COLOR BLIND OR GREY AREA?
By Ken Blue
“Most color vision problems are inherited. People usually have three types of cone cells in the eye. Each type senses either red, green, or blue light. You see color when your cone cells sense different amounts of these three basic colors. Inherited color blindness happens when you don’t have one of these types of cone cells or they don’t work right. You may not see one of these three basic colors, or you may see a different shade of that color or a different color.” (http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/tc/color-blindness-topic-overview.)
Years ago I purchased a 1947 Lincoln sedan. It had velvet interior, power windows, power seats, push button doors, and twelve cylinders! It was a collectors dream. One day I was telling a friend all about it, and that it’s color was black. My wife overheard the conversation and quickly came in to correct me. “The car in not black, it is maroon,” The full impact of my color blindness hit me when I applied for a job that required a color test. I am as color blind as a bat. I know there is a number in the circle, but I cannot see it!
However, when it comes to the ministry, there is another area where we are to assume no real color exists; that is called the “gray” area. The idea is, since the Bible is silent on this issue, we will call it “gray.” The problem is, before any pastor gets through the gray area, he has found the issue to be black and white.
There are several of these areas in Scripture. They usually fall in the area of music, instruments, methods, hair, and entertainment. For example, I heard an evangelist say, “There’s nothing in the Bible about music being used to reach the lost.” Then he went to the piano and led us in “There’s Room At The Cross For You.” Another preacher chimed in, saying the same thing in another meeting, and then gave the invitation, having us sing, “Just As I Am.” Why would a pastor or evangelist use music to get sinners down the aisle, and then in the same sermon make negative comments about reaching the lost with music? Usually, we give little thought to what we are saying. We just quote others because we think it is true. Isn’t it amazing that some preachers think Bluegrass gospel is ok, and that classical music that people dance to is acceptable, and yet they can clearly see the music that is wrong, while in their “gray” area?
[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]There is no such area as a “gray” zone for the preacher.[/perfectpullquote]
Our predecessors did not see any musical instrument as a gray area. To them, it was black and white. Note: Spurgeon said, “… What a degradation to supplant the intelligent … by the theatrical prettiness of a quartet, bellows, and pipes. We might as well pray by machinery as praise by …strings and pipes… We do not need them. That would hinder rather than help our praise…” (Charles Spurgeon, Commentary on Psalm 42.)
Wesley said, “I have no objection to instruments of music in our worship, provided they are neither seen nor heard.” (Adam Clarke’s Commentary, Vol. 4, p. 685)
Luther said, “The organ in the worship Is the insignia of Baal… The Roman Catholics borrowed it from the Jews.” (Martin Luther, Mcclintock & Strong’s Encyclopedia Volume VI, page 762)
Adam Clarke said, “… Music as a science I esteem and admire, but instrumental music in the house of God I abominate and abhor.”
Pastors have criticized us for years because we make much of special days in order to attract the lost. They would rather let a kid go to hell than give him a piece of bubblegum.
The Bible College I attended would not allow sideburns below the ear. A coat and tie must be worn to all classes. Most colleges maintain those standards today. I have no issue with that. However, many Christians have decided that if a man has a beard, mustache, or long sideburns, he must be unsaved, or backslidden at least. Did you know that in the Bible you could not mar your beard or have a rounded haircut? “Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.” Leviticus 19:27. “But,” you say, “Pastor Blue, that is Old Testament and for the Jews.” Well, I am so glad you noticed that. Perhaps others will notice that same truth when they try to impose other Old Testament teachings on the church.
No, there is no such area as a “gray” zone for the preacher. He only wants you to think there is, so he can lead you into it, through it and bring you out seeing things black and white, as he sees them.
My color blindness was inherited and I can do nothing about it, but watch out for those who want to help you through the “gray” zone. The very idea of saying music should not be used to reach the lost is the epitome of stupidity and is violated by every Baptist church, every Sunday. If you really believe that, you should be a man and cut all the songs from your hymnal written to reach sinners. These birds need to will their brain to the canary farm.
