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ARE BAPTIST COWARDS

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TOO COWARD TO USE BIBLICAL INSTRUMENTS

cowardBy Ken Blue

There must be some logical explanation as to why we go to the Old Testament to support a doctrine or a standard, and then tiptoe past obvious passages which teach an unavoidable truth. That truth is the use of instruments in worship and praise.

However, if you want to see a pastor squirm and crawfish, challenge him on why he ignores this clear teaching in the Word of God.

If you don’t believe Baptist are cowards, in this matter, observe how they are chained to the piano and the organ. They actually fear to introduce any of the following instruments.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Cowardly Baptist chain themselves to the piano and the organ only.[/perfectpullquote]

  1. And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. Genesis 4:21
  2. “… with psalteries…with cymbals…with trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.” 1 Chronicles 16:5-6.
  3. “With… cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.” Psalms 98:6.
  4. “And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.” 1 Kings 1:40.
  5. “And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe…” Isaiah 5:12.
  6. “And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.” Exodus 15:20.
  7. “…the king stood by a pillar …and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets…” 2 Kings 11:14
  8. “…And when the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel.” 2 Chronicles 29:27
  9. “…the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David.” Amos 6:5
  10. “And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.” 1 Chronicles 13:8.
  11. “ Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.

Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.” Psalms 150:3-5.

All of the above were used by Israel to serve and praise God. You will find all kinds of stringed, wind and percussion instruments in the above list. Really, don’t you shun them because you fear the brethren? “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.” Proverbs 29:25.

IS VOTING A WASTE OF TIME

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BY Ken Blue

Some Christians would have you believe that it matters not how you vote. They assume that good preaching and good living will solve the problems in the political arena. I contend that the only way to solve the problem, politically, is to have leaders who are men and women of principle, with Bible convictions. This might be accomplished through much prayer and wise voting.

Those who think the church is the key have justified that attitude by attributing the following quote to a Frenchman who visited America, and supposedly saw the greatness in the churches.

Alexis de Tocqueville is supposed to have said, “I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers — and it was not there … in her fertile fields and boundless forests — and it was not there … in her rich mines and her vast world commerce — and it was not there … in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution — and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteous­ness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.”

This has been repeated by politicians, seeking the votes of Christians; and by religious leaders to impress you with the importance of their ministry. I have searched for proof that Tocqueville made such a statement. If anyone can give the exact location (book and page number) of that statement by Tocqueville, I would love to have it. We wouldn’t want to misquote anyone; would we?
There is no excuse for Christians to live ungodly. However, neither is there any excuse for not using your freedom and common sense to better your country, if possible. So, live right and vote!

DOES GOD HATE YOU

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The Hate of God

By Ken Blue

Most Bible believers teach that God hates sin, but loves the sinner. However, recently a small group of believers have challenged that teaching, and affirm that God not only hates sin; He also hates the sinner. If God does indeed hate the sinners, does He hate you?

Let us look at a few things God says He hates and see if you are on His hate list. “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” Proverbs 6:16-19.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Does God hate you?[/perfectpullquote]

 Are you guilty of pride? Have you or do you tell a lie? Is there someone you hate? Do you have wicked thoughts? Are you involved in any mischief? Have you misrepresented someone? Are you guilty of sectarianism or discord among the brethren? Now, we know God hates all the above sins.  I am sure you are not guilty of these but are you sure that God hates other people who commit these sins?

Since God hates divorce, does he hate the divorcees; and if He hates them, why don’t you? “For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.” Malachi 2:16.

I have no doubt that the brethren are going to adjust their theology to accommodate themselves and their friends. They will excuse themselves and exclude their sins from God’s hate list while adding the sins of others to it. So, we ask, does God hate you?

THE ALIAS

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HOW TO DEAL WITH ALIAS, ANNONYMOUS CRITICS

alias

By Ken Blue

The American Heritage Dictionary defines alias as; “1. An assumed name: The swindler worked under various aliases.”

During my forty years of pastoring, I have received many letters and notes sent by mysterious souls who refused to attach their names, or they used names of others to hide their identity. My advice to pastors is that they have their secretary screen their mail. If it is of the above nature, have it diverted to the garbage can.

One individual did everything within his power to destroy my family and ministry. The membership list was stolen and letters were sent to them with an alias attached. The nature of all letters was to turn the members against me. He was arrested for stealing thousands of dollars from the church offerings. People who use aliases are usually hiding more than their name.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”People who are ashamed to put their name to their comments, ought to be ashamed to make them.”[/perfectpullquote]

In most cases, I put the alias in the same category with the terrorist. These men and women hide under the cover of darkness while attacking others. Usually, they are self-righteous and hiding something in their own life.

Occasionally, you may receive letters or emails with the only identity; bible believer. Those who use this alias are neither Bible believers nor Bible doers.

You cannot stop the anonymous critics, however, you can refuse to read their dribble, and send it to the trash bin. People who are ashamed to put their name to their comments, ought to be ashamed to make them. Rest assured, God sees behind the mask of the alias. Pastor, don’t allow these vermin to disturb you.

JOB; THE QUESTION OF SUFFERING

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THE BENEFIT OF SUFFERING

By Ken Blue

While a student in Omaha, I pastored a small church in Iowa. Mrs. Blue and I visited a young man who was a teacher in the college town. As I attempted to discuss spiritual things, he said to me, “the God of Job would be my devil.” Needless to say, I was taken back and found that further discussion was useless. His problem, like many, was his inability and unwillingness to accept that God wants to use our suffering to fulfill a purpose in our life and in the lives of others.

Recently I received the following question. I will attempt to answer it as I understand the subject. However, the final answer to all our questions will be answered at the Judgment Seat.

“Hi Pastor. I have a question that keeps bugging me, and I thought I would see what your thoughts are. It’s about God’s actions that seem somewhat contradictory to his character (or at least by my perception)- in regard to Job. It seems contradictory to me that God could truly love Job and yet allow such tragedy to be placed upon him for what seems like no reason but to “prove” Satan wrong…. maybe I have it all wrong. It just seems like if Job was as good of a servant to God as the Bible says, that it would be totally wrong to inflict such pain on him. It wasn’t like God was disciplining him, or rebuking him, or correcting him- it was “just because” and I just don’t understand how that can possibly show God’s love in any way.”

The book of Job is the oldest book in existence. It is a literary masterpiece, and many colleges use it in their study of literature. It was written between 1800 and 1700 B.C. before the Exodus, or the nation of Israel existed. It was written to answer man’s question; why do the righteous suffer?

Suffering is in the world because of sin. That does not mean you are suffering because of your personal sins. We suffer because of the wickedness of others also. We may suffer for other reasons. If God protected every person from suffering, there would be no such thing as a free will, and without a free will, the word love, and choice have no meaning.

Suffering should be a warning to us not to sin. Suffering is intended to purge us from our sins, and we learn obedience by the things we suffer. David said, “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.” Psalms 119:67.

The following verse should be meditated on. “ Though he (Jesus) were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Hebrews 5:8-9. No one was as perfect as the Lord Jesus, yet God saw value in allowing Him to suffer. There were things Jesus did not know until He suffered. It is in the midst of suffering we prove and demonstrate our faith in God’s love, wisdom, and goodness. Every reader should pause here and read Hebrews 11:24-40.

Suffering is to bring us to the end of our self-sufficiency and show what helpless sinners we are. This is the end to which God was bringing Job. Although Job is said to be perfect and upright, he still had a sinful nature, and it manifested itself in his self-righteousness. His ordeal and personal confrontation with God brought him to the end of self-sufficiency and self-righteousness. Listen to his confession, after God had finished His test. “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:5-6. This may not sound appealing, but this is the end God has for every believer.  

God does not choose every person to suffer as Job. He knew Job’s character, and that he would justify God in the end. Many would not, thus they never learn the lessons Job learned or experience the knowledge of God he did. God restored to Job double what he had.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Was God fair in his dealings with Job?[/perfectpullquote]

We often hear the word fair associated with suffering. Was God fair in his dealings with Job? Our problem is understanding what the word means. When used in this context it means “just.” Was God just in His treatment of Job, and the Lord Jesus Christ? The answer is yes and no. If God had been fair with Job, you, and me, we would be in hell. That would be just and fair; but His mercy prevailed. Then, was God fair by allowing Jesus to die and suffer in your place? The answer is yes.

If we are to be what God intended, we too must suffer. “Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.  And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?  For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.  Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;  And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.” Hebrews 12:4-13.

Job was a perfect man in chapter one; but he was a more perfect and much wiser man after chapter 42. You too will be better and wiser if you submit to the hand of God.