Singing Songs Written by Non-Members of the Church: A Biblical Perspective

3. The Reading Ephesians 5:19 Colossian 3:16

6. Brother Eric, • You have mentioned a few times, that the songs we sing during our services, were written by men who were not members of the church. • My question is: • Do we trespass the word of God when we sing songs written by men, and women, who were not in harmony with the Word of God? • Some of them were: Presbyterians, Baptists, Lutherans, etc… I enjoy singing, but this has been in my mind for a while. • Thank you.

7. How many of the songs in this book were written by members of the church of Christ? • If we look at all 850 songs, you’ll be surprised that just a handful were written by some members. After that, they were all written by different people. • Are we sinning by singing these songs that were written by “non- members of the church”?

8. To press the point further, however, we would inquire as to whether the simple fact of denominational authorship would make a thing unscriptural? • Does the Bible allow us to use this method, as a device for the instruction of the Lord's people? • The answer to this is "yes." • What is expediency? • the quality of being convenient and practical; convenience.

10. In Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:6 we are told what to sing in the assembly, that is: Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs. With this we are to worship the Lord and Exhort one another.

11. Do not most of us study commentaries and other books written by sectarian scholars, gleaning out and using those things of value, while weeding out and refusing the false doctrines usually contained therein? • Have not the various compilers done that very thing with our songbooks? I believe so. • At times we do not give these men much credit in the intelligence department. Indeed, here is where the real question lies, that is, "Are these songs scriptural?"

12. This is the real issue. • It is not really a question of who wrote them. • That is actually an evasion of the real question, i.e. an argument from prejudice. If a song is scriptural, then we can sing it no matter who the writer is or was. So, this is the question which we intend to address ourselves to.

13. What Is an EDITOR? • Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information. • The editing process can involve correction, condensation, organization, and many other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate and complete work.

14. Who was the editor of this book that we use? Our brother Steve Wolfgang. Preacher for the Downers Grove church of Christ in Chicago.

15. The bread for the Lord’s supper - Where do we get it From? Who packed this bread so nice and boxed it up for us? • The Safeway by the Jewish community is where we go to buy it! • The juice for the Lord’s supper Fruit of the vine, where do we get it? Who bottled and packaged this so nice for us? • Are sinful people doing this? Then why are we buying this? • There are many things that are expedient, simple as that - otherwise we should have our own bakery and also our own vineyard to produce everything for the church.

16. Abide With Me 308 Henry F. Lyte 1847 William H. Monk 1861

17. Lyte was inspired to write this hymn as he was dying of tuberculosis; he finished it the Sunday he gave his farewell sermon in the parish he served so many years. The next day, he left for Italy to regain his health. He didn’t make it, though—he died in Nice, France, three weeks after writing these words. Here is an excerpt from his farewell sermon: • O brethren, I stand here among you today, as alive from the dead, if I may hope to impress it upon you, and induce you to prepare for that solemn hour which must come to all, by a timely acquaintance with the death of Christ.

18. Blessed Assurance 454 Fanny J. Crosby

19. Blessed Assurance • Mrs. Joseph Fairchild Knapp wife of the founder of the Metropolitan Life Ins. Co • Knapp brought Fanny the tune to a song • Knapp asked what Fanny thought about it and Fanny named it Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine • And wrote the lyrics in just a few minutes following

20. Fanny J. Crosby • Wrote over 9000 Hymns • At the age of 15 in New York she taught English and History • She taught for 35 years • What makes her so special, at six weeks of age she was blinded by an incompetent Doctor • She stated that the first thing she wanted to see when she gets to Heaven is the face of the one who died for me.

21. Asked to say something about her by D.L. Moody • She hesitated then gave the following • Someday the silver cord will break, and I no more as now shall sing;but oh, the joy when I shall wake within the palace of the King! And I shall see Him face to face, and tell the story--saved by grace! • She died at age 95

22. She is buried in Bridgeport Conn. • On her grave is written • Aunt Fanny • Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine. Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine. • Notable Songs • Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine • He Hideth My Soul • Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior • Rescue The Perishing • Safe In The Arms Of Jesus • Saved By Grace • Redeemed, How I Love To Proclaim It

23. All The Way My Savior Leads Me • Close To Thee • God Will Take Care of You • I Am Thine Oh Lord • Jesus Is Tenderly Calling You Home • Near The Cross • Praise Him Praise Him • Room At The Cross • Tell Me The Story Of Jesus • Though Your Sins Be As Scarlet • Tis The Blessed Hour Of Prayer • To God Be The Glory • To The Work • Will Jesus Find Us Watching

24. Her statement about her being blind is quite remarkable as it took a lot of thought • It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me.

25. He Keeps Me Singing 391 Luther B. Bridgers

26. Luther B. BridgersHe Keeps Me Singing • Methodist Minister • Went to a conference in Kentucky and left his wife Sarah and his three sons with his Father-in -law while he made the trip for two weeks • The final night he called the Father-in-law and to his dismay he discovered that his house had burned up and all had perished including his wife and three sons and the father-in-law and his wife. • That distraught father leaned heavily on the Lord and wrote this song in his grief.

27. At Calvary 296 William Newell

28. William Newell – At Calvary • 1868 to 1956 • Born in Ohio he was an evangelist • Bible college teacher • On his way to class he thought about what Christ had done for him on the cross • He entered an empty classroom and wrote this song in half an hour on the back of an old envelope which is all he had to write on • He gave the words to the director of music there and within an hour the entire song was finished

29. It Is Well With My Soul 409 Horatio G. Spafford

30. It Is Well With My Soul • October 1871 , great Chicago Fire ruined him financially as he was a wealthy businessman • He sent his wife and four daughter by ship across the Atlantic • The ship collided with another ship and all four daughters perished as it sank • He received a telegram from his wife stating “Saved Alone” • Several weeks later he followed in a ship and passed over the spot where the ship sank and his daughters died and he wrote this song • There is always hope no matter how dark the hour or situation

31. Near To The Heart Of God 324 Cleland McAfee

32. Near To The Heart Of God • Living in Chicago he received word that both his nieces had died of diphtheria within 24 hours of each other • He was a Presbyterian Minister and the only place he could find solace was in the book of Psalms • After studying Psalms he wrote this hymn • He sang it at the funeral the next day

33. Great Is Thy Faithfulness 96 Thomas Chisholm

34. Thomas Chisholm • Also wrote “Living For Jesus, O To Be Like Thee and 1200 others. • Great is Thy Faithfulness was not written because something great had happened in his life • But simply because over his life he has simply seen the greatness of God • At age 75 he wrote, due to my health I have never been able to create wealth but I have seen wonderful displays of God’s providing care and I am filled with astonishing gratefulness for all he has done for me.

35. Adelaide E. Pollard Have Thine Own Way Lord 488 George C. Stebbins

36. Have Thine Own Way Lord • Always wanted to be an African Missionary and thought God wanted it too • She could never raise the funds to go • In a prayer meeting she heard an elderly man that prayed the following : “It’s all right, Lord. It doesn’t matter what You bring into our lives, just have Your own way with us.” At home that night, much encouraged, she wrote this hymn. • Later in her life she did go to Africa and spoke to them until she was 75 years of age.

37. How Great Thou Art Carl Boberg A Swedish Preacher 107 S.K. Hine

38. How Great Thou Art • Carl Boberg and titled it “O Great God” in 1885 • In 1907 it was translated into German and in 1912 into Russian • In 1927 Hine found it and used it in his Ukraine work and when WWII broke out he brought it back to England and translated it into English and wrote a fourth stanza • When the refugees from the war flooded into England, all were asking when are we going home and the song answers the question.

39. Softly And Tenderly Jesus Is Calling 849 Will L. Thompson

40. Softly And Tenderly, Jesus is Calling • Dwight Lyman Moody, well known preacher lay on his death bed • Will Thompson comes to visit him • They would not let him in but Moody from his death bed calls for him • With is dying words he said “Will, I would rather have written ‘Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling’ than anything I have been able to do in my whole life.”

41. I Must Tell Jesus 569 Elisha Hoffman

42. I Must Tell Jesus • He spent most of his time working with people who were “down and out” • One day working with a woman in great pain and anguish and very discouraged he told her “She Must Tell Jesus All Of Her Troubles” • He thought about this all the way home and wrote this song as a result. • In the song he reminds us that we need to go to God for our physical needs and also our temptations that are so alluring to us

43. The Sweet By And By Joseph Webster Sanford F. Bennett

44. The Sweet By And By • Webster was a nervous depressed musician which could be aroused by a new song to work on for Sanford • One day he came in to Sanford’s store and backed up to the wood heater and Sanford asked him what was the matter? • His answers, "It's no matter," he replied, "it will be all right by and by."  • Thus the idea for this hymn which took a total of thirty minutes for Sanford to write the words and for Webster to write the music.

45. What A Friend We Have In Jesus 566 Joseph Scriven

46. What A Friend We Have In Jesus • 1819-1866 He had learned early in life to give his griefs to Jesus • On the eve of his wedding day, his bride was found drowned • This crushed him and he moved away to Port Hope • He discovered Jesus and decided to give his life in helping others and became known as the “Good Samaritan of Port Hope”. • He wrote this song as an encouragement to his sick mother

47. Friend We Have In Jesus • We are reminded again that we have a friend who wants to know our cares, griefs, burdens, temptations, trials, sins, pain, and sorrows. • Jesus is that friend. • Have you spoken to Him today?

48. When I Survey The Wondrous Cross 230 Lowell Mason Issac Watts

49. Issac Watts • Born in Southhampton England • As a child he drove his parents to the brink with his rhymes and verses • In school he got in trouble for not closing his eyes in prayer • To this he said : "A little mouse for want of stairs -ran up a rope to say its prayers." • Receiving Corporal punishment for this he said : "O father, do some pity take - And I will no more verses make."

50. Issac Watts - When I Survey The Wondrous Cross • Charles Wesley made the statement that he would give up all his other hymns just to have written this one • Other notable songs • Joy To The World • Come Ye That Love The Lord • Alas And Did My Savior Bleed • This Is The Day The Lord Has Made