Graham Family Singers- Writings

Any church is faced with two prominent challenges: (1) getting people to come to church and (2) keeping them attending. For a church to be flourishing there must be a program which addresses each of these challenges.

However, even before either program can be accomplished, an important prerequisite must be accomplished and that is, a proper philosophy and spiritual climate within the church. The Spiritual and Biblical Philosophy of the leadership guides the church behavior and is the most important ingredient in the success of any project. Nothing rises above leadership.

God set up the rules guiding human relation. The Bible says more about human relations than anything else, yet it sometimes appears that we, as pastors, have either not opened our eyes to them or else we are just too unenlightened as to their importance so as to make them a vital part of our being and actions.

Consider this question: If a young man believes in the prevalent policy of "separation," as many pastors do, and insists upon these same beliefs, techniques, and practices in his courting of a young lady, how many marriages would actually take place? That is, if his criteria for dating were that the young lady must have exactly the same beliefs, practices, and behavior as he, with no deviations, how many second dates with the same young lady would he possibly have?

Think! If a young man desires to have a wife, but doesn't know how to court a young lady for that purpose, he will get busy and learn. That same young lady, with the same desires will, in like manner, desire to do those things that will impress her courtier. Each will certainly look for their own predetermined criteria in a mate. But should they want to impress one another, and should they desire to love one another, they will not, outside their own realm of reasonable basic criteria, put up extensive barriers that they know will be rejected. Instead, they will "each" behave in loving and kind ways in order to try to win the respect and acceptance of the other, so hopefully they will fall in love.

Each is aware before they marry they will have differing opinions, practices, and behavior. They also know that with love, patience and understanding, these differences can be favorably worked out with little conflict. Each hopes and prays that over time, individual changes will cause them to mold together as one.

De Facto, the same human relations and understandings should be involved by the church leadership and the church while reaching out to those prospective members and unsaved. Consistent Biblical instruction should guide the process instead of inconsistent personal preference.

The demeanor of each speaker exhibits his own spirit. It is that spirit that affects the listener. It is sometimes amazing to this writer, as he listens to messages and hears "what" is said, the "way" it is stated, and in the "tone of voice" in which it is proclaimed, that some churches have anyone attending at all! The way the message is presented, not the truth expounded offends the sensibilities and will be rejected by the listener.

A truth that all need to understand is that a teacher teaches more of what "he is" as a person, exhibition his own spirit and character in each message, more than anything else. If the listener is impressed with the spirit of the speaker he will accept the message. Otherwise the messenger and message will be rejected.

Again, think! If a pastor, as a young man, learned the tactful techniques he must use to win his wife, why does he not realize that he must employ the same techniques, methods, attitudes and spirit in order to win others to his church? Rarely is a prospective member already doctrinally correct in every area and who will agree 100% with the pastor's practice. However, it is a fact that the church leadership must first win the confidence and respect of the people before they can teach them the truth. Every pastor and staff must first win the person to himself before they will reach them with the Word of God. If the spirit that emanates from the individual is judgmental and rejecting the spirit is unconsciously picked up by the listener and the value of the message is rejected and lost.

In every contact, especially the first, the listening individual already has his guard up, because he does not know what to expect. His first instinct is to defend himself and his own view of himself. Unless we as God's people behave and speak in such a way as to instill trust, security, and a caring spirit, we will not be able to disarm the individual and make him feel comfortable and secure enough that he will lower his guard and give us his attention. Until this happens, anything we say will simply slide off his back, as water does a duck. Trust and security is the glue that holds everything together. Insults and harsh words or tactics will certainly cause the listener, although he may remain polite, to reject whatever message is given.

One must realize that more ministries fail because of the spirit, attitude, and philosophy of the leadership than any other reason. More people are driven out of churches and leave for that reason than any other. Whether we like it or believe it, there is a psychology of human behavior and one also of Success. It is God who set these rules and regulations in His creation. Thus, in 90% of the cases it is not the doctrine taught that people reject, for all sorts of doctrines are being accepted. But it either is the person of the one delivering the message or the demeanor in which the message is presented the hearers reject. The adage, "the better the man, the better the teaching" is very true. Before we as leaders, blame everything else, we had better look within our selves.

Every person must win the other person to himself before he will be able to win him to the Lord. The same principle must be used to get people (1) to come to church for the first time and (2) to keep them attending. In practice, each pastor must give God time to teach, and the hearer time to learn, without forcefully imposing his personal preferences and authority of position upon the individual. Applying the truth to the heart and integrating the truth into the character is the ministry of the Holy Spirit and may take quite a bit of time. Beliefs and behavior change over time only in a trusting and secure environment.

A complete study of this subject would require much time and could fill a large book. All this writer is hoping to do at present is to awaken the reader to conditions involved in the prevalent philosophy of separation that need to be reevaluated.

Upon the following you may not agree at first but please read and analyze. This is written with 60 years of experience, observation, and Bible study.

LET EVERY LEADER ANALYZE THE TEACHING, BEHAVIOR, AND PRACTICE OF JESUS CHRIST, THEN CONFORM THEIR SPIRIT AND ATTITUDE TO HIM.

I have heard this phrase, "COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM AND BE YE SEPARATE," used many, many times against and toward people to convince them to come over to the speakers own opinion and preferences. This I heard before I could read and write.

Later in life I realized a very sad thing. The concept had been taken out of context and used (1) as a proof text to lord over others, (2) as a tool of leverage to obtain an advantage, and (3) as a weapon to force people in line with the agenda of the pastor.
As a child of five, the church where my parents attended (one in which my Grandfather had been the pastor several years earlier) was embroiled in a controversy over its pastor. Instead of simply leaving for the good of the entire church, the pastor, because of his own ego and philosophy of having direct authority from God, destroyed the fellowship of the church. Over half the folk left and many quit attending church altogether. He was not willing to humble himself, and resign, whether he was right or wrong, that the church might prosper and God be glorified. By his behavior, he drove out those who opposed him and split a small town to the extent that 60 years later the wounds in the lives of the descendant have yet to heal. These things I remember vividly.

To justify his own position and behavior, that pastor preached regularly the scriptures that say, "Come out from among them and be ye separate," and "And they went out from us because they were not of us." His purpose was not to rightly divide the word of truth, but to drive a wedge between good men in order to gain power and justify him self, knowing well that the verses were taken out of context and being used as a weapon. For the damage involved he will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. As a leader his judgment will be with more gravity because of his position.

God's men, of which the writer counts himself, should stand in great fear and awe of their day of judgment, the responsibility to rightly dividing the word of God, and how they present the message of God. With the great responsibility will come great judgment or reward. Those flaunting their positions and authority will come before God face to face.

Over the last 65 years I have seen several good pastors become bitter old men with dried up and closed spirits, withdrawing from other good men. This prevalent "come ye out" separation philosophy had captured their souls, making themselves prisoners to their own mistaken philosophy. Things these men disliked or things they wanted out of others but could not get, they demanded and made a point of fellowship. Their personal preferences became so entangled and intertwined with the "come out from among them" separation ideology, that in the overlapping of personal opinion and preferences, separation became integrated with their own personal doctrine and preaching. In their own minds and in their confusion, they began to substitute personal opinion and preference, by inferring that things they did not like were inherently evil. Therefore, the personal opinion and preferences actually became their own personal doctrine to the detriment of all. By withdrawing and by rejecting others, they themselves became rejected. Their churches split and re-split, people left and left again until there was no one but a few hanging on. The result was that the salvation of souls and the purpose of the church, i.e., to help the saved conform their lives to the image of Christ, was non-existent. Only the Devil became the winner and gained the advantage.

It is a dangerous situation when good men become so opinionated that they refuse to investigate the evidence. "Oh, that they would consider the latter end," says the Lord. The results and consequences of this evil philosophy, I have observed over the last 65 years.

Moderation in all things is the Key. Paul stated, "Let your moderation be known to all men, the Lord is at hand." There is, and must be, a separation from sin and idolatry. The question is not separation itself, but rather, how, when, where, how much, and the extent of vehemence of the one in charge who is setting the policy. The problem comes because of what one views and accepts as to what is right and wrong, when there is no clear-cut scriptural definition. For instance, a musical instrument in worship service, at least certain ones, to one person is wrong and to another is right. This is a preference, not a doctrine.

Other considerations should determine what music, musical instruments, types and volume of music might be used in worship services. Moderation is the key. A church should have a policy clearly defining its preferences. But one church or pastor must not be judged by the conscience of another.

What is the end result of substituting preferences for doctrine? I have a friend who is an excellent musician and plays the French horn. He wished to play "Amazing Grace" as a solo at his church, but his pastor refused him, saying that he did not believe such an instrument should be used in the church, as French horns were also instruments used in dance bands. (But, so are pianos.) This rejection and attitude so hurt my friend, that is, not being permitted to use his talent to serve the Lord, that he left church altogether. This pastor's philosophy and reasoning placed preference above, and in place of, the teaching of the Bible. I might add that the same pastor allowed his own children to sing with varied sound tracts, often featuring orchestra music, and certainly they featured French horns. Who will answer for such inconsistency on judgment day?

Another great danger that results from the present structure of the separation philosophy is that it builds a spirit of rejection and a misleading rationale. The rationale and spirit in finality becomes observable in the lives of those holding that philosophy. As they begin rejecting, they soon start analyzing everything and everybody. This leads to a closed and bitter spirit that becomes obvious to everyone else, by the actions and decisions that are made. This attitude develops in the individual a "you can't do this," and "you can't do that" legalistic spirit which destroys, in that person and in others around their sphere of influence, the truth and spirit of Christian liberty, as so carefully explained by the Apostle Paul. I ask the question, "Were Paul's writings written under the Inspiration and Revelation of God? And, if so, are they not the commands of God to be obeyed?" A word to the wise is sufficient!

Corinthians 10:29, Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? This is exactly what the prevalent extreme separation doctrine and policy comes to and does. One holding this separation philosophy in the extreme will judge by his own conscience instead of by the observable truths of God. They will not analyze the end results of that preference, nor search the scripture for God's truth.

2 Corinthians 3:17, Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. The prevalent separation doctrine and policy in and to the extreme takes away Christian liberty, develops an improper spirit, and judges another by one's own conscience. The evidence to that fact is that there is little liberty, little joy in service, few fruits of the Spirit, or the Spirit of the Lord present in the services and lives. Few if any souls are saved, no new churches are born under their authority, the fruits of the Spirit are meager, and joy in lives and services are replaced by a system of order and hum-drum. When God's spirit is quenched another spirit fills the vacuum. This detrimental spirit dams up the flow of God's love and grace, which in turn, makes one judgmental and rejecting toward anyone who disagrees. The Spirit of the Lord is quenched and limited. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty. By this rule one can easily discriminate the practice of a church.

Galatians 2:4, And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: Probably this is our greatest danger. The judgmental persons will throw their cloak of opinions and preferences over everyone else and do their best to bring them into bondage by stripping away Christian liberty by accusation and use of the grapevine. Instead of standing in the gap, they stand in the way, blocking God's message and messengers. They want everyone to be just like themselves.

Galatians 5:1, Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Does Christ give us liberty and make us free? What puts one into bondage? It takes guts, determination, and love for the honor and glory of God to stand against the prevalent philosophy of separation, which brings entanglement thereof and a yoke of bondage. One taking such his stand, he makes himself vulnerable to all sorts of gossip and rejection by the extreme separation crowd. The policy of "fall in line" or "else" comes into play. If one does not fall in line, he is rejected and then the grapevine moves with lightening speed, and he becomes defamed and rejected.

Galatians 5:13, For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. Paul reiterates our position in liberty, and calls for moderation. He states that abuse of liberty is just as wrong as the imposing of bondage upon self or others. Using liberty as an occasion to the flesh is just as wrong. He states the obvious. We should use our liberty by serving one another in love. In fact, one who does not, by love, serve others, manifests clearly that they are in bondage. There needs to be a rediscovery of the books of First, Second, and Third John. They are a part of God's Inspiration and Revelation also.

1 Corinthians 8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours becomes a stumbling block to them that are weak. Paul also gives a warning for the abuse of liberty. You see, Liberty is the freedom to do right. We are never at liberty to do wrong. But here, Paul is warning concerning preferences. He is saying that although something may be preferred and ok, if at all possible, avoid use of your liberty in an area that you have good reason to suspect would offend the sensibilities of others, especially those who are weak in the faith. Restrain yourself so as to be a testimony of love to Jesus Christ. But this restraint is to be self-imposed, not imposed by the conscience or preferences of another.

Paul also gives another admonition which also implies a warning.

Romans 14:1, Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. ("Well, that person is not going to make it!) The spirit and policy of the present-day separation philosophy sets up a system of rejection that discourages, distracts, and pushes out many who are weak in the faith. When demands, not compatible with one's own circle of visibility and frame of reference, are forced upon the weak one, he will either rebel or simply leave the church and service of Christ. Babies in Christ are not born again with mature and unlimited knowledge. (The same is true with many immature Christians) They must be nurtured and allowed to grow and mature in the teachings of Christ that they may know and understand the new life they should lead. This cannot be achieved overnight. Somewhere along the line, leaders, preachers, and all Christians must learn to GIVE GOD TIME TO TEACH both themselves and the weak. They should not cut off the legs of the weak before they learn to walk. The "God is not through with me yet," thought must come into play. It takes time for God to teach and for the weak to learn. Life is both a passage and a process. At each age and stage in life we develop new skills and abilities. Patience is a must, as well as having an open and accepting spirit. Accept without doubt and disputation. Act upon evidence, not upon hear-say or with a doubtful spirit.

Learning is a life-long process. New understanding is added to our frame of reference and circle of visibility as experience and new information is absorbed. But demands and gossip concerning one's knowledge, growth patterns, and behavior do not do justice to God or to the weak. If God teaches slowly, don't get in His way by demanding that the weak grow faster. In fact there is so much "getting in the way of God's trying to teach," by those who think they know it all, that many lives have been damaged.

Sometimes a person rescues an individual whom God is trying to teach a lesson and therefore, keeps the message from getting in. This can happen with pastors also. When trouble comes to a minister, God may very well be trying to teach him something. It is a project to be solved and the pastor should accept the project and learn the lesson that God is trying to teach him. Sometimes a pastor may be stubborn, set on a detrimental path, insensitive to the needs of the flock, or, through pride, refuses cooperation or to cooperate, that God permits trouble to teach him the lessons needed for him to become a better shepherd. If someone then comes along and rescues him from the situation and from the consequences of his own behavior, they are interfering with God's plan to teach him what he needed. Therefore, he does not learn. He leaves one church to pastor another, only to go through the same type of situation because he was blocked from learning or because he refused to learn what God wanted him to know in the first place.

Any problem that comes upon a pastor, is a project laid out by God to teach him something that is necessary for him to be successful or to make him the kind of servant God wants him to be. But far too many times a know-it-all pride, blocks the learning process. Thus, the individual fails and fails because he will not humble himself enough to accept the fact that he (1) has made a mistake, (1) that he does not know it all and (3) that he could receive help from the counsel of more experienced ministers. Many make the mistake of thinking they have a direct call from God and a direct authority from heaven to set everybody and the whole church right, and that the church members must bow down and worship him. But he is mistaken. God placed His authority in the church, not in a man. The church is the pillar and ground of the truth, not a "heaven-authorized" man.

The first step or process in any growth or proper relationship, is to accept the fact that we do not know it all, and we cannot do it alone, in our own strength.

My heart goes out to the good people who have been "creamed" over this separation ideology and procedure. I have seen many good, saved people, leave church to never attend again, resulting in their children growing up without the influence of the church, just because of the misuse of this concept of truth. Over minor incidents, these rejected folk are abandoned and no "righteous" person bends to rescue them. Their usefulness and recovery are destroyed and lost to God's program.

There is a time to rescue people. Where is the ministry of reconciliation Jesus so graciously exhibited? It appears it has mostly given way to the message of domination by power and ego. Yet, Jesus was a servant. He had a loving spirit. He lovingly taught the truth. He drew a circle that took people in. He was never of a spirit to shut people out. The only times He was harsh, was to those who were outside the believer's circle, (non-believers) who refused the truth and held a pharisaic attitude and spirit. He did not shoot His own wounded. And to be like Him, neither should we.

Someone has rightly said, "It is only in the Christian army that they shoot their own wounded." Let a Christian sin or speak an opposing view, or is falsely accused by a Pharisaic brother, and he is pounced upon, verbally beaten up, his reputation soiled and damaged, and then is rejected when the word goes through the grapevine. (People look at and believe a situation as THEY ARE, not as the true circumstances are. For people do not see things as they really are, they see things as they are.)

There is another curse in the Lord's work, that "men of God" will believe things about another without seeking the true evidence. Is it any wonder that many folk refuse to attend services when defamation of reputations are broadcast with the motive to influence or hurt another? (Everyone should remember that sooner or later one gets what he gives.) No person wishes to attend a church where they might be subjected to the same behavior. This attitude and spirit is not of Jesus. It is of the Devil.

Please read the entire CONTEXT OF: "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you," 2 Cor 6:17

TO WHOM WAS THIS TRUTH WRITTEN?

Paul was writing the second letter of correction and admonition to the church he had established in Corinth. Paul was talking about the church being yoked together with unbelievers, that is, the temple of God [the church] with idols. Many had been saved out of idol worship but had brought into the church some of the practices of idol worship. (tongues, visions, women speaking oracles, etc.) The entire first letter was written to correct the practice. (Read the article on I Corinthians 12,13,14, located on the Internet at - www.baptisttabernacleonline.com - for a good understanding thereof.)

WHY COME OUT? Paul, under Inspiration, was expounding a principle that the lives of God's children were not to be as idol worshipers nor to partake of the practices of idol worship. God's plan of redemption, reconciliation, and justification by grace was not even remotely connected with idol worship. He was stating that the Corinthian church (temple of God) should remove (take out of the church) wrong practices brought in by those saved out of idol worship. He was telling them to break the old habits. He was not talking about Christians separating from other Christians who have different opinions and preferences. He was instructing the church to separate from the influence of idols and the sins thereof. In fact, God's people are to bear one another's burdens.

One of the slickest moves that Satan has put upon us, is the turning of a principle (at least a portion thereof) of truth taken out of context, placed upon ourselves, thereby creating division and animosity. Then, convincing men who call themselves "men of God" to be gullible concerning Satan's devices so that they permit themselves to be caught up in propagating this scam, and using the concept as a weapon against other Christians. Paul may be turning over in his grave concerning how men have misinterpreted his words.

WHERE TO COME OUT TO?

Here is another evil being promulgated by those unlearned in the Spirit of Christ. I have heard men say concerning certain churches, "They ought to die," and "I wish that church would close its doors and dissolve." Such men are "de facto" saying, "Jesus, you made a mistake by putting that church here." "Aren't you knowledgeable enough to see what was going to happen?" "See, Jesus, I know more than you do!" To make such comments is pure presumption by taking the prerogatives of God upon themselves. Yet, those who made such comments consider themselves to be "men of God."

Can you imagine any person who claims God's call and the blessings on their lives to wish that a church, for which Jesus loved so much that he died for it, to dissolve? I can think of no greater calamity or no greater dishonor to Jesus, than pastors who let a sister church dissolve, especially in a community large enough to support it.

Upon analyzing the situation, I have found that most of the time these same folk who wish a said church to disappear, wish it for their own benefit. They either felt in competition with the church or with the pastor. They also knew that if the said churches would disappear the people would have no other place to worship except in their own church. Therefore, their own church would grow upon the misfortune of the other and they could then be in complete "control" of the gospel message in their locality. How sad!

The principle, "come out from among them and be ye separate," (separation theology) has been twisted and misinterpreted until it has become a yoke upon the necks of the churches, choking the very spiritual life of God out of His people. "THE LETTER KILLETH BUT THE SPIRIT GIVETH LIFE." But this message is never received, understood, or followed by the Pharisaic, touch-not, taste-not religionists. It is amazing that those who claim to preach the whole counsel of God are the same ones who spend many of their messages on separation, especially separation in areas affected by their personal preferences.

HOW FAR TO COME OUT?

From sin and idolatry: Completely!
The answer to the question is, "Come out "only" as far as Jesus did. Jesus was a friend of and to sinners. He first showed himself friendly by accepting the "person" of the sinner, but not condoning their sin. He went to where ever the sinners were. He did not partake of their sin, and they knew He would not partake, therefore He was a light in the darkness of their sinful ways. There were no reservations, nor places, He would not meet with them. The only ones who criticized him were the legalistic Pharisees who always come out of the wood work to criticize. Jesus came to seek and to save those who were lost. He was not concerned about what people thought or said about what He did. He stayed true to his purpose.

TO WHOM ARE WE TO MINISTER?

Although Jesus was the founder and pastor of the first church, he spent Saturdays in the worship centers of the opposing religions, the Synagogues and the Temple. He went to the opposing religion and ministered to whomever He could. He did not draw any dividing line. Any dividing line he drew was only with certain unbelievers whom He knew would not hear him. He never drew a line in the sand with believers or with those who said they were believers. Yet, only saved, baptized believers were accepted as members of His church. He was far more concerned about witnessing than he was about separation. In fact, He denounced the unbelieving Pharisees for their legalistic practices of separation. (Touch not, taste not, unwashed hands, the Sabbath etc.) To be like Jesus and exhibit the Spirit of Jesus, we must behave in like manner as He did.

Is what the Apostle Paul did and said in God's Word of divine inspiration and revelation? Is it of divine obligation to obey what Paul said and to do what he did? Why will we take a few words he spoke out of context and ignore all else he said concerning the same subject? Did Paul separate himself from opposing religions? If so, why did he dispute in the school of Tyrannus. Acts 19:9 "But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus." Notice: He separated from unbelievers, not believers. Yet, it was not until the unbelievers were hardened, believed not, and spake evil of the way of salvation, that he separated from them. Even then, He turned unto the opposing religion, entering synagogues and temple grounds teaching and ministering the Word unto them. In every city Paul entered, he ministered to opposing religions. He sung to those in opposing religions at Philippi while in jail.

But today, if a Baptist pastor speaks in an opposing religious body (church) he is castigated. And, If a Baptist musician ministers in an opposing religious body (church) he also is castigated and shunned like the plague. What here "is" Scriptural and what "is not" Scriptural?

Would or should Jesus and the Apostle Paul who entered opposing religious houses of worship on days of worship (about whom we have record) and preached, taught, explained, and probably sang, (for people sang in the synagogues) be castigated and shunned today by legalistic and Pharisaic voices for doing what they did?

It is high time men of honor and integrity do a little research and understand some things, especially concerning the purpose and program of God. Men need a proper understanding of "God's view" of His plans and purpose. Plus, they need God's view of the job descriptions God instituted for the Pastor and the church. These need to be re-evaluated in relation to every verse in the New Testament that describes or defines the job descriptions. Neither God nor His Word has changed. It is not God who has moved concerning Biblical convictions.

Are not we as Ministers, to minister both to the church and to the Family of God? Jesus and the Apostles did. To do this we must understand the difference in the Church and the Family of God. Each has a different domain, constitution, and service. Many believers in Jesus' day were not members of His church, but they were in God's family, and Jesus ministered to them. God's family includes all that have been born again, born spiritually into His family.

It is ludicrous to believe we can reach people by setting up an unscriptural barrier and excuse ourselves by calling it a standard, then shutting out people by refusing to minister to or in opposing churches, just because of one's own preferences. It is surely "not" unscriptural to minister to and in an opposing church. I challenge the reader to find the chapter and verse in God's Word that expounds a doctrine or church policy laid down by Jesus or by the Apostles showing it is unscriptural to minister to nondenominational churches. I would not pastor one but I would minister to one. Yet, I have heard of Baptist ministers taking the pastorate of nondenominational churches and turning them into Baptist churches.

The only withdrawals from Christians in the New Testament would be by church discipline or by warning an individual who has given great hurt to an apostle or to a church. There is no scripture stating that a Christian must not witness to or in an opposing church. It's not there. In fact, the principal involved is that we are a debtor to the Jew, the Greek, and the wise and unwise.

There was only one kind of church when God gave the inspiration and revelation to the New Testament writers.

If ministering "to" and "in" other religious organizations was good for Jesus and Paul, it is good enough for me. May God have mercy on our souls! Jesus died for members of opposing churches as much as He did for me! This is absolutely no call for a uniting of churches! It is a call to reach them for Christ and to teach them the truth about the Church Jesus established and has been with since He organized it.

WHY SHOULD WE FEAR?

Not I, nor anyone who has truly been born again and knows how to lead a soul to Christ, would join a church that believes (1) that the church saves anyone, (2) that anyone can save themselves or (3) that one must keep themselves saved. If they did join such a church, personally, I would question their salvation and especially their understanding of salvation.

If one is a member of a scriptural New Testament Church and does not know these things, the church of which the person is a member has failed them. Therefore, I or any person who has been truly born again must develop the stamina and stability to influence others for Christ, while "not" being influenced by others to believe false teachings. It behooves scriptural New Testament churches to teach the membership the truth, then send them out to influence others, regardless of where they are or where they worship.

A young group of singers, THE GRAHAM FAMILY SINGERS, at this writing are ages 11 to 15, have grown up under my ministry. They are exceptional musicians not only for their age but they also can hold their own with the best. In trying to find churches to minister unto, there have been statements made by various ones concerning the music ministry as a whole. These I would like to address because they come under the spirit of separation. The objections heard are preferences not scripture, but are promulgated as scriptural principles.

1. Some do not believe in a ministry of music because there were none in the Bible. But be reminded that there were no Sunday schools in the Bible. No vacation Bible schools and many other tools that are used today.

2. Some object to an inter church music ministry because of the instruments used, but I have mentioned that situation previously. Again these are preferences not scripture. Make a study of musical instruments used in the Bible. Yet, there are considerations to the use of instruments as there are to anything else. But this can be regulated.

3. Some object because they say the musicians are performing. And, they are performing. Anything and everything one does is performing. The only time one is not performing is when he is dead. The preacher performs every time he gets into the pulpit. He tells jokes, waves his hand, talks loud or soft, makes faces, prances around, jumps on pews etc., etc., etc. Is the real question, WHO HAS A RIGHT TO PERFORM? Only the pastor? No, the real question is who has the power and what are his preferences? Again performance can and must be regulated. Type of music, songs sung, volume, and style of behavior while singing is very important. All this must match the style of program. Concerts bring different musical management and expertise in relation to morning worship. Nursing homes are different from public gatherings etc. The management and expertise should be established before a group is invited to sing. But special music groups have a definite and special place in the work of God. SHOULD MUSIC GROUPS BE BANNED? Just because of preferences? Does one throw out the baby with the wash water? In opposing a music ministry should a pastor go mouse hunting with a canon? You see every church is independent. If one just does not want to have special music that is their prerogative. But they should not try to make their point of view a scriptural issue when it is a preference issue. One of my favorite pastors used to say, "people will come to church to hear good music and listen to bad preaching, but they will not come to church to hear good preaching and listen to bad music." He is/was correct.

4. The objection heard the most: To sing in my church, the musicians must not go to minister in an unscriptural church. If that is the case, how about ministering in nursing homes where most would be members of unscriptural churches. What is the difference in singing in one building and another? A building is a building is a building is a building. It is sad to see how hung up we can get on preferences. A building is simply where the members of the church assemble. There is nothing sacred about a building. Man was not made for the building but the building for the man. If a church does not have a "church building" and assemble in a beer joint or dance hall floor as I have in the past, is that a disgrace? The church can met under a tree, on a beach, in a house or in a park. Just what is the hang up? A building is simply a place for the church members to assemble and use for worship, fellowship, and fun, bringing unity of Spirit. The membership could use their building for anything they collectively consent upon, (A restaurant if they wish.) and still worship there. Do we have the cart before the horse today? On top of that, is an unscriptural organization calling itself a church a real church? If it isn't how can we fuss about ministering to an organization that is not a scriptural church. Those assembled would not be a church, "only" an assembly regardless of what they claim. If Jesus and the Apostle Paul met anywhere, ministering to any group, in very diverse situations, why are we so hung up on ministering with any assembly or in any building? If it was OK with them it must be OK. Again preference vs. scripture.

5. Some believe that musicians should minister without "pay" because they do not think a music ministry is a valid ministry for God. But the same pastor would be offended if he held a funeral and was not paid. Even though burying the dead is not necessarily in the Biblical job description for a preacher. Jesus said, "let the dead bury the dead." It appears that He separated it from the Job Description for his church officers. Yet we do it. Folk, it takes thousands upon thousands of dollars to train and develop musical talent. There is a dire need for piano players and music directors in our churches. What in the world are we thinking? (Churches should be holding a one or two week music school, at night, yearly, to train their membership in music. Youth especially.) Should the parents of groups like the Graham Family Singers be saddled with paying all the cost to prepare their children to serve churches, then have the singers serve without pay? Heed the words of Jesus who said that a workman was worthy of his hire. The Apostle James said, "Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth."
Churches and pastors also cry for youth to grow up and become full time while blocking and discouraging them from being trained and being blessed. The real problem is stinginess. And the Bible explains the principle. Here is the passage that fits this situation perfectly.

Proverbs 11:24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. 25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. 26 He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

Reader, if a church is to grow it takes promotion. Promotion costs. But there is very little promotion more valuable that having a good music group come and bless the hearts of the people. A letter informing every person attending and every prospect, along with posters scattered around is a hard method of promotion to beat. After several programs people will get the message and attend.

CONCLUSION:

One day, we will all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ to answer for (1) how we divided God's Word, (2) the spirit and attitude with which we ministered, and (3) our faithfulness in obedience to Christ. Above all else, this writer wants to stand and hear the words, "Well done thou good and faithful servant. -- May The Lord Bless.