Staying off the exit ramps-part 2

        From the Revelation of St. John the Divine, Chapter 3: 7-8 and 10-11 we read, “And to the angel of the church of Philadelphia write; these things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly, hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”
       The churches of Ephesus, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, and Laodicea were rebuked in the Revelation of St. John Divine. The church of Smyrna was said to be poor but yet rich in the sight of God. The church in Philadelphia, “the brother lovers,” had no charges against it in the Revelation but rather was given several precious promises. Therefore, Christian musicians should emulate the church of Philadelphia.  So, one of the best ways to avoid the exit ramps is to love one another and emulate the church at Philadelphia.
       First, they loved each other. They were not like the baby boomer Church musicians of my generation who split and splintered churches over music style. You can do mush better by purposing in your heart and mind to get along. Music is never worth splitting up a congregation of believers until they are no longer able to worship at the same time in the same place.
       Second, this church kept the word of God. They believed “the words of him who is holy and true.” In this age where some churchmen do not believe or trust God’s word – trust His word. Why? Because God’s Word is, as Francis Schaeffer once said, “true truth.”
       Third, don’t deny Christ’s name by denying His Word. St. John 1:1 declares that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Christ’s name is essentially the Word. God is as good as His word. Verse 14 tells us very clearly that “the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth. You must believe God’s word in Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning, God created…” The Gospel of John very clearly teaches us, “All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made.”  I believe that our “true truth” foundation begins with creation. If we do not believe in the truth of the real creation, then our belief system is left open for doubt and disbelief.  We will continue this discussion in tomorrow's post.