1. Vain Worship
Matthew 15:1-9

2. Charles Willis, Speaker
In Vain
Ye Do
Worship Me
Charles Willis, Speaker

3. Acappella with Pope till 1500’s A.D.
Historical Conflicts The Catholic Controversy
Acappella till 1300 A.D.
Acappella with Pope till 1500’s A.D.
Division into Roman Catholic – Eastern Orthodox
Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia
Concise Cyclopedia of Religious Knowledge
Christian Antiquities
Instruments were an issue in the division
In Vain Do They Worship Me Slide 3

4. Instruments were always controversial
Historical Conflicts Denominational Controversies
Church of England
Puritans
Baptists
Presbyterians
Instruments were always controversial
In Vain Do They Worship Me Slide 4

5. Benjamin Franklin, Gospel Preacher, 1860
Historical Conflicts Church Controversy
Benjamin Franklin, Gospel Preacher, 1860
Men paid attention to something other than the Word of God
We must be careful about influences (Mark 13:5)
Isaac Errett – angels use harps…
George Slade – Psallo means instruments
Dr. J. H. Ropes disagreed
Instruments created division
In Vain Do They Worship Me Slide 5

6. A test of faith (1 Pet. 1:6-7; James 1:3)
Modern Issues
A test of faith (1 Pet. 1:6-7; James 1:3)
John Price, Old Light On New Worship
Silence of Scripture must be honored
Rick Atchley – “God doesn’t forbid it”
An appeal to the young
Sets aside God’s authority in favor of man’s thinking
In Vain Do They Worship Me Slide 6

7. A test of faith (1 Pet. 1:6-7; James 1:3)
Modern Issues
A test of faith (1 Pet. 1:6-7; James 1:3)
John Price, Old Light On New Worship
Silence of Scripture must be honored
Reach a larger group of people…
Addition of instruments is an entertainment
In Vain Do They Worship Me Slide 7

8. Not “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24)
Vain Worship
Not “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24)
Nadab & Abihu – Leviticus 10:1-3
Moses – Deuteronomy 32:51
Going too far – 2 John 9
Lack of obedience makes it vain
In Vain Do They Worship Me Slide 8

9. Specific automatically excludes
Vain Worship
Not “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24)
“Teach and admonish” (Col. 3:16)
Sing is specific
Specific automatically excludes
“Sing” (Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19)
Must adhere to Col. 3:17
In Vain Do They Worship Me Slide 9

10. “Innovation” brought by those who want to see changes
Concluding Thoughts
“Innovation” brought by those who want to see changes
Lynn Anderson – Wineskins “new realities make the old rules obsolete”
Romans 12:2
“Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be maligned” (2 Peter 2:2)
In Vain Do They Worship Me Slide 10

11. “Innovation” brought by those who want to see changes
Concluding Thoughts
“Innovation” brought by those who want to see changes
Lynn Anderson – Wineskins “new realities make the old rules obsolete”
Calvin Warpula – One Body “most of us have seen the folly…”
Rubel Shelly “cannot find their explicit condemnation”
In Vain Do They Worship Me Slide 11

12. The Lord’s Church doesn’t need updating!
Concluding Thoughts
The Lord’s Church doesn’t need updating!
We must be God’s distinctive people!
Can you see the need for Bible authority?
In Vain Do They Worship Me Slide 12

13. Charles Willis, Speaker
In Vain
Ye Do
Worship Me
Charles Willis, Speaker