Herbert Armstrong, in the Church Purple Hymnal, in "How This Hymnal Came To Be" - the introduction of the many familiar Dwight Armstrong four part harmony songs - said the words in the title above, pertaining to why he would not allow "Christian" songs to be included in his collection of hymns for the Church. For this reason, based on his extreme prejudice and contempt for all things mainstream Christianity, he said that it is as sinful to sing a lie as it is to tell one.
Pretty potent words of blatant hypocrisy, if you ask me. How many times did we sing something about us moaning bitterly, when we weren't? Or with shame and confusion covering our faces - everyone smile!? Or "For God's Day is Now at Hand" - when it wasn't. But we sing something about "What a Friend we Have in Jesus" - apparently, that was a lie to the Church. Or, "and he walks with me, and He talks with me" - well, maybe that wasn't a lie. In our church, He was outside knocking at the door trying to get in.
How about now?
What about when the Splinters sing "Onward Christian soldiers?" How is we are not divided not a lie within the Churches of God? You bet they're divided. All of them. They can't even get together for a feast service. Not even once a year.
Or how about "How Good and How Pleasant" - for those who have those in their hymnals? Together in Unity? Really? What COG is completely united together in unity? Name one? Anyone? I'm not counting those who "play church". You know who you are.
If it REALLY is just as much of a sin to sing a lie, as it is to say a lie, as Herbert constantly proclaimed as the core of his reasoning to get his brother Dwight to write the Purple Hymnal and forever put his tunes in our heads, then you know what my opinion is? It's probably an unpopular opinion. One that might get one in hot water with a minister. Want to know what it is? It's really easy.
Don't sing the lies! Am I agreeing with HWA on this? No - I'm agreeing with the word of God on this, in my honest opinion. But I know that such a statement could never happen within a Church of God. Obedience to "the Government of God" is far more valuable then truth. The fear of the minister - that conditioning - is strong. One of the strongest forces in the mind of a Church of God member.
I might add, that if you decide to sing or not sing in a mainstream Church - in many of the mainstream churches - it's encouraged for you to worship your own way. Many times they will start the service by saying:
"Many of you today may feel like standing up, that's fine. Some of you may want to stay seated, that's fine, too. Some can come up to the altar, others can stay in their seats. Some may sing loudly, others may sit quiet and prayerfully. However you worship is between you and God as we come into his presence."
Such an attitude of personal worship between God and Man would be a rarity in the Churches of God.
So if you aren't comfortable with not singing because you'll get a target on your head from a Minister - and you don't want to SING A LIE - better yet, change the words. How about, as loudly as you can, "We are ALL divided, NOT one body, we, Not in hope in doctrine, NOT in charity". I wonder how that would go over! Oh wait! Am I causing division? Or promoting truth? What is better? Division... or truth? Read Luke 12:51 and tell me what you think about Jesus' response to such a question.
Or - there's the ol' Silent Sing Trick! Keep mouthing the words "We are not divided" but sing "We are .... divided". :P The only person who could tell? Your family next to you. But I guess this would become quite the problem if the whole church did it! Can you imagine? Everyone singing WE ARE .... DIVIDED, ...... BODY WE...... IN FAITH AND DOCTRINE.... IN CHARITY... Can you just see the Pastor's face now? Usher meeting! To the back! Pronto!
And then 45 minutes over service for a sermon on respect of authority in the Church - which trumps truth.
I'm being totally facetious here. No one's going to do any of the above. I know anyone reading this will certainly just sing the falsehoods, "We are not divided, all one body we", all while their internal thoughts are yelling "HA! HA! RIGHT! WHATEVER! ISNT THAT A LOAD OF HOOEY!"
The point of all this is simple. In the Churches of God, authority trumps truth. Lies trump truth. Appearance trumps truth. Law trumps truth. So if truth is Jesus, and Jesus is truth...
Where's Jesus?
