Sing a Song Part 13

The big argument is whether or not God said "no" to instruments directly. Actually and truthfully, no, He didn't directly say, "Thou shall have no musical instruments." He did say, "Thou shall have no other gods before Me" (Ex 20:3) And many times like man's writing and dancing that becomes our god, our idol. We fashion and fix and edit and chop and whittle until we have what we think is perfect. Not what God thinks is perfect. What is perfect in God's eyes? Do we strive to do what is perfect according to God, or do we strive to say,"Well, not everyone likes it this way or that way so we need to do it the best way that everyone will feel comfortable. Now does that make sense? No indeed! To be looking for comfort when worshipping God is ridiculous because it will never happen. God is not the God of comfortableness. He is the God of comfort, when we mourn or are in pain. We should be striving to see what God wants out of each and everyone of us not to see how we can present ourselves that would make us more lovable, make us more of what the world wants us to look like because that will bring people to church. I want people to come to church as the next person, and on earth that is what I should strive to accomplish according to Jesus. But what I am not here to do is to paint a picture that is my image of God. I was made in His image, not the other way around. Do I in my worship actually look to God and kneel in submission to His Will for me in worship? Or am I confined to the belief that "He made me, when I speak of Him, it must be from Him and therefore Him and I must share this with everyone because God made me and every sound, utterance, movement comes from Him. " I wish that were true, but it would nullify the Garden of Eden episode with Adam and Eve doing what they please by eating the apple given by Satan. Adam and Eve were certainly made by God, but still had a free will. And so do we. We have a free will, so that we will come to Him not as robots but so that we can come to the final conclusion, "Not my will but Thine."

Sing a Song part 12

Go to concerts, see musicals, enjoy!!! I know I do. But remember those are interpretations of one man, or two men, or however many wrote the libretto and music. While God gave Man talent, that talent is not what should be on display in worship. The true test of worship is whether each nman is getting hunmbe before God without any personal crutches and saying to God, "Just as I am". This cannot be done with an instrument. The people in the Old Testament proved that.

Another way to put this is the following. My strengths and my abilities come from Him (Psalms 46:1), but what of my weaknesses. Paul talked about the thorn in flesh (11 Corinthians 12:7) and Jacob was bruised at the hip. All things then emanate from God and it is my choice whether to concentrate on the defiencies or those qualities which are abounding. That may lead to pride and that is why I have to learn self-control. Nevertheless that doesn't come from anyone but God. No instrument, no dancing, no script can give me the mercy and wisdom that God and the study of His Word can do (Psalms 57:1, Psalms 5:1, Psalms 32:1, Psalms 55:1, Psalms 67:1, Psalms 6:1, Psalms 4:1, Psalms 60:1, Psalms 74:1, Psalms 56:1, Psalms 89:1, Psalms 78:1, Psalms 21:1). No instrument can provide the righteousness that God can through a relationship with Him (Psalms 58:1) nor can it provide me with salvation (Psalms 59:1, Paslams 142:1, Psalms 88:1, Psalms 54, Psalms 7:1) Nothing teaches me thanksgiving that is in the LORD, not like a true relationship with Him does (Pslams 75:1, Psalms 92:3) I cannot even praise Him with the same vigor using an instrument that I can with just my whole heart and soul and spirit. (Psalms 9:16, Pslams 42:1,Psalms 151:5, Psalms 98:6, Psalms 33:7, Psalms 71:22, I Chronicles 13:7-8, 1 Chronicles 15:27-28, 1 Chronicles 23:5, 2 Chronicles 7:6, Psalms 8:1-8, Pslams 81:1-5, Psalms 84:1-12). David knew instruments were no substitute for humility of flesh and blood. (Psalms 19:16, Psalms 53:1) Nothing substitutes for the mind and soul of God's creation. (Psalms 44:1, Psalms 45:1) God may have created the talent to fashion and play instruments and the intelligence to do so, but nevertheless, the instruments are still man-made, with man-made imprints on them, and they can and will become idols, as wil writing and dancing become idols if I consider that God is being worshipped by my use of these. While God is giving me my intelligence and will, He also tells me when using my creativity is appropriate and when it is not.

This is the same struggle all Christians face. What is the right way to worship God? Do we worship Him in our homes, in a building, in small groups, in large groups? The answer is quite simple. Yes. We worship God in our homes, buildings, and small and large groups. But mostly we worship Him in our lives, all of our lives, every day. Every breath we take is to worship Him. If that is the case, then coming together should be no different. I cannot hide myself from Him, for He knows me, He knew me when I was being made. He knows how I was made, and that I am perfect in His eyes the way I am. I am physically not equipped with a wonderful singing voice. It is sufficient but I won't get a Grammy with it. I am also short of stature. I am overweight. I am...many, many other sorts of inadequacies, and God wants me still. He loves me as I am. He knows that in the long run, those inadequacies exist but are of no consequence, and He loves me for my soul, particularly when I, me, myself,devote my soul to Him and allow His Spirit to live in me and take those inadequaceis and make me strong where I am weak. God's voice is beautiful and it sings through me when I humble myself and share that voice. Instruments are fine, but they are a crutch to hide who I really am. Shouldn't I be more interested in sharing who I really am, rather than offering God something "better". or at least in my estimation? I am nmot perfect, but in God I am perfect. I reach for God, not perfection in and of itself. I am reaching for Him to create perfection in me, so that when we meet I can be perfect as He is.