According to the Pattern Part #1

Several years ago in Southeast Texas, some visitors asked me a question I will never forget. They asked, “Where are the instruments?”  We had just wrapped up our Wednesday night Bible class. The singing was great! It was a very encouraging night. But these visitors probably didn’t think so. They were probably disappointed.

Many find it weird to see a church without musical instruments in worship. But why? It’s because most churches have musical instruments and much more. But does that make it right? The answer is no. The reason why we don’t have musical instruments, a choir, a school, a dance team, a coffee shop, and more is because we don’t have Biblical Authority to have them.

When we study the scriptures, we find a pattern for us to follow. In every age, God has given His people a pattern to follow. The challenge for many is whether they will be satisfied with God’s pattern and God’s way. Let’s consider some scriptures.

Whether it was with Adam and Eve, or Cain and Abel, God gave them pattern to follow.

1.       God gave Cain and Abel a pattern to follow as they worshipped Him, Genesis 4:3-5. On the surface, what Cain did with respect to what he offered to God sounds good. And yet God regarded Abel’s sacrifice instead of Cain. God was not pleased with Cain. 

2.       An answer is not given to us in Genesis as to why He was displeased. Yet additional details are found in the New Testament. Jesus spoke of Abel as the first righteous martyr, Matthew 23:35. The fact he’s described as righteous gives us insight with respect to the way he sacrificed to God. He worshipped God as God desired, 1 John 3:12.

3.       In Hebrews 11: 4 we learn that what Abel did was by faith. This wasn’t by accident, but rather because he followed God’s pattern. Abel’s sacrifice is to be an example for us.

In what way is this an example? Just as he worshiped God by faith, we are to do the same. Our faith comes by hearing from God’s word, Romans 10:17. We can hear and determine correctly what it is that God wants from us as we worship Him. And yet that’s where the challenge is. Many don’t want to do that. Instead, they want to worship as they please. It’s not about us, but rather about God, His authority and His pattern. In every age God has had a pattern for man to follow. We will consider more next week. There are many churches that are doing many things! They are not the standard. The standard is God’s word. The standard is what God has revealed in the Holy Scriptures. Why don’t we have musical instruments? Because we don’t have authority for them in worship.