Distinctly Different

Mrs. Perry wrote this article and I thought you would enjoy it!

I don’t think I know anyone who wants to be called “different,” do you? We like to be “in style,” to be “cool,” and to be involved in “popular activities” (whether it be a sport or a hobby). To be called “different” sounds like we’re odd or strange.
As Christians, however, we are to be different— distinctly different from the world! Romans 12:2 says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” In other words, we need to be changed from the inside out! We know from other Scripture passages that what we put in our hearts and minds will eventually come out through our mouth or through our actions. By focusing on who Christ is and how we need to be like Him, we will be better equipped to discern what music is good and acceptable to God!
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 John 2:15–17).
Isn’t this a harsh sounding passage? It’s quite clear though in what it’s saying. Things that belong to the world or have close associations with the world are to be tossed aside by the Christian. Christians need to cling to the Word of God to have the strength set the desires of the world aside. The world is constantly trying to pull us away from the things of God by enticing us with it’s pleasures (whether it be fashions, new toys, cell phones, cars, prestige, position, education).
What our finite minds have difficulty comprehending is the eternal blessings that are ahead for those who persevere and the futility of the world’s trinkets in their short-lived existence. We’re so focused on the here and now that we can’t see what’s ahead! We need to set our sight on eternal things and realize the world’s toys will pass away as if they never existed.
I’ve done a lot of beating around the bush, haven’t I? What I’m getting at is that determining a biblical basis for music and instruments is based on principle. You won’t find passages saying one instrument is good or bad or a song is good or bad, but you will find a passel of passages dealing with music and instruments setting down principles to determine what music will be pleasing to God.
From the verses mentioned earlier, it’s important that our music and specifically Westerville Bible Church’s music is not tainted by the word’s idea of music. Our music needs to be distinctly different from the world’s. It needs to sound different. It needs to have different lyrics. It needs to be different.

Thirsty!

Ever been so thirsty that you could drink anything? Ever been outside when it’s hot and nothing could possibly seem better than a big glass of cool water rushing past your lips and down your throat? Ever been so dry you couldn’t think of anything but getting a drink of water?
In Psalm 63:1, David describes a thirst like that. The only difference is that instead of being thirsty for water, David was thirsty for God. He says, “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.”
In order to be thirsty, one has to realize their need. When you are playing hard, you aren’t thirsty until you stop and realize that it’s been a long time since you have had a drink and you’re dying of thirst! Oftentimes, we are so busy with our lives and all of the things that are important to us, we don’t realize our need for God. We can handle life on our own! We can make it without him! We don’t need any help! Then perhaps something comes into your life that brings your world crashing down. God uses that to produce a burning thirst for him. If we do not realize how desperately we need God, we will never have a thirst for him.
Second, that need demands satisfaction. Imagine if you were really thirsty and somebody offered you a bag of your favorite potato chips! As much as you love chips, you may say, “I don’t want those— I need water!” Human beings try to satisfy their need for God in many ways: some use alcohol or drugs, others attempt to earn enough money or get enough things, some look for the approval of their friends to satisfy their need for God. Anything we try to put in the place of God will never satisfy.
That need, coupled with a desire to satisfy that need, gives us a thirst for God. Do you have a thirst for God like that? Can you imagine being so thirsty for God that you thought you might die before you could read God’s Word, pray to him, or worship him with his people?

Great Expectations?

Do you have any “great expectations” for the future? Any thing you’re really anticipating? Perhaps you can’t wait to get your drivers’ license, go to college, be out “on your own,” or maybe you’re just looking forward to some event at school coming up in a few weeks.
It’s only natural that we have expectations and anticipations about the future, but it’s easy to allow our lives to be ruled by the future. Have you ever been so eager awaiting and looking forward to an event that after the event comes and goes, you feel let down? What usually happens is that we you start anticipating the next big thing!
When our lives are dominated by upcoming events, our expectations are not from God. Psalm 62:5 says, “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him.”
As Christians who trust in God, we ought not have lists of expectations and hopes for the future. We should not be living in light of what we anticipate for the future. These kinds of expectations reveal a boastful pride that refuses to say “if the Lord wills” (Jas 4:13–17). Our expectation must come from God.
You may think I am saying we should never make any plans, but there is nothing wrong with making plans, as long as we preface all plans with “if the Lord wills.” What really matters is our attitude in looking toward the future: are we saying “This is what I will do” or is our thought “If the Lord allows and blesses my plan, this is what I hope to do”?
It is easy to get caught up in our plans for the future. We have to remember that “A man’s heart deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth his steps” (Prov 16:9). Instead of building great expectations, we should have “no expectations” and be constantly looking to God to provide and direct our lives.

Nowhere to Hide

Imagine being questioned about something you had done. Would you be nervous? What if you were in court on the witness stand and a lawyer was peppering you with questions? What if you were being interrogated by police? Would that worry you? Maybe you feel you are strong enough or smart enough not to give them certain information.
Imagine if the person interrogating you could see everything, knew everything, and could read your mind. Now that could get really scary! Hebrews 4:13 tells us that God is such an “interrogator.” It says, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”
Many times we think we can hide from people, and for the most part, we’re right! We can hide things from teachers at school, we can fool people at church, we can do things behind our friends’ backs, and we can even deceive our parents. However, we can never fool God, and he is the One to whom we must give account. That’s what the verse means when it says “with whom we have to do.” God is the One whose questions we have to answer. God is the One to whom we are responsible.
The verse says that every person is “manifest in his sight” or open to his eyes. Nothing obscures his vision. He sees perfectly, clearly, and accurately. He knows everything we have done, thought, or felt. He sees everything.
All things are naked and exposed before him. The word “exposed” is the idea of having your head pulled back, exposing your throat. That would be a very vulnerable position, would it not?
We must remember two things: first, God sees and knows all things. We can never hide anything from him. Second, we must give an account to God. Live in light of these things.

Surgery?

Interested in having surgery? I don’t know about you, but I’m not crazy about the thought of someone cutting my body open and taking things out. However, surgery sometimes is necessary in order to regain good health. To refuse surgery could be a foolish and potentially deadly choice.
Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the Bible is a sort of surgeon. It says, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
The Word of God (the Bible) is “quick” (that means living) and powerful, or active. It is like a sharp, double-edged sword that cuts right through any armor. It is not a physical weapon that does harm, but a spiritual tool: it cuts apart the soul and spirit. It slices right between the “joints” of your spiritual being because it reads your thoughts and your motives. The reason it can do this is because it is the Word of God. It has God’s power to know and to discern your life.
The Bible isn’t like a giant sword, hacking you up and chopping you down, but it is like a surgeon’s scalpel, carefully cutting away things that are dangerous and unhealthy from your spiritual life. God uses his Word to do “spiritual surgery” on your life.
If you are not reading the Bible daily and listening as it is taught and preached at church, home, or school, you are making a foolish decision that will cost you your spiritual health. I hope you make time each day to read the Bible. I hope you listen carefully whenever anyone opens the Word of God to teach or preach. I hope you are allowing God to use his “scalpel,” the Bible, in your life.