Many of you have already seen my website, "The Study-God_Logically Web Ministry ." I agree there is to be emotion involved with our religion. Joy and relief at the lifting of our burdens are but 2 examples. Yet, there also has to be logic. Everyone understands when they see the suffix, "-ology," that we are dealing with "science" or "the study" of something, dictated by the beginning of the word. From where does this suffix come? It comes from the Greek word, λόγος, or "logos."

Strong's defines logos thusly:

λόγος

logos

log'-os

From G3004; something said (including the thought); by implication a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension a computation; specifically (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (that is, Christ): - account, cause, communication, X concerning, doctrine, fame, X have to do, intent, matter, mouth, preaching, question, reason, + reckon, remove, say (-ing), shew, X speaker, speech, talk, thing, + none of these things move me, tidings, treatise, utterance, word, work.

The short version of this definition is "word" or "words." According to John 1:1-14, Jesus is both God and the Word. We are to use words, or λόγος, in our study of God and Godly things. In order to study God properly, we are to use λόγος, or its necessary derivative, logic.

Why do I feel this is an important topic to broach? Quite simply, most of the religious world misses the point. Most of the religious world fails to use the Word, or in other words Jesus, properly in trying to teach about Jesus and His teachings, or words. Because Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit, in John 14:26, to bring to remembrance the things He said, this also applies to the teachings of the apostles. Many people have been misled into believing they are in a church, when in reality, they are not. A few of these instances may be willful disobedience. But, I dare say that the vast majority of these are misled unknowingly. I want to give you one example of this. Remember, we are to use logic in our studies, so I need you to put on your thinking caps to follow me here.

First, we need to agree upon some definitions. What is a chapel? Is it not a place where the church meets? Why, of course, it is! Why must I ask this? We are about to discuss church music.

There are two types of music used within what is popularly recognized as Christianity today. I must use this language, for it is already proven some of these groups are not churches: they are not Christians as supposed. What types are there? One is “A Cappella.” The other is instrumental. The other definitions we need to get a good grasp of are these. “A Cappella” music is vocal music. That is to say, it is music that has no accompaniment by mechanical instruments. The other type of music is “non-A Cappella,” or instrumental music.

We have the definitions in hand. What is the significance of this? Well, you are going to hear it this morning if you never have before. “A Cappella” is a Latin phrase. This is the language spoken by ancient Rome.

“A” is a preposition. It is the same in Latin, Italian, and Spanish, as the latter two derive from the first. It has two meanings, depending on the derivative language. In Spanish, the translation comes to English as, “of.” In Italian, the translation renders to English as, “from.” It makes no difference to the point here, because if something is “of” a place, it is what can come forth “from” a place.

In Italian, “Cappella Sistina” renders to “Sistine Chapel.” Can you see where this is leading? “A Cappella” translates into English as, “Of the Chapel,” or “From the Chapel.” Do you remember that a chapel is a church building? Do you remember that “A Cappella” music is vocal only? That’s right, if it is vocal music, it is the type found in, or coming from, church buildings. If it is instrumental, it is the type, which is not found in church buildings. Logically then, (There’s that “λόγος - logos” again.) if there are instruments present and in use, the place is not where the church is located. The people meeting there are then proven to not be the church.

“But, Preacher,” I often hear, “this is just a small thing.” “This is just a matter of opinion.” “It’s not important.” Is it small? Is it unimportant? Remember, if it goes against God (Romans 3:4), it is a lie. It does not make any difference how big of a lie it is, any lie will send you to Hell (Revelation 21:8) if you don’t stop saying it with either your mouth or actions.

We have proven the importance of using the right kind of music. We have studied the word origins of the different types of music. Now, let us go to the Father to determine if what He has to say contradicts the wisdom of man in this case.

Collossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

Collossians leaves no room for anything but singing; no instruments are allowed.

Ephesians 5:19, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;”

Ephesians is a different matter. We have the command to “psallo” (ψάλλω) to the Lord. “Psallo” is a Greek word. It was translated as, “making melody.” Its definition is to, “pluck,” or “play.” There is definitely room for an instrument here, or so it appears.

This is where the majority of denominations stop. "Psallo," here, is accusative case, present tense, second person, plural, active voice, and the imperative mood. I am not going to try to teach you the Greek language today. Yet, you must know this combination demands the instrument that is to be played will also be named. It is. Is it the harp, which David played? Is it a piano or organ? No! It is the human heart. To use this verb tense of “psallo” to provide authority for instruments is equivalent to placing burgers and cokes on the altar for communion. This just is not to be done.

For the sake of the debate, let’s assume for a moment that this does allow a mechanical instrument (even though it doesn’t). Because the word ψάλλω is plural, and this is a command (imperative mood), if there is an instrument allowed, then everyone must be playing that same instrument, or those not so doing are disobeying the command. In other words, if an organ is authorized, and only one person plays the organ, that one person is the only person who is not sinning.

People will often try to stay in their comfortable, little, white lie. “But, Preacher,” I hear without fail, “David played a harp.” The same authority used to add instruments to worship (the Old Testament) also demands the use of animal sacrifice. If we were to use the animal sacrifices today, we would be denying the efficacy of Jesus' blood. Yet, we are told that if we try to keep that law, and fail in one point, we are guilty of all. Therefore, to keep the instruments, we must keep the animal sacrifices. This is an impossible task to accomplish and still get to heaven.

Mechanical instruments were not even introduced until after 600 A.D. This is too late to be part of the faith which was delivered one time for all; Christianity (Jude 3). Even so, people rebelled against the instruments in the 7th century. They knew that it wasn’t the church if there were instruments used there. The instrument finally made a small toehold in the 9th century. Catholicism accepted it within the hierarchy.

However, when the reformation occurred, Luther, Calvin, Wesley, Spurgeon, and Zwingli are all on record in opposition. Comments were made such as, "I have no objection to a piano being in the church building, provided it is neither seen nor heard." Instruments were not widely accepted in the denominational world until about the 18th century. The acceptance is about 1700 years too late to be the one church and one faith of Christianity.

The church is not even alone in this knowledge. The Greek Orthodox folks know “psallo” means “play.” Yet, they do not have an instrument other than the heart. Primitive Baptists, also, do not use them. I think their reasoning is different, but you will not find an instrument there.

I have said much today proving who is not the church. I have said much proving who is not really walking with God. So, who then is the church? Simply put, the church is any group of believers who practice all of what God said. They don’t add anything to it. They don’t take anything away from it. They have the utmost respect for the warnings issued throughout the scripture, such as Galatians 1:8-9.

Will you have the attitude of one who seeks agreement with his maker?

Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Will you say God will save everybody? Or, will you accept the Word of God.

John 8:24, “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”

Will you say we can think Jesus was just a good person? Or, will you accept the Word of God?

Luke 13:3, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

Will you say you don’t have to quit doing wrong? Or, will you accept the Word of God?

Acts 8:37, “And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

Will you confess that, “God for Christ’s sake has pardoned my sins?” Or, will you accept the Word of God and confess that, “Jesus Christ is the Son of God?”

1st Peter 3:20-21, “Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:”

Will you be baptized “because you have already been saved?” Will you refuse to be baptized at all? Or, will you accept the Word of God and be baptized in order to be saved by water (and therefore by the blood), as was Noah?

Will you not seek to walk with God? Will you not obey Him, not only in the beginning, but continually? Are you willing to accept God’s terms for salvation rather than inventing your own; or accepting the inventions of another man such as Calvin? All things are ready. Have you been misled by some religious leader "claiming" to be a Christian? Will you not come to God? Today? Please let me know if you need assistance, either in obedience or in finding the church in your area where you can obey.

preacherman_1962@yahoo.com