Expert: Onaga Thomas - 7/15/2007

Question
QUESTION: 1. According to the history of the "Church of Christ," God used certain men to "restore" the New Testament Church in the early 1800's. Where was the true New Testament church before then? Jesus said that the gates of hell would not prevail against His church (Matthew 16:18). What happened to the church and where was the truth it was responsible for preaching before God restored it?

2. If the "Church of Christ" claims to worship God only as "authorized" by scripture because they sing only (and do not use instrumental music), then where do they get the "authority" to use hymnals, pitchpipes, pews, and indoor baptistries in their worship services? If the answer is that they are "aids to worship," where does the Bible allow for that? Where is your required authorization? If a pitchpipe can be an "aid to worship" for the song service in the "Church of Christ," then why can't a piano be an "aid to worship" for Baptists who may need more help in singing?



ANSWER: Thankyou for your question Josh

1.  Jesus did say he would build his Church and the gates of hell would not prevail against it. His church was started on the Day of Pentocost in A.D. 33 (Acts Ch.2).  The Church of Christ (Rom. 16:16) came into existence that day so it did not "go" anywhere.  No one has needed to restore the Church, (the true church operating from the commands of the new testament) because Jesus said Satan would not prevail against it.  You would only need restoration if you had fallen away, if the true church keeps under the authority of God, it needs no restoration.

2.  You are right, we don't have authority from God to "aid" in our worship services.  We are the sing to the Lord using our mouths and making melody in our hearts (Eph. 5:19).  The church I attend uses songbooks out of which to sing from, that is not an "aid" it does not make you sing better....it is a book of songs dedicated to God out of which you sing.  We never use pitchpipe or any musical instrument, just our voices.  An indoor bapistry is also not an "aid" of worship.  Baptism is not worship to God, it is for the remission of sins and so that the Lord can add you to His church (Acts 2:28), that is about salvation, not worship.  The Lord's church will abide by his words and worship or do service to Him as he directs, if a church goes outside God-made boundaries to worship "for the Lord" then it's not the Lord's church, even Jesus said "Why do ye call me Lord, Lord and do not what I say" (John 6:46)

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I don't understand how you can say Acts 2:38 is talking about baptism being for the remission of sin.  The text and context clearly teach that repentance is for the remission of sin, but not baptism.  When you look at the verbs Luke uses in the original Greek language, you will notice Peter told the people to repent, be baptized, and receive.  When you look at the phrase "for the remission of sin," the word "your" in implied in reference to sins.  The tenses simply do not match.  "Repent" is second person plural.  "Receive" is second person plural.  "Your sins" is second person plural.  "Be baptized" is third person singular.  It simply doesn't add up the way you are trying to explain it.  It would be as if I said, "I 'were' going to the store!"  That sentence should read: "I 'was' going to the store."  Your subjects have to match your verbs.  And if the Greek is anything it is an extremely specific language.  Therefore, a better translation of that verse would be "Repent for the remission of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit; and every one of you who repents and receives should be baptized."

Oh, and by the way, if you read Ephesians 5:19 closely, you will find that it says "speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs."  Spiritual songs just happens to imply instruments.  After all, God made, or at least gave someone the ability to make the instrument with materials He created didn't He?  So why shouldn't it be used to worship Him??

Answer
Thankyou for your question again Josh

 Remission of sins is the key of Acts 2:38, Peter just gave the order in which to do it, Repent (change your ways before God) and be baptized (being buried in water to enter the spiritual relationship with Christ (Rom. 6 3-4)for the remission (the taking away) of sins.  Since God through Peter laid out the order I will not argue with it.  I still believe God in that one must repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins.

 On Ephesians 5:19 who is to say that spiritual songs imply instuments.  It say speaking to yourselves in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, making melody in your heart unto the Lord....I take it as it is said, it did not specifically tell believers that they should have an instrument to play, no command for it, but there is a command to sing.  Yes it is true that God gave people gifts to make instruments and use those to make music.  But we are talking about WORSHIP of God and we can only go as he directs.  For example, he gave gifts to some to be basketball players or doctors, but just because He gave you that gift does not mean it is to be used to worship Him.  You give him thanks always for you gifts, but you are not going to His church to worship him playing a basketball game or performing surgery.