All things bright and beautiful; all instruments great and small - What’s the bible got to do with it?

It really winds me up that some people think certain musical instruments shouldn’t be used in congregational Christian worship today. I could probably cope with constructive criticism and direction from those that attended churches with praise bands made up of harps, flutes and lyres, but in reality there are not too many of said congregations about today.

Don’t get me wrong, this is not an attack on the organ, I really don’t mind the organ, in-fact I have the pleasure of working with, and listening to one of Glasgow’s finest every Sunday morning, but yet I do not think it is the overarching definitive answer to all our needs concerning ecclesiological accompaniment, in the same vain I don’t really think there is any one particular instrument which could hold such esteem.

Some though would have you believe that the group of prophets in 1 Samuel 10:5 were descending from on high with a stringed instrument, a tambourine, a flute, a harp and a mighty large church organ as well, but as we read that is not the case. The prophet Isaiah when writing about the night when a Holy festival is kept tells us that gladness of heart may actually be associated with the flute, don’t think these are my words just because I’m Northern Irish, have a read at Isaiah 30 and see what you make of it.

So what guidance does the bible give regarding the instruments we should use when meeting to worship God. My personal opinion, if you asked me right now to answer such a question would be that I don’t think there is any such definitive list. I would believe that more emphasis should be placed on our spiritual condition when we come to glorify God, and the attitude that we have during our worship, rather than the instruments that are present. I will however attempt to give this a little bit of attention over the next few days and see what the bible tells me. Anyone reading this, if you have any thoughts, and want to drop me an email at beattietim@hotmail.com or leave me a comment on here, I would be very interested in your opinion.

7:36

The truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth
7:36 . Galatians 1 . 23/08/09

So what does the film 'a few good men' have to do with the first chapter of the book of Galatians. This film deals with a group of US Marine attorneys trying to uncover the real reason behind why a code red (this is when a soldier who fails to keep up to standard is "trained" (or rather bullied) by other members of his unit until he is up to it, the correct terminology is called hazing) was ordered on a particular soldier, who died because of his attack. Tom Cruise (in the scene we are using on tuesday night) wants the truth and pushes Jack Nicholson, the high ranking officer, until he eventually gives in and the truth is uncovered.

Galatians chapter 1, indeed the whole book is also directly linked to important truth finding (of a slightly different sort I might add, but truth fighting nevertheless). The truth Paul is concerned with uncovering is the truth regarding the Gospel. A gospel which Paul firmly believes is directly from God, the story of Jesus which brings freedom to all who trust in him.

The new Christians in Galatia where facing a dilemma. They were struggling to understand who was telling them the truth about God? Paul, who had introduced them to the Gospel of Christ, had said that faith in Jesus was the basis for their relationship with God. But he had no sooner left town than and a group within the new church started teaching that faith in Jesus had to be accompanied by circumcision in order for God to accept their worship.

Who was right? Who should the church believe?

This Tuesday night (23rd) we will be taking the first chapter of Galatians apart trying to understand more about what this gospel Paul is talking about is, and what it should mean to us. Feel free to come along every other Tuesday evening (we meet every fortnight) at 7:36pm.