With God, Nothing is Impossible (Daniel 2)

Daniel 1 - "Welcome to Babylon"

"Commanded to Love" Series - Week 1 - Love God

Is it OK for Christians to Rebel Against Authority?

Let me start this post by saying – I truly do NOT care about your position on COVID, vaccines, testing, mandates, conspiracy theories, government overreach, political affiliations, authority of OSHA, power of the POTUS, etc.  If you, in any way, think this post is about any of those topics – you have already missed the point!  This post is about the spirit of rebellion, disobedience, insubordination, etc. we are seeing in the attitudes and actions of “God’s people” toward those in authority (teachers, police, local officials to federal employees) during this pandemic.  Some are confusing American liberties with Christian responsibilities. It is my goal to raise awareness to this issue and encourage Christ-followers to act more like Jesus, to be people of peace, and increase the intensity of their witness. With that premise, allow me to introduce the topic and share from the heart of a concerned pastor.

There is no question that this pandemic has impacted the world, not only the USA, as the political conspirators have tried to portray. My heart truly goes out to the families of all who died during COVID; but this post goes far beyond sympathy and compassion. The job market, the world, and even the church looks different and will be forever changed going forward after this pandemic.

As I have now watched the COVID pandemic unfold for almost two years, it has become more and more clear that modern Christianity is far from what Jesus taught and what we see recorded about the early church. The early church put faith over fear, even to the point of martyrdom. Our menial inconveniences including lockdowns, TP shortages, etc. hardly qualify as suffering or persecution. Yet these minimal inconveniences have resulted in a decline in church attendance, reduced participation, and a blowing away of the seeds that fell on the rocky soil of attractional church models.

Many false prophets, fearmongers and dooms-day preachers have come onto the scene.  Many religious people, claiming to be “Christians;” are using this pandemic to stir strife, sow discord, cause division, foster rebellion and spew their anti-government rants. Open debate is gone... differing opinions are not permitted... "you're a racist" now means "I have no credible argument"... preferences are now championed as "convictions" and protecting our rights has replaced submission among “God’s people.”  Most sad is that intense conversations about COVID protocols are dividing families, friends, churches; and have replaced conversations about the good news of the Gospel.

So, what about you?  Take a moment to ask yourself --  

• Have I engaged more people in conversations about COVID, vaccines, mandates, testing, personal rights, etc.; than I have in conversations about Jesus?
• Have I brought more converts to my COVID or political view, than I have to my Savior?
• Do I speak more passionately about my “convictions” for/against the vaccine or about my faith?
• Do my comments light fires or bring unity between my friends, family and the Body of Christ?
• Do I find myself submitting to or rebelling against the authorities God has placed in my life?

While Jesus frequently challenged the heresies of religious authorities; He, and other Bible authors, taught submission to those those in authority (i.e. - parents, employers, civil government, etc.).  Consider the following examples from the Scriptures:

• Jesus taught humility and submission at home and work (Eph. 5-6)
  
• Jesus instructed the Disciples to “render unto Caesar that which is Caesars”
• As Jesus entered Jerusalem, the people threw down their coats and palm branches believing that Jesus was going to overthrow the government and establish a new earthly kingdom. That was not His mission.
• When Peter cut-off Malchus’ ear to defend Jesus, Jesus rebuked him, replaced it, and surrendered Himself to the Roman guards.
• Jesus humbled Himself and opened not His mouth, while being falsely accused and beaten by the Roman soldiers.
• Paul taught believers to obey those in authority, because all authority comes from God.
• Paul and Barnabas sang and ministered in prison, asking the Church to pray for their effectiveness with the Gospel, rather than praying for their release.

In recent days, I’ve heard “God’s people” use Bible stories out of context, in an effort to justify their rebellion against various authorities over things they simply don't "like." In the Bible, the accounts of rebellion against authority were toward those who perverted worship or sought to silence the Gospel. Some of these stories include:

• Acts 5:29 the High Priest instructed Peter and the apostles to stop preaching about Jesus. “But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.”
• Daniel 1:8 – Daniel refused to eat the king’s food; because it was a violation of the Jewish dietary laws, thus making him unclean (unfit to worship) before the Lord.
• Daniel 6 - Daniel was thrown in the lion’s den for refusing to engage in false worship by offering prayers to King Darius.
• Daniel 3 - Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown in the fiery furnace for refusing to bow down and worship the golden statue set-up by King Nebuchadnezzar in the plain of Dura.
• 2 Kings 18 - Hezekiah rebelled against the king of Syria by tearing down the idols and turn the hearts of the people back to God.
• 2 Kings 24 - Jehoiakim rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar at the Lord’s command, because of the sins of Manasseh.

These stories all show the common thread of rebellion against authorities who perverted worship.  These situations are all VERY different from the rebellion toward authority that some “Christians” are trying to justify today. Today's rebellion stems from personal “preferences,” opinions, rights, American freedoms, etc.; and has nothing to do with the worship of God.  Listen closely and you can almost hear Samuel’s words to King Saul in 1 Sam. 15 echoing to today’s church, “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.”

So what is a true believer to do? Certainly Christ-followers do NOT have to agree with those in authority 100% of the time, we don't have to like their decisions, we are allowed to have differing opinions, and we can rest assured there are times the authority will be flat-out wrong; but as believers, here are some biblical instructions to guide us:

• Seek to live peaceably with all men (Rom. 12:18)
• Submit to authorities, because all authority comes from God (Rom. 13:1)
• Realize that rebelling against authority is rebellion against God (Rom. 13:2)
• Practice submitting to authority as a matter of principal (Rom. 13:3-5)
• Give everyone what you owe them (Rom. 13:6-7)
• Realize that love is the fulfillment of the Law (Rom. 13:8-10)
• Realizing the day of salvation is near (Rom. 13:11)
• The Church must be the Church! (Rom. 13:12-13)
• Clothe yourself with Christ and make no provision for the flesh (Rom. 13:14)
• Stop quarreling over opinions (Rom. 14:1-2)
• Refuse to judge others who view things differently (Rom. 14:3-4)
• Follow the humble example of Jesus
• Look out for the weaker brother (Rom. 14:13-15)
• Avoid contention and put the interests of others before your own (Phil 2:1-4)
• Remember, God hates… those who sow discord in the Body of Christ (Prov. 6:16-19)

Practicing these biblical principles, will get us started in the right direction. Realize our personal preferences (frequently mislabeled “convictions”) are too often, just self-centered desires. True convictions are built on biblical precepts and principles that are worth dying for (i.e. - Read Foxes Book of Martyrs for stories of those who died for their convictions). If your position is not worth dying for, it is not a “conviction,” it is merely a preference.  While your preference may be to go 70 mph in a 55 mph zone, there are consequences when you choose to disobey those in authority. While you might prefer to dine in public without a shirt; remember the old sign - "no shirt, no shoes, no service" - it meant that abiding by your preference limited your dining choices. The same is true in God’s Kingdom – every decision has a consequence – so I implore you to make your choices in light of eternity, submit to those in authority, and to bring honor to our Savior. Let's truly be people of peace in this world of chaos.

Take a few minutes to read Romans 13.

Need a Push?

 

Need a push? Those words can apply to a child on a swing, a teen at the top of a ski slope, a clueless adult walking beside a pool, a car stalled in the road, or for anyone who grew-up in the church - it could mean the church bus broke down on the way home from summer camp.  Synonyms for "push" are: shove, propel, ram, bump, prod, poke, nudge, impact, etc. The idea is to get something moving again.  

The word "push" can also mean to encourage someone to improve or move beyond mediocrity. It can mean to help someone over a hurdle. In one sense, we can help "push" people past their fears.  My kids usually needed me to "push" them to try new things. I would "push" them to go on roller coasters, to go down tall water slides, etc. Once they tried it, they loved it and wanted to do it again and again. In a spiritual sense, we all need a little push to help us keep or regain our momentum.  

January is the start of a new year, and it provides a great time to "push" ourselves forward spiritually. Maybe you lost some spiritual momentum during COVID -- you don't attend church services as often... you stopped serving in a ministry... you got in the habit of staying in your PJ's and watching online... etc.  If there were good spiritual habits and disciplines that you engaged in prior to COVID and have not yet resumed them, now is a great time to "push" yourself to restart. As you start to gain momentum, look around to see if there is someone else you can help "push." Continue to find others who are stopped or stuck spiritually and "push" them forward in their faith.  

A car needs all cylinders fully functioning, if it is to run properly.  A team needs all of its players healthy and working together, if it wants to have a chance at winning. The Church is the same way -- we are a Body made-up of many parts. We need all of our parts in order to function properly and fulfill our God-given purpose. So, we need you to get unstuck! We need you to get off the sidelines and back in the game! We need you to get out of your PJ's and back in the pews! We need you to stop sitting and start serving! We need you to help us push forward in the mission God has assigned to His Church!

The Apostle Paul wrote about this in 1 Thess. 5:11 - "Encourage one another and build each other up."  The author of Hebrews said, "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works." I read these passages as let's "push" each other toward the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. I'm planning to push you in 2022, and I hope you will push me. If we do this for each other, then together we can cross the finish line and hear the words, "Well done, My good and faithful servant." 

Is God Cruel?

With so much racial tension, religious division, political polarization, cancer, COVID-19, the increase in violence, human trafficking, so much disease, wickedness and cruelty; how can people really believe that God is good?  In fact, with all of the chaos and suffering in the world, it could cause some to wonder if God even exists; and if He does exist, how can we ever believe He is a God of love? How can a loving God destroy the earth with a Flood?... allow a global pandemic?... refuse to stop the suffering?

To answer these questions, we must return to the very beginning. Genesis 1-2 tell us that everything God made was good and ultimately very good.  Plants, animals and humans were created with maturity and set in the most perfect garden home. There were no predators and prey, there was no disease and death, there were no weeds and toiling, there was no fussing and feuding – only the most perfect of perfect settings in this world that God created.

Sadly, Adam & Eve CHOSE to rebel against God and believe the lie that God was holding things back from them. Being instructed by God not to eat of the “Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil” and being forewarned of the consequences, should they do so; they chose to rebel against God. This act resulted in what is known as the Fall of Man and the curse on the once perfect world (Gen. 3).

God did not cause the violence, division, evil, suffering, sickness, disease and death.  These things came into our world because of the choice made by Adam and Eve to commit high-treason against their Creator – the Holy One Who created them, loved them and set them in a perfect world. They lied, they tried to hide their sin, pride crept in, they tried to cover themselves with leaves, they lied and the downward spiral has continued from that day until now.

While God made a way to redeem them through the blood of the Lamb, that redemption was for their soul; not for the sake of erasing the consequences of their actions. In came sweat, pain in childbirth, murder, sadness, sickness, disease, evil, and all that our world endures today. The suffering and violence that we see today is the result of humans thinking they knew better than God and revolting against Him.

So before you blame God for the condition of our world, realize this is far from the world He created and the plan that He intended. The fallen condition of our world was ushered in by the first Adam; but salvation and redemption is the work of the second Adam – Jesus Christ!  For those who know Christ as Savior, we can claim the promise of Rev. 21:4 - And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

So to summarize, God is patiently waiting and delaying His final judgment on this sin-sick and fallen world. He is giving people time to repent and turn from their sin and turn to Him for salvation. God wants each of us to spend eternity with Him in Heaven -- that place where there will be no more suffering, sorrow, sickness, disease or death.  For whosoever will may come -- have you invited Jesus Christ to be your Savior and Lord?  If not, what are you waiting for?

Take time to read:  2 Peter 3:9; 1 Cor. 15:26 and Rev. 21:3-4.  Also take some time to read back through Genesis 1-2 to see the perfect state of God’s creation and then Genesis 3 to see how the world has deteriorated into the fallen state that we observe today.

Doors of the Bible

Let’s Make a Deal” has been a long-running and very popular TV game show. The show will often give people the choice of selecting the prize behind door #1, door #2 or door #3.  The prizes behind the doors can range from a toaster oven to a brand new car!  Contestants will often look to their friends and family members in the audience to help them make the decision of which door to pick.  Some win and some lose, but all are rewarded based on the door they choose.

Interestingly, we also read about many doors in the pages of the Bible and each of these doors also comes with a prize. To make the proper selection can result in eternal life or death – so we must choose wisely.

1. Door to the Ark  (Genesis 6:16)

The ark had only one door through which the people and the animals all entered into the safety of the ship.  All of mankind was invited to walk through the door and to find safety inside the ark, but only 8 chose to enter. The choice of each individual resulted in his/her salvation or destruction.

2. Passover Door (Exodus 12:3-12)

During the 10^th plague prior to the Exodus, God instructed the Israelites to kill a lamb and to paint its blood on the sides and tops of the doorframes of their houses … The blood was to be a sign for the death angel to pass-over those houses (those lives were spared). We too can choose to apply the blood of the Lamb of God and be saved.

3. Inner Temple Doors (Hebrews 10:4)

"For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.”  This teaching was given to those Jews who had been practicing the “Day of Atonement” and forgiveness of sins through the sacrifices of the priests.  Once Jesus’ sacrifice had been made on the cross, the Law fell short and only those who found forgiveness through the blood of Jesus (the Lamb of God) could be made right with God.

4. Sheep’s Door (John 10:7,9)

During a visit to Israel we saw the common areas shepherds share for keeping their sheep safe at night. There is one way in and one way out.  Jn 10:1 states, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.  Jesus said, “I am the door of the sheep… I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”  There is safety under the care of the Good Shepherd and He states the benefit of choosing the right door is salvation and rest.

5. Door to Salvation (John 14:6)

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). The way of salvation in Noah’s day was the wooden Ark with a single door. Today, the way of salvation is through the wooden cross upon which Jesus died. We are promised that those who choose to find remission / forgiveness of sin through the shed blood of Jesus Christ will be saved.

6. Tomb’s Door (The stone in Mark 16:4)

When Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome approached the tomb, “…they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large.”  Jesus entered the door as a dead man and left fully and physically alive! He victoriously conquered death and hell, fulfilled His prophecies of resurrection, and now sits on the right hand of the Father interceding for us.  It is completely up to you whether you choose to follow a dead god or choose to follow the risen Savior!

7. Narrow Door  (Matt. 7:13-14)

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide  the gate and broad  the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. ¹⁴ Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”  Throughout history and through the Scriptures we find that the majority is often wrong! Following Jesus may not be the easy or popular choice, but the choice is yours and the results are eternal.

Today, you get to choose a door. The prizes behind the doors differ -- behind one door is Heaven and the other is Hell.  Behind one door is eternal life and behind the other is eternal torment and damnation. One thing that is different from game show “Let’s Make a Deal” is that God has already told you which door to pick, but he still gives you the power to make the choice.

So, which door will you pick today?  Will you choose to confess your sins and choose Jesus Christ as your Savior?  Or, will you choose to reject Christ and pick for yourself damnation?  The choice is yours! 

How Should Christians Respond to Racism?

Today’s children are being taught a whole new vocabulary: “Woke,” “Systematic Racism,” “Critical Race Theory,” “Whiteness,” and so many, many more divisive terms.  When we take a few minutes to really study history, we notice that great strides had been made toward eliminating racism in America.  It was not until 2010 that the embers of racism started being fanned again. Whether it was for political gain or simply to cause division, racism was resurrected and has been spewing forth with a vengeance. There have always been small pockets and fringe groups of Nazi’s, Skin-heads, etc.; but those backwoods groups that were not often heard from have been catapulted to the forefront by those seeking to divide our nation. So what is a Christ-follower to do? 

First, we must know the issues. Someone once said, “It is better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you are a fool, than to open it and remove all doubt.”  Some attribute the quote to Abraham Lincoln, others to Mark Twain.  The real quote is found in Proverbs 17:28 – “Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.” So let’s look briefly at the issues, so we can know what we are really talking about.

• Critical Race Theory is a view of society that deems a group to be oppressed and another to be the oppressors.  (men vs. women, black vs. white, healthy vs. disabled, etc.)  CRT interprets everything through the lens of someone is oppressed and someone is the oppressor.
• The Bible teaches that all mankind are sinners in need of the Savior -- that no man is good enough to get to heaven -- and that their only hope comes through the blood of Jesus Christ that paid our sin debt. Notice that skin color never enters the equation.

• Social Justice is the desire to right the wrongs we see happening around us. Many Christians have a heart for social justice; but wrongly choose to participate in violence or become toxic in response to their feelings and emotions.
• Real change and transformation comes through exhibiting the love of Christ and working to bring unity in the church and across the community. The Apostle Paul said, “If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.”

• “Whiteness” takes on so many different meanings. A simple Google search will reveal that there are many differing definitions among those who use the term.  Most refer to the customs, culture and privileges of those having white skin in America. One groups states – “Racism is based on the concept of whiteness…” and calls it a constantly shifting boundary.
• Scientific Fact – All mankind have skin tones that are some shade of brown. The differences are simply the result of variations in pigmentation, stemming from genetics or exposure to the sun. So any cultural aspects associate with skin color are man-made and are learned within society and/or the family structure.

So what are people who teach these various concepts of racism trying to achieve?  It appears their ultimate goal is Utopia. They want everything to be perfectly equal among all the races. In addition, there are others who seek Utopia among genders, lifestyles, religions, etc.

The Bible is VERY clear regarding its teachings on prejudice and racism.  Sadly, some professing Christians have misused Bible passages to spread racist ideas; but the Bible teachings are very clear to those who truly seek its advice.

1. We are all created by God.

Genesis 2:7 - And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

2. We are all made in God’s image.

Genesis 1:26-27 -  Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” ²⁷ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

3. We are all one race.

Acts 17:26 – And He has made from one ^[a]blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,

4. We are all loved by God.

John 3:16 -  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Let me close this devotion with the lyrics to an old children’s song, written by George Root. The song is familiar and we would all do well to get reacquainted with its message during this time when racism is dividing the nation – and even the Church:

Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Red& yellow, black & white
They are precious in his sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world

Jesus cares for all the children
All the children of the world
Black and yellow, red and white
They're all precious in His sight
Jesus cares for all the children of the world

Jesus came to save the children of the world
Red and yellow Black and white
They're all precious in His sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world

Noah's Ark is NOT a Fairy Tale

 

Have you ever seen the cute pictures of Noah’s Ark?  What about the church diaper-bag tags with a cartoon of Noah's Ark on them? Does your child have a toy ark with the cute stuffed animals?  Maybe you decorated your child's bedroom or baby nursery with the adorable little baby animals?

My wife and I recently crossed an item off our bucket list, when we visited the Ark Encounter in Williamstown, KY.  The exhibit opened in 2016 and displays a full-size version of Noah’s Ark, a zoo, zip lines, restaurants and more!  I would certainly recommend it for a family trip and you should also plan to visit the Creation Museum while you are there.

When you walk through the rainbow gateway to the park, your eyes immediately see the ark and your jaw drops open. The ship is massive!  It has three decks, cages, storage areas, living quarters, interactive exhibits, concession stands, a gift shop, animals that look real and yes… even dinosaurs!

A very small section of the Ark Encounter made the biggest impression on me. The section was called the “Fairy Tale Ark” exhibit. The section was bright and cheerful, and immediately lured children into the fun and very cute room. Once inside, the parents were confronted with the reality of Noah’s Ark and the horror of the Flood.  The world-wide Flood was God’s greatest judgment on mankind to this date.  It was gruesome and horrifying to say the least. The “cute” pictures, logos and décor that we see utilizing the ark; too often hide the meaning of the story – GOD JUDGED AND DESTROYED THE EARTH!  Think about it… people, animals and every living thing that walked/crept on this earth drowned.  Only Noah, his family members, and the animals with them in the ark survived.

The reality is that God exercised Divine Judgment to punish the people for their sinful choices, behaviors, lifestyles and indulgences. The world had become so wicked and the people had turned their back on their Creator, to the point that God regretted creating them.

Genesis 6:6-7 says – “The Lord regretted making human beings on the earth, and his heart was grieved. ⁷ So the Lord said: I will wipe out from the earth the human beings I have created, and not only the human beings, but also the animals and the crawling things and the birds of the air, for I regret that I made them.”

A plaque in the Ark Encounter states it this way:

“ Jesus spoke about the days prior to the Flood in Matthew 24:37-39. He said that the people went about their regular activities – eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage – until the day Noah entered the Ark. They were unaware of the coming judgment until the Flood swept them all away.  Jesus also likened the state of the world at the time of His return to the condition of the world in the days of Noah.”

So we have to ask the question, “Why do churches and Bible-believing parents paint such a fairy tale picture of Noah’s Ark?” The answer is that they either do not understand or do not believe the Bible! The flood was God's judgment on a wicked world -- not a happy story about adorable animals.  Those who teach Bible stories as fairy tales are undermining every effort to make disciples of the children that God has entrusted to them.  For if you can convince someone that the Flood was not real, then you can also convince them that Heaven is not real.

What should be our real take-away from the story of the Flood and Noah’s Ark?  We find the answer in Matthew 24:37 and Luke 17:26 – “For as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.”

Now you know… so today, you are accountable for whether you teach God’s Word accurately or convince your children that the stories of the Bible are simply fairy tales.  Regardless of your choice, most would agree that our present world looks a lot like it did in the days of Noah.  Realizing this, the ultimate question is, “Are you ready if Christ was to return today?”

You can see pictures and read more about the “Fairy Tale Ark” by clicking this link - 

https://arkencounter.com/blog/2018/09/20/fairy-tale-ark-exhibit-teaching-our-children-truth/

Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs

 

Do you find yourself singing in the shower... while you do chores... or joining in when you hear a familiar song on the radio?  I love to hear one of our housekeeping staff as she sings while she works.  I remember vacuuming in the church one time, while wearing headphones. I was belting out the song, but not realizing anyone else was around. All they heard was my terrible voice, which is not even a joyful noise... it's just noise!  When you have the joy of the Lord, you just can't help but to sing.  He puts a new song in our heart and we can't keep it in.

Sadly, there is FAR too much conversation and controversy in today's churches regarding musical styles. Satan is using a beautiful tool designed for worship and using it to divide the Body of Christ.  The Bible is very clear about the music that should fill our hearts and help us bring glory to God. The Apostle Paul outlines this in his instructions to the Church at Ephesus. Listen to Eph. 5:19 - "Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord."  Let's examine what these types of songs are and the differences between them.

Psalms are inspired songs that were part of the Hebrew Scriptures and used to give praise to God in corporate worship.  In Mark 12:36, the writer quotes Psalm 110:1 -  "David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet."  The Holy Spirit led David to write and this Psalm was included as part of the Holy Scriptures. So, Psalms are literally songs inspired by God.

Hymns is obviously not Paul's reference to the "hymns" that we have in our hymnals today.  Humorously, many of the hymns that religious zealots defend today were set to early bar-room tunes and not initially permitted to be sung in the churches.  The hymns Paul refers to were not inspired songs and were not included in the pages of the Bible, but they often taught doctrinal truths and were included in Jewish worship. Some of the great hymns of the faith also teach doctrine truths and should be included in corporate worship and taught to our children.  So, hymns are songs written and sung to God by the worshippers.  

Spiritual Songs communicate a wide variety of sacred themes. They may teach, encourage, prompt action, express the joy of salvation, revel in the grace of Christ, or exalt the greatness and power of God. These songs, praise choruses, worship music, etc. span various genres. These are the songs that are so often shunned by the older "religious" crowd, because they don't like the musical style, repetition, etc. The Apostle Paul said to include spiritual songs about God in our worship of God.

So, the Apostle Paul instructed the church to use psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.  Rather than arguing that God only likes "your" style of music, let us realize that God is the God of variety! Realize that music was part of Lucifer's anatomy (Ezekiel 28:13 KJV- ...the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.)  It only makes sense that Satan would use his strongest gift to divide the Body of Christ.  So, let's stop arguing and focus on worshipping. Let's each sing the song(s) the Holy Spirit places in our individual hearts. Just belt it out (psalms, hymns & spiritual songs) and let others know that you have the joy of the Lord -- even if you don't have a great voice.