Ridgell's Originals

If Scripture is clear about singing, but not clear about instruments, how does a church decide how to praise God in the assembly?

Based on What Matters, I am certain God chose neither style of music.  He did not say to not use instruments.  He did not say to use instruments.  He just said sing.

So if it doesn't matter, can we all do what we want.  Well, yeah.... if we all want the same thing.  Instruments or not?  Acoustical guitar or full on praise band?  Praise team?  One leader?  Contemporary or traditional hymns?  Gregorian chant or four part harmony?  Or some of all?  Every service?

So how does a church decide?

We could take a vote.  Majority wins.  We do praise music the way the majority wants.  Except then you have to decide who gets to vote.  Everybody on the roll?  So the guy who comes once a year gets the same opinion as one who comes every week?

How about voting based on how much you give?

Or my favorite:  one vote for every person you talked to about Jesus.

Or let the weaker members decide.  Most mature members understand it doesn't matter that much.  But maybe mature members would make a better decision.  Then we have to decide who is mature enough to vote.

So voting may not be such a good idea.

How about a variety of services so everyone can choose the one they prefer.  Of course the list above requires 10 or 12 services.  Then you have to let everybody have a service for their preferred way to do communion:  with or without a meal, quietly or interactive fellowship.

Now we are up to 20 or 30 services.  OK.  That may not work either.

Southern Hills is lead by an eldership.  So our eldership decided.  So what did we do to decide this?

We studied.  But we did not start with the instrumental question.  We studied Core Values (What Matters).  We studied the whole issue of worship.  Then we studied music in worship.  Our eldership thinks studying Scripture together is important.  We study lots of things together.  We have studied baptism. We have studied the type of men God calls to lead as elders.  So we studied.

We have our ministers involved in these studies.  Phil Ware, our Minister of the Word, has led many of these.  I have  lead many of these.  Danny Minton, one of elders who is also on staff, helped lead some of these.  But all our ministers and elders are expected to participate in the study.  All are asked to share their thoughts.

Then we prayed.  We pray lots about things.  We try to listen to God.  We talk to God.  We try to hear His answer.

Then we made a decision.  You need to know this about our eldership.  Our votes are not always unanimous.  But our decisions are.  We have 19 elders.  Rarely do we agree about everything when it is a matter of opinion.  But once we decide, we are all on board.  Just like we expect our ministers to be.  And like we ask our members to be.

So that is how we decided.  It is how Southern Hills did it.  That may not be how other congregations do it.  That's OK.  We don't think we speak for anyone else but us.  Nor do we particularly care what other congregations do.  We think they do what they think is best for them.  Just like we do.

So next week I'll let you know what we decided.  Well, most of you probably know.  But if you don't, I'll share that next week.  And tell you what we expect of our people in view of What Matters.