QUESTION: Larry Powers says in his tract on choirs that Colossians 3:16 “teaching” means to teach, instruct by word of mouth and “admonishing” means to put in mind, instruct, warn. Therefore, this teaching and admonishing is to be done to one another, which means that all do it at the same time together. If what Larry Powers says is true, then it means that pulpit preaching, teaching, and admonishing are wrong, because only one person does it at one time. Is this true? Please explain.
ANSWER: Brother Powers is correct in his definitions of “teaching” and “admonishing.” He does not say, however, that these definitions constitute the basis for doing them to “one another.” He is saying that since this passage commands that teaching and admonishing in our singing be directed to “one another,” we are, thereby, limited to “all of us doing it at the same time together.” He is correct! The limitations of this passage exclude, and regard as sinful, the use of choirs! We are commanded in Colossians 3:16 to all sing together at the same time. We are not all commanded to preach at the same time (1 Corinthians 14:33 & 40).