Sectarianism in churches of Christ: Non-Instrumental?
Sectarianism: Church of Christ adds anti-instrument law and rejects fellowship with musical instruments. Does this constitute heresy or make one a sectarian?See how Amos condemns the musical worship of Remphan, Chiun or Molech (Chaldee 666). The chart proves that not even in the VILEST pagan temple could singers (associated with prostitutes) and musicians (associated with sodomites) could evern enter into the HOLY PLACE of their "god's presence." Any Levitical musician or singer who entered into the Holy Place as a type of the body or Church of Christ would be executed. Stephen shows how God TURNED THEM OVER TO WORSHIP THE STARRY HOST because based on the meaning of words the Israelites returned to MUSICAL IDOLATRY which always involved sexuality and homosexuality.
Ray Downen: The heretic is the one who creates division. In this case, those who separate are those who have added their unscriptural anti-instrument law and choose to have no fellowship with us who freely use musical instruments.
We believe the heretic is the one who creates division by adding their unscriptural instrumental law which says: take it or leave. Those who sow discord in order to attract a bigger crowd and thereby disrupt fellowship with their own body of believers sever the ties that bind. Christianity Today notes that one Methodist church has created five different Musical Sectarian Divisions.
The fact is that "innovators" or "progressives" either forced the introduction of the instrument or separated (disfellowshiped) from those who had never used instruments.
What we want to do in this section is to show that sectarianism is created before an actual separation by those who add articles of faith or practices to a unified church; 1) with no explicit Biblical authority, and 2) over something not absolutely necessary for worship to take place.
That is the definition of sectarianism or heresy by all except those who revise history and say:
"I shot you in the heart and you broke our friendship by spurting blood all over my choir gown."
No one ever introduced instruments believing that they had Biblical authority. No one ever suggested that they could not worship without instruments. Therefore, introducing "teams" or instruments is an automatic fracturing of the fellowship even if it does not produce a split. Once this split has occurred, as in a divorce, congregational separation is simply a formality to allow peace to continue under different roofs.
Lipscomb wrote as late as 1878 that:
We do not think anyone has ever claimed authority from Scriptures to use the organ in worship. They only claim it is not condemned. It is used as an assister in worship...Prayer, praise, thanksgiving and making melody in the heart (mind) unto the Lord are acts of worship ordained of God, but no authority do we find for for the organ."
We allow it as a remote possibility that those with a vendetta against non-instrumental churches do not read history, do not care about history and therefore do not know who shot cock robin.
- First, hauled before detectives,
- the guiding light of the NRA
- glibly hyped his lines,
- lauding, "...handguns, like vitamins,
- can never be oversold.
- If only poor Cock Robin
- had packed a trusty .38
- he'd have done the dirty varmint in
- and lived to tell the tale."
"There were those saying that they could "not abide the election of a Republican President." In which event they would destroy the Union. "And then, you say, the great crime of having destroyed it will be upon us! That is cool. A highwayman holds a pistol to my ear, and mutters through his teeth, "Stand and deliver, or I shall kill you, and then you will be a murderer." Abraham Lincoln, Frost, Vol. 1, p. 274
Let Jack Guess, Baptist tell you who uses The Law of Silence:
"The Argument From Silence is Invalid."
"Some, in trying to get around the plain New Testament teaching on the type of music to be used in the church, have endeavored to argue from silence.
"According to this method, because the New Testament does not say,
"Thou shalt not use the instrument,"
and since there is no express condemnation of the practice,
it must be acceptable to God.
"This is a false conclusion derived from the erroneous premise that the silence of the word of God is as much a guide for men as its positive commands. In other words, some wrongly believe that a thing is all right for worship unless explicitly forbidden. But it can easily be demonstrated that this type of reasoning will not work.I get those gut-wrenching e-mails from people who have to endure teams claiming authority to worship for the people or to lead them into worship. Christianity Today notes that there are up to 5 different "musical sects" in some Methodist churches. The author's view is that one who introduces a new musical style creates a new musical sect. And, refusing to listen and admire the "idolatry of talent" does not make one a heretic.
We get a frequent response from those defining non-instrumentalists as Pharisees, hypocrites, sectarians and legalist. And yes, Zelots, fratricides, fire bombers and racists. With uncontrolled glee, they note how many readers they have or how the non-instrumental position is a loser:
Ray Downen: I note that fewer and fewer church members are led astray by thinking that God opposes use of musical instruments by Christians.
If we can believe that:
> Satan as Lucifer caused the FALL of the angels from heaven and came into the garden of Eden to WHOLLY SEDCE Even and, according to all traditions, sodomize Adam. He came equipped with wind, string and percussion instruments as a symbol of the replacement of the HOLY TRIBES.
As a NACHASH the "serpent" was a MUSICAL ENCHANTERS.
In Gnosticism which fed on ancient Babylon theology, Sophia was the SERPENT. Zoe, her daughter was the BEAST and the female instructing principle. Most experience based (music) churches are not remotely CHRISTIAN but Gnostic.
> That ALL of the falls in the Old Testament were caused or MARKED by instrumental music.
> That Jesus denounced music in several ways. (The water drawing festival, Feast of Tabernacles, casting out the MUSICAL WORSHIP TEAM like dung, observing that the Jews were PIPING hoping that Jesus woudl SING and DANCE the sodomizing Dionysus Abomination of Desolation right in the temple earlier. Psalm 41 prophesied that led by JUDAS (whose Judas bag carried the 'tongues' of wind instrument) whout try to TRIUMPH OVER Jesus. This word which outlawed "playing instruments and 'making a joyful noise before the Lord'" as the Warrior's Panic chant. And on and on which NO PREACHER is expected to know anything about.
> That Paul PROHIBITED instruments when he defined the MELODY (bow twanging, arrow singing, murderous) as INTERNAL or IN THE SPIRIT where Jesus and Paul said worship takes place. The booming and clanging and lifeless instruments or "carnal weapons" are NOT the way to do battle with principalities and powers in high places who seduced the world with mind-altering music.
> That the Holy Whore of Revelation 18 is defined by John so that literate people could see CIRCE the holy whore as a model of the end-time worship.
> That the REMNANT will be a tiny group of people who will be OUTSIDE THE CITY or camp to meet Jesus NOT in the PLACE of a human temple but in the PLACE of the human spirit--the ONLY place God promises to meet us.
Then you may not want to join Ray Downen as the MAJORITY are collected (as prophesied) by the MUSES who were resurrected LOCUSTS in the book of Revelation.
I almost prophesy that ALMOST ALL churches (named after Circe, the holy whore who seduced with music and drugs) and worshiping GOD who is GAD, the "god of FORTUNES" when the TRUMPET VOICE OF JESUS SOUNDS. Everyone will be heavily drugged by ENDORPHINS created by music with the effect of FIGHT, FLIGHT OR SEXUALITY.
When you trade "affirmations" to gain knowledge you might be surprised if eyes were suddenly open and the instrumentalists blaming the singers could read the Word of God just as it is written in black ink on white paper for all to see but, like the parables of Jesus, hiding the truth from those who don't love it or who would market it.
Based on the fall just off the Ark, the "backsliding" at Mount Sinai, the association between instruments and loss of respect for the Word (as it has been delivered), the captivity of Israel for loss of knowledge while enjoying music, the king of Tyre and of Babylon and the end-time Babylon repeat, we should expect that only a tiny remnant will be standing "outside the camp" when Jesus sounds the last trump while the universal church will be engaged in a trumpet quartet. I would expect that every musical instrument on the earth will be sounding in churches. So, being in the minority gives one confidence.
In spite of the actual truth, it is a historical oddity that those who create the new musical sects are not truly confident in their decision. Therefore, they may get relief by blaming "those being invaded" for "attacking the invaders." (Rubel Shelly.)
"To Lamar goes the credit for phrasing the 'guilt clause' which became a cardinal refrain of the organ apologists.
The organ was in the churches to stay.
The next move was to fasten 'guilt' upon any person or church who would commit one of the 'seven deadly sins' by dividing the church over the organ."
And, Post-Modernism in the modern world:
"In August, the president's four-and-half minute speech-his first acknowledgment of wrongdoing-was a textbook example of post modernism at work.
Here were compartmentalization (I did wrong, but it doesn't matter because it was private),
contradiction (I accept full responsibility, but I'm a victim of my accuser), and
constructivism (my account, while legally accurate, was not forthcoming).So the charge and counter charge of sectarianism is a bit like: "That depends on what the meaning of is is."
Here is How and Why The Holy Spirit Was Not Silent About "Music."
Those whom I would bet have never read any original John Locke love to use "Locke myths" to identify churches of Christ as sectarians based on Lockian or Campbellian legalism. Before continuing to do so, you may read John Locke's A Letter Concerning Toleration by Clicking Here. John Locke understood Paul's principle of a new form of "teaching" which was so radical that it would allow once Orphic Vegetarian Instrumentalists in Rome to "assemble" perhaps for meal fellowship or "worship" with once Meat-Eating, Wine-drinking instrumentalist Dionysics. The prescription in Romans 15 which is not silent says that:
WE then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Romans 15:1
Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification (education). Romans 15:2
For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. Romans 15:3
In at least three Psalms, the AFFLICTION or OPPRESSION upon Jesus is connected to SINGING and or INSTRUMENTS. "There was never a PRAISE SERVICE in the synagogue" which began as "the church in the wilderness with Playing instruments and 'making a joyful noise before the Lord' outlawed." This singing and instruments was the TRIUMPH OVER to be used by Judas on Jesus and it was the WARRIOR'S BATTLE CRY something like the REBEL YELL.
See the Charismatic- Homosexual worship connection
sumphôn-ia , hê, concord or unison of sound, tên en têi ôidêi harmonian, ê dê s. kaleitai Pl.Cra.405d ; hê gar harmonia s. esti, s. de homologia tis Id.Smp.187b , cf. R.430e; logos arithmôn en oxei ê barei Arist.AP0.90a18 , cf. de An.426a29; krasis esti logon echontôn enantiôn pros allêla Id.Pr.921a2 .
3. harmonious union of many voices or sounds, concert, hoi tôn s. logoi, the Pythag. doctrine of the music of the spheres, Id.Cael.290b22, cf. IG14.793 (Naples).
III. band, orchestra, Hellênika 1.19 (Gytheum, i A.D.), PFlor.74.5 (ii A.D.), POxy.1275.9 (iii A.D.), and so perh. in Plb.26.1.4, 30.26.8, but used of a musical instrument in LXXDa.3.5; so Lat. symphonia, of a kind of drum, Isid.Etym.3.22.14, but of a wind instrument, Plin.HN8.157; symphoniae et cymbala strepitusque, Cels.3.18.10; êkouse sumphônias kai Chorôn Ev.Luc.15.25 .
chrêstêrios [chraô3] of or from an oracle, oracular, prophetic, Aesch., Eur.; Apollon chrêstêrie author of oracles, Hdt.
chrauô to scrape, graze, wound slightly, hon rha te poimên chrausêi Il.; cf. enchrauô, epichraô.
chraô or chrêsamenos
1. Act. of gods and oracles, to furnish the needful answer, to declare, pronounce, proclaim, chrêsô boulên Dios Hhymn.; hê Puthiê hoi chrai tade Hdt., etc.: c. inf. to warn or direct by oracle, chrêsant' emoi ektos aitias einai that I should be, Aesch.; tou theou chrêsantos Thuc.
And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: Acts 16:16
The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. Acts 16:17
Puthon (g4436) poo'-thone; from Putho, (the name of the region where Delphi, the seat of the famous oracle, was located); a Python, i.e. (by anal. with the supposed diviner there) inspiration (soothsaying): - divination
chrêstêrios , a, on, also os, on A.Eu.241: (chraô (B) A): oracular, prophetic, ephetmai l. c.; ornithes Id.Th.26 ; chrêstêrian esthêta Id.Ag. 1270 ; tripous ch. E.Ion1320 ; tounoma Id.Hel.822 ; also Apollon chrêstêrie author of oracles, Hdt.6.80 , cf. OGI312 (Aegae, ii B. C.).
Chresis (g5540) khray'-sis; from 5530; employment, i.e. (spec.) sexual intercourse.
Chraoamai (g5530) khrah'-om-ahee; mid. of a prim. verb (perh. rather from 5495, to handle); to furnish what is needed; (give an oracle, "graze" [touch slightly], light upon, etc.), i.e. (by impl.) to employ or (by extens.) to act towards one in a given manner: - entreat, use. Comp. 5531, 5534.
Cherphah (h2781) kher-paw'; from 2778; contumely, disgrace, the pudenda: - rebuke, reproach (-fully), shame.
But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. Ps.22:6
All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, Psalm 22:7
Leag (h3932) law-ag'; a prim. root; to deride; by impl. (as if imitating a foreigner) to speak unintelligibly: - have in derision, laugh (to scorn), mock (on), stammering.
Laeg (g3934) law-ayg'; from 3932; a buffoon; also a foreigner: - mocker, stammering.
Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. Isa 28:9
For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. Is.28:11
To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. Isa 28:12
For the zeal (jealousy) of thine house (temple) hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me. Psalm 69:9
Cherphah (h2781) kher-paw'; from 2778; contumely, disgrace, the pudenda: - rebuke, reproach (-fully), shame.
Charaph (h2778) khaw-raf'; a prim. root; to pull off, i. e. (by impl.) to expose (as by stripping); spec. to betroth (as if a surrender); fig. to carp at, i. e. defame; denom. (from 2779) to spend the winter: - betroth, blaspheme, defy, jeopard, rail, reproach, upbraid.
Homer continues to show the source of a superstitious view that pagans were SONS OF GOD:
Hermes, crawled out of his BIRTH BED, found a turtle, made it into a GOD by gouging out its life and stringing its guts to make a harp. With this harp the infant stole Apollo's cows (worshipers) and forced them to walk backward to hide his THEFT BY MUSIC: a God at birth. DOES THIS SOUND POSTMODERN, POST-BIBLICAL AND POST CHRISTENDOM ERA?
(ll. 503-512) Afterwards they two, the all-glorious SONS of Zeus turned the cows back towards the sacred meadow, but themselves hastened back to snowy Olympus, delighting in the LYRE. Then wise Zeus was glad and made them both friends.
And Hermes loved the SON of Leto (Apollo) continually, even as he does now, when he had given the LYRE as token to the Far-shooter, who played it skilfully, holding it upon his arm.
But for himself Hermes found out another CUNNING ART and made himself the PIPES whose sound is heard afar.
(ll. 513-520) Then the SON of Leto said to Hermes: `Son of Maia, guide and cunning one, I fear you may steal from me the lyre and my curved bow together;
or you have an office from Zeus, to establish deeds of barter amongst men throughout the fruitful earth. Now if you would only swear me the great oath of the gods, either by nodding your head, or by the potent water of Styx, you would do all that can please and ease my heart.'
But as for sooth-saying, noble, heaven-born child, of which you ask, it is NOT LAWFUL for you to LEARN IT, nor for any other of the deathless gods: only the MIND of Zeus knows that.
I am pledged and have vowed and sworn a strong oath that no other of the eternal gods save I should know the wise-hearted counsel of Zeus.
And do not you, my brother, bearer of the golden wand, bid me tell those DECREES which all- seeing Zeus INTENDS.
As for MEN, I will HARM one and PROFIT another, sorely PERPLEXING the tribes of unenviable men.
Whosoever shall come GUIDED by the CALL and flight of birds of sure omen, that man shall have advantage through my voice, and I will not deceive him.
But whoso shall trust to idly-chattering birds and shall seek to INVOKE my PROPHETIC ART contrary to my will, and to understand MORE than the eternal GODS, I declare that he shall come on an IDLE journey; yet HIS GIFTS I would take.
PLEASE IS: Aresko (g700) ares'-Jo; prob. from 142 (through the idea of EXCITING EMOTIONS)
AIR (g142) awry; a prim. verb; to LIFT; by imp. to take up or AWAY; fig. to RAISE THE VOICE, KEEP IN SUSPENSE the MIND
WWJD?
Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
Jesus didn't tell you to COME to a church which has used PROGRAMS and PERFORMANCE to make the assembly into a SLAVE LABOR CAMP: you are SLAVES OF THE WATCH TOWER where the watchmen are watching themselves and ENJOYING a trumpet quartet: until their brain kicks.
Labor is:
Phortizo (g5412) for-tid'-zo; from 5414; to LOAD up.. figurative to OVERBURDEN with CEREMONIAL or SPIRITUAL ANXIETY.
MUSIC IS A POWERFUL CREATOR OF SPIRITUAL ANXIETY: its effects are pronounced SEXUAL. However, you don't reach the VINEYAR'S sexual climax with God until you undergo something like the RUNNER'S HIGH. Those who PROMOTE MUSIC know that they are USING the musicians to keep your RATIONAL or spiritual mind off Christ. It needs no proving: if you are GIVING HEED to the musicians you CANNOT be giving heed to Lord Jesus Christ and HIS songs and sermons.
And the burden is the TITHE to pay for something for which Jesus Christ DIED. You tithe and you repudiate the SACRIFICE of Christ and when you MUSICATE you repudiate the WORD of Christ by the GIFT of Lucifer or Satan "the harp-playing and singing prostitute."
Phoros (g5411) for'-os; from 5342; a load (as borne,) i.e. (fig.) a tax (prop. an individ. assessment on persons or property; whereas 5056 is usually a gen. toll on goods or travel): - tribute.
The LAW OF GIVING is part of the DISTINCTLY AMERICAN RELIGION which is barely if at All CHRISTIAN. But Carroll Wimber of Vineyard says that AFTER you have had your MUSIC-INDUCED climax with God or the imaginged Holy Spirit "person" then NEXT ACT is GIVING OF MEANS. Doesn't it figure?
Christ as "Son" said that He subjected Himself to the "Father" so that He never spoke anything which He had not heard from the Father. Jesus then told the Apostles that unity depended on the Word. Paul decided that He would speak only what he had been told or had been later revealed by Christ the Spirit. Paul then told everyone who had problems to do the same thing: be like Christ and speak the Words of Christ or Spirit which the Spirit of Christ had revealed and would reveal (1 Pet 1:11).
Because there is no operative command to "sing" but to "teach" then to please our diverse neighbors by teaching or edification we should honor God by honoring His words. All of the sects in Rome would have depended heavily on meats or no meats, wine or not and ALL were addicted to the use of INSTRUMENTAL music to bring on the SPIRITUAL ANXIETY to make people believe that the gods were within. Paul prescribed the SYNAGOGUE which never had a "praise service" and assuredly no instruments. MUSIC is never a spiritual worship word in the Bible
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning (teaching), that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4
Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: Romans 15:5
That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:6
Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. Romans 15:7
We can truly "speak the same things" if we speak the revealed Biblical material.
Haven't we heard that before? Sure. Look at the parallel chart:
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess;
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Col 3:15
but be filled with the Spirit; Eph 5:18
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom
Speaking to yourselves;
teaching and admonishing one another
in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, (all inspired)
in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs
singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord Eph 5:19
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name (authority) of our Lord Jesus Christ; Eph 5:20
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name (authority) of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Col 3:17
MUSIC in the Greek world included both GRACE and MELODY. Neither of these included INSTRUMENTS. When instruments are included then they are NAMED. A psalmIST would be one who both sings and plays. If PSALLO "authorized" instrumental music it would ALSO authorize making the bow TWANG to send a SINGING arrow into the hearts of those we are DRIVING OUT INTO THE COLD just so we can become MUSICALLY SECTARIAN. Why not try shooting some of the good people with an arrow rather than driving them into having SEXUAL feelings?Plato, Republic
[522a] that we seek." "No." "Is it, then, music, so far as we have already described it?1 " "Nay, that," he said, "was the counterpart of gymnastics, if you remember. It educated the guardians through habits, imparting by the melody a certain harmony of spirit that is not science,2 and by the rhythm measure and grace, and also qualities akin to these in the words of tales that are fables and those that are more nearly true. But it included no study that tended to any such good as
1 The ordinary study of music may cultivate and refine feeling. Only the mathematics of music would develop the power of abstract thought.
2 Knowledge in the true sense, as contrasted with opinion or habit.
Ioannes Secundus: The grace and melody of the lines and their voluptuous warmth of feeling have led them to be compared with the love-lyrics of Catullus, and the comparison is fully justified.
Phrynichus: But the dialogue was still quite subordinate to the lyrics of the chorus. In this department he won extraordinary celebrity by the grace and melody of his verses, which continued to be sung at Athens long after
When you SPEAK (externally) and SING and MAKE MELODY or WITH GRACE in the heart (internal) then the TEACHING of the REVEALED metrical material creates spiritual melody or:
Grace is: Charis (g5485) khar'-ece... Spiritual: the DIVINE INFLUENCE upon the HEART, and its REFLECTION in the life; including GRATITUDE
If the Lord Jesus Christ has not authorized it directly or through inspiration then it is imposible to do it with His authority.
He says "observe the silence" because if I haven't authorized it then you cannot do it with my authority.
He still does not (because He is not a legalist) say: "Don't do anything I have not authorized."
Why is that? That is because Christ was in the World and in Spirit in the Evangelists who go out seeking those who are capable of worshiping God in spirit and in truth. If He has to treat us like Children and say: "Don't play in the intersection" then He is not looking for us.
This is not remotely a "musical" or "symphonia" concept which was uniquely secular and is related to the end-time Babylonian religious-commercial institution which is probably set up in your hometown. This is a "teaching" concept.
Now, it is a fact that Paul didn't say: "Don't get drunk eating peyote buttons to move you into the presence of the gods."
Now doesn't that sound like Paul's earlier parallel statement? Christ is the one Teacher and He "sings to the Gentiles" only when we speak or sing His words:
If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: Ephesians 4:21 (My Words are Spirit and Life. John 6:63)
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; Ephesians 4: 22
Lust is the overwhelming urge to do something we know is wrong. Once we do it we are forced to defend it. "Conversation" here seems to literally be "conversation" in the speaking to one another sense. The old deceitful lusts of the Ephesians, Colossians, Romans and Corinthians was for the uncovered prophesiers (female) to teach them where "authority" meant sexual authority.
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; Ephesians 4: 23
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Ephesians 4: 24
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Ephesians 4: 25
Truth is: Aletheuo (g226) al-ayth-yoo'-o; from 227; to be true (in doctrine and profession): - speak (tell) the truth.
That "speak" word is the same as in the passages erroneously used for "music" rather than Scripture Singing or truth singing.
Jesus said that God is only aware of those who worship "in spirit" or in the mind and in truth as we speak His words one to another.
And doesn't that sound like the only acceptable form of worship according to Jesus?
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. John 4:23
Truth is: Aletheia (g225) al-ay'-thi-a; from 227; truth: - true, * truly, truth, verity.
And what does that mean, Jesus?
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24
Our mind is to our spirit self as the Mind of Christ is to the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 2). And that nous or mind is equivalent to the naos or holy place. Only one worshiper and God will fit into the holy place (our mind) at one time. Paul defined the spiritual Jew as:
But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly;
and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit,
and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. Ro.2:29
I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia. 2 Co .2:13
Paul and others obeyed the direct command that worship is IN the PLACE of the human Spirit;
For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Phil 3:3
Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Phil 3:4
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; Rom 1:9
I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; 2 Tim 1:3
John was in his own Spirit as he worshiped on the Lord's day:
I was in the Spirit on the Lords day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Re.1:10
And the musical Levites cannot go there or lead us or jack us up to God without suffering death for a presumptious sin.
If you make deliberate mind-altering music while I am trying to meet God in my mind as His Holy Place, the Temple type will not treat you with kindness.
But, Jesus, you did not say: "Thou shalt not worship with thy instrument, hands and feet."
But then why should the Incarnate God of the Univere have to tell us that we cannot worship in every nerve (every) ending stimulated by an instrument which vibrates thy brain in thy brain cage and stimulates the impulse of "fight, flight or sex?" Again, the women singers were exercising authentia or sexual authority.
Using Albert Barnes terms, musical teams aim at "the lust of the eye and the lust of the ears."
I wouldn't even try to make such a law. It would have no value: the "doctors of the Law" would go to a 'Christian University' and stack up enough Phds to find a loophole. Neither would Jesus make such a law because God only seeks those who can worship in spirit (in the mind) devoted to teaching and comtemplating and dialoging the Word without having to draw lines because we don't enact legalistic rituals with or without instruments.
If God has to tell you: "Don't do it" then He won't bother.
So, let's look at some of the dialog which has been going on about this issue. I have decided to focus on this one observation because it has become a mantra. Our comments in Black and other quotes in blue. Perhaps, I can address the other things I believe misrepresent the non-instrumental view but it would be fruitless unless we determine what constitutes sectarianism.
Ray Downen outreach@sofnet.com
Ray Downen: The heretic is the one who creates division. In this case, those who separate
are those who have added their unscriptural anti-instrument law
and choose to have no fellowship with us who freely use musical instruments.
There is a good reason that "rhetoricians, Sophists (Ophis=end-time serpents), singers, musicians and craftsmen (techne) were the SOOTHSAYERS and all defined as of the SECT of the Hypocrites and known as PARASITES. Non instrumental churches down through history ADDED NOTHING. The entire Bible, church history and founders of denominations DENOUNCED instruments as the devies of the pagan SOOTHSAYERS or PROSTITUTES (and Sodomites). A parasite is one who DOES NOT KNOW either the Bible or history and CHARGES an unlawful wage for it.
The INSTRUMENTAL group ADDED their unscriptural PRO-INSTRUMENT LAW based on what they ignorantly term the LAW OF SILENCE.
The instrumental group choose not to have fellowship with the OWNERS OF THEIR OWN PROPERTY. They had to SUBMIT or GET OUT. It is a fact that non-instrumentalists were DISFELLOWSHIPED from participation in the neo-pagan churches which added INSTRUMENTS 100% to ADD attendance and contribution.
Correct: a heretic is the one who creates division.
If I have helped found and pay for a church building and YOU come in and decide to ADD INSTRUMETS contrary to minimal ethics, the entire Bible and ALL scholarship, and I am not strong enough to stop the invasion and STEALING THE CHURCH HOUSES OF WIDOWS then I will have to DEPART for two reaslons: First, my literacy and conscience will not allow me to participate. Secondly, in the original SECTARIANISM by instrumentalists and in PRESENT PERFECT TENSE CHURCHES I am told that if I publically object then I AM SOWING DISCORD and "we have issued you your first WARNING."
The illiteracy and rank immorality which forced the instrument in in the first place has no qualms about blaming the peacable believers for BLEEDING on them when THEY have shot them in the heart as surely as the MUSICAL MOCKING LEVITES helped lead Jesus into crucifixion
However, heresy may just mean that I have made a choice not to try to worship in my mind or spirit while the temple-like diversion noise is taking place. You see, animal sacrifices were not for God: He owns the cattle on a thousand hills and dispelled the pagan notion of sacrifice by saying: "If I get hungry I will not tell you." Additions to the trumpets as "church bells" made the horrors of animal slaughter tolerable to the priests who, as in all "like the nation's" temples, kept the evil noise of death and dying from the ears of the priests. Sacrifices are over.
There were no "chief musicians" in the Hebrew text: we get that like "psallo and psalmos" from the Greek. He was really the "overseer" or "exceller" or "straw boss" or "slave driver." He even drove Isralites into slavery to build a temple God could not live in. His work-product was not "music" because music is not a Biblica, spiritual worship word. He "sounded" or made a great crashing sound but he did not play music.
Later in Romans 15 Paul will allude to "singing to the Gentiles." David was miliitary commander and when he played and sang to the Gentiles it was because he believed that he had put the "Gentile" necks underneith his feet. David shed the blood OF the Gentiles.
Jesus is the Peace Maker and He shed His blood FOR the Gentiles.
But Sectarianism in the true sense means upsetting the assembly usually for some personal gain.
But fellowship does not mean attending a meeting where instruments are played. Fellowship means being a joint participator
Koinonia (g2842) koy-nohn-ee'-ah; from 2844; partnership, i.e. (lit.) participation, or (social) intercourse, or (pecuniary) benefaction: - (to) communicate (-ation), communion, (contri-) distribution, fellowship.
Koinonos (g2844) koy-no-nos'; from 2839; a sharer, i.e. associate: - companion, * fellowship, partaker, partner
We are aware of a huge body of material by many groups rejecting instrumental music because it is unscriptural and violates Paul's command which imitated Christ and which would unite an assembly.
But, we are aware of no latter-day defense of instruments which will hold water in the face of its divisiveness in every denomination. The claim by one of Ray's writers that Post-Biblical writer's use of "psallo" authorizes instruments assuredly needs to be addressed.
However, we are aware of no collection of epithets aimed at the heart of the persons of instrumentalists. If these words do not add up to "Raca" I don't know how you would call one an evil fool.
A sectarian is one who creates "a division and the formation of a party or 'sect' in contrast to the uniting power of 'the truth,' held en toto; 'a sect' is created "generally with the expectation of personal advantage." (Vine)
That was assuredly the MOTIVE of the Standard Publishing in declaring THEIR song book the only authentic book and even signing up little children as LIFE MEMBERS: Sure, just like Jim Bakker.
In Christianity Today Hamilton recognizes the common meaning of sect: If one party in a congregation introduces a new style of worship based on instrumental music or choirs or "musical worship teams" one has created a new musical sect. It is a new division of the congregation based on introducing a new musical style. The Christian Church introduced the instrument and usually tried to get the church building with it. At times they excluded the non-instrumentalists because they didn't want them upsetting the new "spirit."
Those who are alienated by the youthful play simply have to suffer in silence or to keep doing what they have always done in rented property.
This means that I cannot create a sect if I refuse to be coerced to participate in the new musical sect and leave in order to continue doing what I have always done.
Continuing to teach against that which broke the fellowship does not make one a Pharisee, hypocrite, sectarian or legalist. One might believe that the hostility toward those who try to present the Biblical and historical reasons means a loss of confidence in the instruments which "broke the camel's back."
The Book of Enoch we noted along with its other versions model the thesis that once you have been seduced with music you can never turn loose. The only sense of peace which "Genun" as the Jubal, Jabal, Tubal-Cain and Naamah character could get was to try to force everyone to join the "mixed-sex choir and instrumental music" Sect. The Book of Enoch is quoted at least 128 times in the New Testament, including by Jesus, Peter and Jude. Whether inspired or not it was kicked out of the Catholic package because it would repudiate much of its system.
Now, why do you suppose that all of the ancient Jews had that opinion about the origin of music?
When the post-dispersion Jewish Kabbalists began to ask "what happened?" they finally read the Bible and saw that the Enoch story and the nature of the Law, the temple and all that went with it was clearly right there where it had been overlooked by all of the "scholars." Josephus also has a different take.
You don't have to remove your body into another building to have created a new sectarianism right there in the middle of yesterday's unity. And you have created the "in place" musical sect without any Biblical or personal absolute need in order to worship acceptably.
Our e-mail shows that in many churches there is a thick, blackness between yesterday's Biblically united group and today's new musical worship team sect separated from the continuing congregational singing group.
The "expectation of personal advantage" makes the definition of a Pharisee and sectarian fairly certain
Yet, Ray Downen is locked into the association between not performing music with being a Pharisee:
Ray Downen: What I note is that they were hypocrites, and performed the pious deeds to be seen of men, and that's what Jesus condemned them for.
I am not sure how congregational singing as spiritual worship using the spiritual "harp of God" and not having the instruments means that one is "performing a pious deed to be seen of men." The world, almost universally doomed, would love you if they saw you performing "music" but consider you strange if you do not.
A "band" would mask out the voice of a retarded girl we see who cannot carry a tune nor read the words. But she has memorized the words and sings "in spirit and in truth."
What we know for a fact is that the new praise craze confesses that the "talent and spiritual looks of the team lead the worshipers to think about God." Does the Rock guitarist not perform to be seen of men?
So, we again have truth turned on its head: hypocrite really means "an actor." Rarely, will any one voice stand out for admiration when the congregation is singing "with one voice."
So, let's all confess to being hypocrites and get that out of the way. Next, we need to understand why refusing to worship with instruments makes one a sectarian pharisee hypocrite brother-killer. And we need to look for some personal advantage in not using instruments in order to be branded a sectarian.
Ray Downen: << Surely our goal is to seek to be like JESUS rather than like those He soundly and thoroughly condemned.
How could one be like Jesus and sing and play an instrument. The Old Testament is filled with associating musical instruments (noise instruments since the word music is not there) and ignoring His Word. And Jesus put out the musical mourning team "more or less violently" so he could heal the young Girl. The word means LIKE DUNG.
Watch below for the EQUALITY SIGN:
Latin: cithari-zo , a-re, v n., = kitharizô, to play on or strike the cithara, Nep. Epam. 2, 1; Vulg. Apoc. 14, 2.
And I heard a voice from heaven like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder; the voice I heard was like the sound of harpers playing on their harps, Isa 14:2
It is a fact: pagans used DRUMS to create the sound of THUNDER to awe the ignorant:
Strabo Geography 10.3.16
Of the rites of Dionysus condemned by Paul in First Corinthians using the "weapons" of warfare or even the metallic chisel to help with the clangs and booms to bring down the gods:
"And he mentions immediately afterwards the attendants of Dionysus:
one, holding in his hands the bombyces, toilsome work of the turner's chisel,
fills full the FINGERED melody, the call that brings on frenzy,
while another causes to resound the bronze-bound cotylae.
"and again, stringed instruments raise their shrill cry, and frightful mimickers from some place unseen bellow like bulls, and the semblance of drums, as of subterranean thunder, rolls along, a terrifying sound.
Greek with similar meaning: parasi-tor . a-ri, v. dep. [id.] , to play the parasite, to sponge: parasitarier, Plaut. Stich. 4, 2, 54: parasitando pascere ventres suos, id. Pers. 1, 2, 3 .
Aristotle, Athenian Constitution
These then are the matters administered by the Council. Also ten men are elected by lot as Restorers of Temples, who draw 30 minae from the Receivers and repair the temples that most require it; and ten City Controllers,
five of whom hold office in Peiraeus and five in the city;
it is they who supervise the flute-girls and harp-girls and lyre-girls to prevent their receiving fees of more than two drachmas,
and if several persons want to take the same girl these officials cast lots between them and hire her out to the winner.
And they keep watch to prevent any scavenger from depositing ordure (dung) within a mile and a quarter of the wall;
and they prevent the construction of buildings encroaching on and balconies overhanging the roads, of overhead conduits with an overflow into the road, and of windows opening outward on to the road;
and they remove for burial the bodies of persons who die on the roads, having public slaves for this service.
See Aristot. Ath. Pol. 7.3. A drachma (say 9 1/2d. or 1 franc) was a hundredth part of a mina (say 4 pounds.)
Psaltôid-eô means singers with instruments.
psalmôid-ia , singing to the harp, Aristid.2.310J.
Word with similar definition
barbit-ôidos , on, singing to the barbiton, Luc.Lex.14.
kômôido-loicheô , play the parasite, peri tina Ar.V.1318
Barbarians Playing the Barbaton: There is NO OTHER OPTION: musicians were Prostittutes or Sodomites or MOCKED the type of Jesus Christ in the sacrificial system. They later MOCKED Jesus musically in the same way trying to force Him into the perverted song and dance of Dionysus. You do know that the anticipated Messiah of the Jews was Dionysus?
In addition to the SECARIAN Pharisees and Scribes, Jesus adds the HYPOCRITES. This was a SECT in the Greek world. "rhetoricians, Sophists (note OPHIS or serpent meaning), singers and musicians" performed the TASKS of the sorcerers or soothsayers in the book of Revelation. They added nothing to anything and were therefore PARASITES. All musicians with the ISTS such as harpISTS were polluted and were parasites:Latin: cithari-zo , a-re, v n., = kitharizô, to play on or strike the cithara, Nep. Epam. 2, 1; Vulg. Apoc. 14, 2.
Greek with similar meaning:: parasi-tor . a-ri, v. dep. [id.] , to play the parasite, to sponge: parasitarier, Plaut. Stich. 4, 2, 54 : parasitando pascere ventres suos, id. Pers. 1, 2, 3 .
Psalm 41 prophesied that Judas would try to triumph over Jesus. That means to blow instruments and make a joyful noise before the lord. That was the warrior's cry. Click to read Psalm 41 translated by the Essenes for the music-destroy Jesus connection.
Here are those He condemned along with the performing Pharisees:
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Matthew 11:15
But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, Matthew 11:16
And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. Matthew 11:17
This was the Dionysus singing and choral dance engaged in by women not under authority, or by effeminate men. Paul compares speaking in tongue or singing our of our own spirit to a lifeless musical pipe which cannot speak a known language.
And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? 1Co.14:7
The Pharisees did their religion as show and tell even though they did not play instruments like the organized clergy.
And they still try to overpower the Word of God by playing the pipes and insisting that spiritual worshipers dance to their tune. Jesus would warn all of us to "come out of her."
If you have ears you can hear God always condemning instrumental attempts to silence His quiet Word.
So, to be like Jesus you must recite the Psalms which He inspired as "Spirit." He said that He would only speak what He heard from the Father. How can you be like Jesus and "sermonize" the words of the Father to give them more power, and versify sentimental poetry?
How would you go about proving that Jesus played instruments and sang sentimental, often-erotic love poems?
Ray Downen: EVERY "worship law" for Christians which has been made a cause for division within the Restoration Movement is based upon the law of silence, for God certainly made no such laws.
That is also a fact. One another singers have continued the practice of the Synagogue, the example of Jesus, the direct command of Paul and the 2,000 year acknowledged principle that worship is directed to God and not to the performers who are always added to attract a crowd. There is no "music" term associated with the Bible except in secular parties and the end-time harlot church. Music to the Greek meant singing and dancing with or without instruments.
However, instrumentalists claim authority to make new laws up out of silence and financial expediency. They say, in many of the reviewed articls, that one who will not worship with instruments are Pharisees, hypocrites, sectarians, heretics and sowers of discord. That constitutes judging.
Next, by cranking up the 50 horsepower pipe organ they make a law: if you meet with us you will worship with instruments. If you leave, we will use psychological violence against you and accuse you of what we did. This will teach those grown Biblically illiterate from sermonizing and versifying not to imitate you or we will "get 'em also."
Finally, they do something they know is not necessary for them or others to worship. They force this on the heads of people who cannot worship when the machine blots out the voice from your wife sitting next to you. They, therefore, violate Paul's direct laws of Romans 15. They further violate the direct commandment to "speak" the revealed Word "with one voice." Now, sure enough, musical sectarians can truly say:
Paul didn't say: "Thous shalt not use the voice of lifeless instruments and trumpets."
This "law of silence" is used by musical dividers as a true LAW.
Paul didn't say, "sing and make melody with or without an instrument." Paul said to "teach" or preach to one another or "to ourselves" (in our heart). Therefore, the operative word is not sing or worship but teach or preach.
The "law of silence" absolutely fabricates out of thin air and all ancient pagan religions that God is controlled or appeased by singing praise songs and making a great noise.
Now, Ray has said that he cares not for anything not included in the record of Christ and the apostles.
However, if you are going to make up the false LAW that non-instrumentalists introduced the LAW OF SILENCE and that is not the truth then we are found to be false witnesses and false accusers and haters and despisers of those we verbally abuse while ignoring all of the history.
For those who are willing to look at the evidence, if we can find one person before Daniel Sommers who used this law and the resulting Guilt Clause then you can disregard all of the false witnesses of the world.
John Calvin is a good place to begin because he informed men like Thomas and Alexander Campbell to reject instruments based on the Bible, and he knew that Scripture has to be the basis of agreement. Because he was hit with the "guilt clause" he understood that being blamed for other's sins is a malady of humanity. I kid my wife for hiding things which are always found just where I put them. That's the original sin of Adam.
b. July 10, 1509, Noyon, Picardy, France
d. May 27, 1564, Geneva, Switz.
I, for my part, deny not that when impiety reigned, her kingdom was disturbed by us. [by leaving and teaching against additions which included instrumental music in worship]But if, at the moment when the light of sound and pious doctrine beamed upon the world, all, as in duty bound, had spontaneously, and with ready mind, lent their aid, there would at the present day be no less peace and quietness in all the churches, (the kingdom of Christ flourishing), than in the days when Antichrist tyrannized.
> Let those who, it is manifest, impede the course of truth, desist from waging war with Christ, and there will instantly be perfect concord;
> or let them desist from throwing upon us the blame of dissensions, which they themselves excite.
Separate a ray from the body of the sun, the unity of the light is not divided. Break a branch from a tree, that which is broken cannot germinate. Cut off a stream from the fountain, and it dries up. So, also, the church of God, irradiated with light, sends its beams over the whole world. Still it is one light which is everywhere diffused. The unity of the body is not violated" (Cyprian, De Unitat. Ecclesi.).
Heresies and schisms, therefore, arise when a return is not made to the origin of truth,
when neither the Head is regarded,
nor the doctrine of the heavenly Master preserved.
Let them then show us a hierarchy in which the bishops are distinguished, but not for refusing to be subject to Christ, in which they depend upon him as the only head, and act solely with reference to him,
> in which they cultivate brotherly fellowship with each other,
> bound together by no other tie than his truth;
> > then, indeed, I will confess that there is no anathema too strong for those who do not regard them with reverence, and yield them the fullest obedience.
But is there anything like this in that false mask of hierarchy on which they plume themselves?
The Roman pontiff alone as Christ's vicar is in the ascendant, and domineers without law and without measure, after the manner of a tyrant, nay, with more abandoned effrontery than any tyrant.
The rest of the body is framed more according to his standard than that of Christ. The light of which Cyprian speaks is extinguished, the copious fountain cut off;
in short, the only thing exhibited is the tallness of the tree, but a tree dissevered from its root.
Let us now attend to the only remedy left us by those who think it impiety to move a finger, how great soever the evils by which the church is oppressed. They put us off to a universal council.
What? If the major part, from obstinacy, rush upon their own destruction, must we therefore perish along with them,
when we have the means of consulting for our own safety?
But they tell us it is unlawful to violate the unity of the church,
and that unity is violated if any party decide an article of faith by themselves, without calling in the others. [They invented the law all by themselves]
Then they enlarge on the inconveniences to which such a course might lead &endash; that nothing could be expected but fearful devastation and chaotic confusion, were each people and nation to adopt for itself its peculiar form of faith.
Things like these might be said justly, and even appositely to the occasion, if any one member of the church, in contempt of unity, should of its own accord separate itself from the others. But that is not the point now in dispute.
> Calvin denied that people are obligated to remain with an institution which they do not believe fulfills the obligations imposed by Christ.
> However, the group always insists that if you leave you are guilty of sowing discord and division.
> Instrumental music added according to Catholics from paganism (Candles, Catholic Encyclopedia) was a primary reason for the Protest Reformation because it agreed with the Catholics that it was pagan.
> Those who have been deserted (the instrumental Catholics by the Psalm Singing protestants) continue the chant that all who separated from "her" are heretics and sectarians and therefore, by definition, going to hell.
John Locke: English philosopher who was an initiator of the Enlightenment in England and France, an inspirer of the U.S. Constitution. He is singularly responsible for our political and religious freedom.
b. Aug. 29, 1632, Wrington, Somerset, Eng.
d. Oct. 28, 1704, Oates, Essex
Now, we know that sectarian anti-sectarians hate John Locke because he defined, like Paul and Thomas Campbell, how people with different personally-held opinions can assembly together for edification by removing anything from the collective assembly which sows discord because it does not have Biblical authority.This must meet the tests of Paul's Roman 14 discussion of sects and His Roman's 15 definition of speaking the revealed Word of God to provide unity among Vegetarian, musical Orpheus experience and the Meat-Wine, musical Dionysus experience.
It simply will not work to follow the very young and totally unique new theology which says:
If God has not absolutely outlawed it then we can do it even if it does sow discord.
John Locke begins:
Schism
Let us now consider schism, which is a crime near akin to it; for both these words seem unto me to signify an ill-grounded separation in ecclesiastical communion
made about things not necessary.
But since use, which is the supreme law in matter of language, has determined that
heresy relates to errors in faith, and
schism to those in worship or discipline, we must consider them under that distinction.
Schism, then, for the same reasons that have already been alleged,
is nothing else but a separation made in the communion of the Church
upon account of something in divine worship or ecclesiastical discipline
that is
notany necessary part of it.Now, nothing in worship or discipline can be necessary to Christian communion (unity)
but what Christ our legislator, or the Apostles by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, have commanded in express words.
Again we say, anyone can do what they wish, but the eternal principle is based on the Word of the Incarnate God of the Universe because that is what He claimed (John 6:63)
Those who added instruments just because "God didn't say, 'thou shalt not'" admit that they are adding something which is not commanded and not necessary for worship.
Therefore, adding the instruments makes one the sectarian.
If modern instrumentalists believe that they cannot worship without instruments, and they have direct Biblical authority for instruments then they have the right, as Alfred T. DeGroote claims, to be the one true church. And then churches of Christ who have no Biblical authority for "one another" singing but left just to be evil, could be branded as sectarians.
This is not based on anything but DeGrootes claim to the "high church" right of Catholics to change the rules with the change in times.
Locke didn't say that you are a sinner if you hold some different opinion. However, he along with Paul's "singing" passages (Romans 15; Eph 5; Col 3) and also Thomas Campbell say that you simply cannot have fellowship with people if you insist on forcing them to do something which doe not have clear Biblical authority which they cannot practice. Paul truly meant that we can "all speak the same things" if we have dialog by speaking what Jesus said and would say if present. Instrumentalists and non-instrumentalists violate that direct command and condition of unity and show contempt for the Words of Christ (Spirit) by substituting the words of Fanny Crosby or Twila Paris. Based on the ancient Hittite and other's view that a hymn after the composer's death became almost an idol simply because they gave attention to the composer and not to the Word of Christ it is asked: "Are Hymns Idols?"
Locke continues:
In a word,
he that denies not anything that the Holy Scriptures teach in express words,
nor makes a separation upon occasion of anything that is not manifestly contained in the sacred text- however he may be nicknamed by any sect of Christians and declared by some or all of them to be utterly void of true Christianity-
yet in deed and in truth this man cannot be either a heretic or schismatic.
I cannot wrestle it to the ground, but apparently after the division had been created by adding instruments, someone invented the notion:
That NOT using instruments is not expressly stated as a thus saith the Lord. God didn't have Scripture declare a legalism: "Thou shalt not use mechanical instruments for worship."
The musical group introduced instruments without authority and knowing that it would sow discord. They just did it for financial advantage according to their own confession. One reason was based on "what was good enough for Mars was good enough for Jehovah." However, after the fellowship was already fractured people tend to look backward to justify the condition and invented the guilt-shifting clause that:
If everyone didn't remain in place and participate in what they believed was sinful, a
