WHY… WOULD YOU GIVE UP FREEDOM?

Freedom: the quality or state of being exempt or released usually from something onerous “freedom from care” Merriam-Websters Dictionary

This one has come up. My first response would be freedom doesn’t mean free to do whatever you want. The misunderstanding of freedom in Christ helped influence my return.

Too many people don’t want to give up anything. A little less freedom and more sacrifice would help the church in America a great deal today.

Listen to these passages.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves” Philippians 2:3

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:2-3

I understand for some in the middle of it this may not sound like a good idea. Trust me I spent my childhood and 13 years after I returned to Christ worshiping in non-instrumental Churches of Christ. What I found in the Christian world wasn’t a lot better. A radicalized freedom that demanded everything be done to match personal preference is what I found. People not concerned with the fellowship but only their individual Christian experience because they were free in Christ.

Maybe giving up something for the good of the Kingdom isn’t all bad. Maybe it helps us understand what it means to follow Jesus? Could the abuse of freedom be why we struggle to die to self and take up our cross daily?

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:5-8

So maybe in giving up something I am free to do, worship with instruments, I will be reminded that the story isn’t about me. Maybe I will be reminded of what it means to follow Jesus? Maybe it will help our children understand the same because giving up a freedom isn’t just encouraged, it is required.

It is also important to understand that the fellowship I will work with has no issues with instrumental worship. They hired me didn’t’ they? I don’t know what God has planned but trust me when I say, I have no agenda to change the style of worship. I prefer to give up that freedom.

WHY… ARE YOU COMING BACK?

Why: For what cause, reason or purpose. “Why did you do it?” Merriam-Websters Dictionary

I have had this question several times. It brings several responses. As far as the Kingdom of God goes, I never left. Second, because we prayed and believe it is God’s will. But from many circles there is something else in the question. I would call it inadequacy. I would call it so you couldn’t make it in the big leagues. You failed to find success so you came limping back.

I would say nothing could be further from the truth. I think that what I found was totally the opposite. Far from feeling an inadequacy for Churches of Christ my experience out with all of the other Christians made me respect and appreciate many parts of the Churches of Christ.

One thing I would say over and over to any who feel like there is something backward or less in Churches of Christ is to stop.

Let me share one thing that really factored in to my original move. Evangelism. I was tired of answering questions about instrumental music. I wanted to remove any barriers between people and Jesus. But guess what. That question came up from other Christians. When dealing with people far from God who didn’t know Jesus Christ it never entered the conversation.

Another part of evangelism was the fact that when we brought people to Christ they often times ended up at other fellowships in the community. We wanted to help people grow in their faith and they would leave for a church that used instruments.

Here is the thing. At New Heights Church we grew from 50 to 100 with the majority of those being people either rededicating their life to Christ or those who we baptized into Christ. Want to know more? That number would be much higher if those people who we brought to Christ stuck around. Many of them like those before ended up at other fellowships. Because of family or worship or connecting with God.

My point? instruments had nothing to do with people coming to Christ. Jesus is the reason not worship style. I will never forget a young lady and her daughter that we ministered to. She had not been to church since her childhood. I was sure our contemporary worship would help. She ended up finding a fellowship with liturgical worship because it reminded her of the Grandma who took her when she was young.

I wonder if we don’t use instruments as an excuse for why we don’t evangelize or a reason to feel inadequate about what we do? If your church is unhealthy bring them to Jesus and then be glad when they find another church but don’t allow instrumental worship to make you think if only. Share Jesus and share Him often.

It is an honor to reconnect people with Jesus Christ and since it is his church I have learned to be content no matter where they land. Also as this blog progresses I will let you know something I have learned about instrumental worship.

Coming back? Because instruments or no instruments doesn’t scare me. I know that meeting people and introducing them to Jesus is all that matters. Everything else will take care of itself.