Our Traditions or God’s word?

Gen 1:27

I once heard a Pastor say to his congregation, “We are going to sing a song now but I want you to sing it religiously and not emotionally.

I have heard many people condemn all kinds of music as being of the devil and I always wondered why.

First of all God made us emotional people.

Psa 98:4 says, “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.”

How could the noise be joyful and unemotional at the same time? Impossible.

Throughout the Bible we are told to sing praises to His name yet when some hear the singer sing, “Lord I sing praises to your name” instantly it is condemned as unchristian music. If Fanny Crosby didn’t write it or if it wasn’t written before 1909 some will say it is not Christian.

I am not saying all music is good but I am not saying all music is bad either. I happen to love the old songs, heck, I’m an old guy but some of the praise songs are beautiful and when I see someone who is obviously in love with the Lord singing such a song I certainly will not condemn it.

The Bible clearly says, Rom 14:4 “Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.”

Someone once told me that when two Baptist preachers meet they question each other until they find something to disagree about. It’s true. I met a Pastor one time and the first thing he asked was when did the Church begin?

I personally had no need for such information but I proceeded to tell him my thoughts. I said if you ask God, the Church was in all eternity as God has no time frame. If it was the time of the calling out (Ekklesia) than it was when Jesus called the apostles but if you had to be born again believers to be members it would have been at Pentecost when they finally realized what was going on. Hey, the apostles didn’t even believe that Jesus rose from the dead that resurrection morning . I then said to him that none of it mattered but if he saw Peter and Paul discussing it then it probably should be in our doctrine because after all the Apostles taught the doctrine of Jesus and that is what we are supposed to learn.

He still thought it was important and so he left and I guess he is still trying to convince others of that doctrine. I decided to stick to winning souls.

And so that little example tells me what is in the minds and hearts of many legalists.

I asked another Pastor one time if a man walked into his Church wearing a dress would he allow it. He said, “Absolutely not.” I asked why. He said because it would look ridiculous. What a great answer. He agreed that it wasn’t a rule biblically but it was his rule. ( I am not talking about a man blatantly wearing women’s clothes which is against the Bible) I am speaking of someone who looks different. Perhaps even another culture.

The Pastor has a right to impose a dress code even if it is not in the Bible.

I reminded him that in Scotland they wear “Kilts” which appear to be skirts.

So if we were to keep with tradition we would be wearing long tunics or robes and sandals.

Where do we get these ideas? Most women today wear pants and even in many Baptist Churches you will see them wearing pants. These are not men’s pants these are pants made for woman. I prefer to see women in dresses. My wife wears dresses, (not by my commandment but by her choice) but I don’t know who has the money to buy a dress or not.

Here in Payatas another Pastor came to visit and I had him speak to a group of boys. He began by telling them that if they wanted to be good Baptists they should get themselves a white shirt and tie and… I stopped him right there. I told him not to teach my children those ways. Many here are fortunate to have a ripped t shirt and I won’t try to impose man’s laws on them. Besides, we are in the Philippines. The Pastor was a Pilipino, why a white shirt and tie? Why not a barong?

Why? It was because some American missionary taught them that was the correct way to dress. Imagine that, and many have bought into it.

What are you teaching in your Church? That it’s ok to shout “Amen” but don’t you dare shout, “I praise you Lord”? It’s ok to slap your Bible but don’t dare raise your hands to the Lord?

Do you say yes to the piano and no to the organ or yes to the organ and no to the guitar???? I haven’t seen a harp or a high sounding symbol in a Church yet!

What did Christ say?

Mat 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. Mat 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.