Quote:
Originally Posted by blhowes  John,
Interesting thread. I'm looking forward to hearing what others think about the questions you ask. Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnV In this thread I want to assume the non-EP/non-NI position, that God approves of and blesses both the addition of songs besides the Psalms, and the use of instruments in the worship of Him.
...3. (Here's my point) Is not the term "prescriptive" a bit too strong a term | When you say that God approves of the use of songs and instruments, is that the same thing as saying that God commands their use, that He's saying in His scriptures that this is how he wants to be worshipped? Or are they not, and God blesses their use anyway? If God says in the Bible that He wants to be worshipped with the addition of songs, and the use of instruments, then the term prescriptive seems appropriate. (kind of like preaching - God commands it and you'd expect to hear preaching during the worship service).  |
Bob:
This thread is not about defending the proposition that God approves of it. We're trying to look at that side of is supposing it to be true to see if it can stand up.
There is an element in your question however that is to the point: is there a difference, if any at all, between "commend" and "command"? If I may therefore rephrase your question: If God commends something, then is that a command to do it?
Peter found out in Joppa that God commended the eating of animals that were formerly forbidden to be eaten. But the passage does not indicate that this was then a command to eat formerly forbidden meats. You don't get that idea from the passage at all. God likewise commends many things without thereby commanding them.
So it is one thing to say that God commends the use of instruments, or that God commends that we put our praises of Him into song; it is another to say that it is commanded. It would mean that it is praiseworthy to use an instrument skillfully in praise of Him, or to compose a worthy song of praise; but that doesn't mean that those who are not able to do that are breaking a commmandment. Is it implied that following and imitating those who can do this is the same as doing it? Does it mean that everyone has to have his individual song, or his individualy melody to the Psalms? What is being commanded here, if God's commendation of something means that He commands it?
It is the worship of Him for our good that He is concerned about, not about those poor things we call song or the playing of musical instruments. Even our most well composed music to enhance the direct words of the Psalms cannot be acceptable to God on their own, not without the justification of Christ and the sanctification of the Spirit. Yet it pleases Him to commend our praises and worship, our gathering together, the preaching of the Holy Word through weak preachers, our poor prayers, etc. He commands that we worship, that we preach the Word, that we pray.
He not only commends songs of worship, but He commands it.
Now I know a few people who think they can sing, but that's not singing. And there is no way that they even know how to obey that command. They can't carry a tune, and they have no idea what the people are doing when they sing the melody or sing in harmonies, none at all. Yet they grew up with songs and with singing, and they do what they think people are doing without really getting into any analysis of that practice. I know this is severely overstating the case, but I want to point out by this extravagant example that some are able to obey more than others, if it is considered that kind of commandment. In other words, some would be more guilty than others of not obeying it fully. But my point is that we would all be guilty of not obeying that commandment. It is more likely that not singing at all, excluding singing, disobeys that commandment. But even our poorest attempts at obeying it is as full an obedience as that commandment is intended to expect. In other words, it is a commandment to not exclude singing from worship, and a commendation to excel in it. It does not go into any detail beyond that point, otherwise it would have detailed parameters and guidelines along with it, like so many of the case law commandments which define with greater explication each of the Ten Commandments, the ones which the Theonomists are concerned about.
It seems to me therefore that I would have to give you a negative answer to your question. God may and can approve of something without therefore necessarily or implicitly making it a commandment.
But now, having said that, the question comes up about what it is that is being commanded, required, or prescribed. God does command singing; how do we obey that commandment? That's what I want to explore. JD brought up the word "prescribe". I think I know what he means, but I think that we could talk about it more.