Music in Worship: An Examination of the Contemporary Music in the Churches of Christ

By Kennon D. Olison SR.

Beginning from the garden of Eden, all the way through the early church of Christ, study and examine the Liturgy of worship as designed by God.
Written without the "we are right" and "you are wrong" mentality, this study gives the reader an opportunity to learn what God has said without being condemned or judged for their religious conclusions.
It is the effort of this treaty to bring unity to a divided brotherhood in the churches of Christ, by presenting honestly the things God has said over these very controversial subjects.
What does God really say about handclapping, lifting holy hands, praise teams and multiple song leaders, and vocal bands? Are these really a matter of choice, or are they forbidden by the Lord?
This book examines these and many other concerns in great detail.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Dec 13, 2011
• ISBN: 9781468525298

Kennon D. Olison SR.

K.D. Olison Sr is known best for his boldness in the pulpit and for holding fast to the doctrine of Christ by standing against anyone who teaches false doctrine whether in the Church of Christ or not. He says “they’re either gonna love me or hate me but their gonna respect me.” Although Kennon is a product of the Church of Christ, he received his formal education at the Southern California School of evangelism in Buena Park California, and at the Theological University of America. He holds a B.A. in Biblical Studies. He served as a youth minister for many years, before becoming a pulpit minister in 1992. He has been preaching the gospel faithfully for over 25yrs. He has written for several publications, newspapers, and online journals throughout the years. Kennon has enjoyed going from one side of our country to the other preaching at lectureships, gospel meetings and revival meetings. Today he spends his time deeply researching the scriptures to find biblical answers to the most pertinent questions facing the church of Christ today. Kennon and his wife Wonda were blessed with four children. Together they have walked down the center isle of the church for many years after every sermon he’s preached. He has always admonished his members to “keep the faith till the last amen!” A slogan and lifestyle he learned from the very accomplished Greyland Freeman. Brother Olison currently ministers to the North Tenneha church of Christ in Tyler Texas.

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© 2012 by Kennon D. Olison Sr.. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 12/06/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4685-2531-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4685-2530-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4685-2529-8 (ebk)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011962201

Printed in the United States of America

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only. Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

Preface

Acknowledgments

Dedication

Who Should Read This Book?

Scholarship

Music In Worship

Section 1:

It’s All About Worship

Worship

What is Worship?

The Holy Mindset of Worship

Section 2:

A Testimony of History

The Patriarchs at the Altar

Introduction to the Tabernacle of Moses

The Tent of the Tabernacle

Music in the Tabernacle

Feast Days and Celebrations

In the Temple

The Rise of the Synagogue

The Second and Third Temples

The Church of Christ

Section 3:

It’s All About Praise

Praise Teams and Multiple Song Leaders

Praise and Glory

Expressions of Joy

Shout! Make a Joyful Noise

You Make me Feel Like Dancing

(Praise Dancing)

Rhythmic Handclapping

Section 4:

Additional Concerns

I Want a Spirit Filled Church

(What about those dead Churches?)

When the Spirit Moves Me…

(Controlling our Emotions)

The Praise Police

The Context of Ephesians 5:19

Tradition or Theology

Playing Background Music From a Recording

There is a Place for Everything

A Word about Mechanical Instruments of Music

A Few Final Thoughts

References

Recommended Reading list

About the Author

Preface

In the early 1990’s I recall sitting in the area preachers and leaders breakfast one Saturday morning in Los Angeles Calif. As our meeting progressed the subject of handclapping arose. From there a very heated debate among brethren began to surface. Being a very young man at the time, I had no idea what was right or wrong on the subject. I had never studied it. The men who argued for it were well respected at the time, but so were the men who argued against it.

Later during those years I remember sitting at the Pepperdine lectures listening to speakers in support of Praise Teams. On campus during the week I heard prominent preachers of the gospel debate and discuss all sorts of controversial subjects. However I never received a definitive answer on these subjects.

After much investigation, it occurred to me that our brethren agree on these subjects in more areas than we realize. More often than not we disagree due to a lack of clear communication, or a lack of thorough study. What has been needed is for someone to take the tedious time to present these studies in writing so that all evidences are clearly presented.

Through the years I have extended my education and consequently spent time researching these and other subjects exhaustively. About two years ago it occurred to me that God has blessed me with enough research to share with our brethren. Therefore I decided to sit down and place my research in writing in an effort to help our brethren find unity in faith and knowledge on these matters. Although I do not profess to be the final authority on these matters, I do believe that the things God has shown me through study and prayer will benefit the church of Christ as a whole.

It is my prayer that the readers of these studies will gain a greater understanding of what God’s will is for us. More importantly I hope that these studies will be used to further the gospel of Christ and unify a dividing brotherhood.

Acknowledgments

I want to extend my sincerest thank you to the following individuals:

Thank you to God our Father, and thank you to our Savior Jesus Christ. Although I have done the work and the study, it has been you who has taught me. It was you who gave me the mind to search, and you gave me the resources, tools, and time. The message learned is truly yours, and without you there would be no message at all. All glory goes to you.

Thank you to my wife Wonda, who has supported me for the two years during my research and writing. Without you I would not have this ministry. It was you who read, and reread again and again. Your insight has colored the pages of this research every bit as much as mine. Thank you for allowing the late hours, the missed engagements, and less than adequate attitudes of mine from long days of writing this book.

Thank you to Bro. H. Clay Williams for your wisdom and knowledge. You are a virtual genius with insight of the text. I have never met a preacher who can so readily look into the pages of inspiration and see what God has truly said. You have helped to keep me on the straight and narrow. Much of this work started with the things you taught me. That is especially true of the work done in I Corinthians 14, biblical evidence for a song leader, and the difference between praise and glory.

Thank you to the North Tenneha church of Christ and the church leadership for your support and patience with me while I completed this project.

Dedication

Dedicated to Willie Virginia Olison, my late grandmother. It was your love and patience that taught me the ways of the Lord. You set the example for me, and gave me the faith through the teaching of the word of God. Your parenting gave me the roots and foundation I needed to complete a project like this. I know you would have been proud to have been able to read this book. Each page is written with memories of the undeniable love you gave to me.

Who Should Read This Book?

This book was written with the members of the church of Christ in mind. In particular the author has considered our preachers, evangelists, elders, deacons and teachers. However any member who is a serious student of the word of God will benefit from this book. Lastly if you are a member who has been confused on these subjects over the years, or if you have found yourself tossed back and forth between various positions on music in worship then this book will benefit you.

The author has taken care to write the content of these studies to be easily read and understood by all, no matter their level of education. Therefore those of you who possess a higher education may find some things in this writing elementary and below your standard. However, the average member with an average level of education will appreciate this to be written right where they need it to be.

Scholarship

It occurred to me during the writing of this book that I am citing men such as Idelsohn and Mowinkel and the average reader may not know who these men are or why I have cited them. If you are one who has never heard of them then please take a moment and peruse this section.

The men cited in this book are not just men who have been arbitrarily quoted. They are men of education, integrity, and respect. Their work is noted and recognized among scholars world-wide. They have been cited because they are the authority on these matters. Although they are in no way respected as inspired men, their research on historical matters is the very best that is out there. I speak in particular of the Jewish scholars mentioned. I have included a short biographical sketch of a few of them just to give the reader a better idea of why they are mentioned in this book.

Dr. Alfred Edersheim (1825-1889)

Born a Jew, converted to a Presbyterian minister, and eventually became a missionary to the Jews. Who better to consult about the Jewish faith than a man who was raised a Jew. His book was written from research of Josephus, Philo of Alexandria, The Mishna, The Tosefta, The Talmud, and the Midrashim. He also did extensive research in archeology and developed a full scale model of the third temple which is still referenced by many higher education institutions today.

Dr. Abraham Idelsohn (1882-1938)

Born a Jew, raised a Jew and trained as a cantor. Established a school of Jewish music in 1911 in Palestine. 1922 he moved to Cincinnati Ohio to become a Professor of Jewish Music at Hebrew Union College. His words are extensive and he is recognized as the leading authority among scholars on Jewish Music.

Dr. Sigmund Mowinckel (1884-1965)

He was born a Jew, and raised a Jew. He achieved his ThD at the University of Oslo and became a professor there until he retired. He has a host of published works and is referenced among scholars constantly. His research is extensive in the use of the Psalms in Israel’s worship.

Music In Worship

An Examination of the Contemporary Music in the church of Christ Introduction:

At the time of this writing the churches of Christ as a whole are in huge disarray over the kind of music that may be used during the collective corporate worship services. May we clap? Are praise teams acceptable? May we have more than one song leader at a time? What about bassing the song on the microphone? Some are even bringing in mechanical instruments of music.

This disarray has caused at least one division of our brotherhood. On the one side we have brethren who support a more emotionally expressive worship service and on the other we have brethren who support a lesser emotionally expressive worship service. Our division has become so sharp that we have developed an us and them mentality. Friends let us be reminded that we are one body in Christ, (I Cor. 12:12-13), and that we are to all be speaking the same things concerning the worship of the one God of heaven and earth. (I Cor. 1:10). However, this has not been the case in recent years.

It is the purpose of this book to help us come to the unity of the word of God. I believe that any doctrinal difference can be resolved through study of the word of God and prayer. It is not the purpose of this book to prove who is right or who is wrong. It is our purpose to determine what God has, and has not said. Let us therefore lay aside our current religious convictions and study the words of the Lord concerning this matter with an open heart and mind.

Our Approach to the Study

An open mind and heart is required to study this subject in the church today. What we must do is lay aside our current religious convictions when we approach God. If what we hold as truth is actually true, then it will be confirmed by studying with an open heart. However if what we hold as truth is false, then an open mind will expose it. Exposure to a false teaching can only help us. It is better to learn that we have held to a view that is not true before the Lord returns. What a terrible thought to face God in judgment holding to a religious conviction that is actually a false doctrine. Yet, what a great joy to face the Lord knowing that we have done our utmost to understand what is His will.

As mentioned in the introduction, there are currently two popular views or approaches to worship in the churches of Christ at the time of this writing. Again, these views are that worship should be more emotionally expressive in contrast to less emotionally expressive. In the interest of fairness our study will refrain (as much as possible) from labeling or belittling either position. It is a common practice for those who are more emotionally expressive in worship to reference those who are less emotionally expressive with such words as dead, no spirit, traditional, old fashioned and the like. It is also common for those who are less emotionally expressive in worship to label those who are more emotionally expressive with such words as change agents, Disneyland worshippers, entertainers, false teachers, heretics and liberals. Labeling and name calling is not our purpose. It solves nothing and helps nothing. We are brethren! We must respect one another and study with one another in humility. For the purpose of the study I have referenced those who will have a more exciting worship service as more emotionally expressive, and those who will have a relatively less exciting worship service as lesser emotionally expressive. But that is only for identification purposes, and not to belittle any particular view.

I have spent many years in study and prayer with brethren. These years have taught me that most of our brethren are honest and sincere in what they believe. I do not believe that many of our brethren are heretics or bad people. It is clear that we have our differences because we have not properly studied these subjects. Let’s do that now!

Presented within this study is evidence from scripture. Let the evidence that is accurate and true determine what God has said. Be ready to hold on to those things tested and found to be true. But be ready to release those things tested and found to be false. The person who does this will find the truth God wants them to understand concerning this subject of music in worship.

Section 1:

It’s All About Worship

Worship

Chapter 1

The scope of our study centers on music in worship. We will not study music as it is applied to our homes or other various functions such as weddings or concerts or parties. We want to know what the Lord has authorized for music within His prescribed worship services.

We firmly believe that there is a difference in what the Lord allows us to do on our own time, and what we are allowed to do during His Holy and sacred service.

When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. (I Corinthians 11:20-22)

Paul makes a distinction between eating and drinking in our homes, and eating and drinking during the Lords supper. There is clearly a difference in what we can do outside of worship, and what we can do within worship. Worship is Holy and sanctified. It is set apart. What we do within worship is special. It is a ceremony, a ritual, and a Holy time.

This is not a concept that is uncommon to us as humans. We are allowed by our government to do many things in our homes that we are not allowed to do in a court room. We are allowed to do many things at home that we would never do at a funeral or a wedding, or a graduation ceremony. If we can see that a ceremony demands a restriction in behavior due to the fact that it is an assembly that requires order, then we can certainly see that God’s Holy worship requires the same.

The bible speaks of a set aside and sanctified time that we must come together and worship God in Spirit and in truth. (John 4:24) The Hebrew writer confirms this idea,

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrew 10:25)

The text says, as you see the day approaching. The implication is that there is a day in which we must come together. That day is the Lord’s Day. (Revelation 1:10) God has always had a day in which he has set aside for man to remember Him. God saw in the creation process that He needed to make man take a day to remember the Lord. If God had not commanded us to take a day, then we would just go on day after day after day without ever stopping our work week to worship God. Therefore He set the example by resting Himself. The bible says,

And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. (Genesis 2:2-3)

Under the Mosaic Law God commanded His people to keep this day Holy and set aside or sanctified. It was a day reserved to honor and worship the Lord our God. (Exodus 20:8) Under the New Testament, the Law of Christ, the day of worship is on the first day of the week. (John 20:19, 26; Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 16:1-2).

Spiritual Application

Is all of Life worship?

There is a theology roaming our brotherhood today that says, All of life is worship. This teaching is designed to get people to be more free and less structured in the corporate worship services. The teaching states that we should worship the Lord everyday in all things we do.

When it is explained that certain things are not permissible in the worship services, supporters of a more free and less structured worship will reply, But all of life is worship. What is meant is that if we are allowed to do it in any part of our lives, then we are allowed to do it in the worship services. The scripture often used to support this idea that all of life is worship is Romans 12:1.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, Holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (Romans 12:1)

The word service in this text (latreuo) is one of the words used in the Greek language to refer to the worship we give to God. Since this text is clearly in reference to sacrifice, (which in context is an act of worship), then some brethren wish to apply it to every part of life. We are a living sacrifice, is what they say. Although the word service is translated as worship sometimes, such is not the case in Romans 12:1. The word is used to reference the service given in worship! One of the most notable Greek scholars in the world writes concerning this word,

It refers particularly to the performing of the Levitical service (Heb. 8:5; 9:9; 10:2; 13:10); of the celestial temple (Rev. 7:15). (Zodhiates, 1992, p. 912)

Is All of Life Worship?: Continued…

It is not a word that refers to the individual act of worship, but the service given during worship on behalf of the worshippers. Latreuo or service as used in Romans 12:1 would reference what the Priesthood did on behalf of the worshippers. It would be very similar to what the ushers, song leaders, prayer leaders and the like do for us in the church worship of God. They assist us in our worship of God. Their assistance is their service or their religious duty. This means that this word does not denote all of life but to the service given within the act of worship.

Contextually the idea given in Romans 12:1-2 is that we should sacrifice our earthly desires to live a Godly life. We are to present our bodies a living sacrifice. In other words, we are to live Holy! Only when we live Holy can we serve God during the worship. It puts us in a constant state of living Holy for God. But it does not put us in a constant state of worship service.

There is another word used for the idea of worship in the New Testament Greek that is different than latreuo or service. That word is proskuneo and is more literally translated to worship. This word is more specific to the acts of worship given to God during the Holy time. If God were placing us in a constant state of worship then He would have inspired Paul to use this word in Romans 12:1-2. To claim that all of life is worship is to place us in a constant, never ending state of worship. Clearly God never commanded such a thing. However, He did command us to be in a constant state of Holiness.

Matthew 4:6 gives us an example of how the words service and worship are different is some contexts. In this passage the Lord clearly separates worship and spiritual service or religious duty. This example clearly demonstrates that we are never in a constant state of worship.

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. (Matthew 4:6)

Is All of Life Worship?: Continued…

Examine the practice of the Apostle Paul for the understanding that service and worship are not the same.

Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship. (Acts 24:11)

If all of life is worship, then he would not have had to go up to Jerusalem to worship. He would have already been in worship. But look at what he does just two chapters later.

And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope’s sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. (Acts 26:7)

Paul went to Jerusalem to worship yet he served God day and night. Clearly there is a difference between worship and serve. All of worship is service, but not all of service is worship. Our reasonable service is our religious duty to keep behavior governed by the commands of God in all holiness.

The word for worship (proskuneo) has the idea that worship has a starting point, and an ending point. It is not something that just goes on and on and on throughout every part of our life. For example, when we look at the story of Abraham and how he was told by God to offer up Isaac as a sacrifice. We can see that worship has a starting point and an ending point.

And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you, (Genesis 22:5)

Is All of Life Worship? Continued.

Note that Abram was not in worship when he was speaking. He was telling them that he was going to go begin his worship, and then when he had completed worship, he would return. If all of life is worship, how can worship have a beginning time, and an ending time? The fact is worship is something we need to take time to do. It is a Holy time, a separate time, a special time given to honor God.

Another example is Exodus 24:1,

And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off. (Exodus 24:1)

If all of life is worship then Moses would not