Thanks for your comments! Each situation is different but I think I can empathize with how hard this can be. I’ll be praying for you as make this transition.

If you have any questions or need anything please feel free to leave a comment here or through our contact form.

Thanks for these insights, it always helps to know that you are not alone.

Lynn - The CofC is like Gothardism to a certain extent. It’s really hard for them to see the contradictions and inconsistencies in the opinions that they hold. A “mental block” is a good way to describe it. What you see is context determined very haphazardly when determining the meaning of a passage. Really, the best way to describe it is that the CofC thinks that God’s point was to communicate a pattern(through the NT writing) that we are to discover and follow. Couple that with needing accurate knowledge in order to be saved and you have an obsession with knowing and doing the right things.

(here’s a decent example on patternism)

Reon - Is the OT applicable? My memory is not as good on this one. I would say “Yes” but the OT does not inform the NT the same was as it does in other churches. Most churches(even Dispy ones) see more continuity between the two covenants than the CofC does - which sees much more of a stark distinction. The example of “psalms” that Lynn mentions above is a good one. Honestly, beside using the OT stories as good examples, one of the biggest things I remember from the OT is using Genesis to prove that the earth began in 4004 BC.

About Baptists going to Hell… The main reason is because they aren’t baptized the right way. Ummm, that’s not exactly right. It’s more that they aren’t baptized believing the right things baptism - even though they are immersed the same as CofC.

I’m just waiting for Google to index this page and see what kind of traffic I get…

The gist of this is that in regards to what the church practices, we only do what the New Testament says to do.

Does that mean the OT isn’t relevant at all?

And more important, why are all the Baptists going to Hell?

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

That’s right after the verses about “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.”

And by the way, if we are commanded to be singing psalms, don’t some of them command you to praise the Lord with instruments?

Psalm 150:
Praise Him with trumpet sound;
Praise Him with harp and lyre.
Praise Him with timbrel and dancing;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.
Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with resounding cymbals.

Singing that psalm with the kind of Bible interpretation you are talking about gets a little ridiculous. Or don’t they think “psalms” in Colossians means from the OT psalter?

And where in the Mosaic Law did God directly command instruments to be played, anyway? He only commanded instruments for signals, right? And we know Jubal made instruments, and David was adept at the harp and wrote lots of songs.

I know you agree with me, but this kind of a mental block with respect to what is and is not permissable in church is troublesome.

So what causes someone to break out of this mindset?

Well, for me it was burnout. One eventful evening, I was leading singing and having trouble because I was pitching everything too low. I made the “mistake” of asking my girlfriend who is quite gifted in this area, to start some songs. That same night I encouraged the group to support the BSU’s volleyball tournament since it was a fundraiser for their missions work. That evening and a good amount of time after that I was shown what is wrong with CENI and the attitudes it creates. Which is why I would answer burnout to that question. But you guys have seen that too, right?

I’m looking forward to your next post on this subject.

For example, the example from Rubel Shelly above infers that the Lord’s Supper must be taken on Sunday, although that is not explicitly stated.

However, the scriptures are silent on instrumental music so we have no authorization to use them. Plus, Eph 5:19 says we are to “sing” - not to play instruments - which would be like bringing strange fire into the temple.

Fun, huh?

I’ll say a prayer for you as you seek God’s wisdom in deciding where you should be at.