Should someone who was formerly an elder (and stepped down after an adulterous affair came to light) be allowed to lead prayers and do announcements at their new congregation?

Sincerely,
Appalled

Dear Appalled,

If he repented, then yes.  The Bible makes it clear that when God forgives someone, and when they repent, we are to embrace them again as a brother (2 Cor 2:7).  It isn’t the church’s job to impose a punishment on someone greater than what the Lord does.  This man certainly isn’t qualified to be an elder, but he has already stepped down from that position.  However, when it comes to leading prayers, there are no verses that would prohibit him from doing that.  If God forgives, we must do the same (Lk 17:3).

Can instrumental music edify?

Sincerely,
Support Staff

Dear Support Staff,

It isn’t a matter of whether or not instrumental music can edify.  That is the wrong question.  The question is – does God want us to use instrumental music in worship?

God has already given us instruments to use for worshipping Him – our hearts (Eph 5:19).  In the New Testament, God tells us to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to Him.  He wants the only melody He hears to come from our hearts.  Instrumental music wasn’t introduced into the church until over three hundred years after Christ.  In fact, ‘a cappella’ singing (singing without instruments) literally means ‘as the church’.  There are no examples of the church using instruments to worship God in the New Testament.  If we start using them, we are adding something to God’s Word (Rev 22:18-19).  All we are ever told to do is “sing and make melody in our hearts”… pluck your heartstrings as you sing to God, and you will make God happy.

The problem with instrumental music in worship is that it isn’t a part of the Bible pattern, and the moment we start doing things outside the Bible, we have gone beyond what God intended (1 Cor 4:6).  Instrumental music may sound appealing to us, but it is just one more manmade additive that adds to the division and confusion found in the religious world.

Is it okay for a Christian to be in support of gay marriage?  I'm guessing the answer is ‘no’.  What about hanging out and being friends with people that support gay marriage?

Sincerely,
Finding Friends

Dear Finding Friends,

Homosexual marriage, the right to abortion (i.e. the right to kill babies), freedom of worship, etc. are issues that, regardless of other political views, a Christian must stand firm on. A Christian that supports homosexual marriage is supporting and endorsing sin. It is no different than Solomon building idolatrous temples for his wives – he sinned in condoning their sin (1 Kgs 11:4-9).

Now, the second part of your question has to do with keeping company with those who support homosexual “marriage”.  Christians are constantly trying to strike the balance between being lights to the world (Matt 5:14) and keeping themselves pure and undefiled from the world’s influences (Jas 1:27).  As long as we live on this planet, we will have trials (Jhn 16:33).  It is a fine line between being an influence and being corrupted by the world.  Bad company corrupts good morals (1 Cor 15:33).  It isn’t wrong to befriend someone who is living a homosexual lifestyle or endorsing such behavior, just like it isn’t wrong to befriend someone who lies or uses bad language… but we must always be guarded in our relationships with those outside of Christ (2 Cor 6:14).  The Lord loves people but hates sin.  You should show love for these people in your life but still abhor their sinful choices (after all, those sins are destroying their souls!).  If you can influence a person for good, then do so.  If they are corrupting you and keeping you from being the best Christian you can be, begin to distance yourself (Gal 5:1).  You may even deem it appropriate to tell the person why you are distancing yourself (1 Pet 3:15).  Maybe, just maybe, they will change if they are made aware of what their choices are costing them.

     I have a question about the song service and the biblical basis for it.  Last week at our service, our song leader asked us to stand during a particular song, and then he asked us to raise our hand up as though we were "catching God in it"; this seemed weird and made me uncomfortable. This is becoming more and more common in my congregation, especially with this particular song leader. What is the biblical example for the song service? Is it biblically okay to be raising our hands up to the sky and "catching God", or should we just be singing with our voices and hearts?

Sincerely,
Need A Hand

Dear Need A Hand,

The practice of lifting up your hands during worship is traced to 1 Tim 2:8, but unfortunately, many people misunderstand this verse.  There is nothing wrong with literally lifting up your hands to God, but Paul is telling them to “lift up holy hands, without wrath and disputing”.  The context is about a certain lifestyle that people were to have.  It is similar to the saying, “Put your hand to the plow” in Lk 9:62.  ‘Lifting up holy hands’ refers to working, laboring, and serving in a godly way.  Christians are to serve God faithfully, without arguing and disputing with each other.  ‘Lifting up holy hands’ has nothing to do with how high your arms are raised when you sing; it has to do with the character of the life you live.  Are we living holy lives when our hands serve God (1 Cor 4:12)?  Raising your hands during worship has the impression of godliness, but living faithful lives actually fulfills God’s command to ‘lift up holy hands’ (2 Tim 3:5).

Does James 5:14 prohibit the calling of a doctor when someone is sick because only an elder is mentioned as an individual to be called?

Sincerely,
Feeling Ill

Dear Feeling Ill,

If your question is whether or not a Christian is allowed to use doctors and medicine, the answer is ‘yes’.  Paul told Timothy to take wine medicinally for a sick stomach (1 Tim 5:23), and in Mk 2:17 Jesus states that a sick person needs a doctor.  Jas 5:14 shows the power of prayer in healing, but it doesn’t exclude using medicine.