The Carnal Appeal of False Doctrine

David E. Parks 

In the middle nineteenth century an exciting new idea was sweeping through the protestant churches of America. The new idea was the introduction of musical instruments into the worship service. In keeping with this new trend, in the fall of 1851, a “Mr. G” wrote to Alexander Campbell arguing for the introduction of instrumental music into the worship services of the churches of Christ. His arguments sounded remarkably similar to some being used in our postmodern age for the introduction of other unscriptural innovations.

             Mr. G argued, “Music (instrumental D.E.P.) exerts a mysterious charm upon man . . . and leads him where it will.” He believed that if instruments of music had such power over men that they could be used to drive men into the thickest battle, this amazing power should be harnessed for the worship service.

Campbell’s response concluded,  “So to those who have no real devotion or spirituality in them, and whose animal nature flags under the oppression of church service, I think with Mr. G., that instrumental music would be not only a desideratum, but an essential prerequisite to fire up their souls to even animal devotion. But I presume, to all spiritually-minded Christians, such aids would be as a cow bell in a concert.”

Alexander Campbell could see that Mr. G’s argument was made for carnal reasons, not spiritual. We must constantly be reminded that the Lord’s Church is a spiritual institution that was never intended to fulfill the desires and passions of the fleshly nature. Paul recognized this when he warned, “The carnal mind is enmity against God” (Romans 8:7 NKJV). Jesus alluded to the spiritual nature of the church when he told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here (John 18:36).”

Feelings, Nothing More Than Feelings

 Campbell is not the only person who has ever had to deal with new ideas that were driven by unacceptable motives and authority. Ours is a touchy-feely age in which feelings often come before the will of God as expressed in his Word. When the scripturalness of a new practice is questioned, instead of responding with sound exegesis, the carnal Christian will respond with the mantra, “It must be right, it makes us feel so close to God,” or “This is what all the growing churches are doing.”

            God’s word warns us that feelings are not a reliable spiritual Guide. When Sampson violated his oath to God and lost his strength he boasted to Delilah, “’I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!’ But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him” (Judges 16:20 NKJV). Samson felt that God was still with him, when (in fact) God had departed.

                        In another case, Jacob apparently felt that when he left his father’s tent, he had left God behind. After dreaming of what is commonly called “Jacob’s Ladder”, he awoke and exclaimed, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.” (Genesis 28:16). Jacob’s experience with his feelings was just the opposite of Samson’s. Samson felt God was with him. God was not. Jacob thought God was not with him. God was. In both cases, their feelings were unreliable guides.

            Years later, Jacob felt that his son Joseph was dead. He felt it deeply and sincerely (Genesis 37:34). Once again Jacob’s feelings were an unreliable guide. Twenty-one years later, he discovered that Joseph was alive and prospering in Egypt (Genesis 45:26-27).

            The 11^th chapter of Hebrews has been called, “The Hall of Faith.” It is filled with examples of great men and women of faith. In every single example faith required them to ignore their feelings and follow the word of the Lord.

            Faith comes from the word of God, not our feelings (Romans 10:17). In our age – as in Campbell’s – it takes a great deal of faith in God to follow his word. The Bible is very clear about what causes the church to grow. Jesus taught that the kingdom of God grew when the word of God was planted in a “good and noble heart” (Luke 8:15). Paul reaffirmed this when he said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16).  

            We are seeing more and more unscriptural practices brought into the assembly in an effort to increase attendance.  When these unscriptural innovations do occasionally produce an increase in numbers, the increase is mistakenly called church growth.