Would it be okay to play some instrumental music in the church building before services, kind of like before your preaching video?

Sincerely,
In Tune

Dear In Tune,

Our congregation has the song leaders play an instrument before every song!  It’s called a pitch pipe, and it helps us get the proper pitch for the song.  Instruments aren’t wrong… they just aren’t meant as part of worshipping the Lord.  We could pipe music through the building before services, just like a preacher could use a sound clip in a Powerpoint presentation or whistle during a sermon to illustrate a point, but there would need to be a reason for it that would show it was wise and expedient to play said instrumental music… which isn’t likely.  God tells us that it isn’t just about what we can do; it is about what is beneficial (1 Cor 8:9).  Everything we do must show doctrinal soundness (1 Tim 3:15), wisdom (Eph 5:15 – for instance: would instrumental music before worship confuse people about instrumental music during services and create a stumbling block?), and promote a worship service that is done decently and in order (1 Cor 14:40).

     Our preacher is more involved with a local civic organization than he is in growing our local church.  We don't have elders, and many of the men are also members of the civic group.  I find this to be a contradiction in service, but he says that there are things the church isn't authorized to do that this group can, like caring for needy non-saints.  But if more time is spent with that group than with our own, can that be right?

Sincerely,
Second Best

Dear Second Best,

There isn’t anything wrong with Christians (and preachers are just Christians, too) with being involved with philanthropic work outside of the church, but that doesn’t mean that a balance isn’t important.  Gal 6:10 says that we should do good to all men, but especially the church.  The church should receive the first of our labors because it is our eternal family in Christ… but that doesn’t mean we should neglect doing good to all.  We can’t speak to the balance the men in your congregation are having in their lives, but we can tell you this isn’t a matter of right and wrong; it is a matter of wisdom.  On a positive note, we can think of worse problems than good people struggling over what good work to do.

5 minutes a day
5 days a week
1 New Testament in a year

There are 261 weekdays in a year, and there are 260 chapters in the New Testament. By reading one chapter, Monday through Friday, you will read the whole New Testament by the end of the year. The Daily Cup series is to help with that goal.

Happy Studying!

"The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup." -- Psalm 16:5

Click here for a pdf of the study schedule - CLICK HERE

5 minutes a day
5 days a week
1 New Testament in a year

There are 261 weekdays in a year, and there are 260 chapters in the New Testament. By reading one chapter, Monday through Friday, you will read the whole New Testament by the end of the year. The Daily Cup series is to help with that goal.

Happy Studying!

"The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup." -- Psalm 16:5

Click here for a pdf of the study schedule - CLICK HERE

     My dad has narcissistic characteristics and arrogant traits.  My whole family has tried to help him over the years, but part of this disorder involves the inability to recognize the problem.  He is also a preacher, and I've heard people from the congregations he visits preaching meetings say that he comes across as arrogant.  I'm very saddened by this situation and don't know what to do to help him.  Please help.

Sincerely,
A Humiliated Child

Dear A Humiliated Child,

Sadly, there isn’t a lot that you can do to help with someone else’s pride issues.  There is a reason that Pr 16:18 says that pride and arrogance lead to destruction and falling down… when you won’t listen to others, you are bound to get yourself into trouble.  Eccl 7:8 says that the patient man wins out against the proud.  That is the best advice we can give you.  If your father is a godly man, eventually, the pride will be removed through the Lord’s discipline (Heb 12:6-7) – give it time.  Humility most often comes through the school of hard knocks.