 HOW DOES GOD AUTHORIZE THINGS, AND WHAT ABOUT ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED?
Dear Bro. Waddey:
I attend a non-denominational Bible Church and am struggling with some of their teachings. I was raised in Church of Christ and am considering returning to. Could you answer a couple of questions:
1.Regarding musical instruments: We do not have such authority in the New Testament. Does the New Testament give authority for microphones? Song leaders helping with the tempo? Pews to sit in?
2. Once saved, always saved ? Christ said "it is finished." He who has began a good work will complete it? What about these and several other verses these teachers use to support their doctrine?
Sincerely Garrett
Dear Bro. Garrett:
I take it that you understand that under the Mosaic system God authorized instrumental music (II Chron. 29:25), burning of incense, a separate priesthood, animal sacrifices, etc. These things we do not have or use because they are not authorized by Christ in his New Covenant. Remember he has "all authority in heaven and on earth" and he expects us to teach and observe "all things whatsoever he has commanded"
(Matt. 28:18-20).
To fulfill his commands some things are necessary, but not specified. For example to worship at night we need some kind of light. He does not mention electric lights, but since they help us fulfill our obligation to worship they are approved. Note that lights in no way change our worship or become a separate item of worship. In a large assembly, to be heard, we need some way to amplify our voices. Having microphones, speakers, etc. help us to preach the gospel, but do nothing else. They are not a separate type of worship, they do not change in any way what we do if we had no amplifiers. We are commanded to commune. No details are given as to the kind of furniture or utensils were use. Our grandparents may have had a kitchen plate and a drinking cup, we have a nice polished aluminum set, but neither type of utensil affects what we are doing. We are simply remembering Jesus' death with the bread and wine. We are taught to assemble together (Acts 20:7; I Cor. 11:20). No mention is made of the where or how. God has left to our wisdom and judgment to find a suitable place for our assemblies.
There are two types of commandments: generic and specific. When God gives a specific command he provides us the details of what he wants. In generic commands we have a general command or obligation stated but the details of how to carry it out are left to us. Consider the great commission. "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:11-16). We are commanded to "go" with the gospel, but the details of how we are to go are not stated.
This means we are free to walk, ride a beast, drive a car, take a boat or plane to accomplish that order he gave. "Preach" is what we are to do, but he does not specify the means by which we are to preach. Thus we are free to use the pulpit, classroom, radio, television, Internet, etc. in fulfilling our mission. Using a microphone does not alter what we are doing. "Preach the gospel." This is a specific command. He tells us exactly what we are to preach. We have no liberty to teach some other message than that which he gave us.
We are commanded to sing to God in worship (Eph.5:19; Col. 3:16). There are three possibilities when presenting music to God. We can sing vocally, we can play instruments, or we can play and sing together. Had God simply said, make music, that would have been a generic command and we would have the liberty to offer any or all of the above. But he specified the type of music he wanted: "Singing." He even specified the source and kind of the melody we would use in worship. "Making melody with your heart." Specific commands must be obeyed as God has instructed. Generic commands leave us latitude of choice in implementing them. Early Christians understood this. For hundreds of years noneused instrumental music.
As to the doctrine of once saved, always saved, Jesus' dying words, "It is finished," have nothing to do with whether a Christian can turn away from God and forfeit his salvation. He had finished his mission and secured redemption for the race. The Bible teaches clearly that we must be faithful unto death if we are to receive the crown of life (Rev. 2:10). What of the disciple who is not faithful unto death? Paul warned Christians who were trying to find justification by the law of Moses, "Ye are fallen away from grace" (Gal.
5:4). Peter describes people who after they had escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord...are again entangled therein and overcome, the last state is become worse with them than the first" (II Pet. 2:20-23). This doctrine had it origin with Augustine, a fourth century teacher of Christianity. It was revived by John Calvin when he wrote his Institutes of the Christian Religion and became the staple of all the Protestant bodies that follow Calvin's theology. That includes, Presbyterians, Reformed Churches, Baptists and many of the Independent churches such as you mentioned. It flies clearly in the face of plain Bible teaching. Worldly Christians, love such a message, because they think they can live as they choose and still be saved.
I really want to encourage you to return to the Church of Christ. I don't know what caused you to leave, but there you will find faithful Bible teaching that will help you grow strong in your knowledge and faith.
John Waddey
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