A recent article, I 'Perversions in Me Worship of Many Local Congregations" by Ron Daly calls for an answer. Let's consider the two issues raised in the article.

What About Group Singing?

The question, "Where is the Divine authority for special singing groups or soloists?" is worth considering. The answer is surprisingly easy to find.

1 Corinthians 14:26 describes worship in the Corinthian church. The passage says, ". . .when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying." While many things were wrong in Corinth, Paul does not condemn the things listed in this passage. he only admonishes them to be sure that they do these things unto the edifying of the congregation.

In 1 Corinthians 12-14, Paul forecasts the day when three of the things in v. 26 would cease. These items are tongues, revelation, and interpretation (of a miraculous nature). The other two continue to this day. If it is right for one man to teach, it is right for one man to sing to us I We are to sing one to another. We may sing one to another be that one to the group, or a group to a group, or mutually in congregational singing.

Group singing is not a perversion; it is a Divine provision.

What About "First-Day-of-the-Week-Only" Collections?

The article maintained that it was unscriptural, denominational and sinful to take up collections on days other than the first day of the week. The passage used to back up this bold assertion was 1 Corinthians 16:2.

1 Corinthians 16:2 deals with a special offering (the offering for needy Jerusalem Christians). This verse has no application to the usual collections. It is a gross perversion of Scripture to assert from this passage that offerings must be received on Sunday or not at all.

Are we to suppose the giving in Acts 2:45 was limited to the first day of the week? Did Barnabas lay his gift at the apostles' feet on Sunday? Was Ananias and Sapphira's gift offered on the first day of the week?

Let us remember that there is no New Testament record of the church ever receiving an offering on the first day of the week to be used in the way usual offerings are used by churches of Christ today (i.e. to pay for buildings, utilities, salaries, etc.). We do not sin when we take up such an offering. God wants the church supported. He has told us he wants Christians to give. We are at liberty to give whenever we wish to the church. Worship is an act of adoration and honor. God has not restricted or limited giving to a special time in the New Testament. We may give to Him at any time just as we may sing to Him at any time.

Offerings taken on days other than the first day are not perversions; God has made provision for giving at any time.

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 24, p. 742
December 20, 1984