T HE N EW T ESTAMENT C HURCH I NSTRUMENTAL M USIC

I NTRODUCTION We will discuss this special topic in our study of Christian worship. Why ? In order to examine some of the most commonly used contentions in favor of mechanical instruments being added to the music in Christian worship.

T HE A RGUMENT T HAT H AS N EVER B EEN M ADE : No one has ever contended or argued that instrumental music should be added to the worship because of New Testament Scriptures, as given to us by God’s providence, teach that it should be used. Not ONE passage has ever been produced which even indirectly mentions mechanical instruments of music. So they seek to prove by “ other means.” The following arguments are made…

I T W AS P RACTICED U NDER THE L AW OF M OSES IN OT T IMES : This same argument would introduce: – Burning incense – Infant membership – Animal sacrifices – Polygamy – Levi priests – Sabbath keeping – Anything else characterized in the Old Testament period. – “That which proves too much proves nothing.”

I T W AS P RACTICED U NDER THE L AW OF M OSES IN OT T IMES : To practice anything taught by Moses but not taught by Christ is fatal in Christianity, because it places the authority of Moses on par with authority of Christ. Two different laws — Two different covenants

P RACTICED U NDER THE L AW OF M OSES Live under both laws would be “ spiritual adultery.” “So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man. Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another --to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.” {Romans 7:3,4}

P RACTICED U NDER THE L AW OF M OSES To justify what we do by Law of Moses— severs us from Christ and His grace. “You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law ; you have fallen from grace.” {Galatians 5:4}

P RACTICE U NDER THE L AW OF M OSES Going back to the Law of Moses for some practice not taught by Christ and the apostles—deny the all sufficiency of NT scriptures. Disrespect Christ’s authority. “For Moses truly said to the fathers, 'The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you.” {Acts 3:22}

P RACTICE U NDER THE L AW OF M OSES Going back to the Law of Moses for some practice not taught by Christ and the apostles—deny the all sufficiency of NT scriptures. Disrespect Christ’s authority. “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” {Ephesians 1:22,23}

P RACTICE U NDER THE L AW OF M OSES To depend on Old Testament authority for Christian practice is to resurrect an invalid law and deny the effectiveness of Christ’s death on the cross! “Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross.” {Ephesians 2:15,16}

P RACTICE U NDER THE L AW OF M OSES To depend on Old Testament authority for Christian practice is to resurrect an invalid law and deny the effectiveness of Christ’s death on the cross! “Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” {Colossians 2:14}

P RACTICE U NDER THE L AW OF M OSES To depend on the Old Law is to cling to the shadow and lose the substance. “For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.” {Hebrews 10:1}

I NSTRUMENTAL M USIC IS N OT E XPRESSLY F ORBIDDEN IN THE NT: This argument puts a premium on the silence of the scriptures. It creates a respect for what the Bible DOES NOT say rather than what it does say. To put it affirmatively it looks likes this: – One has the right to practice anything that the Bible does not expressly forbid.

I NSTRUMENTAL M USIC IS N OT E XPRESSLY F ORBIDDEN IN THE NT: To put it affirmatively it looks likes this: – One has the right to practice anything that the Bible does not expressly forbid. – Counting beads in prayer – Wearing religious robes – Burning incense – Praying to the virgin Mary – Changing Lord Supper to common meal – Observing the Sabbath – Dancing, drinking, gambling, etc.

N OT E XPRESSLY F ORBIDDEN IN THE N EW T ESTAMENT : We MUST NOT go beyond what the scriptures teach. “Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.” {1 Corinthians 4:6}

I NSTRUMENTAL M USIC IS O NLY A N A ID : It is not just an aid, it is an addition of another kind of music. It is not on par with books, seats, lights, etc. Even when all of these are used, still you have singing. But when the instrument is supplied, we have not only singing but singing AND playing. An addition has been made

I NSTRUMENTAL M USIC IS O NLY A N A ID : Instrumental music does not aid in carrying out the God given purpose in music in the worship. – No assurance anywhere that it pleases God – It makes “ teaching and admonishing ” and “ speaking to one another ” in singing more difficult by making the words of the song less audible and understandable. – Interferes with the divine purpose of singing rather than aiding it.

A M ATTER OF C HRISTIAN L IBERTY : Christian liberty means freedom from the law and the rudiments of the world. “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.” {Galatians 3:13}

A M ATTER OF C HRISTIAN L IBERTY : Christian liberty means freedom from the law and the rudiments of the world. “Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world …You observe days and months and seasons and years.” {Galatians 4:3,10}

A M ATTER OF C HRISTIAN L IBERTY : It is not to be used as an occasion to the flesh. “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” {Galatians 5:13}

A M ATTER OF C HRISTIAN L IBERTY : It is not to be exercised in any matter offensive to the conscience of a brother. Instrumental music is offensive to many, and has caused division. “But if anyone says to you, "This was offered to idols," do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience' sake ; for "the earth is the LORD'S, and all its fullness.” {1 Corinthians 10:28}

P RACTICED AT H OME : Many things morally right but religiously wrong. – Washing of hands and feet Instrumental music not wrong in itself. Wrong to add it to the Christian’s worship. “Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders.” {Mark 7:3}

E XPEDIENT - I N O RDER FOR A NYTHING TO B E I T MUST F IRST BE L AWFUL : It must first be lawful. “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” {1 Corinthians 6:12}

E XPEDIENT - I N O RDER FOR A NYTHING TO B E I T MUST F IRST BE L AWFUL : Must also edify. “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.” {1 Corinthians 10:23}

E XPEDIENT - I N O RDER FOR A NYTHING TO B E I T MUST F IRST BE L AWFUL : Must not offend the conscience of others. Instrumental Music inexpedient in all three areas! “But if anyone says to you, "This was offered to idols," do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience' sake ; for "the earth is the LORD'S, and all its fullness.” {1 Corinthians 10:28}

I NSTRUMENTAL M USIC IN H EAVEN : To grant this does not yet prove we have it in the church. Figurative ? “Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” {Revelation 5:8}

“P SALLO ” THE G REEK W ORD T RANSLATED FOR “S ING ”: Translated in our English text means to accompany the singing with instrumental music… If true, then instrumental music is a command and not a matter of choice with those seeking to obey God. Imperative each one that sings—have their own instrument to do his playing— since the command is individual and personal in its meaning.

“P SALLO ” THE G REEK W ORD T RANSLATED FOR “S ING ”: Someone else could no more do the playing for a person than they could sing acceptably for him. Becomes absolutely absurd. – Most reliable translations do not so render the word. ( ASV, KJV, NKJV, NRSV ) – Make it necessary to go to the Greek language in order to learn how to worship God. – Place our faith in the word of men ? 1 Corinthians 2:5

“P SALLO ” THE G REEK W ORD T RANSLATED FOR “S ING ”: It means that our English Bibles are unreliable and this being true, the truth has not been made accessible to men today. Only the man who believes that God’s providence has withheld a knowledge of the truth from men today could so contend. – 2 Peter 1:3; 2 Timothy 3:16,17.

F INAL O BJECTIONS TO I NSTRUMENTAL M USIC : Instrumental music transgresses and disrespects the authority of Christ— injecting something Christ and apostles did not teach. “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him.” {2 John 9,10)

F INAL O BJECTIONS TO I NSTRUMENTAL M USIC : Instrumental music corrupts and makes our worship vain. “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” {Matthew 15:8,9)

F INAL O BJECTIONS TO I NSTRUMENTAL M USIC : It creates dissension and division by offending many consciences. “Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.” {Romans 14:15)

F INAL O BJECTIONS TO I NSTRUMENTAL M USIC : We cannot worship in spirit and truth. Not revealed in “ all the truth.” “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth ; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” {John 16:13)

F INAL O BJECTIONS TO I NSTRUMENTAL M USIC : We cannot walk by faith and practice it— not taught in His word. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” {Romans 10:17) “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” {2 Corinthians 5:7}

F INAL O BJECTIONS TO I NSTRUMENTAL M USIC : It is no part of the divine pattern. Corrupting God’s house and labor in vain. “Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.” {Psalm 127:1}