This e-mail is from someone who listened to the sermon "Seeker-Sensitive Worship vs. Scripture" at http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=32112032447 From Name: Tony Cornelius
From Email: t********@hotmail.com
Your position on worship in the church is hypocritical.
On your web site you quote Spurgeon who used hymns extensively that were written by “men” and are not inspired in that they were not part of scripture.
You also used scripture out of context. I John states that if you love me, keep my commandments. The context continues to identify the commandments which are love for our brother and believing in Christ. Believers are to speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Certainly these need to doctrinally sound.
The OT believers used many instruments in worship.
Our worship should not be worldly or sensual as much is today. The scriptures you used where God condemned those whose worship was incorrect was because their worship was going against what He had commanded them. God stated that they should not worship in that way but they did.
Please don’t trivialize the Word of God by stretching it to defend your pet peeves. Your implications are that anyone who does not hold your view, which Spurgeon did not, is not a true believer. In doing that, you are treading on dangerous ground.
I was hoping to learn more of the doctrinal position of the reformed church in this sermon but instead I was sorely disappointed.
Note the verses below do not restrict worship in the Psalms only.
Eph 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
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My reply is posted at http://worldunderchrist.wordpress.com/2011/10/17/your-position-on-worship-in-the-church-is-hypocritical-2/