Are we Singing in Unity or in Error

 

Praise The Lord by Jim Peters 

I would like to share with you something that has impacted me greatly in my Christian walk and that is the Music we sing.  God can even use Secular songs to touch our heart, His seeds are everywhere and yes it is ok to raise our hands and to show the Joy we have as we sing or to be in quiet reverence worshiping God in our heart and sometimes there will even be tears.

All Melody in music comes from God’s heart and so do the words when inspired by The Holy Spirit  but like all of God’s gifts man can distort or twist them causing much confusion, deception and often this error is then passed on…. so let’s read what God tells us about our Worship in song …

Ephesians 5:18-20 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

 

Colossians 3:15-17 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one Body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.

 

To show how error can come in Teaching through the words of songs, lets look at just one song, you may have read my Post, Onward Christian Soldiers, and heard this song on the YouTube link, it is also below.

 

Onward Christian Soldiers was first written by Sabine Baring-Gould in 1865 but later changes were made by those who had different Doctrines and at other times verses were deleted but Sabine’s version is confirmed in the Scriptures the new versions are not. ( see below ) but thankfully many still sing the original words although sometimes deleting the last verses.

 

 For example Sabine’s words “One in Hope and Doctrine” was changed to “one in hope and purpose and  “We are not Divided” was changed to “Though divisions harass. ” Sabine’s words are of the Spirit because they are confirmed in the Bible but the first change although not  wrong, we do need to have hope and purpose but it was not as Sabine’ received it. The second alteration shows division which is caused by the worldly flesh.

 There are many Scriptures that confirm the Truth that we are to be in Unity and not argue or agree to disagree, I will just share some of them with you….

1 Corinthians 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? but we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 1: 10 -11 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

 

Philippians 3:14-16 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.  Nevertheless, where to we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

 

2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in Peace; and the God of Love and Peace shall be with you.

 

1 Peter 3:7-9 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, Love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

 

Philippians 4:2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

 

Philippians 2:1-6 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of Love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my Joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same Love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.

 

Galatians 24 -26 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. if we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

How wonderful that we are the Body of Christ and He has Lovingly given us guidelines even in Worship and how we can praise Him in song which brings Unity and Maturity and as we can see in the Scriptures, there is always a balance which is needed to reach out to all generations including the Elderly who have joyful memories of  the Hymns they grew up with or enjoyed as new Christians.

 

For me it was Scripture in Song, some had really beautiful words straight from the Scriptures, a few of my favourites are Bind us together in Love and A New Commandment I give unto you to Love one another.  My first Church was  a close Loving family of all ages, we were there for 20 years and there was great Unity and Love and I’m sure our heartfelt  worship was the unifying strength that we had in The Lord.

 

Below is the original words to Onward Christian Soldiers and the You Tube link….

 

Onward, Christian soldiers

 

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
forward into battle see His banners go!

 

Refrain: Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus going on before.

 

2.At  the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee;
on then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
brothers, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise. 

 

(Refrain)

 

3.Like a mighty army moves the Church of God;
brothers, we are treading where the Saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one Body we,
one in Hope and Doctrine, one in Charity. ( Love ) 

 

(Refrain)

 

4.Crowns and thrones may perish, Kingdoms rise and wane,
but the Church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never gainst that Church prevail;
we have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail. 

 

(Refrain)

 

5.Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ the King,
this through countless ages men and Angels sing.

 

(Refrain)

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Christian Love from us both –  Anne