus gave a parable of a tree in the Spring of the year, as an example of His coming again, when He noted that as leaves begin to appear, Summer soon follows. Then He added that when all these signs appear, He is coming. As of today, all these signs are in place. Furthermore, Jesus stated that the generation that sees all these signs will not pass until all be fulfilled, and further noted, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” With confidence the Christian is able to trust the truth that Jesus spoke, as He has been proven to be absolutely true, as well as speaking the truth. The passage in Matthew 24 was directed by Christ to the nation of Israel, and their future, with Christ as their coming king. The corresponding passage in Luke 21:20-28 speaks of the same subject, but with the emphasis being to the whole world, apart from the Jews, though both groups would experience similar elements as to what was coming in judgment on the world. In verse 24 He spoke of the “Times of the Gentiles.” In 586 b.c, Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon destroyed Israel as a nation, which has not existed as such, until 1948 a.d, when Israel again became a sovereign state. This long period of time has resulted, over the centuries, in that which is described in verse 25-28. Again, what was noted in Matthew 24:6-12 is similar to this passage in Luke, though the emphasis is on elements in the world, as these elements mesh with Israel at the end of the age. Again, we note that trials of the world as described in verses 25-28 are all in place today, with greater intensity than the world has ever seen. As we reflect on what is transpiring in the world today, with all the upheavals, catastrophes, fear of what may come, with perplexity, etc. it behooves one to adhere to what the Prophet Isaiah said, “Look to Me (God) and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other” (Isa. 45:22). Then, in 1 John 2:17, it is said, “And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” If you wish a more detailed and inclusive understanding of this subject, refer to the Prior Newsletters page on this website. THE MISSION STATEMENT OF ASK, INC. For 30 years, ASK, Inc. has stood for the above principles, both in its professional counseling, as well as its Bible teaching. Our ministry to people, Christians or not, is administrated in Christian love, and based on these thirteen principles. The goal of our service for the Lord, has been plainly stated in every newsletter. We make no apology for our commitment to God’s revealed word, the Bible, and our experience over these many years, has proven to be true and beneficial, to all who have used our services, in counseling and/or Bible teaching. By God’s grace, we shall continue to carry on for Him. |