Elders and Deacons Book
March 9th, 2010
My book, Elders and Deacons, is now out of print. The publisher would like to issue a second edition that includes a study guide. I am now working on the study guide. The book should be available again this fall.
J B Myers
Book Update
March 8th, 2010
I finally finished proofing the last chapter of my book, Life Choices. This does not mean the book is finished, only that I have finished. I will let some others read it for their beneficial feed-back and then put it in its final form and submit it to the publisher.
This book is the most practical that I have written. My inspiration for the book came from a class I taught one year at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The class was a beginning counseling class that covered many of the mental health issues that cause people problems. As I taught the class, I thought, “I wish I had taken a class like this when I was a freshman in college.” So, I took some of the topics and added some of my own and adapted all of the material to biblical teaching.
I look forward to getting the book in its final form and getting it published. I have been working on the book off and on for about three years. For me, writing is not only hard but it requires a lot of time. I have to research, organize, write, re-write, and then proof. It seems like it takes forever to get anything done. Perhaps A. J. Liebling is correct when he says, “I can write better than anybody who can write faster, and I can write faster than anybody who can write better.” Anyway, I am glad it is over so I can move on to something else.
My next writing project is a book about biblical Christianity.
J B Myers
Books:
Seeing Your Goals
March 8th, 2010
Not knowing exactly how to reach your goals is very discouraging, but it is the price you pay to reach important goals. For example, people who enter college often do not know what they will major in. Many think they know, but then change majors before they graduate. So, do not worry about changing course or making adjustments in reaching your goals because this is to be expected and it is part of the process.
I heard about a mountain climber who described what it was like to climb Mount Everest. He was asked by a reporter about what discouraged him the most in climbing the mountain. He said the most discouraging times were when the summit was obscured by clouds. As long as he could see the summit he was encouraged because he knew exactly where he was going. Knowing exactly where you are going is encouraging and not knowing is discouraging, but the problem with goals is that you cannot always see the summit. For example, I was over half way through a book I just finished writing before I had a good idea of where I was going. It was only at the beginning of chapter seven that I had a clear vision of how the book would turn out, and even then I did not see the last chapter. So, like the climber, the most discouraging time for me was before chapter seven.
Perseverance is how you overcome the discouragement of uncertainty. Perseverance is defined as a steady course of action in spite of difficulties. Paul reminds Christians that perseverance can be a benefit of suffering. “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4).
J B Myers
Books:
You May Not Have All the Facts
March 6th, 2010
I once overheard a criticism of my son, Jared, during a basketball game. When Jared failed to get down the court fast enough to stop a fast break, someone complained about his lack of hustle. What they did not know, however, was that he was playing with an injured groin muscle that prevented him from sprinting down the court. This is why is important to have all the facts before we criticize the behavior of others. We may not know about their health, home life, finances, or other challenges they are facing that might impact their behaviors. Only God knows all the facts. In the mean time, we have an obligation to view the behavior of others with patience and understanding until we know more of the facts.
J B Myers
Books:
Writing Books
March 4th, 2010
The hardest thing I have ever done up until the present is write books. Why is it that most preachers do not write books? Perhaps there are two reasons: First, many preachers do not write books for the same reason monkeys do not talk—they have nothing to say. At least, that is why I did not write much until I was older. Second, preachers do not write books because it is hard. In my case, I would rather do just about anything than work on a book. It is much easier to work on a sermon, counsel, talk on the telephone, or make a visit. Writing requires enormous amounts of research, concentration, and effort. It is hard to find the time and energy for such an endeavor. In addition, rewriting is harder than writing. A friend said to me, “Writing is easy, rewriting is hard.” I have not found this to be the case. For me, writing is hard and rewriting is even harder.
Most authors I know agree that writing is hard. I used to believe that the books I enjoyed reading were easy to write, but it looks easy only because it is good writing, and good writing is hard. Samuel Johnson says, “What is written without effort is generally read without pleasure.”
J B Myers
Books:
Idolatry
February 10th, 2010
Most people have a desire to believe in something beyond themselves. Perhaps God intentionally placed this desire within humankind at creation. When people lose interest in God, or do not take the Bible seriously as a moral guide, they often find other ways to express their religion. For example, they may worship the creation rather than the creator (Romans 1:25). Worshipping the creation was often a part of pagan religions, and modern expressions of this can be seen in some aspects of today’s environmental movement. For some, protecting the environment has become their religion, and their adoration of the planet suggests the earth is worthy of worship. Plants and animals become more important than humans, and humankind is viewed as evil. This kind of reverence for the earth is a form of idolatry. God tells us the proper way to view the earth in the Genesis account of creation. When God created humankind, he said, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground” (Genesis 1:28).
Idolatry is more than the worship of idols. It is the adoration, reverence, and devotion given to something other than God. Anything we worship more, fear more, and serve more than God is an idol. For example, the Bible says greed is idolatry (Colossians 3:5).
J B Myers
Books:
Lessons From Ants
February 9th, 2010
To make better decisions, people can learn lessons from ants. I remember learning about ants in grade school when our teacher read to us one of Aesop’s fables called “The Grasshopper and the Ant.” The grasshopper spent his time in the summer playing while his ant friend worked to store up food for the winter. The grasshopper did not understand why the ant worked when he could be playing. The ant tells the grasshopper, “Winter is coming. I am storing up food for the winter. I think you should do the same.” In reply, the grasshopper says, “Winter is a long time off. There is plenty of food.” When winter came, however, the grasshopper found himself hungry. When he asks his ant friend for food, he is rebuked for his failure to prepare during the summer. From this experience, the grasshopper learned, “It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.” This story illustrates what we have already said about short and long-term gratification. The grasshopper focuses only on the short-term while the ant prepares for the future.
The Bible also talks about the value of learning from ants. “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest” (Proverbs 6:6-8). Ants plan ahead; that is, they work while they have the opportunity. They work without an overseer; that is, they are self-motivated and do what is in their long-term best interest. In contrast, the sluggard finds excuses for not working, but at harvest time he has nothing (Proverbs 20:4).
The Bible says, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16). Ants make the most of every opportunity. The problem is that many people live their lives without taking advantage of their opportunities. Youth itself is an opportunity, and once it is gone, it does not return. So, if people made better decisions earlier in life they would avoid difficulty later on. Unfortunately, many never consider the long-term consequences of their decisions.
J B Myers
Books:
Instrumental Music in the Old Testament
January 22nd, 2010
This topic may make some of you feel uncomfortable. For example, you may feel instrumental music was never authorized in Old Testament worship. Some people think David sinned when he introduced these instruments and that it was a departure from God rather than a command from God.
Others may feel uncomfortable because they believe that if instrumental music was ever sanctioned in the Old Testament, then it can be used to justify its use in the New Testament. They may be asking, “Why not talk about how instruments are excluded from New Testament worship? Surely this is a more relevant topic than their use in the Old Testament?”
And others of you are thinking that this subject is surely the most boring topics possible. You just cannot imagine how anyone can benefit from a subject like this. Well, perhaps you can learn something by reading this that will make a big difference in the way you view worship for the rest of your life.
Still others may feel uncomfortable with this subject because you feel the whole issue of using instruments in worship is a matter of human opinion. You think a discussion like this is negative because it will just offend people who like to use instruments in worship. Perhaps you are offended right now!
Just let me say to all of you, please give me a chance to present this material before you prejudge the topic! Remember, it does not matter what we think or say on anything but what God says. If God addresses this topic, and he does, then it ought to be something we can at least talk about.
Let us begin this discussion with a passage from the Old Testament book of Psalms.
Psalm 150:3-5 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.
This passage ought to be teaching us something today. When Paul wrote his letter to the church at Rome, he also referred to an Old Testament psalm. After quoting the psalm, he says, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us…” (Romans 15:4). Note that Paul says that everything written in the Old Testament, including the psalms, can teach us something. So, we should ask, “What do passages about instrumental music in the Old Testament teach us today?”
1) Instrumental music is a part of the Law of Moses.
Psalm 150:3-5 and other passages like this teach us that instrumental music is a part of Old Testament worship. I have heard people argue that if instrumental music was used in the Old Testament, then there is nothing wrong with it use in the church today. However, the people I know who make this argument are always inconsistent in how they apply it to other aspects of Old Testament worship. They want to pick and choose the things in the Old Testament they would like to have. Let us now look at other things mentioned in the psalms that involve worship. Are you willing to bring these into worship as well?
1) Worship at the tabernacle altar:
Psalm 43:4 Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.
2) The burning of incense and evening sacrifice:
Psalm 141:1-2 O Lord, I call to you; come quickly to me. Hear my voice when I call to you. May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.
3) The making and fulfilling of vows by offering burnt offerings and animal sacrifice:
Psalm 66:13-15 I will come to your temple with burnt offerings and fulfill my vows to you— vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke when I was in trouble. I will sacrifice fat animals to you and an offering of rams; I will offer bulls and goats.
4) Celebrating the Old Testament Feast of the New Moon:
Psalm 81:1-3 Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob! Begin the music, strike the tambourine, play the melodious harp and lyre. Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon, and when the moon is full, on the day of our Feast.
2) Instrumental music is a shadow of things to come like other aspects of the Law of Moses.
Hebrews 10:1 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves.
John Calvin said, “Musical instruments in celebrating the praises of God would be no more suitable than the burning of incense, the lighting of lamps, and the restoration of the other shadows of the law.” Others of the Protestant Reformation also did not believe in the use of instrumental music: John Wesley, Adam Clark, Charles Spurgeon. These men are not our authority but what it shows is that the use of instrumental music in worship has never been as universal and settled as some think.
Note that the law of Moses has been done away, and this includes the Old Testament use of instruments. This would also include the sacrificial system as well as many other things.
Hebrews 8:13 By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.
Colossians 2:14 …having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.
3) Instrumental music in the Old Testament is highly regulated.
The Old Testament teaches us that the use of instruments in worship was regulated like all other aspects of worship. God gave specific instructions that were to be followed. As we shall see later, this also included the use of instruments. Concerning worship, God never allowed people to do as they please.
First, let us look at regulations concerning sacrifice:
Leviticus 6:9 These are the regulations for the burnt offering… v. 14 These are the regulations for the grain offering… v. 24 These are the regulations for the sin offering…
Leviticus 7:1 These are the regulations for the guilt offering… v. 11 These are the regulations for the fellowship offerings…
Leviticus 10:1-2 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.
Leviticus 16:1-2 The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron who died when they approached the Lord. The Lord said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die…”
Joshua 1:7 Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.
Now let us consider the first occurrence of instrumental music in the Old Testament. This occurred around 1400 BC when God gave instructions on Mount Sinai about how to worship in the tabernacle.
Numbers 10:2 The Lord said to Moses: “Make two trumpets of hammered silver, and use them for calling the community together and for having the camps set out.”
Verse 10 says, “Also at your times of rejoicing—your appointed feasts and New Moon festivals—you are to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, and they will be a memorial for you before your God. I am the Lord your God.”
Notice that God does not leave it up to the people to decide for themselves about the use of the instruments. First, there must be two trumpets and they must be made of silver. Second, there are times when both can be sounded and times when only one can be sounded (vs. 3-7). Third, only the priests can blow the trumpets (v. 8).
About 400 years following the beginning of tabernacle worship, David introduces more instruments when he brings the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem. Many think David introduced musical instruments because he was a musician, or because the people wanted it, or because David and the people had the freedom to worship God as they pleased. Not so. God regulates the use of these additional instruments just as he regulated everything else associated with worship in the tabernacle and the temple.
About 40 years later, when David’s son, Solomon, dedicated the new temple in Jerusalem, he set up the worship in the new temple. 2 Chronicles 8:14 says the worship was “In keeping with the ordinance of his father David” and they did not deviate from “what David the man of God had ordered.”
We are not told at the time why David introduced these instruments, but about 300 years after David in the reign of the good king Hezekiah, there was an attempt to purify the temple and restore true worship to Israel. At this time, the book of 2 Chronicles tells us why David introduced the instruments. Notice especially what I have underlined in this text:
2 Chronicles 29:25-27 He stationed the Levites in the temple of the Lord with cymbals, harps and lyres in the way prescribed by David and Gad the king’s seer and Nathan the prophet; this was commanded by the Lord through his prophets. So the Levites stood ready with David’s instruments, and the priests with their trumpets. Hezekiah gave the order to sacrifice the burnt offering on the altar. As the offering began, singing to the Lord began also, accompanied by trumpets and the instruments of David king of Israel. The whole assembly bowed in worship, while the singers sang and the trumpeters played. All this continued until the sacrifice of the burnt offering was completed. When the offerings were finished, the king and everyone present with him knelt down and worshiped. King Hezekiah and his officials ordered the Levites to praise the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness and bowed their heads and worshiped.
In the spirit of Romans 15:4, here is what this story can teach us:
1) Hezekiah did not feel he had the right to change the temple worship from what it was originally. This is why he brought back David’s instruments and Moses’ trumpets.
2) The instruments were limited to only those authorized by David and Moses. God had only authorized certain kinds of musical instruments to be used in the temple worship and Hezekiah is careful to observe this. Verse 26 of 2 Chronicles 29 says, “So the Levites stood ready with David’s instruments, and the priests with their trumpets.” According to verse 25, this was done “in the way prescribed by David…”
3) Both Moses and David acted by divine authority when they introduced instruments since it was commanded by the Lord.
About 380 years after David, there was a restoration of worship under the good king, Josiah. Like Hezekiah, Josiah wanted to restore the worship of God just as it was in the beginning when the law was first given. He seems to have been even more zealous than Hezekiah at restoring worship back to what God had originally intended. Among the other regulations of temple worship that he restored, the Bible says this about Josiah’s worship restoration:
2 Chronicles 35:15 The musicians, the descendants of Asaph, were in the places prescribed by David…
About 550 years after David, when Jews had returned to Jerusalem following the Babylonian exile, they wanted to restore temple worship at the second temple.
Ezra 3:10 The musicians, the descendants of Asaph, were in the places prescribed by David…
About 600 years after David, there were some reforms in the worship under the leadership of Nehemiah. Nehemiah brought back the trumpets of Moses and the instruments of David (Nehemiah 12:35-36). The instruments of David are said to be “prescribed by David the man of God” (v. 36).
4) Lessons we can learn from instruments in the Old Testament:
1) Instrumental music in the Old Testament teaches us something about instrumental music in the New Testament.
Note what Paul said about the Old Testament in Romans 15:4. So, what are these passages teaching us? Are they speaking to us about worship today? If so, what are they saying? Where are the commands to worship with an instrument in the New Testament? Where are the regulations for using instruments today? The point is this: If God intended that we use instruments in worship today, he would have instituted and regulated it like he did in the Old Testament.
2) Worship should not be according to the imagination of man but the will of God.
The use of instruments in worship has never been a matter of opinion. People were never permitted to do as they pleased in this matter. Notice that God even regulates the kinds of instruments to be used and who is to use them. The idea that instruments in worship is a matter of human opinion is contrary to the word of God. People who advocate the use of instrumental music today claim they can offer to God the music of any instrument they choose. They believe this is all a matter of liberty. But note that it is never viewed this way in the Old Testament.
3) Regulations about sacrifices are like the regulations about instrumental music.
Notice that the regulations about the sacrifices are similar to the ones about instruments. The use of instrumental music in the Old Testament was not decided by the worshiper but by God. People did not have the right to use it everywhere and at all times. It was regulated like the sacrifices.
4) God never instituted or regulated the use of instrumental music for worship in the church.
No instrument was ever used in worship to God without specific instruction from God! The silence of God on the use of instruments in the church should exclude their use. The only kind of music that is commanded in the New Testament church is singing.
There is no example of the apostles bringing over any form of tabernacle or temple worship into the New Testament. This would include the use of instrumental music. Notice that the apostles never appeal to the “command of David” regarding worship in the New Testament.
Singing is the only kind of music authorized in the church. The following are all the references to music in the church:
Acts 16:25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
Romans 15:9 Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to your name.
1 Corinthians 14:15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.
Ephesians 5:19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord…
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Hebrews 2:12 I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises.
James 5:13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.
J B Myers
Books:
Haiti Relief
January 20th, 2010
The Estes Church of Christ near Henderson, TN has missionaries in Haiti. They are engaged in a relief effort right now and are in the planning stage of sending a team down to do more. If you would like to be on the list to receive their updates about this effort or information on how you can help them, email the church secretary, Debbie McLaughlin, at estescoc@gmail.com. If you would like to give directly, send your check to Estes Church of Christ, PO Box 191, Henderson, TN 38340. Write on your check, “For Haiti Relief” and make the check to Estes Church of Christ. I attended this church when I was a freshman at Freed-Hardeman College.
J B Myers
What is the Church of Christ?
January 13th, 2010
Many people hesitate to visit a church unless they know what it will be like when they go. This is to help you understand we are at the Bright Angel Church of Christ in Las Vegas, Nevada.
1) We are not just another denomination.
We are non-denominational rather than inter-denominational. It is our sincere desire to be known simply as Christians or members of the body of Christ (Acts 11:26; Ephesians 1:22-23). We refer to ourselves collectively as the church, church of Christ, the Lord’s church, or some other scriptural description to identify ourselves as the saved people belonging to Christ (Ephesians 5:23).
The church in the Bible is never named, but it is described on a number of occasions. The church is described as “the churches of Christ” in Romans 16:16.
Members of the church were called Christians in the first century. Acts 11:26 says, “The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” An unbeliever named Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” Peter talked about those who suffer as a Christian in 1 Peter 4:16.
2) We strive to be the same church described in the New Testament.
It is our purpose to be identified with the Christians of the first century. We believe this to be possible because Jesus said, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). In the parable of the farmer who went out to sow seed in the field, Jesus says, “The seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11). A seed reproduces after its kind, and if you sow corn, you will always get corn. In like manner, when the word of God is obeyed, it will produce Christians just as it did in the first century.
3) We have no human creed.
There is no man, or group of men, who determine the teaching of the church. Instead, teaching is supposed to come from God’s word. The church in the New Testament followed the teaching of the apostles and not the creeds of men. Jesus said of some people, “They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men” (Matthew 15:9).
4) What is the message of the church?
To the lost, the message is one of salvation. Note that this is the theme of the preaching of the book of Acts. There may be many things that we can talk about among the saved, but the message for the lost is that they need to obey the gospel of Christ. Is our purpose just to listen to people? No, it is to tell them about Christ.
To all who believe, the message is unity based on God’s word. This is the message of Christ and the apostles to all who believe (John 17:20-21; 1 Corinthians 1:10; Ephesians 4:1-6). Unity is possible or Jesus would not have prayed for it.
To the saved, the goal is to become more like Christ. “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). As Christians, we are also to do good works. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).
5) What is the worship of the church?
Worship in the church is to be in spirit and in truth. “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). Our worship consists of singing, prayer, preaching, the Lord’s Supper, and giving.
6) What is the work and fellowship of the church?
The church in the Bible met together regularly to fellowship and worship. The Bible says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).
J B Myers
Books: