The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #155

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

Preparing to enter ministry (over 20 years ago now!), I was given a book a famous pastor wrote. In it, he asserted, “God loves all kinds of music.” To be blunt, this is Bible ignorance. God does not love false doctrine, so He would not care for any music whose lyrics contain bad information or foster spiritual immaturity. If the music’s lyrics promote Bible ignorance, how can the Lord love it? Here is what the feel-good, megachurch leader overlooked—either not knowing or pretending not to know. (I am afraid it is willful ignorance!)

There is indeed a spiritual component to music, a therapeutic effect, just as in 1 Samuel 16:23 when David played the harp to relieve King Saul of spiritual distress (cf. verses 14-17). Music can either influence us positively or negatively, bring us to spiritual truth or bring us from spiritual truth. Unfortunately, most Christians are ignorant of this—and it is not God’s fault that they are unaware of the Devil’s “worship services.”

In Ephesians 5:19, we read of “psalms” (songs praising God for His wonderful works), “hymns” (general songs praising God), and “spiritual songs” (odes of spiritual value, poems “charged with spiritual truth,” songs restricted to the things of the Holy Spirit). The description “spiritual songs” eliminates all confusion with secular/worldly songs (especially the chanting of the drunken worshippers of Bacchus [ancient Roman god of wine], familiar to the Ephesians and other citizens of the Roman Empire). Read the spiritual songs of Elisabeth (Luke 1:41-45), Mary (Luke 1:46-55), and Zacharias (Luke 1:67-79), all involving personal testimony and joy. “…Is any merry? let him sing psalms” (James 5:13). Alas, Christians today have utilized worldly music standards to determine what is appropriate. To boost popularity and profits, separation has given way to compromise (violating 2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1 and Ephesians 5:1-21).

Ephesians 5:19 also exhorts us to sing and make melody in our heart “to the Lord.” This is not amusement, and this is not to man. Our music should worship the Lord—not self, not man, not Satan. We express our gratitude to God for what He has done for us….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #154

Tuesday, October 27, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

“Anointed music” (or “anointed worship”) is a trendy name habitually repeated in Christendom. While seemingly impressive, rest assured it is nothing valuable or godly. Basically, particular phrases/lyrics, musical instruments, and sounds are employed to create an atmosphere that stirs up and maintains an adrenaline rush (it happened with ancient Babylonian idolaters in Daniel chapter 3!). It is a syncretism of Judaism, heathenism, mysticism/superstition, and emotion-based religion (Corinth!!!). If ever you hear, “Come encounter God—come feel His presence—at our ‘praise and worship’ service,” permanently turn your back to it and leave as quickly as you can! Why?

The Charismatic Movement of the latter half of the 20th century was actually Pentecostalism (founded circa 1900) infiltrating mainline denominations. Excessive emphasis is still placed upon miraculous demonstrations and spiritual gifts (especially tongues), as well as various other superficial and external criteria (what looks good, feels good, et cetera). Charismatic theology and practice produced “Contemporary Christian Music” (“CCM”) in the 1960s and 1970s, and popularized it throughout the 1980s and 1990s. What people generally do not understand, or have chosen to ignore (!), is how this nonsense resulted from failing to avoid the spiritual silliness of which 1 Corinthians warned. Contemporary Christian Music is spiritually dangerous: its lyrics (underlying doctrine) are quite shallow and even heretical.

However, Contemporary Christian Music appeals to the (lost) general public. Megachurches use it to attract tens of thousands of visitors. Frankly, that strong feeling of excitement—“frisson,” adrenaline rush (!)—is exactly what drug users experience and become addicted to. “Worshippers” enjoy a concert, release their pent-up energy with “moving and grooving,” and even feel a bit religious in the process (after all, it is “church!”). Captivated, it is guaranteed they will return (and even throw in a generous contribution at collection time, similar to children paying admission into an amusement park!). Denominations and ministries affiliated with Contemporary Christian Music are not about to divest themselves of anything that brings in large crowds of people and huge sums of money—even if it is a counterfeit spirituality.

Oh, dear friends, how the professing church is in overwhelming spiritual trouble….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #153

Monday, October 26, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

One lady described for me her first visit to a local megachurch. The music was “so loud” that she was totally disgusted—and not going back! Several years ago, I viewed the television program of another large “feel-good” congregation meeting in my area. These engaged in vigorous physical activity while singing one song for 10 minutes uninterrupted (yes, I timed it). Such lyrics asked “the Holy Spirit” (?) to descend. Exhausted, they ceased for a few seconds to catch their breath… before the preacher (a notable false teacher) beckoned for them to start up the band again! They proceeded to sing the chorus for an additional four minutes, over and over and over. Such was fun and games to this blind leader of the blind, and all his gullible followers were equally “carried away” in religious fervor (1 Corinthians 12:2). Watching attentively and listening closely, I ultimately concluded the Holy Spirit would have no part of that empty noise… even after they had spent nearly a quarter-hour begging Him to come down!

My (final) denominational preacher—from long, long ago—was a skilled vocalist. He once traveled from church to church with a quartet. Possessing a great voice indeed, he felt superior to those whom he regarded as “unable to sing.” Eventually (after my family left the group), I heard how he developed dementia and became incapable of preaching. Once a new pastor was installed, the former pastor was relegated to songleader—until he was unable to sing because he could no longer remember lyrics. All those beautiful songs were not as approved unto God as the preacher or his congregation thought, for he passionately fought against dispensational Bible truth.

Dear friends, if we are going to confine “praise and worship” to two brief periods on Sunday, and one on Wednesday night, what exactly is the rest of our week? Should we not be praising and worshipping God all the time? Is not the delivery of sermons and studying actual Bible verses also praise and worship? Or, could it just be that, despite all our alleged “praise and worship,” we really have no idea what praise and worship are? Yea, we are too preoccupied with amusement, emotionalism, and fleshliness….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #152

Sunday, October 25, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

Astonishingly, countless secular musical artists today acquired their skills in church. Starting as members of the choir, humming “gospel” (?) songs and performing piously with instruments, they ultimately went out to sing for the world, the flesh, and the Devil. They have no personal testimony of having trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour, so they are willing to expand into controversial subject matter (vulgar topics and trashy behaviors) so as to launch a lucrative career and make a name for themselves. Of course, they began taking funds and resources from God’s people to achieve this. Now affluent, they have less time for “the Lord” than ever (if that is even possible). What, oh what, did they learn “in church” about music?! Evidently, they were taught that singing is just another job or ordinary pastime, music being just another discipline or field of study.

Re-read 1 Corinthians 14:26: “How is it then, brethren? 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.” The spiritual circus of the Corinthian church was definitely nowhere near the high spiritual standard the Holy Spirit preserved in the epistle of 1 Corinthians (or Romans chapters 12–16). Fragmented into little cliques or denominations/sects (1 Corinthians 1:10-13; 1 Corinthians 3:1-4; 1 Corinthians 11:18,19), they had their own personal agendas when assembling for “worship.” “I want to sing this,” one would cry. Another stated, “I wish to teach that!” Others would clamor, “I desire to say this,” or “I purpose to share with you the message ‘God’ gave me,” or “I want to tell you what I think this means….” There was no harmony, only self-governing souls seeking to take the congregation in various directions because of personal impulses—all their yearning for fun, fun, fun producing a hopeless deadlock (corporate spiritual paralysis) in immaturity (corporate spiritual ruin). Beloved, if this is not Christendom, what is? Did we ever give even five seconds of critical thought to the perils of Corinthianism? Nay!

To repeat, let us appreciate the gravity of the situation….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #151

Saturday, October 24, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

Singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19) is the first evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit in this the Dispensation of the Grace of God (verse 18); the other two proofs are thankfulness (verse 20) and submission (verse 21). All three are “the will of the Lord” (verse 17). We are “filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18) when “the word of Christ dwell[s] in [us] richly in all wisdom” (Colossians 3:16). If our Christian life is to operate as Father God planned, we must know what Christ has told us through our Apostle Paul. The Holy Spirit leads us to no other conclusion.

In “time past,” Israel’s standard was the Law (Hebrew Bible): “And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:19,20). Whatever we see and hear in “but now” must align with the doctrinal standard God the Holy Spirit has preserved in His rightly divided Word. Our guidelines are Paul’s 13 epistles, Romans to Philemon: “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant” (1 Corinthians 14:37,38).

Few comprehend that many of our popular “Christian” hymns came from writers whose denominational systems are combinations of superstition, heathenism, Judaism, and Christianity. They combine prophecy and mystery, confusing Israel and the Body of Christ, Law and Grace. When church members sing them, the ignorance is reinforced. The songwriters’ poor understanding of spiritual matters is transferred to everyone else. In certain cases, this process has spanned centuries—and, being so widespread, it is almost impossible to correct it. However, the damage inflicted is seldom detected, as the attendant entertainment seems to “justify” the singing (in the minds of the simple, anyway).

Dear friends, we had better grow up concerning music, and that right soon….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #150

Friday, October 23, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

Remember, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). This is always applicable on the Bible timeline—time past, but now, and the ages to come. Worship of God must be “in spirit and in truth,” with more stress placed on the heart (internal/inward) rather than the physical body (external/outward). Though the body can behave deceitfully, the attitude of the inner man cannot be faked. Moreover, truth has to undergird our beliefs and actions, meaning our doctrine (and lyrics) must be dispensationally correct (matching God’s present-day work, Romans to Philemon).

Ephesians 5:19 exhorts, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;…” The heart (soul), not the voice, matters above all else when singing to the Lord. Remember, the tongue can be faked but the heart of faith cannot; Israel sang and spoke of the LORD and prayed, but it was vain, empty, hypocritical religion that eventually led to judgment. No heart of faith was involved in what they were doing in Judaism. It was just mindless, external, religious activity, worshipping religion instead of worshipping God; it looked good on the outside, but it was rotten inside, just like Christendom. They do what they want, and they teach what they want, but always give “God” credit. Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart/soul (1 Samuel 16:7).

Someone once wrote, “The psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs were to be sung so that the heart should be engaged, and not so as to be mere music, or a mere external performance.” As with prayer, our music reflects what is in our heart—whether good doctrine or bad doctrine. Once, I talked with a young woman who played the piano at church. She said she was not that good. When I inquired if her goal was to glorify the Lord, and she replied “yes,” I informed her that it did not matter if she knew how to play proficiently. What counted is that she was playing for the Lord to hear—and it was in her heart to worship Him….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #149

Thursday, October 22, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

Since Christian songs should “teach [instruct]” and “admonish [warn]” (Colossians 3:16), the quality of the doctrine their lyrics communicate determine their spiritual value. Indeed, just as preaching about Christ can be iniquity (see Matthew 7:21-23; 2 Corinthians 11:3,4,13-15), so singing about Him can be sinful too. “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23,24). To worship God “in spirit” is internal (not external); “in truth” is correctness (not error). “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3).

As with prayer, Christendom wrongly greatly emphasizes physical posture concerning music. Unless you are kneeling, closing your eyes, and folding your hands, they do not regard your praying as “most spiritual.” Similarly, so as to fit in, you must raise your hands, shake or dance, and sing for extended periods of time during a “worship service”—the louder the music, the longer the singing, the more praise God allegedly receives. Certainly, ancient Israel outwardly appeared to worship God (Isaiah 1:10-20; Amos 5:21-27) by offering animal sacrifices, burning incense, keeping a religious calendar with feasts, spreading their hands, and making many prayers. Yet, all of it was fakery, external (formalism, showiness) instead of internal (faith, truth). None of it appealed to the LORD; it actually made Him so nauseous He even refused to look on it!

Physical positions are inconsequential when one’s heart is still in unbelief: “Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias [Isaiah 29:13] prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:7-9; cf. Mark 7:6,7). Whether Christ’s earthly ministry or 700 years before, the Jews sang and talked about “the LORD” without simultaneously having faith in Him. Likewise, Christendom has done it for two millennia….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #148

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

Contemplate Ephesians 5:18,19 again: “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;….” Also read its companion, Colossians 3:16, once more: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” We teach (instruct) and admonish (warn) each other by means of singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs that match grace principles. There is mutual edification, believers in Christ building up one another in sound doctrine and maturing each other: “From whom [Christ] the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:16).

Rather than just opening our mouths and thoughtlessly singing whatever we want, we should sing with understanding or comprehension (see 1 Corinthians 14:15). Yet, a dear Christian friend and brother informed me how he sang denominational songs until someone pointed out that the lyrics were wrong. He realized he was engaged in mindless singing, not really thinking about sound doctrine—and this is precisely why church tradition is so dangerous. Hundreds of millions are singing all sorts of songs in our church buildings worldwide, but have no clue what they are actually saying because there is no critical thinking! It is but mindless religion, what they have done all their lives; they are familiar with nothing else, so they do not question it. If others sing, people eagerly join in. They do not know what they are singing, but they hope the preacher knows or someone there knows… when it is most likely that no one knows (otherwise, they would not be singing it if they did). I sang hymns in ignorance for years myself, and so did many other people I know.

This is not God’s fault, but our own fault….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #147

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

When I was a university student, I attended a meeting in our student union. Coincidentally, a “worship session” was simultaneously being held in a theater across the hall. Out of curiosity, I put my hands and ear on the outer side of the wall of that room. Although voices were muffled, I could literally feel that wall shaking! As for this noisy religious (charismatic) group, I subsequently visited their building located on-campus to share Bible verses with them. It was not long before they escorted me out the door for teaching information that contradicted what they wanted to believe! That was my first—and last—time there.

A relative shared on social-media how she had just come back from church. Their special guest showed the whole congregation “some new dance moves.” With great excitement, she concluded the post with, “Christians can have fun!!!” Their reason for going to church could not be more obvious. Consider the time when a nearby megachurch had services that included a full hour of singing. Interviewed, one attendee’s words demonstrated he heard no clear Gospel of Grace or any other sound Bible doctrine. A young adult, age 21, notified me how her favorite part of a “grace conference” (the same one I attended) was not learning sound doctrine: nay, the highlight for her was singing with friends. This same woman had attended grace churches for years, was a children’s Sunday school teacher and camp counselor, and was “training for ministry.” Despite all that outward appearance, she had no interest in learning any sound doctrine from me!

These are a few samples of how yearning for entertainment at church has replaced longing for truth at church. Dearly beloved, we need not wonder why we are so pitifully ignorant of even the simplest of Bible concepts. Unfortunately, as Christians, our view of music tends to vary little from that of the unsaved world. Lost people could not have done a better job as our teachers, and we could not have done a better job as their students….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #146

Monday, October 19, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

The Scriptures tell us what the Lord Jesus and His disciples did just before His arrest. “And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives” (Matthew 26:30). “And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives” (Mark 14:26). Perhaps they sang Psalms 115–118.

Even after being falsely accused, severely beaten, and jailed; and having their feet placed in the stocks (firmly secured); Acts 16:25 explains: “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.” In the ages to come, the Book of Revelation refers to songs sung to the Lord. “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;…” (Revelation 5:9). “And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: and they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth” (Revelation 14:2,3).

In the context of sinful pleasures and excesses in Israel (north) and Judah (south), Amos 6:5 comments: “That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David;….” Such “chanting” is heathen. Also, though they resemble David with their musical instruments, they have fashioned them “to themselves” (not for God’s worship, but for their own entertainment). Earlier, the LORD ordered, “Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols” (Amos 5:23). “And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands” (Isaiah 5:12).

God’s music has been perverted (!)….