Recent E-Mail and My Response

The E-Mail:

Good morning, I was looking at your web site and I was wondering what your take is on instrumental music. And Why do you down grade the worship of our Lord with encouraging people to come dressed "comfortably"? What if comfortable to some are short shorts and tank tops??? Seems odd to me that people are getting away from the reason we are to be attending church.. The true christians of this world are going to be the ones that stand out because of what we do NOT do, not because we tag onto the shirt tails of the majority.. After all, when you read the scriptures, where is the majority of the population going to spend eternity? Now you know why!
Thanks...

My Response:

Thanks for checking out our website. Regarding your first question about instrumental music, we use instruments in our worship service. We have many skilled musicians and it is such a joy to hear and see them as they help lead our worship services.

Your second question, "Why do you downgrade the worship of our Lord with encouraging people to come "comfortably"? I guess I don't understand what you are asking. What does manner of dress have to do with worship? Jesus told the woman at the well (John 4) that true worshipers worship in spirit and in truth. That was in response to a question about whether true worship required a specific location. Need I also remind you that King David danced in his underwear...his wife was critical and God cursed her. Be careful about making judgments when you don't know a person's heart--only God knows that. The whole idea of "dressing up" for church is man made...Jesus never made that a mandate for his followers or those seeking him. Did the prostitutes/tax collectors have to clean up before they came to Jesus?

One last thing. You pointed out that only a few are going to spend eternity with the Lord. You speak truth. But that is not God's desire. He desires that everyone would come to Him. He is patient doing whatever it takes to get them to Jesus. The whole thought of people spending eternity in Hell breaks my heart, and I'm going to do whatever it takes to make that "few" as big as possible.

Remember, we are on the same team. We may do things a little bit differently but we love Jesus with all of our hearts and we strive to be obedient to the Scriptures.

Grace & Peace,
Tom Steele