Instruments Of Music In Worship
Instruments Of Music In Worship
Instrumental music and church music are nearly inseparable in the
minds of the average individual. The beautifully robed choirs, ornate
organs, even huge orchestras that are part of religious services are
seen as much a part of worship as steeples and belfries. There are a
few who refuse to use mechanical instruments of music in their worship
and we are among that number. In an effort to explain why, you are
asked to consider a few thoughts presented in this lesson.
But first, the West End Church of Christ presents these fifteen
minute sermons each Sunday. We have only one reason for doing it -- we
want to preach the truth of God's word without being restricted by human
doctrines, creeds, and wisdom. That is why we repeatedly ask anyone who
listens to communicate with us if you do not agree with what we teach on
this program. This is not done out of a spirit of dare, or challenge,
but in sincerity and in the interest of being absolutely right about the
most important issue of this life and of eternity.
We also want to invite you to attend our services. Bible study
begins at 9 a.m. Sunday morning. We have classes for all ages in which
the Bible is discussed and made relevant to living in this world today.
At 10 each Sunday morning we assemble to worship -- we honor God in the
reading and teaching of His word, several prayers, gospel songs, giving
of our means, and partaking of the sacred memorial feast of the Lord's
Supper. Sunday evening we assemble for worship at 6 p.m. and mid-week
Bible study is each Wednesday night at 7 p.m.
We publish a monthly paper called "The Voice of West End." There is
no subscription price to it -- no donations are asked or accepted for it
-- it is the freest thing you will ever receive in the mail. So, if you
want to get it and read it write or call West End Church of Christ. Our
address is 1609 z84 Parkside Drive, Bowling Green, KY. and our zip code
is 42101. Our phone number is 842-7880. I will repeat that at the end
of today's program.
The churches of Christ do not use instrumental music in worship.
The only music offered to the Lord is vocal or a capella music. Many do
not really understand why we do not use it in worship. In order to
clear away any possible misunderstanding it should be noted first that
tradition has no part in our refusal to use organs, pianos, or any other
instrument of music. Secondly, it is not due to esthetic values that we
prefer vocal over instrumental music. The only basis for not using
instruments of music in our worship to God is our view of the authority
of Christ and His apostles.
The authority of Christ is sacred and inviolate. At least that is
our view of it. When Jesus spoke for the last time on earth to His
disciples, He said, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on
earth" (Matthew 28:18). And we find three ways that this absolute and
complete authority from Christ is established. First, there is a direct
statement or command. Second, there is an approved apostolic example.
Third, there is a necessary inference.
All three of these methods of establishing Christ's authority can
be implied by studying the Lord's Supper. First, Jesus authorized His
disciples to eat unleavened bread and drink fruit of the vine in memory
of His suffering and death (Matthew 26:26-27; I Corinthians 11:24).
That is the basis for the observance of the sacred feast. But when to
observe it can only be learned by reading the record of how the
disciples put this into actual practice. "Now on the first day of the
week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to
depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until
midnight" (Acts 20:7). This is a record of what they did, obviously
under the tutelage and supervision of the apostles. The apostles had
been given the commission directly from Christ to "teach them to observe
all things z84 I have commanded you..." (Matthew 28:20). The
frequency, or how often it should be observed, is learned from necessary
inference. A necessary inference is a deduction that is required by
facts. Acceptance of certain facts will demand acceptance of certain
implications. In this case, since every week has a first day, and since
the church of the Lord in the first century observed the feast on the
first day of the week, every first day of the week is implied for
observing the Supper.
To take the last thought one step further, and to learn how
necessary inferences differ from fair or ordinary inferences, notice the
baptism of Christ. Matthew records the event by reporting on the trip
Jesus made from Galilee to the Jordan river where John, the Baptist, was
baptizing. When John agreed to baptize Jesus, the record only says,
"Then Jesus, when He had been baptized, came up immediately from the
water; and behold the heavens were opened to Him..." (Matthew 3:16). If
Jesus "came up...from the water," He had, of necessity, to have gone
down into the water. Even though nothing is said of His going down into
the water it is necessarily inferred. One cannot in any sense come up
out of something into which one has not gone down.
When we diligently read the New Testament we find a complete lack
of information on the use of instruments in congregational worship to
God. It cannot be authorized by direct statement, approved apostolic
example, nor necessary inference. Upon what basis then is it
authorized, if indeed it is?
Some use what is called "the law of expediency" as authority for
instrumental music in worship, along with a host of other things. Where
do you read of church buildings, electric lights, tuning forks, song
books, pews, etc. in the New Testament? This is a legitimate question
and one that must be addressed.
There are things that are not specified in the word of God that are
perfectly legitimate to use in serving God. Some things in this
category z84 "expedite" the carrying out of God's requirements of His
people. Take the case of Noah. He was commanded to build an ark
(Genesis 6:14-16) and told the dimensions and materials he was to use.
But nothing was said of the tools that would expedite the construction
of the ship. Noah was not at liberty to add to the ark as he saw fit,
nor substitute other wood for the gofer wood. God specified the kind of
wood and dimensions He chose.
The same principle applies today. We are authorized to sing
praises to God. Please take time out to read the following passages of
Scripture (Matthew 26:30; Acts 16:25; Romans 15:9; I Corinthians 14:15;
Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 2:12; James 5:13). All of them
specify singing as the kind of music associated with worship in the New
Testament church. That is parallel to the kind of wood Noah was
commanded to use. But what kind of singing, or how are songs to be
sung, is not so specific. Psalms, hymns, and "spiritual songs" are to
be sung, but there is obviously some choice involved. The church could
then and now sing either Psalms, hymns, or spiritual songs. Furthermore
these songs could be sung using harmony, responsive choruses, or in any
particular order. So long as the only kind of music involved is vocal
(singing) nothing is added to the worship when song books, tuning forks,
harmonious parts, etc. are used. These latter things are expedients, in
the category of Noah's tools. Please study the following diagram.
Hebrews 10:25 -- ASSEMBLING is authorized
The Place is expedient
Matthew 28:20 -- TEACHING is authorized
Methods are expedients
Corinthians 16:1-2 -- GIVING is authorized
Baskets or Buckets are expedients.
Ephesians 5:19-- SINGING is authorized
Song Books, etc. are expedient z84
In all the above cases, a passage of Scripture authorizes an
action. But no such passage exists for playing instruments of music in
worship to God. If so, where is the passage? A building is an
expedient place to assemble, commanded by the Lord. Methods of teaching
are authorized by the command to teach. Collection baskets are
authorized by the command to contribute. Song books, etc. are
authorized by the requirement to sing. But what does a piano or any
other mechanical instrument expedite? It certainly does not expedite
singing. In those places where it is used, the singing is subdued, or
forgotten, when the soft and melodious tones of the organ fill the
"sanctuary."
If the Lord had simply said, "Make music," and let it go at that,
any kind of music would satisfy the command. But, in point of fact, He
didn't. He specified singing. And those who walk by faith limit their
musical worship to singing, offering "the sacrifice of praise to God,
that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks His name" (Hebrews 13:15).
We offer this final thought. Consider the history of instrumental
music in worship. It was never a part of the New Testament church, and
no early saint used it. But much later, during the "dark ages," it
found its way into an apostate religion. Here is the historical record,
given by the inimitable Philip Schaff.
"The use of organs in churches is ascribed to Pope Vitalian (657 -
672). Constantine Copronymos sent an organ with other presents to King
Pepin of France in 767... "The attitude of the churches to the organ
varies. It shared to some extend the fate of images, except that it
never was an object of worship...The Greek (catholic) Church disapproves
the use of organs. The Latin (Roman Catholic) church introduced pretty
generally, but not without the protest of eminent men, so that even in
the Council of Trent a motion was made, though not carried, to prohibit
the organ at least in the mass." z84 (History of the Christian Church,
Volume IV, page 439).
The use of instruments of music in church worship is not.
authorized by Christ. The only authority for it comes in two forms.
First is Roman Catholicism, and second is personal preference. Those
who disregard the authority of Christ say, "I like it, I want it, and I
will have it." There is no other authority for it anywhere. To get
instrumental music in worship one must go beyond the teaching of Christ,
for it is not within those sacred precincts.
We, therefore refuse to use it in our worship to God. We endeavor
to worship "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24) and will take our stand
only on authorized ground. It is always right to do what the Lord
commands, what the early church did under the guidance of His apostles,
and what is necessarily implied in obeying His word.
Radio Sermon No. 30, Page 1
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