Misplaced Values
By Alvin C. Rose, Jr.
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Marty is my friend. He's more than a friend; he's my brother, my brother in Christ. Marty is in trouble-- spiritual trouble--and it's all because of misplaced values.
David Lipscomb College is our alma mater. While we were students there, a well-meaning Bible teacher made a "big deal" in class one day about the evils of using instrumental music in the public worship services, saying anyone who did this would be lost. Marty, raised in the non-instrumental music Church of Christ from his birth, had never really given the issue much thought. But he became honestly concerned, thinking of people burning in hell for using a piano or organ in a worship service, and he read commentaries, books, debates, and tracts on the subject and discussed it with various teachers and students. He finally concluded that the Scriptures had nothing to say about the issue, pro or con. When his views became known at Lipscomb, several students and teachers tried to give him a "talking to" lest he "fall from grace." He was still attending Churches of Christ for the most part, but after the badgering continued, he began to visit other religious groups. Marty then just "got sick" of the whole business when he was condemned for doing this. He gave up Christianity and God.
But Christ didn't leave him alone either. Gradually his faith returned. The Church of Christ, though, was now an object of hate for him, as members of that group had driven him from God, and he was determined that they wouldn't get another chance. He joined a local church of the Disciples group, but his needs weren't met there. Marty has always wanted to serve, and this Disciples church offered little but a "pretty" worship service. Christ continued to work on his heart, and even his hatred for the Church of Christ died.
He returned. He joined an active congregation where opportunities to serve in the community were numerous. Marty was content. He helped direct the public worship service, taught classes, helped with the teenage program, and was even a member of the hospital visitation committee.
Then the bubble burst again. Through the "brotherhood grapevine"--which always produces more gossip about our fellow men than it does telling the Good News of our Savior-- a member of his congregation learned the "secret." He went to Marty, demanding to know if the news was true. Marty, who still held that the use of instrumental music was in the area of opinion, and not faith, but who had been as silent on the issue as are the Scriptures themselves, admitted that he did feel that way, but that he did not intend to teach or practice using these instruments.
The church member (to call him a Christian could be stretching the point) said that was not enough and that Marty must repent and be restored or be dis-
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I honestly wonder how many members of that committee practice these direct commands from the Scriptures: "Love your neighbor as yourself;" "Bear you one another's burdens;" "Go you into all the world, and preach the Gospel to the whole creation;" "Confess therefore your sins one to another;" "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth;" "Seek you first His Kingdom and His righteousness." Yet Marty is cast out because he holds an opinion on an issue which is not mentioned in the New Testament, pro or con.
What will happen to Marty? Marty must serve; he'll never be content to be a "pew filler." He may just say "to hell with it." That's what I'm literally afraid of; "to hell with it"--for Marty, the church member, and the minister. Whatever happened to "the greatest of these is love"? I hope God hasn't forgotten, or the "Church of Christ Room" in hell might have a problem of overpopulation. (Editor's Note: Alvin C. Rose, Jr., is currently working on his master's degree in history at Vanderbilt University. He lives at 1735 North Observatory Drive, Nashville, Tenn. 37215).