Is it more holy to sing only the Psalms or only scripture?
- Is it more holy or valuable for a church to sing only the Psalms or only scripture in worship?
The hosts take up the man whose church sings only Psalms (and a harder variant: only exact scripture, citing Ephesians' "psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs"). Ben argues hard no: elevating scripture-only worship misunderstands the Spirit's ongoing work, revealing a distrust of God working through fallible humans, and the pastor preaching any extrapolation takes the same "risk" the rule tries to hedge. The room grants the practice is fine for a congregation but must not be used to judge other churches (the Christmas-tree conviction parallel; Romans 14 territory). Objections: many Psalms aren't sing-worthy (Psalm 137's baby-dashing, "break my teeth, O Lord"), and David's thousand-BC cutoff would invalidate earlier worship. Gavin tells of a feverish night of unplanned praise writing a psalm "in his heart" as evidence true worship isn't mere repetition. Other notes: secular songs that "sniff like Jesus," Fanny Crosby's 600-a-day hymn factory, publishers corporatizing worship music, and Miriam's song being terrible no matter the beat. Gavin presses that worship music should be scripturally sound, which the room accepts.
More on Church
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Church, emotions, and the self-focus of affluence
- How do you help people in an affluent, self-focused culture see that they need Jesus?
Ben revives a question from two or three shows back: are church services and worship tunes postured toward certain personality types — predominantly emotions and dealing with emotions?
From No. 603 · Found Out
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Leadership training for church leaders: get a business manager
- Do people who lead churches need leadership training?
Mike's real question: to what extent do people need leadership training to lead churches? Ben gives two distinct answers.
From No. 602 · Relationship Counseling
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The New Testament case for human shaping
- What does the New Testament actually say about spiritual authority and submission?
Ben walks the New Testament texts: Hebrews 13:17 ('obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls') presumes a soul-watching laborer, not a rule-maker;…
From No. 600 · Rage The Elephant
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Confetti and lasers: what should God's people be known for?
- Do we want to be known as the confetti and lasers people?
- What should God's people be known for?
Ben redirects to the docket's denomination question: when someone hears Silas's church described as 'the confetti and lasers people,' should that sting?
From No. 598 · Emphasis | Accountability, Worship and Praying with Strangers