Jerry, Where does Christ give such "liberty" as you have in #2? On this point I am in agreement with the CofC non-instrumentals. I don't have the time to go into all the lines of biblical reasoning but suffice it to say that the only "instruments" commanded for use in the NT church are heart (Eph. 5:19) and lips (Heb. 13:15). The instruments of the OT served a particular purpose in the ceremonial/sacrificial system of the Temple worship that was fulfilled by Christ's once for all sacrifice and confirmed by the destruction of the Temple (and it's form of worship) in 70 A.D. And for those who will immediately jump to the book of Revelation and the mention of harps it is important to note that this is a book of prophecy that uses a lot of imagery and that you have to study to see if the sound of harps are really harps or are they voices that sound like harps. Peace, steve Jerry Krewson wrote: > *Derick,* > *I find your statement: *We didn't have an altar call because the > bible never mentions them. *very interesting. It is exactly the > arguement my CofC non-instrumental brothers us for the non-use of > musical instruments. Of course then don't same "Bible" but "New > Testament." * > ** > *Silence of scripture gives us two possiblities. 1. If it is not > mentioned in the Bible, we can't do it. 2. If it is not mentioned in > the Bible, our freedom in Christ gives us the freedom to do it.* > ** > *No debate, just interesting that your position is, somewhat, based on > a CofC position [not exclusive to CofC}. * > ** > *I for one have not completely made up my mind, that is why I am > enjoying your discussions so much. * > *jerry k* > > ----- Original Message ----- > *From:* Derick Dickens <mailto:derickdickens@...> > *To:* pastorsforum@... <mailto:pastorsforum@...> > *Sent:* Thursday, July 12, 2007 7:34 AM > *Subject:* Re: [PastorsForum] To BIll on Altar Calls > > Jeff, > > There is no connection. The reformed church is what is most > opposed to the Catholic Church. I think you are thinking > backwards. We didn't have an altar call because the bible never > mentions them. Others have an altar call because it was an > invention of man. > > BTW, could we say that you reject reformed theology because the > Catholic Church rejects reformed theology? Would you think that > was fair? I doubt it. > > Derick > > On 7/12/07, *Jeff Hallmark* <bctexan@... > <mailto:bctexan@...>> wrote: > > Reform Theology doesn't have "altar calls" because the > 'catholic church' didn't have altar calls. > > > > > On 7/11/07, *Derick Dickens* <derickdickens@... > <mailto:derickdickens@...>> wrote: > > Bill, > > The Corporate Gathering of the Church on the Lord's day > has certain required elements of the church that should > not be added. Therefore, we do what is required by the > Lord. As I read the Bible, the following is what is required. > > 1. Public reading of Scripture > 2. The observation of the Ordinances > 3. Prayer > 4. Preaching of the Word of God > 5. The Singing of the Psalms, Hymns, and Spirititual Songs > 6. And one that I can't think of right now but I know I > have often listed 6. > > Now, there are special occasions where there are > missionary reports and other such things, but those are > special. > > Overall, reformed theology says that the focus of the > worship should be these elements and nothing else. Thus, > once the worship service begins, we focus on these > elements. In fact, if you look at the Old Testament, we > are told a number of times that we should not add to the > worship of God anything. Nadab and Abihu in the Old > Testament did just that and it was condemned. I remember > reading through every Scripture that commanded us not to > add anything to the worship of the Lord in the Old > Testament. Now some believe that has passed away, but > being reformed I am not dispensational and thus I reject > that idea. > > Altar calls are not among that list. BTW, we do allow > items of necessity to be brought before the church or > those of mercy. Yet, we are focused on the important > things of God and tend to spend more time on each element. > > -- > Derick R. Dickens > www.thedickensfamily.org <http://www.thedickensfamily.org> > > > > > -- > Bro. Jeff Hallmark > www.sprucelandbaptist.com <http://www.sprucelandbaptist.com> > http://baptist-potluck.blogspot.com/ > <http://baptist-potluck.blogspot.com/> > > > > > -- > Derick R. Dickens > www.thedickensfamily.org <http://www.thedickensfamily.org> > > > To subscribe, send a message to: pastorsforum-join@... > > To unsubs > cribe, send a message to: pastorsforum-unsubscribe@... > > > > -- ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Pastor Steven G. Rockhill Lisbon Reformed Presbyterian Church PO Box 88 Lisbon, NY 13658 315-393-9041 revrock@... http://lisbonrpc.port5.com +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++