The Rev. Mr. Leon Brown is pastor of Crown and Joy PCA in South Richmond, VA. It’s a short clip but it might take a moment to load. Here’s the complete sermon.
The Rev. Mr. Leon Brown is pastor of Crown and Joy PCA in South Richmond, VA. It’s a short clip but it might take a moment to load. Here’s the complete sermon.
Boom! Pastor Brown put the ball in the cup with one shot. May other pastors rise up and preach likewise.
Rev. Ron Beabout, Evangelist
Trinity Reformed Church (OPC)
Gaithersburg, Maryland
Rev. Beabout,
I know of you. I’m friends w/ Pastors Proctor and Doe. Those gentlemen have a place in my heart. They are faithful men. As things unfolded with TRC-G, from time to time, they would share how things were going.
Have a good day.
Rev. Brown,
I know of you as well. In the short while I’ve been in MD, several of the brethren in the presbytery have spoken of you and the ministry there, including Steve Doe.
But this sounds creative:
At Crown and Joy, we classify our musical selections into several categories (e.g., contemporary, traditional black gospel, psalms, and hymns). While it is my desire to continue using a variety of music, which is a part of the ethos of our congregation, it is also my dream to utilize a variety of instrumentation. We recently added a bass guitar. Prior to that, our musicians included a pianist and drummer. We also sometimes have a cellist and guitarist.
http://www.reformation21.org/blog/2015/01/4-additional-things-i-have-lea.php
There are several people, whom I greatly respect, that believe instruments should not be utilized in Sunday worship. While that opinion exists, it is not my own. The creativity to which I referred, in context, therefore, had nothing to do with the implementation of instruments and singing various genres of music. My comments referenced the RPW, though I did not use that language.
I hope that solves any confusion.
That does sound more creative than the RPW allows.
Zrim and Matt: Your (and Calvin’s, etc.) rejection of musical instruments in worship is based on the assumption that the difference in the original Greek wording between Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 (kai psallontes in the former replaced with en charity in the latter, en charity being a qualifier of the verb participle, adontes, rather than of the other qualifying phrase en te cardia humwn) is of no practical significance. I take the difference in wording to mean that the Ephesian and other churches that use musical instruments are encouraged to continue doing so, whereas those that do not are encouraged to continue singing with compensating grace – or – those churches whose singing is not so brilliant are encouraged to compensate by incorporating musical instruments.
John,
No, the rejection of musical instruments rests on the
1) the utter absence of any evidence that the NT church used musical instruments;
2) the clear historical evidence that the earliest 2nd century evidence confirms that they consciously rejected musical instruments on two bases: a) that they belonged to the Levitical and Mosaic types and shadows; b) that they were associated with pagan celebrations.
Matt: tell me what is “more creative than the RPW allows.” Is it the various genres of music? If so, which genre should we sing? Is it multiple musical instruments? If so, which instrument, if any, should we utilize?
Leon, so if not the implementation of instruments and singing various genres of music, then what specifically did you have in mind when criticizing creativity?
I ask because I’m having flashbacks from my highbrow CRC days where those who preferred harpsichords and sounding bowls to lowbrow electric geetars and drums would critically cast the latter as “creative,” which is to say not properly Reformed. Evidently, finer and more beautiful instrumentation was more Reformed. But what it seemed like to me was a disagreement over how to be creative, instead of a desire for fidelity to the RPW. So I can’t help but think that championing blended instrumentation is just another variety of creativity, and being critical of creativity another variety of “our creativity is good, but that over there is bad.” Which sounds like our host’s characterization of Reformed narcissism: “I am Reformed; I think X; therefore X is Reformed.”
Dear Zrim,
I pastor in a certain context. My comments were in a certain context. My desire to utilize various genres of music and instruments, in my opinion, is not antithetical to the RPW. Additionally, my comments, in context, whether it was what I preached or wrote, was not about using one instrument over another. Unless one is an exclusive psalmist and further adheres to the use of no instruments, that individual has very little to say about using certain genres of music and which instruments are better than others. At that point, musical genres and instrumentation are nothing more than preference.
What was I critiquing, particularly as it relates to creativity? My comments were aimed at a violation of God’s word in worship. As I said above, I will say again but in a different manner: I don’t think singing gospel music and using drums is a violation of the RPW. Yes I know people disagree.
I will discontinue my comments at this time. Duty calls.
Cordially,
Rev. Brown
Isn’t strange fire a Hebraism denoting strange incense, which was not only not commanded, but positively forbidden? If this is so, then not only was the Regulative Principle breached, but the Normative Principle also.
John, I’m not making any case against musical instruments per se. My point is the discrepancy on the one hand in opposing creativity in worship, then on the other promoting what appears to be a creative (musical) theory and practice. It would seem to be solved by either dialing down either the opposition or the promotion. It’s clear what is being promoted (varied musical and instrumental practice), but it’s not as clear what is being opposed. Rev. Brown says “a violation of God’s word in worship,” which is sufficiently vague–who would promote a violation of God’s word in worship? The question is, What does that look like? Evidently not varied musical styles and instrumentation. What then? He says in the clip to be on the look out for innovations when visiting another church. What should we look for? He also wants his hearers to think about what happens at C&J, whether the masses are being catered to, etc. Well, blended styles seem to be a way to appeal broadly…
Rev. Brown, my problem is that this concern for context may be like unto pragmatic marketing. I believe you are buying trouble down the road if you try to cater to tastes. And you may create an expensive, consuming program — a tail that can come to wag the word and sacrament dog. Further, I believe we should prioritize around the NT data when it comes to worship and ecclesiology. And I see zero correlation between anything in your Ref21 piece (under point #1 concerning music) and the epistles. These concerns were just not on Paul’s inspired radar.
Mr. Weakley, my appeal to context is important because there is always a context in which everything occurs. As one of my friends is noted for saying, “Theology is historical and contextually defined.” To assume that context is unimportant will, in fact, lead anyone astray as they seek to study the scriptures. Furthermore, noting that I am ministering in a given context will not lead me down the road of pragmatism. Instead of making general, sweeping statements, perhaps a better tactic is to ask questions? For example, “Rev. Brown, do you think being concerned about context will lead you down the road of pragmatism?” That, in my opinion, is a better way to approach things. Now, to answer the question you did not pose, let me say that I am accountable to the elders of Christ’s Church, particularly the elders in my commission and presbytery. If they believed I was walking down a road that is contrary to WSC Q/A 1, I can assure you they would speak to me. Secondly, and more subjectively, my theological training further helps ensure that I will not make certain mistakes. Will I make mistakes? Yes, but perhaps not the ones you mention.
I see no reason to comment on your second point.
Rev. Brown, the second point is the one that actually concerns the presence or lack of NT support for your concerns about instruments, hired musicians, and importance of a “music program.” Seems to me that would concern you more than my opinions
Rev. Brown,
All of this below sounds more creative (sans the Psalms of course)
At Crown and Joy, we classify our musical selections into several categories (e.g., contemporary, traditional black gospel, psalms, and hymns). While it is my desire to continue using a variety of music, which is a part of the ethos of our congregation, it is also my dream to utilize a variety of instrumentation. We recently added a bass guitar. Prior to that, our musicians included a pianist and drummer. We also sometimes have a cellist and guitarist.