What is "a song about Psalm 72"? If it's not a psalm and it's being used in worship, it is being sung in violation of the RPW.
Not offended at all brother. Thanks for your gentleness. I see your point, but at the very least, I don't see how it could be wrong to sing the Word of God to God, even if it's not part of the Psalms. The song Mary sung to God, which is part of the Word of God, why would that be wrong to sing to the Lord? Or to sing Holy, Holy, Holy, the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come. If others can sing it in heaven, why can't we sing it? I'm always searching to believe what is true even if that means change, but it just feels like EP is a narrow position that's limiting the Bible. I say this as no expert who may be wrong.
But I will ask this again, since maybe Scott ignored me or read past me:
Currently I am an EP advocate when it comes to Corporate worship (but still chewing). In seeking to learn here as well, how would a Spiritual Song and hymn differ from a Psalm within the Book of Psalms itself? In other words, since an EP advocate would claim that they both are inspired, what is the distinction made by someone who is EP?
Could someone who is anti-EP not also give a similar distinction in answer?
Thank you for the reply. As of now, here's how I would differenciate the categories:
Ryan,
I see what you mean, but I don't think that was the writer's intention. I think they are just saying when we sing a portion of the Bible we are singing the inspired Word. I remember singing phrases in modern worship songs like "today is the day you have made, I will rejoice and be glad in it." Technically that is inspired because it's from God. There's a chapter and verse that correlates to it.
Ryan, do you really think that Christ sang uninspired hymns? Here again we see modern people imposing their own categories on Scripture.
This is problematic, as Grant has pointed out.
Whatever the writer's intention, the above is what he wrote. It suggests that singing of man-made hymns is singing the Word of God, just because some portions are taken from the Bible. This is, at best, faulty reasoning. I hope that you can see that.
That line is inspired. It's from Psalm 118. What about the rest of the song? It has no such claim to inspiration.
I advise you to go on more than feeling. Trust me when I say that I know how you feel. I was there not so long ago.
But I will ask this again, since maybe Scott ignored me or read past me
Currently I am an EP advocate when it comes to Corporate worship (but still chewing). In seeking to learn here as well, how would a Spiritual Song and hymn differ from a Psalm within the Book of Psalms itself? In other words, since an EP advocate would claim that they both are inspired, what is the distinction made by someone who is EP?
Could someone who is anti-EP not also give a similar distinction in answer?
Earl,
Cutting through the noise a little, what are you thoughts on the responses as they relate to the OP?
From my point of view, the OP question is loaded, though I don't think intentionally. If I say that I prefer hymns over Psalms, the accusation tends to come back as, "you mean you prefer man-made words over God's?" However, if I say I prefer Psalms, the answer might come back "then why sing anything else?" A couple thoughts:
1. "Prefer" is problematic. I think we all agree that we ought to sing praises in worship.
2. Some of us who may be termed inclusive in our definition of "praises" are being presented with a dichotomy that doesn't really represent our own position.
3. Sometimes in worship I would prefer to sing one Psalm over another as it more appropriately relates to the subject of the sermon. In this sense, a hymn might be prefered at some points, not because we think they are better than Psalms, but rather they seem a more appropriate response to the subject, just as one Psalm may be more appropriate than another in relation to a subject.
*Observation: Without a pole and a problematic OP, this thread seems to lack any focus and is more confusing than helpful. ***End of observation.
Scott did a great job answering any questions that arose.
To your other points on the word "prefer" my point is in your opinion sometimes man made hymns would be better (or preferred) than inspired psalms. If such is so another "loaded" question arises of the concept that scripture is sufficient for faith and practice. Is it not enough?
Based on the usage of the word "hymn" in the NT, I am pretty comfortable with saying they were singing selections from the book of Psalms. In fact, looking through the NT, I am not sure there is a single example of the believers definitively singing their own man-made hymns, psalms, or spiritual songs. The Revelation passage is not really applicable to how we live life here and now - I mean, Jesus says in the future people will not be married or given in marriage, and we still marry.
Tim, the issue with this is that preaching, singing, and praying are all distinct parts of the worship service. Just because they are all parts of the worship service does not mean that the same rules apply to each one.
Let's consider teaching.
In Acts 17, we read that the Bereans tested Paul's sermons against the scriptures to determine if they were legitimate. We can obviously assume then that Paul was teaching by expounding the scriptures, not simply quoting them word for word. If he was, there would be no need to test "the word" (17:11). Therefore from inspired example, it is suitable to preach by simply expounding the scriptures in one's own words.
As for praying, we read of many instances of believers praying (like in the upper room), and these words are not recorded in sacred scripture. I think we can safely say that our prayers do not necessarily have to be the scriptures word for word.
Now let's consider singing.
In Acts 16 we have Paul and Silas "singing hymns to God". They probably were not singing Amazing Grace
Josh gave this earlier.
"2. Preaching - We have examples of extemporaneous preaching, not dictated to be verbatim scripture."
What the Pastor prefers.
I prefer to sing Psalm 123 and let the angels sing their song. The "problem" to your questions is that you seem to prefer hymns over psalms. May I ask why?
