The concept of “volunteer” choir members, directors or musicians versus appointed participation does not align with the Levites. Thus, having a volunteer church choir, musicians and music ministry leaders , as we know it today is a man made concept.

This is why we have issues in the music ministry. Choirs members are not equipped with vocal skill nor spiritual maturity to complete the duties they are pursuing for a worship experience. If musicians, choir directors, worship leaders and ministers of music are not spiritual mature nor skillful at their gifts or even trying to perfect their gifts, the music ministry will suffer.

How did choirs start?

This is what I have researched. I have completed some continuing education in music and learned that choirs were formed after people who sang the best in a congregation began to sit together in the pews. Someone decided that these people should become an entity to lead the congregation in worship, thus they moved to the platform behind the pulpit. In some of our catholic churches and cathedrals, the choir is on a loft behind the congregation or they sit “split” to the altar. These layouts were designed with meaning. I don’t know all of the details, but I am continuing to study and learn, because I want to continue to develop by being skillful, knowledgeable and spiritually mature.

DT

Thanks

Melissa

I said…
“I wonder if there is a loving way to tell people that they are going to hell without Christ? The very act of letting them know the realities of it, yes, that is loving. But how could it be worded in such a way to be loving? Is that possible?”

This was written pretty sarcastically (hate that it can’t always be read the way something is written. Sigh.). Any way that it is worded, it will come across as hateful to the lost. But as Christians, you and I know that speaking the Truth is the ONLY way to truly show love. People that truly love me will tell me the truth because they love me and not fill my head full of lies.

His,
Mrs. U

In my teaching from the pulpit (as I am a pastor) and in the college forum your post reminds me of a lot of posts, comments, or questions that are received.

Having been around many certain groups that shall remain un-named and hearing them talk about:
1. If you don’t share with someone every day you are going to Hell because you must not be saved
2. If you don’t share with someone at least once a week, month or whenever then you are going to Hell for the same reason.
3. If you don’t cry your eyes out every night over the lost you are seriously backslidden or not saved.
4. If you have never led someone to Christ then …(you get the idea).

I think the idea or question that Mrs. U might have been putting forth (though I could be wrong) is how do we share the gospel in a loving way without coming across as happy they are going to blow Hell wide open.

You said “When we refuse to warn of the judgment to come, we sin. We are unloving.”

This is not good logic. I can tell an enemy that he is going to Hell and that does not mean that I love him. I have just told him the truth but I have not loved him.

You said “the emphasis on delivery style is in direct disobedience against Christ’s plain teaching.”

Where is this in Scripture? Jesus did not speak the same way to every group of people that He encountered.

You said “When did we get more godly than God? How do we explain such conceit and unbelief among us? (I, too, thought this way once, so I am not being harder on others than I have come to be on myself.)”

This REEKS of arrogance and pride. Obviously you have arrived and God has sent you to condemn, blast, and reprove everyone who does not agree with you.
You might want to read 1Cor. 10.12- Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

You said “Measure you love by many how many people you tell and how much time you will put in making sure you have accurately delivered the gospel to them.”

Is this like keeping notches in your belt as to how many you share with? Where is Scripture to support this?

Just remember, God does not need you to witness. He allows us to witness and be an instrument in His hand. When the instrument takes the credit (and yes, that is what is happening here in your post) then you have just created an idol and broken the 1st commandment.

You wrote on your blog description “If you don’t like what I say, hit back.”

I did.

I welcome your reply,
DT

I appaud your desire to witness, so I want to say this as gently as possible, but it must be said. Your question, or rather the fear behind it, is exactly the root of the sin preachers and other Christians commit when they refuse to warn others of the coming judgment. In other words your concern is exactly the opposite of the biblical attitude. Let me explain.

First, your definition of loving, from what I have gathered is not biblical in the least. II John 5:2-3 defines love for us. It is the act of keeping God’s commandments. When we refuse to warn of the judgment to come, we sin. We are unloving. Ez. 33. A better question is this: “How unloving must I be not to tell my neighbors, family, co-workers, and everyone I can about the judgment to come and the need to repent of sin?” If you gage your “love” on the reaction of others to your words, you hate Jesus. Most went away from Him, and He is the God of love. They killed Him, remember?

Second, the emphasis on delivery style is in direct disobedience against Christ’s plain teaching. In fact, review Christ’s handling of that very subject in both Matthew and Luke, where He is recorded as saying this: “John came neither eating or drinking and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man come eating and drinking and you say, ‘Behold and glutton and a drunkard.’” By this He pointed out the silliness of being caught up in debates over HOW the gospel is said.

Third, we in the Evangelical church blaspheme in this way often. You aren’t going to save anyone or damn anyone by choosing just the right words, whatever that might be. God said the gospel is the power to save. Why don’t we just believe that? When we try to be more “loving” than the God who constantly spoke sternly of judgment, we are intensely arrogant. When did we get more godly than God? How do we explain such conceit and unbelief among us? (I, too, thought this way once, so I am not being harder on others than I have come to be on myself.) Paul said he didn’t come with cleverness, but with the power of the Gospel. Why do you think you’re smarter than Paul?

Fourth, don’t expect to say the gospel and not be hated. Just don’t expect that. Preachers murdered the most loving Man on earth for saying it. Is the servant better than the master? In Luke 9 or 10 Jesus told His disciples, “If they listen to you, they listen to Me. If they reject you, they reject Me.” Gaging your “love” by another’s response will not work. It is not the biblical way. Measure you love by many how many people you tell and how much time you will put in making sure you have accurately delivered the gospel to them.

Finally, when presenting the gospel, we are doing the same thing the Israelites did walking around Jericho. Just do what God has told us all to do. God will work. We can’t save anyone. So go out, witness, and enjoy the joy that will come.

In Christ,
Phil Perkins.

Here is a good one of “How Great Thou Art” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q8ESzK5pCw