Weekend of Leadership

I spent this weekend at North Texas LTC with my family and friends. For those of you who do not know, LTC stands for Leadership Training for Christ. It is a Church of Christ convention that takes place every Easter weekend. Each year focuses on a different book of the Bible, a theme found within that book, and a specific verse that highlights the theme. My church participates in LTC every year, preparing students from third through twelfth grade for months before LTC. We students practice songs for large and small choruses and memorize lines for dramas; we practice giving puppet shows and study the Bible in preparation for Bible Quiz; we log hours of service throughout the year and write speeches or create art pieces or write poetry or children's books. These events we prepare for, among others we can take part in, align with the given theme, book of the Bible, or verse for that year. This year I sang in two choruses, participated in a drama, and gave a short speech.

The theme this year was "Give it Up," taken from Luke 14:33: "In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples." In January, when I heard what the theme was, I immediately thought about an issue that had recently arisen in my church: instrumental worship. (You may be wondering how instrumental worship ties to the theme. In my speech, which is included at the bottom of this post, I explain how I connected these ideas and why I think this subject is too important to be dismissed.) The topic of instrumental worship was fresh on my mind because it had just been announced that, starting on Easter Sunday, we would have two worship services—an a cappella service and an instrumental service. I had no problem with this because I love both ways of worshiping. I've sung a cappella all my life and love to sing in harmony with my family and friends. However, I also have a history with guitars in my family. My grandfather, great uncles, and many other relatives play or used to play the guitar; and my brother and I both play now. We've grown up with instruments all around us while attending an a cappella church. We were never taught that instrumental worship is bad or wrong. We just knew that God loves it when we sing to Him, when we play for Him, when we pray to Him. However we choose to worship Him, God loves it because we are giving Him a piece of ourselves.

Because of my church's recent decision to include instrumental worship on Sunday mornings, many members who do not approve of instrumental worship became upset about the impending change. For four weeks, all teenage and adult members attended a group class about instrumental worship. I took notes in each class and gathered useful information, some of which I included in my speech. I wanted to share my thoughts at LTC because I believe that instrumental worship is a wonderful way to praise God. So, I wrote a speech about instrumental worship.

On Saturday, during the hour leading up to my speech, I grew more and more nervous about giving my speech. I had thoroughly prepared for my speech in advance and had practiced giving it to my family several times, but I was afraid. I shook before and during my speech, but my voice was clear and my mind was set.

I gave my speech within the three to six minute time range allowed and followed grammar rules and speech etiquette. I did my best to look at my audience and make eye contact with the judges. I tried to act humbly while still allowing my conviction to show through.

At the end of the day, we were told what each of our events earned: gold, silver, bronze, or honorable mention. I was awarded silver for my speech and was shocked. Not because I only got a silver, but because I actually got a sliver! I knew going into it that I was taking a risk by talking about such a topic at a Church of Christ convention. Both of my judges disagreed with me about instrumental worship, but they had enough reason that they were not blinded by their opinions and judged me more fairly than others might have. Granted, I was still disappointed that I did not receive a gold, but who wouldn't be? I figured I wouldn't receive a gold, but I had still hoped for the best.

I was elated that my drama and choruses had earned golds and that my friends had done well in their events as well. I had a long day, but it was worth it because I got to enjoy it with my friends and family.

For anyone who is interested, below is my LTC speech.

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Luke 14:33 from the Message says: "Simply put, if you're not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can't be my disciple."

As our theme verse says, Jesus wants us to give up everything to follow him. So, today I would like to challenge you all to be open-minded for a few minutes and perhaps be willing to lay aside or give up a previous mindset. I am going to bring up something that is rather controversial in the Church of Christ, but I ask that everyone hear me out, even if he disagrees with what I have to say. I would like to focus on the controversy instrumental worship.

I would like to begin by saying that instrumental music is scripturally founded. I have heard it said before: "Give the Bible to someone who has no preconceived notions about the Bible, and it would be hard for them to conclude that instrumental worship is wrong." I agree with this statement. There are innumerable scriptures about instrumental worship—I counted at least twenty-five different passages of varying sizes that mention worship with instruments.

2 Samuel 6:5 says: "David and all the people of Israel were celebrating before the Lord, singing songs and playing all kinds of musical instruments—lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals."
Psalm 33:2-3 says: "Praise the Lord with melodies on the lyre; make music for him on the ten-stringed harp. Sing a new song of praise to him; play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy."

Not only is instrumental worship mentioned in the Old Testament but in the New Testament as well.  Revelation 15:2-4 says: "…They held harps given them by God and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: 'Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.'"
I would also like to point out 1 Corinthians 12:5-6. "There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us." This does not focus on instruments, necessarily, but I believe it deserves some attention. However we serve God, we are still one body serving one King.

Another notable point is that instrumental worship is not a matter of salvation, but a matter of preference. For example, I respect a cappella music—in fact, I love a cappella music. By the end of the day, I will have been in two a cappella choruses that I have thoroughly enjoyed preparing for over the last few months. However, I am also a guitarist and I love instrumental worship. I lead worship for our youth group every week, singing and playing my guitar to praise my King. Whatever your opinion is, instrumental worship should not be a dividing factor in the church. There are far more important things the church should be concerned with, like reaching out to the outcasts and loving everyone we meet.

Instrumental worship, at its simplest, is heartfelt worship of our Lord. It can draw people to their Creator and has the potential to become magnificent praise if we allow it. God deserves our attention and affection, but if we get sidetracked by arguing about means of worship, we can hurt our brothers and sisters and neglect praising the Lord. Instead of arguing, turn your hearts to God and praise him with all you have. As long as you are praising God, disagreement about the way you worship is of little importance. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says: "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." That is the main point—whether you prefer to sing or dance or play an instrument or teach, you can worship God gladly in everything you do.

This is my challenge: Give up the controversy and focus on love.

"In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples." Luke 14:33