While visiting a congregation in Hawaii, they announced having a birthday lunch celebration in their building after services. They invited visitors. We chose not to take part in this. Is having lunch in the church building right or wrong?

Sincerely, It’s Not My Birthday

Dear It’s Not My Birthday,

It’s wrong unless having the lunch is specifically a part of something the church is meant to focus on… and celebrating birthdays isn’t something the church is meant to focus on. The work of a congregation is a very important subject because what a congregation does tells you what is important to them. Most of us have seen churches that are merely social organizations. These groups talk about Jesus, but they are really only interested in having fun and making people feel good. Christ’s church needs to do what Christ wants it to do. It isn’t about what makes us happy, but about what makes Him happy. We are here to do God’s work (Jhn 4:34). If we want to be God’s church, we need to be busy doing what His church did in the Bible. That means we only spend the church’s time, money (the building is part of the church’s money), and effort on things that we can read about the church doing in the Bible. There are only four things we see the church of Jesus Christ doing.

1. Caring for needy christians. The church has the right and responsibility to spend its time and money to help take care of christians that are suffering financially (Acts 4:35, Acts 6:1, Acts 11:28-30).
2. Teach christians. Any congregation that belongs to Jesus has to teach christians about God’s Word, so they will grow and mature in Christ (Eph 4:11-13, 1 Cor 4:17, Acts 15:35). They also have the right to support preachers and elders who are dedicating themselves to teaching (1 Tim 5:17-18).
3. Preaching to the lost. Perhaps the greatest responsibility of a congregation is to bring the gospel to those who are dead in their sins (Acts 11:26). The church is supposed to preach to the lost because mankind will go to hell without the Bible’s saving words (Rom 1:16).
4. Worship God. The church is supposed to assemble together (Heb 10:25) and worship God. They do this by singing (Col 3:16), praying (Acts 12:5), studying (Acts 2:42), taking the Lord’s Supper on Sunday (Acts 20:7), and taking up a collection on Sunday (1 Cor 16:1).

This is the stuff that Jesus wants His church to be doing. If we aren’t doing that (or if we are doing stuff other than that) – we are no longer His church. His church does what He wants, not what it wants. Everything a church does needs to somehow be specifically involved in furthering one of those four tasks. A church-sponsored birthday party doesn’t fit into those categories. Birthday parties are great, but they aren’t what Jesus’ church is here for.

Concerning your post "Should the Hip Hop Stop?" : is it scripturally wrong then to play hymns on musical instruments, such as Amazing Grace on bagpipes or violin without singing along? What about listening to Elvis' gospel album as a form of entertainment/personal enjoyment (I think he had a beautiful voice and like the songs)?

Sincerely, Graceland Groupie

Dear Graceland Groupie,

With or without vocal accompaniment, the rules are the same. Please make sure to read “Should the Hip Hop Stop?” for our full explanation of this subject. If instrumental religious music is performed as worship, it is wrong. If it is played simply for entertainment, it is perfectly permissible (as long as it follows the guidelines we outlined in the previous post). God asks for our worship to be acappella (Eph 5:19). Incidentally, the word ‘acappella’ means ‘as the church’ because the early church never used instruments in their worship. Instruments weren’t introduced into worship services until the sixth century. The church of the first century understood that when God asked for them to sing – that meant they shoul only sing. If we begin to add to God’s worship service, we are adding to God’s commands and teachings (Deu 12:32, Rev 22:18).

As far as the question about Elvis’ gospel album – the same rules would apply to him as any other religious musician. He may have been the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll”, but the “King of Kings” still has more authority (1 Tim 6:15).

Is it okay to listen to “Christian Music”? I know the Bible says to sing and make melody in your heart, but outside of church and worship, can you listen to instrumental Christian music? I feel like it's better to listen to than some of the other stuff that is out there.

Sincerely, Rhythm And Lyrics

Dear Rhythm And Lyrics,

It isn’t inherently wrong to listen to “Christian Music”, but it is worth considering the effects it will have upon your influence, your behavior, and your conscience. You are right, God asks us to worship Him through singing and making melody in our heart (Eph 5:19). God never asks for any instrument to be plucked but our heart strings. That is the worship He asks for, and that is the worship we should give Him - no more and no less (Rev 22:18-19, Deu 4:2).

If you are going to listen to religious music with instrumental accompaniment, you must understand that they recorded it as a form of worship as well as a form of entertainment… which is wrong. Therefore, by buying and actively listening to such music, you may be sending mixed messages to others and supporting an industry that is built upon a false teaching. We have to consider how our behavior looks to others (Matt 5:16). Just because you know anything but acapella worship is wrong doesn’t mean others would.

You also must consider your behavior – are you singing along with the music? If so, are you worshipping God with the words of the song? It is not always easy to discern the line between singing along as a form of entertainment and singing along as worship. You must decide for yourself if your behavior crosses the line between personal enjoyment and active participation in a form of worship God doesn’t desire.

Which brings us to the last question – does it bother your conscience? If you cannot feel completely convinced in your mind that what you are doing is acceptable before God, you have to refrain. Whatever cannot be done in faith is sin (Rom 14:23). If you consider your conscience, your influence, and your behavior before God, only then will you be able to come to a sound personal decision on whether or not you can listen.

Does God answer the prayers of non-christians? I know it says in the Bible that if you are not baptized, Jesus does not know you. So does He listen to everybody's prayers and then just answer those of His people? What about christians that have fallen away from the church?

Sincerely, Asking To Be Heard

Dear Asking To Be Heard,

God recognizes the prayers of the faithful only. There is no doubt that God hears the prayers of christians (Jas 5:16). God hears the prayers of the righteous, but He is far from the wicked (Pr 15:29). God is constantly listening to hear the prayers of christians, but He sets His face against those who do evil. God says that even a christian who isn’t treating others well (specifically their spouse) will have their prayers hindered (1 Pet 3:7).

God does not answer the prayers of those who are ungodly. When Israel turned away from God, He stopped answering their prayers (Micah 3:4). When Judah became wicked and followed false teachings, He stopped hearing their prayers and accepting their worship (Isa 1:13-15). The same would hold true for those who fall away today. God will stop listening to and answering their prayers. It isn’t that He doesn’t hear them - He simply ignores their requests. Those outside of Christ are promised that if they seek God, they will find Him (Lk 11:9). All of mankind has the ability to ask for truth and find it, but only christians can ask God as a child asks a father (Mat 7:11). The ability to seek God’s help through prayer is a blessing given only to those who serve God (Jhn 9:31).

Is it okay to attend church-sponsored events? Or would that suggest that I accept what they do and their view on what the church is supposed to support and how the church is organized?

Sincerely, Above Reproach

Dear Above Reproach,

Some events are appropriate for a church to sponsor – a Bible class, a work party to repair the church’s building, a gospel meeting, etc. Anything that is performing the work of the church (teaching and preaching {Acts 15:35}, benevolence for needy christians {Acts 11:29}, and worshipping God {Acts 2:42}) is appropriate for a church to sponsor. For the sake of clarity, I am going to assume that your question deals with things the church shouldn’t be involved in.

If a church is involved in doing things that it shouldn’t, you have to consider what it will look like if you attend. Attendance doesn’t necessarily mean you endorse someone’s behavior. If I go to a baseball game where they serve alcohol, that doesn’t mean I condone drunkenness. However, in some circumstances, your attendance would look like endorsement. Paul talked about christians eating in an idol’s temple and how that example would harm others (1 Cor 8:10).

You will have to decide on a case-by-case basis. You must always consider your influence; if your attendance at an event would cause someone else to stumble or get the wrong impression, you should avoid it (Rom 14:14-16). Make sure to live in a way that does not give any appearance of evil (1 Thess 5:22). Watch your influence and always consider that your behavior is honorable in the sight of all men (Rom 12:17) and will glorify God (1 Pet 2:12). Finally, only attend if you can do so with a clear conscience (1 Tim 1:5).