The Auburn Beacon
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works
and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

A Website dedicated to the Restoration of New Testament Christianity
 

Home | About Us | Directions | Bulletins | Sermons & Audio | Cross Of Christ Studies | Classes | Student and Parent Resource Page Dangers Facing the "Non-Traditional"


Click Here for the Latest Edition of the Auburn Beacon

 


 
Sign up for our Email Newsletter
Type Your email address here
Email Newsletter icon, E-mail Newsletter icon, Email List icon, E-mail List icon

The Beacon is sent weekly



Planning to Visit Us?

What to Expect
Current Class Information


Thoughts To Ponder

The strength that comes from
confidence can
quickly be lost
in conceit.
 

 


You will need
the following viewers
to view many of the
files on this site.

 

Click here to
download
Adobe Acrobat Reader

Click here to
download
Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer



 

University church of Christ

 

Assembly Times

 Sunday

   Bible Classes (9:30)

   AM Worship (10:20)

   PM Worship (6:00 pm)

 Wednesday

   Bible Classes
(7:00 PM)

 

Location

449 North Gay Street

Auburn, AL 36830
Click Here for Specific Directions

 

Evangelist

Larry Rouse
1147 Terrace Acres Drive
Auburn, AL 36830

Cell:    (334) 734-2133
Home:
(334) 209-9165

Contact Us

 University
church of Christ

449 North Gay Street

Auburn, AL 36830

 

Or directly e-mail us at:
LarryRouse@aubeacon.com

 

 


Sermon Series on the Book of 1 John
by Robert Harkrider

Sermons:

A Sin Often Overlooked

PowerPoint
Audio

1 John 1 - Actions  Speak Louder Than Words

PowerPoint
Audio

1 John 2 - The Love God Hates

PowerPoint
Audio

1 John 3 - The Love That God Commands

PowerPoint
Audio

1 John 4 - Truth or The Consequences

PowerPoint
Audio

1 John 5 - Things a Christian Knows for Sure

PowerPoint
Audio

Click Here for Audio and Other Files

 

 

 

"Aid" or "Addition" What Is the Difference?

by Wayne Jackson

A kindly gentleman replies: “Because musical instruments are not authorized by the New Testament, hence, they are additions to the divine pattern which prescribes Christian worship.”

But the intrigued visitor probes further: “Why then do you use song books? Aren’t these also additions?” “No, the brother replies, “our song books are merely aids; there’s a difference between an addition and an aid.”

Conversations like the previous take place on numerous occasions. There is much confusion in discerning the difference between an “addition” and an “aid.” What is the difference? This is a great question, and we focus briefly on it in this week’s Penpoint.

How is an “addition” distinguished from an “aid”? An addition occurs when a particular action has been altered, or the fundamental composition or substance of a thing has been changed. An aid alters nothing; it merely facilitates the implementation of the action or substance, without changing anything.

Perhaps several examples will help us focus on this.

Aids vs. Additions

A cane may aid one in taking a walk, but with or without this device, one is just walking. But if one walks for a while, and then rides a bicycle, he is no longer just walking; something has been added to his mode of travel. Now, he’s both walking and riding.

A mother sends her son to the market to buy a loaf of bread. He brings the bread home in a bag. The bag is merely an aid. Should he purchase a candy bar as well, he has disregarded the instruction of his mother by an addition.

A man takes his automobile to the service center for an oil change. The attendant may use a wrench and funnel to aid in his replacement of the oil. There is no problem with that. But we all understand that if he changes the spark plugs as well, he has augmented the original instructions.

Jesus taught that the communion supper is to consist of bread and fruit of the vine. A table, plates, and cups facilitate (aid) the implementation of those commands. But to garnish the bread with peanut butter, and “punch up” the fruit of the vine with ginger ale, is to be guilty of addition.

Christians are obligated to preach the gospel everywhere to the extent of their ability. In order to accomplish this, it is acceptable to use aids (e.g., tracts, television, the world wide web, or a building). But if one combines something with that gospel (as the Judaizers did in the first century when they taught that circumcision, an element of the Mosaic law, is also necessary to receive salvation – Acts 15:1), that is an offense.

When the church commences the praise portion of its service, the saints may “sing,” for such is enjoined by God (Eph. 5:18-19; Col. 3:16). Christians may employ song books, a projection screen, or a tuning fork (to determine the appropriate “pitch”). Still, though, in the final analysis, they would be singing only.

On the other hand, if the church sings to the accompaniment of an organ, piano, etc., those thus participating have added something to what the Lord authorized. There now are two types of music – vocal and instrumental. The nature of the original command has been supplemented.

Additions are wrong.

And so, the serious Bible student must conclude that the use of a mere aid only accommodates obedience to God’s will. Such expediencies may fluctuate from time-to-time and from place-to-place.

On the other hand, those who respect the authority of the sacred Scriptures will not tamper with the divine prescriptions for worship by the clutterment of additions. They will not add to sacred instruction, for to do so is to invite the wrath of God ultimately.

One needs to remember what happened to those who put God’s Ark of the Covenant on a “new” cart (2 Sam. 6:3), instead of transporting the sacred chest as the law had required (Ex. 25:12-14). David later admitted that this addition was “not according to the [divine] ordinance” (1 Chron. 15:16). It pays to know the difference between an “aid” and an “addition.”

To many, such matters perhaps seem rather trivial. This is because they have never fathomed the concept of the necessity of absolute obedience to the sovereign Creator. 

 

Other Articles by Wayne Jackson
The Divine Pattern of Acceptable Worship
The New Testament Pattern of Giving
Tradition Verses Scripture
 

 

 Would you like others to read this article?

                    Please share!

 

 

 

 

 

 


Student Sunday Night Home Study and Singing

 

 

When Evolutionist Tell the Truth by David Tant
Outline
PowerPoint
Audio of Lesson
Audio of Singing

Situation Ethics by Caleb George - March 30, 2011
Audio of Lesson
Audio of Singing

God's Principles for Success by David Tant
PowerPoint
Audio of Lesson
Audio of Singing

 

Lessons From a Deck of Cards by Jordan Toombs
Outline
Audio of Lesson
Audio of Singing

 

Evangelism by Joel Mark Ellis January 16, 2011
Outline
Audio of Lesson
Audio of Singing

For Additional Information and Past Audio and Outlines Click Here


Click Here to Hear:

A Friendly Discussion on Mormonism

Held at the University church of Christ -
Auburn, Alabama February 17, 2011

 

Monthly Bible Study in Lagrange
at the Eastside church of Christ in LaGrange, Georgia

Overcoming the Present Apostasy by Larry Rouse

 

Saturday October 9, 2010


9:30 AM
- How do We View the Bible?

Outline
PowerPoint
Audio

 

Saturday December 11, 2010

9:30 AM - How Do We View the World?

Outline
PowerPoint

 

 


University church of Christ

 

Assembly Times

 Sunday

   Bible Classes (9:30)

   AM Worship (10:20)

   PM Worship (6:00 pm)

 Wednesday

   Bible Classes
(7:00 PM)

 

Location

449 North Gay Street

Auburn, AL 36830

Click Here for Specific Directions



 

Overcoming the Present Apostasy

Sermon Series by Larry Rouse

Piscataway, NJ Nov 20-22, 2009

 

 

Friday Night 7:30

Lesson1 - How Do We View the Bible?

Outline
PowerPoint
Audio

Saturday Night 7:30

Lesson 2 - How do we View the World?

Outline
PowerPoint
Audio

Sunday Morning 9:15
Lesson 3 - How do we View God's Order for Leadership?

Outline
PowerPoint
Audio

Sunday Morning 10:00
Lesson 4 - How Do We View the Local Church?

Outline
PowerPoint
Audio

Sunday Morning 11:00
Lesson 5 - How Do We View God's Instruction on Fellowship

Outline
Audio

For Additional Information, Audio and Outlines Click Here

 


Recent Bulletins:

The Auburn Beacon - Dec 26, 2010 Edition

The Auburn Beacon - Dec 19, 2010 Edition

The Auburn Beacon - Dec 12, 2010 Edition

The Auburn Beacon - Dec 5, 2010 Edition

The Auburn Beacon - Nov 28, 2010 Edition


Your
Questions Please
!

Do you have a Bible question that you have hesitated to ask?

E-Mail us now at:
larryrouse@aubeacon.com

Visit our question page to submit your question and to read other's questions with Bible answers!

[click here]
 

Our Adult Bible Classes

You may obtain both the current outlines and the audio of past Bible classes from our assemblies.

[click here]

 

   
   
 
 
 

 

  © 2011 - University church of Christ - All rights reserved!