Teaching and Admonishing restated

In Colossians 3:16 Paul refers to “teaching and admonishing.” These are mentioned in the same phrase for a reason. It is not enough to simply teach the fundamental doctrines of the faith without specific and realistic guidance as to how these doctrines should affect the daily walk of faith. At the same time, giving moral and ethical advice in the form of admonishment is groundless without a solid foundation of doctrinal and theological teaching upon which to establish those guidelines. We must teach and admonish in balance. “We can talk about methods,” writes Schaeffer, “we can stir each other up, we can call each other to all kinds of action, but unless it is rooted in a strong Christian base in the area of content and the practice of truth, we build on sand and add to the confusion of our day.”[i]

[i] Francis Schaeffer, Two Contents, Two Realities in The Complete Works of Francis A. Schaeffer: A Christian Worldview, Volume 3 (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1982), 412.

Corporate and Individual worship

Although the concept of worship is totally interrelated when discussing individual and/or corporate worship, we can learn a great deal about either of the two by considering them independently of each other. You will notice that though we may attempt to discuss them independently, they are truly and completely dependent upon and intertwined with each other. Corporate worship flows from individual worship, and individual worship takes place within the community of believers.

Teaching and Admonishing

In Colossians 3, I find it interesting that Paul clearly indicates that music is to be utilized for “teaching and admonishing” as well as “singing with thankfulness” to God. These are broad and sweeping responsibilities for the use of music within the church. Yet, many churches remain in the paradigm that the sermon is the primary form of “teaching and admonishing.” In fact, churches regularly (and too narrowly) focus music only upon an upward “me to God” dynamic of what they call “worship.” Paul, on the other hand, sets the stage for a broad variety and underlying diversity in teaching and admonishing through music.

Redemption of the Arts

With reference to variety, and redemption of the arts in particular, Jeremy Begbie writes, “The musician’s calling, as with any creative artist, is to discover, respect, and develop what he or she has received in creation, and to form out of the disorder of the world a richer order.”[i] Within the walls of the church creativity and innovation should abound as we bring the word of God in all of its forms to all who need to hear it.

[i] Begbie, “Music in God’s Purposes,” 129.