Relationship of Soul and Words of Songs

Relationship of Soul and Words of Songs

For the last several years I have tried to improve my worship in song by paying special attention to the words of the songs. While the musical notes are important and participating in four-part harmony singing is so rewarding, the focus in the Bible is on the relationship of my soul and my words.

Singing is described as “…singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3:16). It is not that we are giving grace to Him, but we who have received His grace, sing with hearts filled with grace to Him.

A picture of this attitude toward Jesus is shown in Revelation chapter five. It describes how there is no creature in heaven or on earth worthy to open the book in God’s hand. Then, the Lamb of God appears to take the sealed book and starts to open it.

At that moment the heaven of heavens is filled with anthems of praise to the Lord. The twenty-four elders get off their thrones and bow down in worshiping the Lord. They have bowls filled the prayers of His saints, and they ascend as incense to the Lamb. They begin to sing, “You are worthy…”

But it doesn’t stop at this point. Suddenly a host of angels joins in singing the same song. How many angels were there in this choir? “The number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands” (5:12). The very words of the song they sing are given. “Worthy is the Lamb to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessings.”

But it doesn’t stop there. Immediately every creature in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and under the sea, and all that is in heaven and earth become part of this chorus of praise to the Lord. “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

But it doesn’t stop there. In 1930, Tillit S. Teddlie, a faithful brother in Christ and author of over 100 songs, penned the words to a song we used to sing more often, Worthy Art Thou. It captures the events of this heavenly scene in the first two verses. He then added these words in the last verse. “Lord, may we come before Thee with singing, Filled with Thy Spirit, wisdom and pow’r, May we ascribe Thee glory and honor, Worthy art Thou, Worthy art Thou.”

It is not the musical notes that really matter. The early Christians may have sung this with singing characterized by chanting. We sing it in four-part harmony. It is not the music.

Let me ask you, what is your favorite song? Is it your favorite because of the musical arrangement or because of the spiritual depth and grace it creates in your heart as you sing to the Lord? Think about this.

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EL NEUMONAL Y EL FENOMENAL

ES IMPOSIBLE CONOCER EL MUNDO NEUMONAL MEDIANTE EL FENOMENAL (EMANUEL KANT)

Por muchos años la fe en Dios y los argumentos reforzados por Thomas de Aquino que de alguna forma habían sido casi impenetrables, sufren un descrédito desde que llegó la masiva obra de Kant; Crítica de la razón pura.  En esta obra, el autor pone en evidencia lo que hasta ese momento era intocable. En los círculos de derecho, Kant es una fuente casi de erudición y siempre nos instan a “idolatrar” su enorme contribución en materia penal. Soy completamente consciente de que Kant es un antes y un después en este campo y que su razonamiento crítico es envidiable para todo abogado, sin mencionar que el derecho le respeta y le contempla dentro de la formación integral de profesionales como una entidad aprobada e infalible. Lo que el derecho ha olvidado es que Kant no realizó su obra de crítica a la razón pura con fines jurídicos exclusivamente.  Es más, la razón principal de toda su carrera era la teología y de ahí otras ramas como; la filosofía, psicología y el derecho, sacan muy buen provecho de su trabajo. Emanuel Kant no fue un ateo, ni siquiera alcanzó a ser deísta, sino que abiertamente aceptaba creer en Dios.  Él era de la corriente la cual conocemos como razonamiento natural. Esto le llevó a dividir básicamente su posición en dos: 1) El mundo neumonal (el asalto de los espíritus) y 2) el mundo fenomenal (aquello que sí se puede percibir mediante los sentidos). Para el primer enunciado, Kant observó tres importantes componentes: A) Dios, B) uno mismo y C) esencias. En otras palabras, él se está refiriendo con esto a la realidad metafísica de las cosas que están más allá de la habilidad de nuestros sentidos para percibir.  Así que él no cuestiona la existencia de Dios como tal, pero lo coloca dentro del asalto neumonal y por lo tanto le da el derecho de formular una pregunta epistemológica; ¿Podemos conocer algo acerca de Dios mediante un rebusco científico? Kant concluye con enfático NO. Precisamente, su respuesta es la raíz de nuestra discusión en esta ocasión. Su tesis se sostiene en bases de lo fenomenal; es decir en palabras más sencillas significa que usted y yo solo podemos conocer todo aquello que se pueda percibir con los sentidos y de lo demás no hay manera científica concreta para probarlo.  Con todo él sugirió que debíamos vivir como si existiera Dios por una cuestión de ética y moral significativa. Entonces de manera implícita Kant está sugiriendo a Dios como el estándar inequívoco de toda moral, hecho del cual los ateos continúan teniendo conflicto sin haber   desestimado la evidencia de forma adecuada. fenomenal

Enfocados en nuestra proposición el apóstol Pablo afirma en Romanos 1:20 lo contrario a lo que Kant sostiene.  El texto sin vacilar afirma que lo invisible de Dios y su poder se han hecho claramente visibles desde la creación del mundo. Entonces basados en esta premisa la cual es verdadera, toda la línea argumentativa de Kant se cae a pedazos. En teología hablamos de la revelación universal (podemos conocer a Dios mediante la creación) y la revelación específica (aparte de eso él ha comunicado su voluntad de forma escrita y expresa dándose así mismo a conocer). Por lo que el uso del vocablo griego καθοράω (katoráo) que significa discernir, discriminar o hacer notorio, es verdaderamente trascendental siendo incluso la única ocasión donde podemos leer esa palabra en todo el Nuevo Testamento, sugiriendo el final de un proceso de escrutinio habiendo llegado a una conclusión inequívoca.

El respetado hermano James B. Coffman comenta sobre este texto lo siguiente, él dice:

El argumento de Pablo es que las cosas invisibles pueden ser “vistas” por la mente. Las cosas que se hacen, es decir, todos los objetos creados, son las cosas que permiten a la mente comprender lo que el ojo no natural puede ver, es decir, el poder y la divinidad de Dios. Esto se convierte, por lo tanto, en una impresionante referencia a la demostración teleológica de la existencia de Dios. El mismo hecho de que algo haya sido hecho es prueba cierta de que hubo un hacedor. Se ha puesto de moda en algunos sectores ridiculizar el argumento teleológico de la existencia de Dios, pero los autores inspirados no dudaron en usarlo. “Porque toda casa es edificada por alguno; pero el que edificó todas las cosas es Dios” (Hebreos 3:4), es un ejemplo de ello; y la apelación de Pablo a este argumento en este contexto indicó su máxima confianza en él.

No hay otra forma, en honor a la racionalidad más clara de concluir que estar en acuerdo con Coffman. Las falencias en la posición de Kant son obvias al comparar la inerrancia de las escrituras a través de los siglos.  En otras palabras, si Kant miente, no podemos estar seguros, pero de que la Biblia siempre ha expresado la verdad para ello la evidencia es abrumadora. Aunque la posición de Kant sobre la moral fue un poco ambigua, otros le critican.  Basta analizar las palabras de C.S. Lewis quien fuertemente crítica las ideas de moralidad de Kant en las que el hombre solo hará las cosas cuando así lo desee: “Sin embargo, en contra de Kant se encuentra la verdad obvia, señalada por Aristóteles, de que cuanto más virtuoso se vuelve un hombre, más disfruta de las acciones virtuosas”.

Como siempre lo mejor se reserva para el final y por eso debo traer a colación el hecho de que Kant ignoró la evidencia más grande que prueba la falsedad de su posición la cual sostiene que no puedes conocer nada del mundo Espiritual mediante nuestros sentidos naturales. Juan el apóstol dice que Dios se volvió carne (Jn.1:1) y además de eso, logramos contemplar su gloria (Jn.1:14). Cada pasaje donde Jesús se asocia así mismo con Dios, identificándose como divino, constituye un pesado ladrillo que entierra más profundamente cada vez la idea de Kant. Los pasajes son muchos; yo y el Padre uno somos” (Jn.10:30), “…el que me ha visto a mí ha visto al Padre” (Jn.14:9), todas las cosas fueron hechas por medio de él (Col.1:15), “quien honra al hijo también honra al Padre” (Jn.5:23).  Quizás estos ejemplos sean suficientes para mostrar que el Dios invisible, fue hecho visible en el Jesús histórico, del cual tenemos registro fidedigno de su existencia real.

En algunas universidades, principalmente en cursos filosóficos, elevan a Kant como un gigante indestructible, e intentan humillar al teísmo. Sin embargo cada estudiante es quien debe tener una mente crítica, viva y que permita examinar todo lo que escuche tal como lo hacían aquellos hombres nobles en Hechos 17. Expresamente sabemos que Kant vino y se fue, pero quien ha conocido a Jesucristo sabrá que él nunca se irá, sino que permanece fiel (2Tim.2:13).

Referencias

1.     Lewis, C.S. (1940) The problem of pain. Glasgow: Collins.

2.     Coffman, James Burton. (1983-1999). “Commentary on Romans 1″. “Coffman’s Commentaries on the Bible”: University Press, Abilene, Texas.

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The Decline of the American Church

The Decline of the American Church

The church in America will continue to decline until elders, preachers, and church leaders realize that the “consumer model” does not work–and is not what God intended. Freefall Efforts Decline

It is not about what programs a church can offer a visiting family. It is about being a real church family that desperately wants to care for one another and reach out to the lost.

Rather than worrying about the “numbers” (which we proudly display in bulletins and on attendance boards) and “programs,” congregations need to focus on the spiritual health of their members and reaching out to the lost.

We need to invest time and energy into building stronger Christian families who are equipped for spiritual battle.

We have a bunch of “big” congregations that are spiritually sick or dying–but as long as the calendar is full and the numbers are there, no changes are made.

And the decline continues…

 

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“Walk By Faith”

“Walk By Faith”

The apostles Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:7, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” This is our situation as we are at home in the body and absent from the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6). What does this mean? We live our lives by trusting in the words of Christ since we don’t see Him directly. walk by faith

Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” We must hear the word of God to have faith. In Hebrews 11:6, the Bible says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Notice that without faith we cannot please God. Therefore, without a word from God, we cannot please God. This is why it is critically important that we do everything by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:17).

We must have a word from God to walk by faith and to be pleasing to God. Consider what Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica about being pleasing to God. He said, “Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 4:1-2). From this verse we learn that 1) we can please God; 2) we please God by walking according to the commandments the apostles gave us, 3) outside of receiving the commandments of the apostles, we cannot say that we are pleasing God.

We must have a word from God to please Him.

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Accusation Against an Elder

Accusation Against an Elder

I Timothy is a letter in which the Apostle Paul writes the evangelist Timothy covering many topics.  As Paul rounds into the portion of the letter identified as chapter 5, he provides a number of instructions regarding both the male and female Christian.  The focus of this article comes in verse 19: “Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.”  This verse has been frequently abused and sadly by elders who do not want to be questioned or disagreed with by others.  What does the verse mean?  Can a Christian disagree with an elder?  Can a Christian tell an elder he is in sin?  Finally, can a Christian say anything in opposition to what a preacher or elder has said or done publicly?

Over the years, I know of two different elderships who have utilized this verse to state that someone had made an accusation against them.  In both circumstances, an individual approached an elder privately.  With the first case, the individual informed the elder that he knew that he had told a lie and had done so before the entire congregation.  In the second case, two elders were individually and privately informed that the Christian disagreed with a decision that had been made regarding the congregation.  In neither instance did the individual desire to take the actions further out of concern for the disruption of peace in the congregation and fear of potential division that might arise.  As mentioned, however, the elders declared this was making an accusation against them without witnesses and therefore was sinful.  Is this what Paul meant when he wrote Timothy?

The apostle Paul was a Hebrew Christian, an Israelite, a Pharisee.  His nation operated under the Law of Moses and though Christ freed Israel from the Law, their knowledge (and Paul’s specifically) of how to deal with “legal” issues was strong.  From their time spent in the wilderness forward, this is what they were taught: “One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.“ (Deuteronomy 19:15)  What Paul shares with Timothy is not the Law of Moses, but the reality that the principle is the same.  If you are going to tell others a man has done something wrong and are seeking to publicly make a stand against him, then you need to have other witnesses.  Those with the power to punish the man (the congregation) cannot do this by one witness alone.  They need to be certain and if they take the word of only one man, not only may he be wrong, but the accused may see their reputation ruined.  Note: this is not a private issue Paul and Timothy are discussing.  The issue is a public one where a public remedy is being sought out.  Therefore, in neither of our two cases mentioned where an individual approached individual elders to express his concern privately would the situations appropriately apply to I Timothy 5:19.  That the elderships did not know this should be of great concern seeing that the qualifications to be an elder include the fact that they should not be novices with the scriptures (I Timothy 3:6) and they should be strong enough to rebuke those contradicting the scriptures (Titus 1:9).

Can a Christian disagree with an elder or tell Him he is in sin?  Yes.  They can certainly do so in regard to opinion issues such as discussed in Romans 14.  What about scriptural interpretation?  Let me answer this with some questions.  Do elders ever disagree with one another?  Yes.  Are they inspired by the Holy Spirit and therefore infallible with doctrinal teaching?  No.  We know Christians can make accusations against elders or Paul would not have given Timothy a process for doing so.  I greatly appreciate the Berean Jews checking to see if the things the apostle Paul said were the truth (Acts 17:11), certainly, we can do so for elders today.  Elders are not “special” case Christians.  Matthew 18:15-18 covers dealing with their sins as it does everyone else’s.  Additional scriptures in regard to this include 2 Timothy 4:2, Titus 2:15, James 5:20 and Jude 1:23.

Finally, can a Christian say anything in opposition to what a preacher or elder has said or done publicly?  Yes.  When a preacher or elder does anything, people watch and listen.  These are men who are very visible before a congregation and hopefully in the community.  I Corinthians 12 does a great job of breaking down the importance of everyone in the Body of Christ. “And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.”  We all have the responsibility to care for one another.  We have a greater responsibility than the Berean Jews to validate what has been taught and discuss it.  Again, today, no one is inspired.  We can look at scripture and say, I don’t think that man’s interpretation is correct.  And if it is important enough and he will listen, we can approach him like Aquila and Priscilla and teach him the way more perfectly.  When we do so, we rely upon the authority of the scriptures and what they say.  We rely upon the authority of the gospel, not fallible man.

Elders are men who are to provide proper leadership to the Church in both behavior and scriptural knowledge.  Sometimes, they are mistaken.  Sometimes, they behave poorly.  They require the same care and compassion that you would give any other brother.  Paul tells Timothy in regard to the older (elder), “encourage him as a father”.  Follow the pattern God has given in regard to dealing with brothers and sisters and their opinions or error.  However, do not fear disagreement.  Do not fear correcting privately or publicly when necessary.  If approaching an elder privately, you can do so as you would any other Christian.  If you are indeed going to make an accusation in a public manner seeking possible discipline against an elder as Paul instructs Timothy about, then bring your witnesses and make the accusation.

 

 

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