Rapture

     "We're closer to the rapture than anytime in the history of the world!" My pastor excitedly exclaimed.  I was eighteen years old, and kind of laughed at the obviousness of his statement.  Every second, it gets closer, I thought.  Our pastor weekly preached about the rapture.  In fact, in his altar calls and witnessing, he didn't ask, "If you were to die right now, do you know for sure you'd go to heaven?" Instead, he would ask, "If the Rapture happened right now, would you be taken or left behind?"  He believed the Rapture was more imminent than death.  And because he believed it, so did we.  I was going to community college at the time.  Most of my classmates there were not believers.  This gave me a lot of witnessing opportunities.  One particular friend didn't have a drivers license, and would always need a lift home.  More often than not, I was the one who drove her.  I had shared the gospel with her, but she had shown very little interest.  I was almost afraid to drive her in my car.   I was so convinced the Rapture was about to happen.  If it did, I would disappear from earth and be in heaven.  The car would keep going until it hit another vehicle.  Likely, there would be a multi-car pileup. This unsaved friend would be involved in the ensuing crash, possibly dying.  This would cause her to go immediately to hell, and not have a chance to be saved in the tribulation.  Every time I drove her home, I would silently pray, "Lord, please give me ten minutes to get her home, then You can rapture us if you want."  Pretty funny, me thinking I can tell God to postpone the Rapture!  

     What is the Rapture?  The English word rapture doesn't appear in scripture, but Lee Brainard explains in his article The Word Rapture Does Appear in the Bible? (September 3, 2017), "Τhe word rapture is simply the anglicized form of the Greek word  ̔αρπαζω  (harpazō) that appears in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 in the original text."  What does First Thessalonians 4:17 say?  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them [believers who had died] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; so shall we ever be with the Lord.  This catching up that will happen to living believers is what we call the Rapture.  

     This phenomena has been the subject of books, movies, songs, sermons and conversations.  I was a teenager in the 90s when the Left Behind books became popular.  Because my pastor gave the subject so much overkill, I never did read those books, because I felt like I knew all about it anyway, though I did eventually see the Kirk Cameron movies based on the books.  

     Well, all right, we know living believers will be "caught up," or raptured, at some point.  When will this happen?  What will it involve?  Biblically, the rapture will be among a series of events involved in the end times, culminating with the second coming of Christ.  Let's examine this a moment.

     Most of the Bible is very clear, and true believers in Christ agree on the essential doctrines of salvation.  However, there are certain subjects in scripture that different Christians take different ways.  Eschatology (end times theology) is one of these things.  I have good friends who have different beliefs about these events.  I had a professor in Bible college who laughingly told us, "I know Christians who don't believe in the rapture, but that's okay, I'll explain it to them on the way up!" I am going to share what I believe scripture teaches.  

     This world was originally created as perfect by God (Genesis 1:31), but when Adam and Eve sinned, they brought creation down with them.  Romans 8:22-24 tell us: We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?  Once sin entered the world, creation began to decline.  In its current state, it isn't meant to last forever.  The world isn't going to just go on and on. There will be an end, and a new beginning.  God is going to restore.  Revelation 21:5 (almost the end of the Bible) tells us, "Behold, I will make all things new."  That is what creation has to look forward to.  Until then, it groans as it ages and moves toward decay.  

     The book of Revelation is largely about the event called the Great Tribulation that will happen. Jesus spoke of this event in Matthew 24 and Mark 13.  It will be a time when God's wrath will be poured out on the earth.  A very evil man (often referred to as the Antichrist) will rise to power and be widely accepted by the world as a leader.  Second Thessalonians 2:1-4 says, As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here. Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction. He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God.  We see here that the Thessalonians were worried they had missed Christ's return, so Paul is giving them information that is useful for us today.  There are clues as to what will happen before Christ's return.  A rebellion, then the "lawless one" or Antichrist, will come on the scene.  Pretty arrogant man.  How many of us are dumb enough to follow someone who tries to put himself forward as a god?  And yet Matthew 24:24 tells us, For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.  There will be great deception behind his work.  He won't just be some evil man who says, "I'm a god, and I'm taking over the world."  He'll be smooth and deceitful.  According to this verse we just read, even believers could be fooled by him...If possible.  I believe the reason it isn't possible is because believers will have been raptured and will be in Heaven at the time.  Second Thessalonians 2:7 says, For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.  The Antichrist can't come on the scene until the restraint is taken away.  I believe that is the influence of Christians in the world, and the Holy Spirit indwelling them.  We are the salt of the earth and light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16).  If we are suddenly removed, evil would be able to flourish unstopped.  Please note that there will be people saved after the rapture, but they won't be anywhere near the population of Christians on the earth as there are right now.  They will suffer greatly, but will also be 

part of God's forever family with us.  Some will die for the gospel and will go to Heaven (Revelation 6:9).  Others will live through the Tribulation and see Christ returning (Matthew 24:13).  

     I will quickly also point out that the Rapture will also be the time when Christians who have already died will be reunited with their bodies.  First Thessalonians 4:16 says that the dead in Christ shall rise first.  In my previous post, I talked about how this doesn't mean that Christians who die are in the grave sleeping until this point, but rather, they are in Heaven with the Lord, but their bodies are in the grave (see that post for deeper explanation).  

     Back on topic, who is this Antichrist?  When I was growing up, my brother had a very rude friend who used to come over a lot.  This boy wasn't a Christian.  In fact, his parents were agnostics (a fact that horrified most of our Judeo-Christian neighborhood).  We invited this boy to AWANA with us, and he came once, but he told the leaders who tried to share the gospel with him, "I think it's like Nintendo, and I'm going to go to hell and kill the devil, just like Mario defeats King Koopa."  After hearing this, I was totally convinced this boy was the Antichrist.  Laughable now that I would think this.  As Americans, we are often apt to think of certain politicians we don't like as possible candidates for the Antichrist.  But let's step outside of our American mindset.  The United States isn't mentioned at all in scripture, and it is doubtful that the Antichrist will be an American citizen.  It isn't impossible, but it also isn't likely.  Also, the Antichrist won't be someone we expect.  Remember, he's going to be brilliantly deceptive.   Not just some politician we disagree with, or even a wicked politician who wants to take away our rights as Americans.  It will go much deeper than that, and reach much further.  

None of these men has turned out to be the Antichrist, and it is very doubtful any of them that are alive right now will be.

     One time, I was at a bookstore, looking at Bibles in their "religion" aisle.  A man came into the aisle, saw me looking at Bibles, and said, "Hi there."  I thought at first that he worked there and was going to ask if I was finding everything all right.  He said hello back, giving him a side glance before looking back at the Bibles.  This man was wearing a very worn old suit, but it wasn't a cheap one.  He didn't have a name badge on, so I surmised he wasn't a store employee.  He stood awkwardly for a moment, then asked, "You know, I see you looking at these Bibles.  Are you a Christian?"  My first thought was, Wow, what a ready-made witnessing opportunity!  "Yes I am," I told him happily.  He wanted to know if it was okay for him to ask me some questions, and of course I agreed, cautioning him that nobody fully understands the mind of God, but that I'd do my best.  Well, he asked me if I believed the whole Bible was true, to which I replied in the affirmative.  Then he added, "Even the book of Revelation?"  "Yes."  Then he asked, "Do you believe the Antichrist will be a real person?"  "Yes." By this time, I was wondering what he was getting at.  His next and final question was, "Do you believe the Antichrist could be alive today?"  Again, I said yes, adding that it was possible, but we didn't know for sure.  Then the man totally shocked me by bursting into tears.  "I just knew it!"  He wailed.  I was stunned.  "Are you okay, sir?" I asked.  Trying to pull himself together, he sniffed.  He looked around to make sure no one was listening, then leaned very close to me. "I think I'm the Antichrist!" he whispered, still sniffling.   I was not prepared for this.  As politely as I could, I asked him how he had drawn this conclusion.  He told me, "I have information that's vital to this nation's security, and I have secret powers, and I even know how to break into Air Force One."  I didn't want to hear any more, because I didn't want to be legally responsible to report this (even though I knew it was crazy and not legitimate)!  I tried to convince him that he wasn't the Antichrist.  I told him that the Antichrist isn't going to call himself the Antichrist.  He's going to be a world leader who can deceive everyone.  "That's me to a T!" he moaned sadly.  I tried for several more minutes to convince him he wasn't the Antichrist.  When I later told my pastor about it, he told me I should have gotten his autograph!  Again, though, this man's belief he was the Antichrist stemmed from his perceived power over American culture (IE: this nation's security, Air Force One), when the Bible actually gives no indication about the United States at all.  Admittedly, this was a funny experience, but I also feel sorry for this man, as he was clearly confused.  I found out much later in the conversation that he was from a homeless shelter, and actually attended Harvest (a very strong gospelpreaching church pastored by evangelist Greg Laurie) and that he had actually received Christ as his Savior, which automatically disqualifies anyone from being the Antichrist.  

     The Antichrist will reign seven years, and then Christ will return.  Mark 13:28 tells us that after the Tribulation, At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.  According to Revelation 19, the Antichrist and his false prophet will be thrown into the lake of fire (hell).  In the next chapter, we are told that Satan is going to be bound for a thousand years, and believers will reign with Christ on earth.  Satan will get free after the thousand years and wage war.  This is referred to as the Battle of Armageddon.  Satan will lose, and be thrown into the lake of fire forever.  After this, unbelievers who had died will stand before the Great White Throne of God to be judged.  We are told that they will be judged by their deeds.  We believers won't be judged by our deeds, because we realized we were sinners and put our faith in Christ, so we are judged by the Blood of Jesus.  But as for these unsaved individuals, their names are not written in the Lambs Book of Life, and they will also be thrown into the lake of fire, the second death.  Death and Hades (the temporary hell unvelievers are currently in) will be thrown into the lake of fire. 

     After this, we are told in Revelation 21 that there will be a new heaven and new earth, because the current world as we know it will be gone.  Many of the beautiful and wonderful things we are told about this new world are things we often think of as being in Heaven now.  Things like the streets of gold, the foundation of precious stones, tree with a new fruit monthly, no night, no sun or moon, etc.  When Christian friends or loved ones die, we often think of them as walking on the streets of gold now, but that will come later.  They are in God's presence now, as I shared in my last post, but the current place of believers who die is not the ultimate destination.  This new earth will be forever and ever!  Doesn't that give you goosebumps?  That's our ultimate destiny as Christians!  

     According to all we have examined, the Rapture is the first big event of the end times.  When will it happen?  When will any of this happen?  Jesus Himself said in Mark 13:32-33, But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert. You do not know when that time will come.  No one but God the Father knows.  But we're to be ready.  It is my hope that the rapture happens in my lifetime, but even if it doesn't, I'll still be with the Lord when I die. As Christians, we really can't lose. There are signs about when the rapture will come.  There is the great falling away or rebellion, depending on the version you use (Second Thessalonians 4:3).  What does this look like?  The Apostle Paul gives us an idea in Second Timothy 4:3: For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.  Sounds a lot like today, doesn't it?  It could happen at any time.  The rapture itself is only the beginning of our ultimate, glorious end.  

Absent from the Body

     "Pray I get well soon," my friend Sharon smiled at me from her hospital bed, "so I can get back to church and we can work on the Christmas program together!"  Determination showed in her eyes.  It was almost October, and we wanted to start on something really special for the Holidays.

     

     "I will," I promised.  "In fact, why don't I pray for you before I leave?"  She readily agreed to this.

     Sharon and I had worked together a lot to do Christmas and Easter programs with the children.  She had also done the music for the children's ministry I conducted, such as Vacation Bible School and AWANA.  We'd had many adventures and become great friends!  She had prayed for me when I went on mission trips in college.  She and I had done a lot of ministry together, touched eternity.  We had often had long, in-depth conversations about the Lord. It had surprised me when she had gone into the hospital so suddenly.  

Vacation Bible School, 2009, one of many ministry ventures Sharon and I did together.

     I prayed with Sharon that day, then went on my way.  

     Later that week, the Lord called her home.  It was very unexpected and surprising.  Everything about this illness had been unexpected and surprising, but no one had imagined it would end like this.  

     Everyone who lives very long ends up losing someone to death. As Christians, we know we have the greatest hope about it.  First Thessalonians 4:13-18 give us an encouraging promise:  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.   For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

     This passage gives encouragement that death isn't the end.  As Christians, we'll be reunited in the presence of Jesus, whether we die, or live through the Rapture (more about that in my next post!).  However, while this passage gives us the ultimate hope and encouragement, it doesn't answer the question about what happens immediately when a Christian dies.  Death is a scary, morbid topic, mainly because nobody living has ever died (or they wouldn't be living!), so it's the unknown.  Many Christians I know have shared with me that they don't fear where they're going when they die, because they know Christ, but they do fear the process of dying.  I can understand that.  It's unnatural to us.  Death was never part of God's original plan.  

     Back to the question, what happens immediately at death?  There are those who believe that when a person dies, their soul sleeps in the grave until the judgment, at which point believers go to everlasting life, and unbelievers are judged.  Those who believe this take the passage I shared from First Thessalonians and point out that "the dead in Christ rise first" means that they're still asleep until the trumpet call awakens them.  This belief is called mortalism.  One time, I was teaching in a kids' Bible study.  The students came from various churches.  One of the boys in the study, who attended a church that believes in mortalism shared that his grandpa had recently died.  My co-teacher in the study happened to know this boy's grandfather was a Christian.  While acknowledging this boy's loss, she pointed out that he could be glad the grandpa was in heaven, and he'd see him there.  The boy was comforted with this assurance.  However, his mother overheard, and got very upset.  In front of us, she told her son, "Don't let them confuse you!  Grandpa's in the grave.  He'll rise again at the end."  Was she right, or were we?  Where is my friend Sharon right now (and countless other Christians who have died through the centuries)?  What does the Bible say about it?

     

     Before I go on, I'm going to just tell you that I firmly believe that Christians who die go immediately to Heaven.  I'm going to spend the rest of this post proving that.  

     Second Corinthians 5:8 is one of the most direct scriptures on this topic.  It clearly says We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.  There you have it.  Being absent from our bodies puts us into the presence of the Lord, or in Heaven.  But is there more info on it in the Bible?  Yes!

     Jesus Himself said in John 11:25, I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live...  We live even when we die.  Doesn't sound like sleeping in the grave to me.  Add to that the idea that the Bible teaches us in countless passages that believers have everlasting life.  If it is everlasting, it has no ending, or break.  

     The thief on the cross put his faith in Jesus, quite literally, on his deathbed.  Jesus told him, "Today you will be with Me in paradise."  (Luke 23:43).  This man wasn't going to sleep for thousands of years.  He was going to live with the Lord as soon as he died.  

     In Philippians 1, the Apostle Paul writes about how he's in a bit of a quandary.  He wants to be in Heaven with the Lord, but also wants to continue his earthly ministry.  In verse 23, he says, I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.  He goes on to talk about the benefits of being on earth to continue serving the Lord and the people.  If dying would only be an unconscious state of rest until the Trumpet call, Paul wouldn't be in this quandary.  He'd want to live, no question.  He was fully convinced he would be with the Lord in Heaven upon his death.  A few verses earlier, in verse 21, he had said, For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  It it's a gain, it has to be better than the earthly life he was already living.  Sleeping in the grave wouldn't fit that description.  

     In Mark chapter 12, Jesus has a confrontation with the Sadducees, who believed there was no life after death.  They tried to trick Him with a question about marriage in the afterlife.  In verse 25, Jesus addresses the marriage issue.  Then in verses 26-27, He gets to the heart of what they're really asking.  And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?  He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.  What Jesus was saying here is that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who had been dead for centuries before Moses met God at the burning bush (and even longer before Jesus talked with these Sadducees) weren't dead, but living.  They were fully alive after their earthly deaths.  

     There are two people in the Bible who went to Heaven without dying.  These are Enoch and Elijah.  In Genesis 5:24, we are told that Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.  Hebrews 11:5 reiterates this by saying: By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.  He went to heaven without dying, showing that believers do experience an afterlife.  

     As for Elijah, he went to Heaven in a whirlwind (Second Kings 2:11).  Same principle.  He kept right on living, just as we will at death.  Elijah makes an appearance in the New Testament, on the Mount of Transfiguration, along with Moses (who had died).  Both of these Old Testament believers were fully alive and awake with Jesus--not sleeping in some grave (Moses was the only one who had died, but still).  This account is found in Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, and Luke 9:28-36.  Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus, discussing His upcoming death and resurrection (we know they were specifically discussing this from Luke's account of the event).  What I find interesting is that Peter spoke up (admittedly out of turn) indicating by his words that he recognized Moses and Elijah.  He had never met them.  They had been gone centuries before Peter's birth.  Yet he knew them.  I believe this passage teaches us that, not only is there is life after death for Christians, but also that we'll know each other in eternity, even believers we never met in life, and who didn't even live at the same time.  By this account, the Apostle Paul and I will recognize each other.  Dwight Moody and I will recognize each other.  Some Christian no one ever heard of in 500 AD and I will recognize each other.  A believer living right now in China and I will recognize each other, even though we'll never meet on earth.  A Christian who will be born a century from now (if Christ should tarry) and I will recognize each other.  This is truly exciting to think about.  We have Christian friends throughout the centuries waiting for us!  Christ brings all of us together, throughout time and space.  Believers don't simply sleep.  They continue to live with the Lord.  One woman I know always refers to Christians dying as a change of address.  That's what it really boils down to.  The reason there is grief at death is because those of us left behind can't communicate with them.  I can no longer talk with my friend Sharon...but I will!

     Another biblical glimpse we get into believers going into eternity is found in Acts 7:54-60.  Stephen, an early follower of the risen Christ, was falsely accused and put on trial by the Sanhedrin (the Jewish court system).  He built a case in the preceding fifty-three verses.  The Sanhedrin was enraged, rather than convicted, and stoned Stephen, making him the first Christian martyr.  Verses 55 and 56 give us some insight into what happened to Stephen.   But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”  In verse 59, he told Jesus to receive his spirit (which he wouldn't have said if he was going to be unconscious for a few millennia), and in verse 60 we are told he "fell asleep."  He got a glimpse of Heaven before he actually went there.  He wasn't afraid to die, because he saw so clearly where He was going.  

     Death is often referred to as "sleep" in the Bible.  This does not mean an unconscious state.  It is more of a rest.  Freedom from the cares of life.  If we are truly honest, we Christians really, truly, deep down, share the Apostle Paul's sentiments, "For me to life is Christ and to die is gain."  Our heart longs for our true home.  But we're here for a purpose, and God gives us the desire to thrive here.  Nobody really wants to die.  But when we do (it's when, not if) we have that hope of eternity!  I will see my friend Sharon again.  A very good friend of mine lost her son this past year, and she has that assurance she will see him.  My Christian loved ones and I have the promise of being together forever.  

     A study of the Bible will reveal that the Old Testament saints had much less assurance or knowledge of eternity that we are blessed with today.  Job clearly believed he would see the face of God.  Job 19:25-27a tell us: I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes.  David, the man after God's own heart, knew that He would see his baby who had died again one day (Second Samuel 12:23).  This also indicates that small children who die before they are capable of understanding sin and salvation would go to Heaven.  However, even strong believers of the Old Testament, fully trusting God to send the Messiah to pay the penalty for their sins, had a much more vague view of Heaven and eternity than we do.  Hezekiah, a very godly king of Judah, wept bitterly when faced with death, clearly seeing it as a sort of end (Isaiah 38).  These Old Testament believers didn't have all we do, because Jesus hadn't come yet to reveal it to them.  I believe that is why they were commended in Hebrews 11.  Their faith had to be even stronger than ours, since they were trusting in Someone who hadn't even come yet.  Hebrews 11:13 tells us: All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.  They were putting their faith in what had been revealed to them by God.  This came with some assurance, but not as much as we have today.  

     This time between death and the final resurrection is a time of bliss with the Lord and fellow believers, but it isn't our ultimate joy.  That will come after the resurrection.  That will be when we receive our rewards and glorified bodies.  That will be when God will create the new heaven and new earth.  We have joy beyond comprehension awaiting us!

      A lot of important things may be pressing on your today.  In a thousand years, however, all that will matter was that you knew Jesus Christ and are with Him forever.  Because it really will be forever.  I'm going to close with a beautiful and moving poem I recently read (author unknown).

Take my hand

And Walk with Me

Down the Road of Eternity

We will follow where He leads

Down the Road of Eternity--

Down the Road of Eternity...

It's a narrow way

That we travel on.

For the path is steep,

And the journey's long.

But the prize that waits

Beyond this life

Is worth the pain, 

Worth the sacrifice.

Take my hand

And Walk with Me

Down the Road of Eternity

We will follow where He leads

Down the Road of Eternity--

Down the Road of Eternity...

All the angels gathered
Around the throne

For the saints of God

To be welcomed home.

I want you to 

be there with me

When I walk with Jesus

through Eternity.

Take my hand

And Walk with Me

Down the Road of Eternity

We will follow where He leads

Down the Road of Eternity--

Down the Road of Eternity...

Church Music

     I have a question for you.  If we were actually in a group of people, this question would cause a very intense discussion, with differing opinions being thrown around to counter each other.  As this is just you and me at the moment, that is unlikely to happen (I suppose it could in the comments, but it will be wound down by then).  Here it is:  What is the best type of church music?  What music should churches be using during their worship service?

   

A Traditional Church Choir

A Worship Team

A Large-Church, ultra contemporary worship team, with haze and lights

     There are a lot of different types of music that different churches prefer.  I have shown some basic ideas in the pictures above.  In the first, we have a very traditional choir.  The the second picture is of a worship team.  The third picture is also of a worship team, but probably a much larger church with smoke and lights on the stage.  Please note I have not made any commentary so far.  The first comment I will make is simply that my church experience throughout my life, as well as my overall preference, would probably be with the middle picture, the smaller praise team.  I like choirs and the tradition of it.  I did grow up with our worship team singing hymns along with the praise songs, so I often know the hymns choirs sing when I visit these churches.  I like how I feel when I'm in a church that has a choir.  It just hasn't been my main experience.  As for the final picture, it is probably outside of my preference and comfort zone.  Please note again that I have not made any sort of value statement about any of these.  I've simply said where my preferences are.  Yours might be very different.  I also know that these three pictures are far from a complete listing of the types of music churches might be doing.  I have been visited churches that sang A Capella.  I've visited churches in the heart of Africa that had no instruments, but people used their hands on tables and chairs to set the beat (and those people have rhythm!).  There are likely many other types as well.  

     There are a lot of controversies about church music.  The stereotype is that the elderly only like the hymns and the younger crowd can't stand them and only want to hear the brand new stuff.  The stereotype goes on to imply that the young and old are in a cutthroat battle over it.  These statements are largely untrue.  I know people of all ages who appreciate all kinds of music.  When I was in high school (90's), I was in a youth group choir that only did the hymns, and it was beautiful. I also know godly people of all ages who happily compromise their preferences.  It certainly doesn't have to be a battle.  

     The Bible is full of praises to God.  The whole book of Psalms, for example.  First Chronicles 16 gives us some guidelines: "Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim His salvation day after day.  Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples.  For great is the Lord, and most worthy of all praise...ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name." (verses 23-25a, 29a).  Our singing to God should honor Him.  We should be recognizing how great He really is.  He is worthy of our praise.  Glory is due His name!  We should be proclaiming His greatness and deeds in our worship.  I know I often lose sight of that when I'm signing a song in church.  There are examples of this type of worship all through the Old Testament.  One of my favorites is found in Exodus 15.  The Israelites had just crossed the Red Sea, and the Egyptians pursuing them had been drowned.  God had done a miracle for His people in parting the seas, then closing it on their enemies.  Can you imagine how they felt?  I'm not sure I can fully appreciate how they'd feel, seeing that miracle before their eyes, but I can get an idea.  I'm sure they had a strong sense that God was with them.  They were probably overwhelmed by His presence.  The first 21 verses of this chapter are a song they sang right then and there.  This song praises God, and also tells the story of what had just happened.  This song was a reminder of what God had done for them.  I think that's a good guideline for church music.  

     The New Testament has much less emphasis on songs of praise to God.  There are a lot of references to how the church was supposed to be run throughout the epistles, although not a lot of attention is given to music.  There are a few verses, though, that continue the ideas put forth in the Old Testament.  Ephesians 5:18b-20 tells us, "...be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit.  Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."  This tells us that we are to be controlled by the Holy Spirit as we sing these songs.  We're to use them to encourage one another as well as sing to the Lord from our hearts.  I don't know about you, but I'm often guilty of just singing the song with my mouth while my mind is elsewhere.  That isn't worship.  Our hearts must be engaged.  Also, I notice that there are three types of songs mentioned.  Psalms, hymns, and songs of the Spirit (or spiritual songs in other versions).  If you read the Psalms, they're full of praise to God.  This leads me to believe that we're to sing praise songs.  Hymns are mentioned, and they are often songs fraught with deep theological truths about God.  We should be singing them.  Spiritual songs are what they sound like, songs that are about the Lord and His word.  

     A lot of songs I grew up singing in the 80's and 90's were praises taken directly out of the Bible.  I really miss those songs.  Some notable ones were "Beloved (First John 4:7-8)," "Thy Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet..."  "Behold what manner of Love the Father has Given unto Us..."  There were dozens of others (maybe hundreds).  I honestly miss those songs a lot.  It has been many years since I've heard them sung in church.  Times change and new songs are written.  What I find interesting is that people really want to preserve the hymns from the 1700's (and I agree with this), but they make no effort to preserve the praise songs from the 1980's and 90's.  I get saddened to think that they may be lost to history.  I hope not!  My main issue has nothing to do with actual songs, but with the mindset.  Churches either use very old hymns, or very new songs (often from Christian radio favorites), or even a mix of these two things, but never anything from between 1890 and 2010!  In this way, the hymns are the only things actually being preserved, because these new songs will fall by the wayside in a few years, much like the songs I love from my growing up years.  It's sad.  

     I think there's a mindset that either very old or very new are the best.  Sometimes they are.  I love the theology in the hymns.  I loved being in a hymn choir in high school.  I love the stories behind many of the hymns (such as "It is Well With My Soul" or "All the Way My Savior Leads Me.")  One of my favorite hymn writers was Fanny Crosby, who was blind, but wrote thousands of hymns that are still beloved today, 100 years after she passed (she died in 1915, so as of this writing 104 years).  She often said that she put as much of the gospel as she could into her songs (think: "Rescue the Perishing," "Blessed Assurance," or "To God be the Glory").  These hymns often have something newer songs don't.  They touch me in a very special way.  They are tried and true, a part of our history and heritage as believers.  On the other hand, many people writing the newer music are just as godly and spiritually-minded as the hymn writers were.  They were simply born later.  There are often stories behind these songs as well.  One of my favorite newer songs is "In Christ Alone," by Keith Getty.  This song, while newer (written in 2001, popularized in the later 2000's), has all the components of a hymn.  It has a very clear melody (it would be easy to hum), clear cut verses and a chorus (no bridge) and has deep theological truth.  Another, much newer one I really like is "Good Good Father," by Chris Tomlin in 2015. That one really isn't like a hymn.  The melody would be much harder to hum and have people know what you're humming.  It is somewhat repetitive.  It has a bridge.  The verses sort of lead into the chorus.  It declares a simple truth rather than deep theology, but it is far from "fluff".  It fits all categories of a "Psalm".  It is a praise to God, and a reminder to all who sing it that He is our Good, Good Father.  It contains truths we need to be reminded of.  Having said all of this about some old and new songs, being older doesn't make it more spiritual.  Being newer doesn't make it more relevant to our lives.  Both of these things are often misconceptions people seem to have about songs.

     I believe the reason many people do see hymns as more godly or spiritual (false as this may be) is because they truly have stood the test of time. I believe newer songs are just as capable, but churches shelve them after a few years and they don't get that chance.  I see that as a bigger problem than anything.

We used this praise book when I was a teenager.  In fact, I own a copy of it.  Most of the songs are no longer being widely sung, but they should be!

     Another problem I see is that newer songs are often very strongly affiliated with a certain movement or artist or radio station.  This often colors the way we see these songs.  Oftentimes, the songs themselves have glorious, godly lyrics and music, but the movement behind them is something we might not agree with.  I believe we need to disconnect them from that, and just focus on the message and how it glorifies God.  I'm going to tell a personal issue I have.  I have a very hard time with Christian radio nowadays. When I was a kid, Christian stations called themselves Christian.  Today, many of them call themselves "The Positive Alternative" or "Family Friendly."  To me, it seems like they're ashamed to bear Christ's name.  There are a lot of "positive" and "family friendly" things in this world.  Disney usually fits that.  If a station is actually playing Christian music, they should admit to being Christian, not water that down.  Who do they think they're fooling?  Do they think unsaved people looking for something "positive" will be tricked into listening to Christian music that way?  That's not a good ministry approach in any event.  People aren't stupid.  No one is really "seeking" until the Holy Spirit calls them, and when He does, they won't be looking for "positive".  They'll be looking for Christ in all His glory.  And if the Holy Spirit isn't in it, they won't be interested in anything Christian, no matter how it is packaged to sound more generic.  I gave up Christian radio about a decade ago for this reason, and perhaps it has changed, but when I gave it up, these stations, while playing Christian music, were having very immature, bumbling DJ's.  One time, a station was giving away the Bible on CD.  The DJ announcing it said, "Who has time to read the Bible?  Not me!  I have to get my kids to soccer practice, make dinner, etc.  So now, I pop in a CD of the Bible, and I can have God's word going while I get more important things done at the same time.  You can get your Bible CD by..."  Whoa!  God's word is background noise to her.  That's scary to me that taking kids to soccer and making dinner are the "more important" things that take precedent over God's word.  Another person on the same station said, "I try to have a list of all my prayer requests written out when I pray, so I don't get side-tracked and confuse God."  If her God can be confused, she doesn't know the God of the Bible!  A different station (the "positive" one), was having a fundraiser.  They had someone speak, who had been "touched" by their station.  This person sounded like an empty-headed surfer, and his statement went like this: "My life was, like, totally negative, and after I heard this station, it's, like, positive!"  The DJ came back on and said, "To keep having testimonies like this, please give a donation to keep us on the air."  That wasn't a testimony!  Jesus wasn't mentioned.  God wasn't mentioned.  It was a testimonial for their station, not a testimony of a changed life in the Lord.  The music on these stations are often very godly, but I can't stand the air-headed DJ's.  I had to give it up, because I could feel my IQ dropping.  If it has changed and has gotten better in this regard, please let me know.  That was a little bit off topic, but it explains another reason why some people falsely say hymns are more spiritual, due to association.

     My husband and I had a very odd experience visiting a church once. This was a very large church in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  My husband had met the pastor when he was in Bible college many years earlier.  We visited, to experience things we never had before in church.  It was totally overwhelming in every sense of the word.  It offended my senses.  The music was very loud (volume wise).  I'm not criticizing the actual songs or style, although they weren't my preference.  I'm criticizing the volume as being dangerous. I felt as if my heart had an irregular rhythm or murmur or something.  I felt that music pounding and vibrating in my body in a way that made me physically ill.  I actually thought I would vomit.  Much worse, they started releasing smoke into the air and having multicolored lights shine all over the place, like a used car lot at night.  I became very dizzy, adding to the nausea.  The lights shined right into my eyes, really hurting me.  I closed my eyes, and it changed nothing, because the lights were so bright that I could see them just as clearly through my eyelids.  I sat down, covered my face with my hands, and doubled over.  My husband was worried, and he went to ask someone if they could turn down the lights a little.  He went to the guy running the sound system and told him, "My wife is really sick.  Can you turn the lights off of the audience?"  This guy got indignant and told my husband he was disturbing people's worship (which was impossible, because it was so loud and overwhelming there was no way anybody in the audience could possible hear them, or see them..  My husband politely persisted, and this man called security on him!  They told him they were going to throw him out if he didn't drop it.  When he reiterated that his wife was sick, they said, "Oh, we have doctors on hand in case someone has another seizure from the lights."  What?  This has caused medical problems and they keep doing it?  Needless to say we never returned.  It was a very disappointing experience.  If there is someone in this world who can be brought closer to Jesus from this type of experience, more power to them, but in my mind, this doesn't fit the guidelines of worship we examined earlier.  Harming someone's health with so much stimuli has nothing to do with Jesus.  We need to be keeping the main thing the main thing, and I don't believe they were.  I don't know the hearts of everyone involved, and I don't claim to, but there was a real problem there.

     I want to close with a sweet encouragement.  A gentleman recently put a video on YouTube that is the Evolution of Christian music.  It is 8 minutes long, and is very artfully done.  This video shows how all of it glorifies God through the ages, and much of it has stuck and is still being used.  Please view it here.  You will be blessed, I guarantee!

In Season

     I recently read a fun, poorly-written Christian novel.  This story was set in the 19th century, although it was written (or at least copyrighted) in 1999.  It was mostly fluff, but it was a fun, light read (not my normal choice in books, but I need it sometimes).  One thing in it completely drove me crazy, though (aside from the corny plot, predictable ending, and the unrealistically perfect romance).  The pastor in this small Old West church kept urging his congregants not to force the gospel on people, but to "live it" and only share the gospel when people noticed the difference in their lives and asked about it.  This made me both laugh and roll my eyes.  I know I have heard this advice a lot, particularly in the late 90s and early 2000's (my young adult years--also when the aforementioned book was published).

     The first thing I'll say is that this kind of advice (don't share the gospel, just "live it" and everyone will notice a difference in you and ask about it) wasn't consistent with what a 19th century pastor would have said.  The Second Great Awakening had happened early in the century, with many evangelistic messages given and countless people coming to Christ.  Notably in the later 19th Century, we had the very powerful evangelist Dwight Moody, who certainly wouldn't have advised people to simply live their faith with no explanation until asked.  On the other hand, there were unbiblical preachers and movements at that time, as there always have been and always will be until Christ's return. Even so, the "don't preach/just live it" rhetoric certainly wouldn't have been in vogue at the time.  

     Having said that, this novel I read clearly wasn't authentic  for the time in which it was supposed to have taken place.  It would be similar to writing a book that takes place in the 1950's but has the characters using the Internet.  In just isn't consistent writing.  

     There is more at stake here than poor writing.  This message is incorrect, and that is what I'm going to biblically examine.  Here is the question:  Should we simply live out our faith?  Is that sufficient, or is more required?  On the flip side, should we openly share the gospel in any and every situation?  

     First, let's look at what Jesus said.  In Mark 16:15, we hear some of Jesus' final words to His disciples before He ascended to Heaven: “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation..."  In fact, Acts 1:8 expounds more on this: "But you will receive power, after the Holy Ghost has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses..."  The Holy Spirit was going to enter the lives of believers, giving them the power to witness.  Not to "live it" and be noticed for being different, but to powerfully share the gospel.  We see Peter doing this in Acts 2.  In First Corinthians 9:16, the Apostle Paul shares that he is compelled to evangelize, ending with, "Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel."  The New Living Translation says, "How terrible for me if I didn't preach the Good News!"  In Second Timothy 4:2 (shortly before Paul's death) he urges Timothy, "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season."  In season and out of season.  In other words, when it is convenient and when it isn't. Not a lot of wiggle room there.  A few verses later (verse 5), Paul reiterates "do the work of an evangelist."  

     All of the 12 apostles, with the exception of John, died for the gospel message.  Do you think they would have been a threat to the order of this wicked world if they had simply been "living it?"  No, of course not.  Living a nice Christian life wouldn't have gotten them killed.  Preaching the gospel did.  Why would they do that?  Wouldn't it be easier to just live their faith and wait to be questioned by interested parties?  They wouldn't have even ended up on the authority's radar, much less been killed for it.  But they weren't content to just live it.  They gave their all for the most vital message in history...so we can have salvation today (let that sink in).  Isn't it kind of insulting to them (and even more so to Jesus) when we think just being nice and good is enough...after all the sacrifice it took to get the gospel to the world (and not everyone is even reached yet!)?  This living it stuff isn't biblical Christianity.  It's modern American bilge.  

     

          Here is some sound logic to also refute the "living it" idea.  Is anyone ever going to be a perfect witness all the time?  Is anyone's life so exemplary that others just drop to their knees in repentance?  No!  Being a good example isn't something we can perfectly pull off 100% of the time.  Counting on that to be our witness without words is incomplete at best.  Second, a lot of people do good deeds without being saved, so living a nice life with Christian values isn't really that unique.  Christian people don't hold the monopoly on niceness.  Third, being nice and good doesn't transmit the gospel into anyone's brain.  Nobody ever said, "Hmm, that person let me get in front of them in line.  I knew it!  Jesus Christ is Lord!"  There has to come a point where the gospel is shared and understood before the person attaches your good deed to the Lord.  I've had people say to me "You're such a nice person...you must be a Mormon." Naturally, I set the record straight on that.  My point is that people don't necessarily connect good conduct with Christianity.  It's up to us to share the gospel.  I think the most serious point in this is that thinking our conduct is sufficient is taking the glory that belongs to Jesus and putting it on ourselves.  It's saying, "I'm such a great person.  My goodness will save them."   So untrue.  So self-righteous!

     

       Added to all of this, I have never, ever had an unsaved person approach me and say, "You're different.  I want what you've got."  That's just not how it happens (or if it has ever happened to anyone anywhere, it is the extreme minority).  

     

     My point so far has been that the Bible, as well as common sense, should tell us to boldly witness, with the Holy Spirit's empowerment.  That remains unshakably true, though I'm going to give a slight disclaimer.

     Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good deeds, and glorify your Father in Heaven."  We are to have a testimony that brings God the glory.  It is important to note that this only happens when the watching world already knows we're saved.  If they know we belong to Jesus, that gives actual meaning to our good works.  Ephesians 2:10 says that God had prepared good works in advance for us to do.  Living a godly life matters when people know we're Christians.  That adds credibility to the truths we've already shared with them.  But if we haven't shared the gospel at all, it's useless to think doing good will automatically speak for us.  

     Peter wrote in his first epistle, "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." (First Peter 3:15).  This verse tells us to be ready, because we will be asked about our faith.  According to this verse, we are to give that answer kindly and humbly, which makes sense and adds credence to our witness.  

     Just as it is arrogant and self-righteous to believe our goodness is enough to bring a person to Christ, it is equally wrong to believe our witnessing efforts will save them.  It isn't us.  God uses us, but only He, by His Holy Spirit, can draw a person to Himself, convicting them of sin and causing them to see their need for Christ (John 6:44).  It's a work of God.  We can't know what He is doing in someone else's heart.  That is why we need to let God direct us in our witnessing.  

     One of my personal heroes is Brother Andrew, who smuggled Bibles into Communist countries and later evangelized the Islamic world.  In his book God's Smuggler he relays an experience he had in witnessing to a coworker when he was a young man.  He had taken several coworkers to an evangelistic event, hoping to see this one particular coworker saved.  She was loud, rude, caustic and mean, and Andrew wanted to see this woman saved.  After the event was over, he offered her a ride home, fully intending to lay out the gospel and ask her if she wanted to receive Christ, but the Holy Spirit was doing something different that Andrew couldn't see.  In his heart, the Holy Spirit clearly impressed on him not to talk about anything spiritual on the ride home.  Andrew couldn't believe God would say this, but he obeyed, and just admired the scenery and chatted about surface things. The next day at work, this belligerent coworker was kind, soft-spoken, and completely different.  The other Christians wanted to know what Andrew had said to her after the evangelistic event the day before. He confessed he'd said nothing at all.  Later that day, the lady talked to him.  She told him that she had thought he was going to pressure her into making a commitment to Christ, and she had all kinds of arguments ready...but when he didn't say anything, she wondered why.  She wondered if the reason he wasn't talking to her about it was because he thought she'd gone too far for God to save her...and that made her see her own sinfulness.  She got home and gave her life to the Lord that night.  It was a true and lasting commitment.  This coworker was later one of the biggest supporters of Andrew's mission work.  This was an instance when God led a believer to refrain from evangelizing so He could work.  There are those times.  We need to be in tune with the Holy Spirit.  This is particularly vital in settings where sharing the gospel can have legal and even life-or-death consequences.  We don't stop sharing.  We face death if need be.  But we also listen to what the Spirit is telling us and how He is leading. There may be a more discrete way.  Some of these instances are also in Brother Andrew's book, which I highly recommend, and you can order here.

     The idea that hits me the most is that we are to do the work of an evangelist, "in season and out of season."