Thanks for all you said there. I would add that it wasn’t just the Pharisees, but most of the Jews who had liberal views on divorce and remarriage. It is interesting to note that the Samaritans, who were rejected as a mixed race by the Jews, did not hold those liberal views on divorce and remarriage.

I, like you, have a problem with those who want to “speak where the Bible speaks”, yet refuse to be silent where there is silence. I can’t understand the need to go beyond what is written, when what we’ve been given is completely sufficient. I believe that attitude to be a dangerous road that tempts God. It is if to say, “we’re going to do this God, and You’re going to have to accept it because we’re sincere”.

Amen! You make great points here. I’d add that the Pharisees were also liberal on marriage after divorce. This would not resemble me or the many others who are labeled “Pharisees”. I find those who most resemble the Pharisees are those who are progressive and denominational who are calling us “Pharisees”.

Those are strange words from Randy. I say that with all due respect and love in Christ. It seems as though he purposefully refuses to understand “not going beyond what is written” by taking the “arguments” out of context. It is not silence that forbids but what is written, and also what is not written includes. It doesn’t take much reading of the numerous articles from the teachers of excluding silence on specifics and generics to understand that. Along the same line, isn’t it odd how “speak where the Bible speaks”? It is only used one way to show that we should not bind where the Bible does not speak, while where the Bible does speak then this is ignored as binding and excluding alternatives. Looking again at Noah, it was not God’s silence of other types of wood that forbid them but what was specifically commanded, gopher wood, that excluded the other woods. Looking at baptism, it is not God’s silence of smoke, mist, sprinkles, and flowers that forbid baptism in them, but it is not even a command but an specific example of water that forbid these things.

I must also add that Paul was talking about the Assembly in 1 Cor. 14:15 and we’d be foolish to think that Eph. 5:19 and Col. 3:16 have nothing to do with that.

Corey also consider that “one another” in Col. 3:16 and Eph. 5:19 is plural for which from my study of Greek would be better translated “among ourselves”.

Thank you for Scriptural posts. I pray for grace and peace to you in our Savior.

Thanks for your comments. I think in many ways we come at things from the same perspective, even though we sometimes reach different conclusions. I like to think of myself as a Christian with a liberal heart but a conservative mind. Sometimes they clash.

I don’t think I can agree that when Paul was talking about singing he was never referring to the assembly. “Speaking to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs” would appear to me that there is an assembly. This is different than James when he wrote, “is anyone happy? Let him sing…”. One appears to talk about an assembly, the other about our personal lives.

You can also read my article on instrumental music in songs of praise outside the worship services to see how I feel about that. In short, I wouldn’t use them in either place. I guess in some ways that makes me a “hyper-con of hyper-cons”, but I attempt to always be consistent if I can.

In the end, for me, it comes down to the last thing you said – there is a safe road and that is the only one I am willing to travel and teach. The problem for me is when people start saying they know it is a sin, or that they know that it isn’t. Both go beyond the word. We can know that there are principles and examples showing us that going beyond what is specifically authorized often brings about condemnation. We can know that at one time instruments were authorized and pleasing. The answer I believe lies in the middle – do what we know is acceptable and be content with it.

Isn’t calling IM acceptable going beyond what is written? Singing is authorized, so why take chances on something that isn’t?

For me to say it is without a doubt sinful would be to go beyond the scriptures, and to be Pharisaic (in a bad way). The same can be said for those who say it is without doubt acceptable is also to go beyond scriptures. There is a safe road for those who are willing to travel it – to simply sing.