August 11, 2013th Year of Our Lord

Dear family, brethren, and friends,

By God’s good grace a door was opened to us on the island of Leyte. Cyrus Gesulga has had contact with preachers on Leyte associated with churches of Christ using instrumental music, churches known as Christian Churches in the U.S. Ben and his son Lucas Pitogo are associated with these churches. They agreed to help Cyrus gather preachers to study for five days on “How to Study the Bible” and on “The Authority of Christ.” We began those classes today, August 6, with 42 in attendance. At the day’s end time was set aside for an open forum, but everyone was satisfied and no questions were asked. The applications will become more pointed tomorrow, so it will be interesting to see the reaction.

Along with Mark Mayberry and myself, our team of teachers include several Filipino preachers: Cyrus, Lordy Salunga, Jonathan Carino, and Jack Jaco. After breakfast and an early morning devotional lesson, formal classes begin at 9:00 AM and end at 7:30 PM.

On Wednesday our participants were very attentive as we discussed various themes involved in how to study the Bible. Lessons were presented on proper and improper attitudes, rightly dividing the truth, the two covenants, context, taking all the Bible says on a subject, word studies, and translations. In a natural way these topics accommodate application of Bible principles to such issues as instrumental music in worship, the proper use of the church treasury, and other issues. I especially emphasized the application to instrumental music. Everyone paid attention well with no apparent negative reaction. During the open forum, we had only two questions but none on instrumental music. It will be interesting to see what reactions we get for the next couple of days!

The next day Mark and I taught lessons completing the workbook on “How to Study the Bible.” Mark’s study of divine silence provided a good opportunity to show that instrumental music is not authorized in New Testament worship. I gave the participants a six-page worksheet reviewing how to study the Bible and we spent two hours working through it. This included exercises in analyzing passages in their context. Mark taught several mixed topics including a detailed study of the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21 to add a strong moral emphasis to our series.

The questions during the open forum were wide ranging, but one was especially important. It focused on whether people who obey the original gospel and then worship in churches which use instrumental music are Christians. I pointed out that when people obey Matthew 28:19, they are united with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – they are Christians. But worshiping with instruments deviates from Matthew 28:20 regarding the necessity to follow “all things” taught by Christ. This must be corrected. One of the leading preachers asked if he could have 30 minutes tomorrow to present his case defending instrumental music. We welcomed him to do it, knowing this would give us the opportunity to focus on the specific arguments he considered strongest.

Mark and I are walking 30-40 minutes each night for exercise and to maintain our stamina. During tonight’s walk, we turned at a dark corner and a small black pipe caught my shoe, causing me to fall. Our pace was fast and the fall somewhat propelled me forward in a prone position. Somehow my glasses ended up in my hands and took the impact of my sliding forward on the street. The lenses are badly scarred. Donna contacted my optometrist, who emailed the lenses’ prescriptions, and Jonathan took a fastcraft ferry to Cebu City on Cebu Island to get the lenses replaced. He visited four optometrists who specialize in making lenses, but they said my prescription could not be made in the Philippines. So, I will just make out as best I can with the glasses as they are. This is a reminder to count our blessings as citizens of America!

Friday I began two days of lessons on the theme “The Authority of Christ.” The first two lessons included material demonstrating Christ authorized singing in worship but not instrumental music. From 11:00 to 11:30 AM, Lucas Petigo presented two contradictory approaches in defense of instrumental music: (1) It is optional, not commanded, and (2) it is commanded by the Greek word psallo in Ephesians 5:19 (“making melody”). He first argued instruments are not commanded but also not prohibited. In response it was pointed out that when God authorized gopher wood for the ark, all other woods were automatically prohibited, just as the command to “sing” automatically forbids instruments. No specific prohibition is necessary.

Regarding psallo, the claim is made that it referred to singing to the accompaniment of instruments. I pointed out that if instruments are commanded by the use of psallo, the command is to all Christians, meaning all of us must play instruments. Those who cannot and do not play instruments cannot worship properly. Ephesians says to psallo on the h-e-a-r-t NOT on the h-a-r-p! In reality, psallo in the first century meant simply to sing and that is how it is translated in all standard Bible translations including those in Filipino dialects. Everyone listened well and no one became angry. The seed was sown.

I taught two additional lessons on the authority of Christ showing how Roman Catholicism arose by departing from the New Testament pattern of faith and practice. Instrumental music was one of the departures. Mark preached a whole lesson dismantling numerous arguments used to defend instruments. The audience was again attentive and in good spirits.

During the open forum, there were no questions on instrumental music, but there were questions about the proper role of women in the church, the work of the Holy Spirit, and Holy Spirit baptism.

On Saturday the five days of classes with men from instrumental churches were concluded. Our audience was reduced by the fact that one of their churches about ten kilometers away at San Vicente had its annual thanksgiving service – such services typically involve singing, preaching, and prayers of thanksgiving that the church has survived another year. Both Mark and I were invited to speak at this church tomorrow and we will include it on our schedule.

Meanwhile, four Roman Catholics who have attended several services at the sound church where Willie Pelino preaches and who attended our sessions decided to be baptized. After we dismissed the classes, we all rode to the ocean on tricycles (motorcycles with sidecars used as taxis). Willie baptized these four precious souls.

Lucas Pitogo who preaches at San Vicente has already invited us to return to teach again and even offered us the use of their large church building. He has been trained at a Christian Church Bible school here in the Philippines, so it is significant that he is so open to us. His influence is wide, and if he will be converted, this is sure to open many more doors. We must sow the seed and let God give the increase which is according to His will.

On Sunday Jonathan Carino went with Willie Pelino to preach for the church in Ormoc City. Mark, Cyrus Gesulga, Jack Jaco, and I traveled ten kilometers to reach a church at San Vicente . We started in an old beat-up van which broke down, so we hailed a tricycle and finished the trip. This was originally a conservative church but began using the instrument in 1999. Often churches of Christ in the Philippines using the instrument are still very conservative in many ways, and open to study. That was the case at San Vicente.

Mark began with a sermon on “The Pattern” and used the Lord’s Supper to illustrate the importance of strictly following God’s instructions for worship. I followed him with a study of “New Beginnings in Christ:” a new covenant, a new kingdom, and a new birth. I emphasized that the old covenant including instrumental music in worship has “vanished away” (Heb. 8:13) now that the new covenant is in effect. Cyrus urged the brethren to make a decision to remove the instruments from their worship.

When we opened the floor for questions, two of the leading men said the lessons presented during the previous week were very clear and there were no more questions. They promised to let their instruments “vanish away.” I stood, walked over to them, shook their hands, and assured them we can work in unity now that the wedge of division was repudiated. Cyrus led us in prayer on behalf of these brethren and this congregation at San Vicente.

This has been a good and profitable week by God’s grace!

We planned to travel to Cebu City tonight via the fastcraft ferry to begin the next segment of our work. A low pressure area stirred up stormy waters and it was cancelled. A large ship can ply the waters, so we got tickets for the all-night journey.

We thank God for opening the way for us to travel to the Philippines and we thank our brethren who sacrifice to provide the necessary financing for our work! The sky has been cloudy today, so we may not be able to see the moon, but if you can see it there, be sure to smile at the moon for us.

In Christian love, Ron Halbrook