Music in Worship

Music in Worship : 

Music in Worship What does the New Testament Authorize?

Points to Ponder : 

Points to Ponder The Issue Defined. The Authority Question. What did God authorize in the Old Testament? What did God authorize in the New Testament? Lessons from History.

What is the issue? : 

What is the issue? Most religious bodies today use “mechanical instruments of music” in their worship services. However, this practice came about only after much controversy and religious division. This practice did not begin with the 1st century church. Is there anything wrong with this practice?

The Issue is an Authority Issue : 

The Issue is an Authority Issue God has always prescribed how He wants us to worship. Cain vs. Abel Nadab and Abihu The case of Uzzah. What God does not prescribe He will not accept.

Music in the Old Testament : 

Music in the Old Testament Singing Was Used for Praise and Remembrance Deut 31:19 Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel. Things which were of great importance and of common concern were, among the ancients, put into verse,. . .Even prose was sometimes sung --- Adam Clarke

Music in the Old Testament : 

Music in the Old Testament Singing was used in Worship 2Chron 29:30 Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.

Music in the Old Testament : 

Music in the Old Testament Singing and Instruments in the Temple 2Chron 5:12 Also the Levites which were the singers,. . .having cymbals and psalteries and harps, . . . and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets. . . praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, . . . then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;

Music in the Old Testament : 

Music in the Old Testament The Psalms extol singing and playing Ps 147:7 Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God: Some 60 verses refer to using instruments in praise to God in the Old Testament.

God Authorized Singing & Playing in Old Testament Worship : 

God Authorized Singing & Playing in Old Testament Worship Singing in worship to God 2 Sam 22:1, 2 Chron 29:30 Playing in worship to God Ps 68:25, Ps 150:3, 2 Chron 7:6 Clearly BOTH of these were viewed as DIFFERENT types of Praise.

Other things God Allowed in Worship : 

Other things God Allowed in Worship Animal Sacrifices Burning of Incense Special Garments for Priests Whatever God Sanctioned in Worship was according to a Divine Pattern!!! Hebrews 8:5

Singing vs. Playing an Instrument : 

Singing vs. Playing an Instrument In the Old Testament Playing an Instrument was NOT subordinate to Singing. In other words: Playing an instrument was not merely an accompaniment. It was an actual “kind” of praise on par with but distinct from singing.

Singing vs. Playing an Instrument : 

Singing vs. Playing an Instrument Make Music to God Sing Songs Song book Song leader Shape notes Tempo Key Play a Guitar Song book Fender vs. Martin Dava Control Pick Acoustic vs. Electric Classical vs. Modern Beat a Drum Songbook Conga vs. Barrel One Head vs. Two Pitched vs. Non Natural / Synthetic Singing and Playing are Coordinates

Singing vs. Playing an Instrument : 

Singing vs. Playing an Instrument When God says “Sing” He means Sing! And when God says “Play” he means Play! Singing and Playing are Two Separate Types of Making Music

Music in the New Testament : 

Music in the New Testament God only Authorizes Certain Worship John 4:24 "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." What God does not Authorize He does not Accept!

Music in the New Testament : 

Music in the New Testament Jesus after the Lord’s Supper Mt 26:30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Music in the New Testament : 

Music in the New Testament Paul and Silas in Prison Acts 16:25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them Notice: Praying and Singing were two separate activities.

Music in the New Testament : 

Music in the New Testament 1Cor 14:15 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. Instruction to the Corinthian Church

Music in the New Testament : 

Music in the New Testament To the Hebrews Heb 2:12 "I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You."

Music in the New Testament : 

Music in the New Testament Fruit of the Lips Heb 13:15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. What is the Instrument of Praise: The Lips

Music in the New Testament : 

Music in the New Testament Admonition from James Jas 5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. No Mechanical Instruments Authorized.

Music in the New Testament : 

Music in the New Testament Eph 5:19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Paul to Ephesus and Colossae

Analysis of Ephesians 5:19 : 

Analysis of Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to one another: Reciprocal action logically carried forth in an assembly gathered for worship. All Involved!!! In Songs, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs: Music based on religious themes and the Psalms of David. Designed to praise God. Singing; An action done with the heart and lips and mouth.

Analysis of Ephesians 5:19 (cont.) : 

Analysis of Ephesians 5:19 (cont.) Making Melody Psallo: to pluck – to move by touching: context determines the instrument under consideration. In Your Heart The instrument defined: the heart, the human The heart strings are plucked in praise. To the Lord The object of our praise!

Psallo : 

Psallo Many things Psallo (pluck, twitch, twang) A Harp String A Bow String A Carpenters Line A Fishing Line The strings of the human heart (metaphorically) The Only Instrument that God Authorizes is the One HE Created!!!!

Instrumental Music in History : 

Instrumental Music in History Quotes: There is no record in the NT of the use of instruments in the musical worship of the Christian church” (Pfeiffer, C.F., Vos, Howard & Rea, John (1998), Wycliffe Bible Dictionary (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson p. 1163). “Whatever evidence is forthcoming, is to the effect that the early Christians did not use musical instruments” (Smith, William & Cheetham, Samuel (1880), A Dictionary of Christian Antiquities (London: John Murray), Vol II. p. 1365).

Instrumental Music in History : 

Instrumental Music in History Quotes: Although Josephus tells of the wonderful effects produced in the Temple by the use of instruments, the first Christians were of too spiritual a fibre to substitute lifeless instruments for or to use them to accompany the human voice. (Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. 10, pg. 648-652.) "The organ is said to have been first introduced into church music by Pope Vitalian in 666. In 757, a great organ was sent as a present to Pepin by the Byzantine Emperor, Constantine, and placed in the church St. Corneille as Compiegne." (Chambers Encyclopedia, Vol 7, p. 112)

Instrumental Music in History : 

Instrumental Music in History Quotes: "The early Christians refused to have anything to do with the instrumental music which they might have inherited from the ancient world." (Theodore Finney, A History of Music, 1947, p. 43)

Instrumental Music in History : 

Instrumental Music in History Quotes: "One of the features which distinguishes the Christian religion from almost all others is its quietness; it aims to repress the outward signs of inward feeling. Savage instinct, and the religion of Greece also, had employed the rhythmic dance and all kinds of gesticulatory notions to express the inner feelings . . . The early Chrisitians discouraged all outward signs of excitement, and from the very beginning, in the music they used, reproduced the spirit of their religion-an inward quietude. All the music employed in their early services was vocal." (Frank Landon Humphreys, Evolution of Church Music, p. 42)

Instrumental Music in History : 

Instrumental Music in History What Religious Thinkers Thought: CLEMENT Leave the pipe to the shepherd, the flute to the men who are in fear of gods and intent on their idol worshipping. Such musical instruments must be excluded from our wingless feasts, for they are more suited for beasts and for the class of men that is least capable of reason than for men. . . . But as for us, we make use of one instrument alone: only the Word of peace by whom we a homage to God, no longer with ancient harp or trumpet or drum or flute which those trained for war employ." (Clement of Alexandria, 190AD The instructor, Fathers of the church, p. 130)

Instrumental Music in History : 

Instrumental Music in History What Religious Thinkers Thought: AUGUSTINE (4th century) "musical instruments were not used. The pipe, tabret, and harp here associate so intimately with the sensual heathen cults, as well as with the wild revelries and shameless performances of the degenerate theater and circus, it is easy to understand the prejudices against their use in the worship." (Augustine 354 A.D., describing the singing at Alexandria under Athanasius)

Instrumental Music in History : 

Instrumental Music in History What Religious Thinkers Thought: Thomas Aquinas (11 century) "Our church does not use musical instruments, as harps and psalteries, to praise God withal, that she may not seem to Judaize." (Thomas Aquinas, Bingham's Antiquities, Vol. 3, page 137)

Instrumental Music in History : 

Instrumental Music in History What Religious Thinkers Thought: Albert Barnes "Psallo … is used, in the New Testament, only in Rom. 15:9 and 1 Cor. 14:15, where it is translated sing; in James 5:13, where it is rendered sing psalms, and in the place before us. The idea here is that of singing in the heart, or praising God from the heart" (Albert Barnes, a Presbyterian, Notes on The Testament, comment on Eph. 5:19).

Instrumental Music in History : 

Instrumental Music in History What Religious Thinkers Thought: John Calvin "Musical instruments in celebrating the praises of God would be no more suitable than the burning of incense, the lighting of lamps, and the restoration of the other shadows of the law. The Papists therefore, have foolishly borrowed, this, as well as many other things, from the Jews. Men who are fond of outward pomp may delight in that noise; but the simplicity which God recommends to us by the apostles is far more pleasing to him. Paul allows us to bless God in the public assembly of the saints, only in a known tongue (I Cor. 14:16) What shall we then say of chanting, which fills the ears with nothing but an empty sound?" (John Calvin, Commentary on Psalms 33)

Instrumental Music in History : 

Instrumental Music in History What Religious Thinkers Thought: Martin Luther "The organ in the worship Is the insignia of Baal… The Roman Catholic borrowed it from the Jews." (Martin Luther, Mcclintock & Strong's Encyclopedia Volume VI, page 762)

Instrumental Music in History : 

Instrumental Music in History Alexander Campbell: "[Instrumental music in worship] was well adapted to churches founded on the Jewish pattern of things and practicing infant sprinkling. That all persons singing who have no spiritual discernment, taste or relish for spiritual meditation, consolations and sympathies of renewed hearts should call for such an aid is but natural. So to those who have no real devotion and spirituality in them, and whose animal nature flags under the opposition or the oppression of church service I think that instrumental music would... be an essential prerequisite to fire up their souls to even animal devotion. But I presume, that to all spiritually-minded Christians, such aid would be as a cow bell in a concert." (Alexander Campbell, recorded in Robert Richardson's biography, Memoirs of Alexander Campbell, Vol. 2., p366)

Instrumental Music in History : 

Instrumental Music in History Benjamin Franklin – Restoration Leader "Instrumental music is permissible for a church under the following conditions: 1. When a church never had or has lost the Spirit of Christ. 2. If a church has a preacher who never had or has lost the Spirit of Christ, who has become a dry, prosing and lifeless preacher. 3. If a church only intends being a fashionable society, a mere place of amusements and secular entertainment and abandoning the idea of religion and worship. 4. If a church has within it a large number of dishonest and corrupt men. 5. If a church has given up all idea of trying to convert the world." (Ben Franklin, editor of American Christian Review, 1860.)

Instrumental Music in the Churches of Christ. : 

Instrumental Music in the Churches of Christ. As early as 1851 restoration churches were experimenting with denominational innovations. In 1860 Louis Pinkerton successfully introduced the melodeon into the church in Midway, KY.

How it Happened? : 

How it Happened? Pinkerton said that the singing would, "scare even the rats from worship." At first they met in the home of some brethren on Saturday night for practice. To get the right pitch, they used a little melodeon. Before long one of the sisters was accompanying the singing with the playing of the little instrument. The group noted how the accompaniment helped the singing, and so they decided the use of it would greatly enhance their worship services. They asked L.L. Pinkerton, their preacher, what he thought of bringing it into the assembly. His response was that he saw no problem with it. So, the next Sunday, a melodeon was brought in for worship. Thompson Parrish played the instrument at the Sunday services.  http://www.therestorationmovement.com/

Conclusion : 

Conclusion What God does not Authorize He does not Accept! The New Testament does NOT Authorize anything but Vocal music. Instruments are not just an aide! Mechanical Music was an innovation of man.

Conclusion : 

Conclusion The only question that needs to be asked regarding any religious issue . . . Where is the Authority?