Featured Not well with the soul

My favorite recording of this hymn, by the Bluegrass Worship Band:

 

As a pastor I know says "And that sir is why you have no friends."

 

Dr. John MacArthur leading the singing of this hymn (It Is Well With My Soul):

 

Crossway Books, 9Marks Series, It is Well, by Mark Dever and Michael Lawrence

Mark Dever:
"In our congregation...the songs and hymns that we sing that remind us of God's wrath and Christ's bearing it for us stir up solemn joy in the congregation, which then climaxes in wonder and awe. You can hear it and see it and feel it. This is never truer than when we sing the hymn 'It Is Well with My Soul'. I wish you could hear the church sing the stanza, 'My sin, not in part, but the whole, is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul'. Our voices join in ecstasy, and we stand amazed at our inclusion, stunned and relishing God’s costly, gracious mercy toward us in Christ."

Read the lyrics of the hymn while Dever's congregation (Capitol Hill Baptist, Washington, DC) sings it:

 

The Apostle Paul quoted pagan philosophers, Jewish commentators, local idioms and others to make Holy Spirit inspired scripture that are used in worship services all the time.

I understand the desire to use appropriate hymns in worship services. Perhaps this is a “meat sacrificed to idols” issue. Don’t over think, but be convinced in your own mind.

There was a man in a church I attended many years ago that sincerely believed there were only 20-25 hymns that were worthy to be sung in church. Quite frankly, he never seemed to be happy or joyful in worship.

peace to you

 

What are the hallmarks of a "rabid Arminian?"

Do they go around hypnotizing people to pray the sinner's prayer?

At Thanksgiving do they have a table call? "I want you to get up out of your chairs, lift yourself from your sofa. Come forward to the dinner table. All who are hungry will be fed; all who thirst will be quenched. If you have friends, they'll wait."

 

Oh they're a scary bunch. Foam at the mouth while repeating "freewill, freewill, freewill...." all day long.

But that's a rare sect.

 

This is a tough one for me. There is a sense in which I agree that music from modern heretics should be avoided, even if it is sound and contains no theoretically errors. For it may seem like an endorsement and tempt young and weaker Christians to follow after these heretics.

Should this also extent to historical hymns who's writer went apostate? That one is even tougher. I would probably extend more grace in that situation, as there's less danger to stumble the weak.

 

I have read enough of it. I quit reading the trash at "rabid Arminian". I dont care who wrote the hymn. Is there anything un Scriptural about the Hymn?

 

If you discovered the owner of the building where your church meets gives money to Planned Parenthood, would you stop attending that church?

 

Ooh, divestment. That's an easy scenario, though. What about serving soft drinks from companies that give money to LGBT advancement groups?

 

What of Balaam's pronouncements over the Israelites? Were they any less blessings because of his greed and treachery? And Caiaphas's prophecy as high priest? Was it any less true because that unbeliever was intent on murdering God's Son?

Perhaps those who have true spiritual discernment should be in charge of choosing verses and leading worship. Otherwise we risk applying whatever is sung in an ungodly way. Even Scripture can be misappropriated and misapplied. "The Bible tells me so."

 

This mirrors my view of music. If a current CCM musician with a notoriously unbiblical lifestyle produced a song that was scripturally sound and musically appropriate, I would not wish to sing it in a worship service. However, many decades of separation changes things IMO. Mozart was probably an unbeliever (only he and God know for sure) and had a lifestyle not in accord with scripture (though not the caricature of Amadeus) but 200+ years later I see no problems in enjoying his music. I'd not insist on playing it in the presence of a fellow believer who would be offended by it, however. Even J.S. Bach, whose dedication to his Savoir seemed very genuine, wrote a full Roman Catholic mass, for reasons known perhaps only by him and God. Nevertheless, that piece is held by some knowledgeable musicians to be the greatest work of music ever composed.

A phrase attributed to the Puritans says, "God can use a crooked stick to make a straight line." I'd apply that to "It Is Well With My Soul" and repeat Reynold's question in #12.

 

This is a really strange line of argumentation.