Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 22
July 9, 1970
NUMBER 9, PAGE 8b-9

Questions And Answers

Send All Questions To: Eugene Britnell, P.O. Box 3012, Little Rock, Arkansas 72203

From Rogers, Arkansas:

"I see by the Gospel Guardian that you are answering questions through that paper.

"1. Some say that it is sinful to sing religious songs in the home with the aid of instrumental music just for entertainment. Please comment on this.

"2. Should fellowship be withdrawn from those members who fail to attend services regularly, say those who attend about twice a month on Sundays and no other time."

If the querist has access to the Gospel Guardian of December 11, 1969, I suggest that he read an excellent article by David Tant on singing with mechanical instruments.

I do not approve of the singing of "psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs" to the accompaniment of instrumental music. A Christian may worship and praise God by singing hymns and spiritual songs at any time and place. If such is done properly, I don't believe that it should be associated with mechanical music. And if such is done purely for entertainment it seems to me that it would be sacrilegious, and where reference to God is made in such singing it would be taking the name of God in vain. If such is not worship, than it would be profanity.

When a Christian sings spiritual songs with an instrument, he places himself in an inconsistent position when trying to explain to a friend why such would be wrong in the worship service of the church. Why not avoid such inconsistencies and questionable practices by singing our spiritual songs all of the time just as we do in the worship services?

In answer to the second question, yes, I think that those who are unfaithful in attendance should be disfellowshipped. But first, I think we should make every reasonable and scriptural effort to teach and admonish them. If they refuse to repent, then they are guilty of willfully rejecting the teaching of the Lord and are unworthy of the fellowship of the saints. This is a neglected problem in the church. In many cases, we allow people to go on and on in their carelessness and disobedience without taking any action toward either correction or rejection.

The Bible says, "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together. . ." (Heb. 10:24, 25.) This is just as important as Mark 16:16 or any other commandment of the Lord. And it does not say "assembly" meaning only on Sunday morning as some have arbitrarily decreed! If the Bible teaches the weekly observance of the Lord's supper and worship, and it does (Acts 20:7), is it not a sin to willfully forsake one Lord's day? If not, how many would one have to forsake before it became serious?

I'll never understand the attitude and thinking of those who are trying to go to heaven by seeing how little they can do. Such people need to consider this statement of our Lord: "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, we are unprofitable servants; we have done that which was our duty to do" (Luke 17:10). If we are unprofitable after we have done "all those things which are commanded," what is our condition when we have done less than our duty?

From Kansas City, Missouri:

"Do we have any scripture for taking money out of the church treasury to buy pews for our church building? This question has come up in the church where I attend, and we would like to know how you would answer this question. Please answer through the Guardian or a personal reply, and we thank you."

Yes, you have the same authority for the pews that you have for the building in which you place them. Since seats and church buildings are not specifically mentioned, we authorize them by generic authority — just as we do many other things. Inherent in a command are all the essentials for obeying that command. We are commanded to baptize, therefore, we have authority for a baptistery — where expedient — since you cannot baptize without a place. We are commanded to observe the Lord's supper, so we have authority for buying the bread and juice and the containers in which to serve them. We are commanded to sing, so we have authority for song books that all things may be done "decently and in order." Likewise, we are commanded to assemble, and this authorizes a place with all things which are necessary to the accommodation of the physical needs of human beings. This includes such things as lights, seats, rest rooms, air conditioning facilities (hot and cold), and water. Some may judge these references irrelevant, but the Bible says that the disciples which had assembled on Pentecost were sitting (Acts 2:2), and there were lights in the room where the church assembled in Troas (Acts 20:8). Now we don't know how or under what circumstances these seats and lights were furnished, but someone had provided or made arrangements for them.

Any necessary expedients in obeying a commandment or responsibility of the church may be provided by the church. Since these are not always specified, or even the same in every place or circumstance, they must be justified by generic authority. We believe this to be unquestionably safe. We object only when the church begins to provide facilities (kitchens, banquet halls, recreational equipment, etc.) for doing that which the Lord has not authorized the church to do.