The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum More Sticky Issues of Women in the Church

Henry,

Excuse me for butting in here, but I'd like to respond to your "devil's advocacy" question too.

I think you answered your own question from the very phrasing of it, IMHO. Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs are (at least they should be) summaries of biblical truth, which when sung are actually a melodious confession of the singer with the primary intent being to worship God, either corporately and/or individually. That songs can "instruct" is not due to the singing of them, but rather it is inherent in the the fact that they reflect biblical truth, whether they are sung or not. They are instructive because they are words which can be read. The singing of the words is simply voicing one's assent to those truths which they represent. Since I believe that singing is primarily an expression of worship, "in spirit and truth", then it is non-restrictive as to who may sing.

As poor William has asked in several of his replies, to which speratus nor anyone else has seen fit to answer, where in Scripture does it say that singing of Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs is equivalent to "authoritative teaching" of which only those ordained of God and/or men may do?

In His Grace,