Expert: Joe Norman - 4/26/2011

Question
Joe,

Given your position on instrumental music in worship, do you believe those who receive Jesus as Lord and are baptized in His name, yet use instruments in worship, albeit in error, are our brothers in Christ?

This is not a trick or loaded question.  Believers in Christ differ on a great number of issues.  And in many cases, we witness unfortunate divisions within the Body.  

One friend of mine attends a church of Christ that believes communion must be served to the congregation from one cup. (“one cuppers”) And when I asked him to share the basis for his belief, he pointed out the passage in Mark 14:23 - “Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it.”  He noted that Jesus used one cup and all drank from it.  Furthermore, he believes I observe communion in error because I do not partake from “one cup”.

We have churches of Christ that insist that Sunday school classes are inappropriate because we find no Biblical precedent of dividing the Body into segregated groups for the purpose of individualized study.

We have churches of Christ that feel baptism must be administered in Jesus’s name only – contending that any other method of applying God’s name is error.

Joe, I would appreciate your thoughts about such differences and how you might define a “true believer”.  I’ll not engage in any debate or disagreement.  But simply receive your thoughts openly.  Our differences on music are merely symptomatic of a much broader condition now affecting the church of Christ fellowship at large.  And it deserves both our attention.

I found the following article by Church of Christ minister Joe Beam interesting: http://www.gracecentered.com/what_is_happening_to_churches_of_Christ.htm

He concludes with this quote: “Our greatest enemy isn't going beyond clear New Testament doctrine. It is making laws where God never did and chaining our great brotherhood from its task by those laws.”

Best,
David

Answer
Hi again David,

Yes believers in Christ differ on a great number of issues. There are many differences among all the denominations as well. If you are familiar with the history of the restoration movement you know there were two major divisions around the early 1900's. The Christian church was at one time united with the churches of Christ in particular. The main cause of the split was over instrumental music being used in worship. For a while the only difference many could see in churches of Christ and the Christian church was they used musical instruments in their worship. As you are also aware they have changed so much now that there is virtually no similarity anymore.

I have known people who are members of "one cup" churches of Christ as well as people who were part of what they call "non-institutional" churches of Christ and those who are against bible classes. The one cup people make the mistake of putting too much importance in the "cup". They also ignore Luke 22:17,18.

Luke 22:17,18
17 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."

They also don't see that although Jesus said - "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you." - the cup wasn't literally the new covenant in His blood but it was the content of the cup...the fruit of the vine.

But if I was willing to drink from only one cup with them #which I am not willing to do because I find it gross#, I would have no problem worshiping with them. They are typically also the ones against having bible classes due to silence in scripture. But the difference between my reasons to be against musical instruments in worship and their view on bible classes is in regard to music God did specify a type of music "singing" which limits the type of music to that alone. As I explained before it is like when Noah was told to build the ark out of gopher wood. God didn't have to list all the other types of wood he couldn't use for Noah to know that gopher wood was the only type he could use. There is nothing in regard to bible classes to indicate we cannot or should not have them. But if I chose to be a part of their congregation...although I disagree with them on both these things, I could worship with them and call them brothers. Both the issues in which I disagree do not affect me personally in my ability to worship God acceptably and I would submit to the leadership of the elders of that congregation if I chose to place my membership there. I also would not seek to change anyone's mind on the things I think they are in error about#within the congregation seeking to cause divisions# because I believe their worship is still acceptable to God. I do have a problem with them if they don't consider me a fellow Christian but I choose to leave it to God as to how to handle that problem.

I have actually worshiped with non-institutional brethren and even placed membership at one because I found no other churches of Christ in which I was comfortable worshiping. I met with the elders before I placed membership and explained my reasons for not accepting their understanding of the non-institutional issue but assured them I would not stir up strife and divisions among them while being a member there. I told them I would submit to their leadership for the local congregation and they accepted me with open arms. I even was allowed to lead the singing there from time to time and lead prayers. They were very good to me and my family. Again I only have a problem with them if they view me as not a fellow Christian. Again their problem is similar to the "one cup" brothers by viewing silence as restrictive when nothing said indicates the silence should be restrictive as is the case with music in the church. I can call them brothers in Christ though because they have a healthy respect for the authority of God's Word.

I am not aware of congregations which have the view you mentioned about baptism in the name of Jesus only but I will take your word for it. I don't see how they can hold such a view though when we have scripture that says the following:

Matt.28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

Again my problem would be if they don't consider the rest of us as fellow brothers in Christ. But it is God's place to determine which of us is saved and which of us is not. We have a responsibility to teach, rebuke and correct erring Christians as well as seeking and saving the lost. We are fallible and can only do our best to determine who is in error and who is lost. God will make the final judgment for us all but Jesus said few would enter into the kingdom of Heaven. He also said the way to eternal life is a narrow and difficult path. #Matt.7:13,14# Jesus also warned of false teachers. So did Paul. We have warnings throughout the New Testament regarding those who seek to lead us astray or cause divisions. We are told to mark them and avoid them. We are admonished over and over to hold to the things we were taught...Paul even said we have the apostles for a pattern to follow #Phil.3:17#. He told Timothy:

2 Tim.1:13 Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.  

To me a true believer is determined by how he views God's Word. If he believes it is without error and our only guide for all aspects of Christianity...if he understands how to become a Christian and worship God acceptably I can consider him a true believer.

You said our differences on music are merely symptomatic of a much broader condition now affecting the church of Christ fellowship at large. I completely agree with that statement although I am sure we see that statement from different perspectives. Consider this....in regard to music in the church, everyone who is for using musical instruments in worship that I know of will tell me they don't have a problem with not using musical instruments and singing only. They say they just think it's a matter of opinion and they should have the freedom in Christ to have musical instruments if they want. So as I see it they are the ones causing division and not those of us who are against the use of musical instruments. They claim they can worship without the musical instruments but choose to use them. We cannot because we don't see this as a grey area and believe it to be wrong.

I want to ask you a question as well. If you think we should not be divided over the music issue or the other issues which divide the churches of Christ, are you also wanting us to unite with all the denominations as well and consider anyone who claims to be Christian saved and brothers and sisters in Christ?

I did read Joe Beam's article and found it both interesting and flawed. I don't fully agree with the quote you shared. Going beyond clear New Testament doctrine is just as great an enemy of the church as making laws where God never did and chaining our brotherhood from it's task by those laws.

The Pharisees were condemned for both. They went beyond the Law of Moses and also were adding more restrictions than God had given. I pray for our brotherhood but do not think the answer to our problems is to become so concerned to maintain unity and numbers that we permit and accept others who go beyond clear New Testament doctrine or add new laws. As I see it, everything goes in cycles. The Lord's church is always one generation away from complete and total apostasy. I don't see myself as a zealot but you might after our interaction over the past few days. The brothers who know my views on divorce and remarriage see me in error over that topic but most still call be brother. Some don't and mark me as a false teacher. Some think I am very liberal even though the divorce and remarriage issue is most likely the only topic in which I might differ with them. I do have some other minor differences in my understanding of the Holy Spirit and possibly the book of Revelation although my understanding is probably the most commonly accepted among churches of Christ.

I hope I have not been rude in any way and that although my answers differ with your understanding, you are satisfied with what I have written. I pray God's blessings upon you.

In Christian Love, Joe Norman