WHO DECIDES WHAT IS AND IS NOT ACCEPTABLE?

Dear Bro. Waddey:
In your "Questions and Answers section" you are asked about wearing a cross necklace. Your reply begins "I can only offer you my opinion since the Bible says nothing about crucifixes." Yet, when addressing the issue of hand clapping, you say "There is no mention in the New Testament of the early Christians doing so." So, then, why would that not be an opinion also?

So, then, who is it who draws the lines on what is acceptable and what is not? Why are songs written in 1930 acceptable (but certainly not what was sung in the first century), but songs written in 1999 are not? Why are microphones and visual aids used by preachers acceptable (but certainly not used by 1st century), but power points are not? Why are we "allowed" by some to draw lines one place (kitchens are OK, church buses, etc)but not another place? Who has given certain men the authority to draw lines where they wish concerning opinion and liberty? We as the church do MANY things in our worship that we read NOTHING about in the New Testament. What I am hearing is that some of us can decide just how "modern" is acceptable. If we are not willing to go back to the first century practices EXACTLY, why are the practices of just a certain generation acceptable and right? These are NOT rhetorical questions, but are obvious inconsistencies to me! Jan

Dear Jan:
Thanks for taking time to look over my website and write me your thoughts and ideas. I went back and reread my answer about hand-clapping during occasions of worship. I wonder if you read the entire piece? or just enough to disagree? The reason I ask is that I went to some length to explain my reasoning.  Am I correct in assuming that you enjoy applauding when a point is made that you like or agree with? Since the Bible says nothing at all about wearing a necklace with a cross shaped emblem attached, I must leave that in the realm of opinion. But the Bible has much to say about worship and how it is to be conducted (John 4:24; I Cor. 14:40). Since you evidently wish to have hand-clapping during worship, it must find approval in that context or at least be shown to in no way interfere with or disrupt the worship of God.

I have no problem with new hymns.  Nor do I have a problem with those that are old.  I do object to those teachers who ridicule and poke fun at the older classic hymns and those who prefer them. I would not be happy if a brother took it upon himself to do away with the wonderful hymns we all have known and loved for years and substitute in their place hymns that only a few young people knew. The law of kindness suggests that if we find new songs that are inspirational and uplifting that we integrate them in with the old until they too are familiar.  Just as you feel the right to prefer new songs, I have the right to prefer the old ones. Don't I? While the age of a hymn is really unimportant, the content and the mood it creates is. If a new song contains thoughts that convey a false teaching, then all who love the Bible should refuse it.

Your questions about why we can use microphones, buses, kitchens reveal that you do not understand what is meant by restoring New Testament Christianity.  Our commitment is to restore the faith, worship and practices of the original church. That does not mean that we need to use the modes of travel they used, or the kinds of meeting places they used, or the tools and aids they used.  It means that we want to believe the same truths they believed, worship just as they did, and offer the same service to Christ that they offered. By the way I have no objection to projected scriptures or songs.

You must take heed what you hear for many, whose agenda is to change our churches into something new and different, often use exaggerated criticisms and false charges to convince folks like you that we are so bad and so narrow that you really should follow them.