A Certain Message and a Certain Sound

I know a "Christian Rock" singer who recently let me hear one of his new songs.  Upon completion of the song, I understood about 10 words of it.  Its a good thing we don't talk or type the way he sings, or it would look something like this:

YIIIIII dunnnno what makes dis werld thinkuh thhhhatttt our music is absurduh; YIIII dunt  seeyeah whad dey mean thahat they can't understaaaaand  dese WERDSERR-ERRDS!!!! (insert thumping drums and lots of flailing) 

Scriptures say the following in 1 Corinthians 14:

And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?  For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.  There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification."

 Paul is teaching in the Corinthian church about tongues and he uses music as an example for them.  He teaches them that what is being sang or played should be understood and have a certain sound.  Our music should have both a certain message and a certain sound.
The certain message should be one that honors the Lord.  Every song has a message.  Even songs without words have a message.  For many years, rock music has generally carried with it the message of drugs, sex, and alcohol.  Country music generally carries with it the message of sensuality, immorality, and alcohol.  Rap has its message, as does every genre of music.  Songs without words carry a message.  Watching a silent movie from days past, one will hear the songs and tell whether the good guy is coming to the rescue or the bad guy is plotting an evil scheme.  What would Jaws be without the "Du-Dum" but an animal planet special?
Our music carries a message.  When we sing in church or hear someone else sing, that music has a message.  In preaching through the Psalms, I realized that each of these Psalms had a message mostly distinct to itself.  Some were praise Psalms, some testimony psalms, some thanksgiving psalms, some vengeance songs, some prophetic...but all had a message.  Opening a hymn book, each of those songs carry a message.  When the piano or organ play an offertory, though no one is singing, a message is being portrayed in the song.
Watching the opening ceremony for the olympics, I cannot tell you how many times the commentators talked about how quickly the parade of nations took place.  At one time, one of the commentators said that they thought it had to do with the music.  He was right.  The fast, heavy beat had the message of "Hurry Up!"  Had they played "It is Well With My Soul" as the nations were entering, we may still be watching them enter.
Every song has a message.  The message needs to be Scriptural.  It needs to be the truth.  That is one area I guard in our usage of a lot of Majesty and Sound Forth Music.  There is a steady diet of "universal church" teaching in their music.  Even Patch indoctrinates our children with it.  It's not just them, but in our hymn books we have to watch out for doctrinal error.
The famous "Onward Christian Soldiers" third verse is very 'universal church-ish.'

Like a mighty army moves the church of God; brothers we are treading where the saints have trod.  We are not divided, all one body we- one in hope and doctrine, one in charity.

People have argued with the "Big deal" argument, yet Jesus said in John 4 that if we are to worship the Father it must be done in "spirit and in truth" (emphasis mine).  Our message needs to be one of truth.  The contemporary christian music world is filled with doctrinal error.
The Southern Gospel music world must be carefully observed.  There is a reason why at the "Southern Gospel Convention" Baptist, Church of God, Church of Christ, Bible Church, Pentecostals, and Charismatics all are gathered there; because the music is generally void of a solid doctrinal message, for if it had one, these people could not unite.  Music has a message and our message in our music should be one that glorifies God and is in truth according to the Word of God.  There should be a certain message to our music.
Paul also uses this passage to show that there should be a certain sound to our music.  If one were to compare the sound of the top 10 Rock songs and top 10 Christian rock songs, one would be hard pressed to distinguish a difference in their sound.  Playing a lot of the world's country music and then playing a lot of the southern gospel music would leave one hard pressed to be able to distinguish a difference in sound.  Yet, the music of God's people should be distinct in its sound.
I can't stand when someone pulls up near me in a car with their woofers thumping a heavy beat making my car rattle with every beat.  I usually turn my Mercury's factory speakers as high as they will go with some preaching to drown it out and make a point.  When people hear our music, it ought to have a certain sound that exemplifies the glory of God.  Our music should sound different.
I believe Paul gives us a good launching pad here on which to build a study of music  Our music should have a certain message and a certain sound.

Springfield, Lockland and Landmark

We saw in our last blog that several families from Lockland Baptist Church were given their letters of dismissal March 14, 1942,  to start the Blue Ash Baptist Church. We are going to see in this section the start of the Lockland Baptist Church. The historic marker located at the intersection of Oak and Chester Road in Glendale, Ohio (pictured on the right) tells some about the history of what is now called Landmark Baptist Temple. The sign reads "In the year 1792, Henry Tucker started clearing land and erecting a station house on the old Indian Trace in what is now the village of Woodlawn. He had purchased the land from John Cleves Symmes for two dollars per acre. Fear of Indian attack drove the pioneers back to Columbia where they remained until General Anthony Wayne started his march north to engage the Indians in battle.  Henry and Mary Tucker returned to this farm in 1794. The station house was completed and was to be used as a fort in case of an Indian attack."
Worship services were conducted in the station house, in neighboring cabins and in Abraham Skillman's barn which was located not far from Tucker's Station.  The result was the organization of The Springfield Baptist Church in 1798, now known as the Landmark Baptist Temple.

Since 1798, the church has had three names. The first name, The Springfield Baptist Church was given because of its location. From 1798 until 1840 their place of worship was one mile north-west of Lockland in  Springfield, Township. In 1840 the church moved their place of worship to Lockland, Ohio. (Pictured on the right.) It was at this time the name was changed to Lockland Baptist Church. In 1962, the church once again moved to their present location and became known as the Landmark Baptist Temple.

Upon a recent trip to Scotch Plains, New Jersey we were able to locate the church from which Henry and Mary Tucker were dismissed from to come to the Miami area to join a church. The picture on the left is taken from the ledger of Scotch Plains Baptist Church and dated June 11, 1789, showing their dismissal. Records show that Henry and Mary Tucker were influential in the start of three churches. They were buried about one mile from the present day Landmark Baptist Temple in a family cemetery.

The cemetery was located about 500 feet south of by pass 50 between Route 4 and the B & O Railroad Tracks.  A large construction project had been planned for that area which included the overgrown site of the old Tucker Cemetery.  Somehow the grave stones of Mary and Henry Tucker had been thrown over the boundary fence and onto the property of the railroad in a pile of debris.  The discarded stones were accidentally discovered by some members of the Landmark Baptist Temple.  The church immediately began to make plans to rescue the head stones and to keep them in their care.  On the right is a picture of Bill Talley, Bill Ingold, and Leon Rawlings rescuing the grave stones.  

The records of the Miami Valley Association show the Tuckers had taken  their letter of dismissal from the Carpenters Run Baptist Church for the "purpose of assisting in constituting or organizing the Springfield Baptist Church." Taken from Historical Sketches and Early Hamilton County, Ohio written by J.G. Olden page 240-241.

Music, Music, Music

Last month, the only music director I have ever served with shared that the Lord had opened a door for he and his family in another state.  There was a good church there and the Lord was moving him to a new job and a new church.  Though my flesh hates this, my spirit also knows that the Lord truly is moving him.  He will be greatly missed as I truly have never, in my 8 years of being pastor, had to worry once about our music at church.  We as a church will miss him greatly.

This move has left upon me a new responsibility in the area of our church's music.  I admit, I have been spoiled in the man God has allowed me to serve with the last eight years, and now a new and fresh study has begun in my life in the area of church music.

I have studied in my days many books on the subject.  I have read multiple sources of information regarding Biblical music.  I have studied the history of music in the church.  Most importantly, I have searched the Scriptures as to what the Lord says about music.  I recently watched this and found it very interesting; but as of yet don't know what I think of it:

In my reading of author's books on the subject, I find that many like throwing verses out there as their "foundation" but build upon a few verses only with the bricks of their opinions and preferences.

I have heard preachers say, "The Bible doesn't talk much about music!" Yet, according to Pastor Rick Carter of Bethhaven Baptist Church, the Bible contains over 3,000 verses that are either a song or about music.  Considering the fact that there are just over 30,000 verses in the Bible, that  means 10% of the Bible talks about music.  Shouldn't God's Word then make clear what is Biblical music?

So invite your friends, family, and seekers of wisdom and let's discuss not our opinions, but what does the Bible say about music?  I seek to teach what I have learned, but also to learn what I need to learn.
Let's address what are Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.  What about using contemporary songs if sung correctly.  What about songs from Gaither, Squire Parsons, old Southern Gospel groups, new Southern Gospel groups?  Majesty music: is it slipping?  Should we use their steady diet of "universal church" teaching music?   If music is truly "teaching and admonishing," should ladies be able to sing a solo in church and us men  "Amen" her message?  Is there any New Testament support for choirs or specials?  Are we in too deep?  Do we love our entertainment that much?  Is a guitar wrong?

Ah...music, music, music....

The Highpoint and Blue Ash Baptist Churches

We saw in the last section that Socialville Baptist came out of Highpoint Baptist Church. In this section we are going to focus on two churches:  the Highpoint Baptist Church and Blue Ash Baptist Church.

We are going to look first at the Highpoint Baptist Church. Pictured on the left used to be the location of the Highpoint Baptist Church but is now the home of Crossroad Baptist church.  Highpoint Baptist Church was started as a mission out of the Blue Ash Baptist Church, in Blue Ash, Ohio. In the records of the Blue Ash Baptist Church we find the following record dated July 7, 1954. “The church approved the motion, that the Highpoint Mission be organized into a church Sunday afternoon, Aug, 22, 1954.”

Little seems to be known as to the life of Highpoint Baptist Church.  Oral history has the mission work first meeting in a basement or a garage of one of the early members.  All we know from the early minutes dated 1952 of the Blue Ash Baptist Church is that the church helped the mission rent a school building in the Highpoint area. The church also helped them acquire their first property and the deed was signed over to the Highpoint Baptist Church when they paid their mother church back.

Over the life of Highpoint Baptist Church she has had 9 pastors that we are able to account for.

The first pastor called was Bro. Llyod Hasty.

The second pastor was Bro. Tom Braley.

After Bro. Braley the church called Bro. Jim Love.

Bro. Melvin Sisson was after Bro. Love.

Bro. Phil Gabbard was after Bro. Melvin Sisson.

The next pastor was Bro. Bosley.

After Bro. Bosley was Bro. Briley.

Bro. Briley was succeeded by Bro. Cloud who was followed by the last pastor Bro. Kalnbach.

According to some former pastors of Highpoint Baptist Church there seems to have been few records kept and the ones that were kept have been lost or destroyed over the years. Most of what we have learned about Highpoint Baptist has been oral history. We know that they started the Salem Baptist Church in Anderson Township. We know from real estate records in our office the following facts:

1.       On September 30, 2003, the Highpoint Baptist Church who has now changed their name to the Hartwell Independent Baptist Church sold their properties to Crossroad Baptist Church who was formerly known as Hartwell Missionary Baptist Church. 

2.      In the transaction Hartwell Independent Baptist Church took possession of the property located at 8222 Monon Avenue where the Crossroad Baptist Church had been meeting.

3.      In the transaction the Crossroad Baptist Church took possession of the property owned by Hartwell Independent Baptist Church located at 9900 Butler-Warren Road, Cincinnati, Ohio.

4.      Both churches shall continue their independent ministries pursuant only to a change of location. 

After a period of time after this transaction Pastor Kalnbach resigned as pastor and Bro. Tommy Trammel became pastor.  In a phone conversation with Bro. Trammel, he let me know the church that is there is now called Hartwell Baptist Church and was sponsored by the Gospel Baptist Church in Galion, Ohio whose pastor is Monty Trammel. It seems at some point between Bro. Kalnbach and Bro. Trammell the Hartwell Independent Baptist Church formerly known as the High Point Baptist Church ceased to exist.

The following history of Blue Ash Baptist Church (the mother church of Highpoint Baptist Church) has been adapted from a book written by L.H. More concerning the history of Blue Ash Baptist Church. The Building that housed the Blue Ash Baptist church is pictured on the left.

  “On March 14, 1942, twenty members of the Lockland Baptist Church met in the home of Nelson F. Rountree to conduct prayer services and before their adjournment; they elected a Building Committee and charged them with the responsibility of finding a site for a church building.  On April 12, 1942, just a month later, property on Myrtle Street in Blue Ash was purchased for $2,500 with a down payment of $350.  Nineteen days later, May 10, 1942, the group met again and 26 persons holding letters of dismission from Baptist churches were joined by three others (candidates for baptism) in organizing the Blue Ash Baptist Church.  Orden Rice, a Baptist pastor from Kentucky working in Cincinnati, and a member of the group who had been conducting services for them, served as chairman of the organization meetings.  A Reverend Dalton delivered the sermon.  Jesse Perkings was elected treasurer and Nelson Rountree in whose home the first prayer meeting was held was elected clerk.”

“In the June meeting, the first since the organization, Orden Rice was called as pastor of the new church (June 3, 1942)."

“Orden Rice served as pastor until 1955, a period of 13 years, and in these years led the church in building programs that provided the first house of worship, a remodeled dwelling, and a home for the pastor.”

“The next pastor, Paul Payne, led in a second building program in which an auditorium with a capacity of 400 persons was completed.  During the ministry of Ward Spencer who followed Paul Payne, the church assumed responsibility of $10,000 for a building for one of her missions.  In the 13 years of the next pastorate, that of Dr. William McGibney, the church remodeled and updated all her properties for educational and worship purposes.  During the church’s ministry it has started three missions and ordained four of her members to the gospel ministry.”  According to recent information at some point in time Blue Ash Baptist Church merged with Winslow Park  Baptist and became Creek Road Baptist Church.  In a recent phone conversation with Pastor Dave Smith of the Creek Road Baptist Church he confirmed this to be true and provided us with the records that have been shared above.  (Pastor Burke and I were privileged to sit with Mrs. Geneva L. (Carter) Mckeehan whose family along with her husband's was two of the families that left the Lockland Baptist Church to start the Blue Ash Baptist Church when they were children.)

New Sunday School Promotional Video

Simplicity

I recently heard a brother say, "I miss when serving God was simple."  That statement has been on my mind ever since.  Upon hearing that statement, my mind pictured a group of believers gathered and laughing together outside.  Men sitting and standing under shady trees; women in their Sunday dresses sipping lemonade and keeping an eye on the children running and skipping through the grass.  I pictured a church service where everyone was there to sing, give, and be preached to.  Then everyone would go home, loving God, each other, and souls.   Ah, for the simple life!

I'm not sure where those pictures came from in my mind, but that's what I thought of.  What was missing was the critical church members who criticize every decision made, the preachers who get together to tear another down, the singer who is pouting because they haven't sung in a while, the brothers fighting over differences in their lives, children who are in rebellion and mischievous, song police, sermon auditors, mean deacons, tight wad trustees, and bitter old people.  Ok, so that is probably what makes the real picture of simplicity.

In some way, every faithful church member has an idea of what I am talking about.  There is so much politics, policing, plundering, pounding, pretending, and pride in our churches, that we begin to question God, His church, and His Word.  We begin to look at "churches" with no strong doctrine, no standards, no soul winning...and we say, "well, at least they love God and each other."

My wife pointed out to me the other day how much writing Baptist are putting out with Grace-based philosophy.  Now don't get me wrong, we should do everything according to the grace of God; but what I speak of is the philosophy that God's grace covers it all, so don't judge anything, let God deal with it all, just love people and it will be fine.

There is so much truth in that statement, I hate contradicting it; but while God's grace is there and the foundation for all we do; we can only experience the grace of God after we submit to the truth of God.  Take our salvation, before we could experience the grace for ourselves we must first submit to the truth that we are sinners deserving of Hell.  Upon that recognition, we then can experience the grace of God that is salvation.

"For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:"-Col. 1:5-6

Grace is always served on the platter of truth!

Back to our simplicity in church life...So how does this all apply to our church lives?  What about the "simple" days?  The first thing we must ask (as always) is what does the Bible say about simplicity?

The word "simplicity" in our New Testaments is the Greek word "haplotes" and means 1) singleness, simplicity, sincerity, mental honesty; the virtue of one who is free from pretence and hypocrisy
2) not self seeking, openness of heart manifesting itself by generosity.

The Word is found in the following Scriptures:

Rom. 12:8: Or he that exhorteth , on exhortation: he that giveth , [let him do it] with simplicity; he that ruleth , with diligence; he that sheweth mercy , with cheerfulness.
2 Cor. 1:12: For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
2 Cor. 8:2: How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
2 Cor. 9:11: Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
2 Cor. 9:13: Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for [your] liberal distribution unto them, and unto all [men];
2 Cor. 11:3: But I fear , lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
Eph. 6:5: Servants, be obedient to them that are [your] masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
Col. 3:22: Servants, obey in all things [your] masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:

One takes from these Scriptures, that true Biblical simplicity is a willingness to just give yourself to the Lord without any regard to what anyone thinks.
Rom. 12:8-if your gift is giving, just give what the Lord tells you and who cares what others think?
2 Cor. 1:12-live your life for the Lord wholly given to Him and who cares what others think?
2 Cor. 8:2-the churches in Macedonia were persecuted, but they still had joy and just gave themselves (vs. 3) not caring what others thought
2 Cor. 9:11-13Give and the Lord will take care of you by blessing you with a joy in giving and the ability to give more
2 Cor. 11:3-Paul was afraid the church would compromise and lose its purity by thinking it needs to compromise and impress others in the world.  Godly purity is giving yourself totally to Him, all of you, not caring what the world thinks.
Eph. 6:5-Obey your masters and give them your everything
Col 3:22-Obey not to impress your master but to please God

So "Simple" is simply this: just serve God with your everything and who cares what others think!

I agree, we should then not care about what others think, how criticizers critique, complainers complain; as long as we are serving how God wants us to.  You see, before we can serve in simplicity, we must realize that our service in God's grace must be done upon the platter of God's Truth. 

We should enjoy serving God without fearing what others are saying or thinking....as long as what they are saying or thinking is not the Truth.  You see, I fear the "simpler days" maybe ones for some who don't want the perfecting process of God's truth to continue in their lives.  Instead of seeing Truth as a gift of simplicity, they see Truth as a judge and condemner. 

I probably have made a great complexity out of simplicity; but my prayer is that we will see simplicity for what it is-by God's grace serving upon the foundation of the Truth. That's what all those people in paragraph 1 were doing if we are honest.

The sponsoring church of Loveland Park Baptist Church was Socialville Baptist Church.  In the spring of 1962, several families felt led to leave the High Point Baptist Church and establish a new church.  The families met in the home of Mitt and Opal Richardson until a church building could be found.  The church was organized May 9, 1962, with 27 charter members.  The current property on Socialville Foster Road was purchased at that time in 1962.  The 27 charter members were Bill Anders, Dorothy Anders, James Anders, Billy Anders, Bobby Anders, Rollin Bennett, Sr., Vesta Bennett, Rollin Bennett, Jr., Melvin Carter, Flossie Carter, Ruth Leach, Adam McKeehan, Geneva McKeehan. Russell McKeehan, Belinda McKeehan, Beverly McKeehan, Nelson Roundtree, Creola Roundtree, Mitt Richardson, Opal Richardson, Gerald Richardson, Earl Sims, Esther Sims, Patricia Sims, Clyde Wells, Pauline Wells, and Larry Wells. 

            We find in the minutes taken at the organizational meeting dated May 9, 1962, the following record of that meeting:  “Bro. Roundtree opened the service by leading those gathered in singing  the hymn ‘We’ll Work Till Jesus Comes.’  Those following were; ‘Glory to His Name,’ ‘Standing on the Promises.’

            Bro. James L. Richardson led in prayer after singing.

            Bro. Carter then acted as chairman of the group and introduced Bro. Millsaps, who was immediately and unanimously voted as moderator for the remainder of the organization meeting.

            Bro. Millsaps’ first remarks were on exhortation to carefully select a Bible-believing and Godly living pastor and to live according to the Bible in love and humility.

            The first motion was that Bro. James Leo Richardson be appointed clerk for the meeting.

            The clerk read the Articles of Faith and Church Covenant.

            Bro. Millsaps called for a record of the charter members.

            Bro. Carter made a motion and was seconded by Bro. Sims to have a business meeting Wednesday night, May 16^th to elect officers for the new church.

            The charge was then ably and clearly given the new congregation by Bro. Millsaps, as he encouraged them not to be hampered or discouraged by the powers of the world which would cause the flesh to be revived and cause dis-unity in the church.  Scripture was read from Isa. 62:1 & 2; Matthew 11:2-11; Mark 3:13-15; and Eph. 2:19-22.

            The meeting was dismissed with the singing of ‘Oh How I Love Jesus’ and an old-fashioned handshake, immediately after the sweet organization prayer by Bro. Millsaps.”

            According to some charter members and written records within the minutes of the Socialville Baptist Church there had been a disagreement within the High Point Baptist Church and several families left and became charter members of Socialville Baptist Church. We praise the Lord that within the minutes of Socialville Baptist Church we find the following record, “motion was made, second and carried for the men  of the church to meet with the men of High Point Baptist Church as requested by them to discuss feelings of difference between the two churches.  Motion was made, second and carried to meet at Socialville Baptist Church at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 10, for the purpose stated above.”  In addition we find a later added note on that page of minutes, “this meeting was held as scheduled and was attended by a good number from both churches.  In an attitude of Christian friendship all expressed their desire to do the Lord’s will and to promote His work.  After a season of prayer and Christian hand shaking the meeting was dismissed.”

            Recently, Pastor Dean Gooch related this same event to Pastor Burke and Pastor Sallee of Cozaddale Baptist Temple.  He remembers, with tears in his eyes, the sweetness and the fellowship being restored between the two churches. In 1963, the church chose to send Mitt Richardson to start Loveland Park Baptist Church.  We know from the records of Socialville Baptist Church that High Point Baptist Church continued to show their support to Socialville Baptist Church and their desire to establish churches by attending the organizational meeting of the Loveland Park Baptist Church. 

            The year 2012 begins the fiftieth anniversary of Socialville Baptist Church.  For 50 years Socialville Baptist Church has a strong desire to serve the Lord.  The pastors of Socialville Baptist Church have been Howard Carter, 1962-1967; Don Poole, 1967-1969; Raymond Hilliard, January – July of 1969; (he died while pastor); Jack Fenner, 1969-1976; Paul Godby, 1976-1978; Harold Stroup, 1978-1983; Greg Ballard, 1983-1989; Paul Armacost, 1986-1989 (Along with Greg Ballard); Dwight Coffman, January – June 1990; Tom Walz, 1990-1993; Stan Sexton, 1993 to present.  The churches that have been started under the ministry of Socialville Baptist Church are:  Loveland Park Baptist Church, Loveland, Ohio, 1963; Emmanuel Baptist Mission, Speedwell, Tennessee, 1974; Victory Baptist Mission, 1988.  The church presently supports 50 missionaries.  One of them is out of Cozaddale Baptist Temple – Steven and Peggy Harris currently serving in Mexico.