One of the peculiar things about growing up as a Primitive Baptist is explaining to someone else why we do things in church and why we don’t do other things. When it comes to doctrinal precepts, there are clear-cut verses to describe election, predestination, eternal security, particular redemption, etc. A simple perusal of passages like Romans 8-9 and Ephesians 1-2 make the case as clearly and simply for those doctrines that someone has to have help not understanding what the texts are saying. However, why does the church believe in the simple order of singing, preaching, and praying? Why do we not have extra things like other orders of people do? There are not clear, simple verses for each of these things. That does not mean that the Bible doesn’t speak to our order, but putting the pieces together is more complex than reading plain, doctrinal treatises from the page. Paul broadly coats the order of the house of God in I Corinthians 14:40 with a command to things “decently” and “in order.” Anything outside this bound is to be categorically rejected while things within this bound should be prayerfully considered and executed with wisdom and discretion.
Silence – Prohibition or Permission: Many people use the argument point that the Bible doesn’t categorically reject or prohibit the activities they engage in. For example, does the Bible forbid Sunday Schools, choirs, seminaries, or many of the other things that we forbid from our assemblies? Not expressly, but how does one look to the silence of Scripture? When the Bible is silent about a matter, does that forbid it or permit it? The church of God has consistently held through the generations that the silence of Scripture is a prohibition not a permission. Look at the overall tenor of how Scripture is written. God spends quite a bit of time telling how things are, and when things are forbidden, there is a contrast to be drawn from that to show the positive. As Paul told Titus, affirm these things constantly (Titus 3:8), and even when bringing the negative to light such as a hatred of Esau, it was to highlight the great love and sovereignty to choose and love Jacob. (Romans 9:11-14) So the majority of the New Testament is written to tell us what to do not line out all things not to do. If there is no clear Scripture to have it, leave it alone.
Aid vs Addition: Someone might read the previous paragraph and think, meetinghouses, pews, songbooks, electricity, HVAC, etc are things the Scriptures are silent about. Why do you have them? Indeed, some have taken that extreme approach in days gone by even to the present hour. The difference between a choir and songbook is that one is an addition to what God commands about singing and making melody and speaking to one another in such a fashion (Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16) while the other aids us in our ability to do so with lyrics and music set together. Having musical instruments changes the order of worship by adding something to change the dynamic of the situation while electricity aids us by allowing sight during the night, comfort during the heat and cold, and aiding the attention to be focused solely on Him without the pains of the elements. An addition – simply put – makes the order of worship patently different while an aid fits alongside the order as it is going forth.
Focus not Features: Looking at all the commands from both the gospel accounts as well as the New Testament epistles, the heart of the message crystallizes and becomes inescapably clear. The focus of worship is central with singular affection (I Corinthians 2:2, Colossians 3:2) Anything that detracts from the message of Jesus Christ and Him crucified is a distraction not a blessing. The simple message of the New Testament is “Come and See.” Come where and see what? Come to the house of the Master’s brethren and see a Man that told me all things that ever I did. Is not this the Christ? All additions to worship in the modern age do not add to that focus but rather only add to their own features and spectacles. When people ask questions about worship today, most of those questions revolve around what features your church can offer, “What do you have for the young people? What about the young married people? What kind of musical program do you have? How many degrees does your pastor have? Etc, etc.” Those features detract from the focus and do not edify it.
When something in worship honors man or brings the glory of Christ down even a degree, that practice is indecent. When something is employed in worship that is not expressly commanded both in function and mode, that practice is disorderly. We could spend a great deal of time laying out all the modern accoutrements of present-day worship by many groups of people and the problems with each. However, let’s use the Biblical approach. What is the decent and orderly frame of reference for simple singing, preaching, and praying?
When melody is made in the heart and we speak to one another in such a fashion, we are using an instrument that only God can provide. Natural voices are employed, but the “heart” of worship comes from something tendered that only He has the power to provide. This is why the mode of worship must begin with a heart that has His precepts written on the inward parts. (Hebrews 8) Man cannot glory in this mode for the praise of that tender and glorious sound can only be directed to the source of Him who gave it: Our Almighty Friend. Praying without ceasing, with thanksgiving, and making our supplications to Him follows the same principle. Without the tender heart to pour forth those earnest pleadings, none of that would ever happen. It is not in man’s nature to admit to weakness and plead for help. So, seeing the meanest of rebels bow down on feeble knees to plead for mercy is both orderly and decent in honoring Him. Finally, preaching with great plainness of speech and not coming with words of man’s wisdom leads to a glorious conclusion of our faith not standing in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (I Corinthians 2:1-5) Friends, where else do you find the most callous and broken voices bringing forth quivering melody that has the sweetest sounds on earth coupled with the toughest of natural men pleading for strength showing humble place combined with the shyest, thickest tongued scoundrels being endowed with power from on high to peach the unsearchable riches of Christ? Only in the house of God can such be seen, and may it be found with us all the days of our lives.
In Hope,
Bro Philip