There Have Always Been Questions Issues Problems Among
There Have Always Been Questions, Issues, & Problems Among Brethren • Is circumcision essential to salvation (Acts 15)? • From among “yourselves” – perverse things (Acts 20: 30) • Doctrine of no resurrection (1 Cor. 15: 12) • Colossian Heresy (Col. 2) • Some will depart giving heed to error (1 Tim. 4: 1 -3) • Doctrine that 2 nd Coming is imminent (1 Thess) • Judaism (Hebrews, etc. )
During The Restoration Movement • Pointing men back to the Bible: “Where the Bible speaks, we speak; where it is silent, we are silent. ” • Called for men to lay aside opinions and unite upon the Scriptures • Soon two major mindsets developed: 1. Church can do only what is positively authorized 2. Church can do anything not specifically forbidden • Division was inevitable!
Churches of Christ Divided In mid 1800 s q Issues: ü Missionary Society (1849) ü Instrumental Music (1859) q Result: ü Formation of Christian Church (1900) ü Later: Disciples of Christ (liberal)
Churches of Christ Divided In mid 1900 s q Issues: ü Sponsoring Church (Hearld of Truth) ü Orphan Homes ü Colleges in Church Budget ü Social Gospel (Recreation) q Result: ü Split among churches 1955 -1965 ü Institutional churches of Christ
Divisions Within The Church of Christ 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Missionary Society (1849) Instrumental Music (1859) Colleges in Church Budget (1938) Orphan Homes (1950’s) Sponsoring Church (1950’s) Social Gospel (1960’s)
Divisions Within The Church of Christ Instrumental Music
Instrumental Music I. History Behind It
I. History Behind It A. Discussions about its use - early as 1849 1. Articles in Christian Record – Favored use 2. Articles in Ecclesiastical Reformer – Favored use
I. History Behind It A. Discussions about its use - early as 1849 B. Campbell dismissed them as being for those who are not spiritually minded (1851)
Campbell Dismisses Plea for Instruments “[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” (Millennial Harbinger, Vol. I, No. 10; Robert Richardson, Memoirs of Alexander Campbell, 2: 366).
I. History Behind It A. Discussions about its use - early as 1849 B. Campbell dismissed them as being for those who are not spiritually minded (1851) C. Push for it in the church Millersburg, KY (1851) • Diary Entry (April 27, 1851): “Brother S (aunders) wishes to introduce the melodon into the church. ” • Raines bitterly opposed it • Not used at Millersburg Aylette Raines
I. History Behind It A. Discussions about its use - early as 1849 B. Campbell dismissed them as being for those who are not spiritually minded (1851) C. Push for it in the church Millersburg, KY (1851) D. Sixth St. Church (Cincinnati) using it by 1855 (Everett Ferguson, Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement, p. 414)
I. History Behind It A. Discussions about its use - early as 1849 B. Campbell dismissed them as being for those who are not spiritually minded (1851) C. Push for it in the church Millersburg, KY (1851) D. Sixth St. Church (Cincinnati) using it by 1855 E. Introduced at Midway, KY 1859
Instrument At Midway, KY 1859 L. L. Pinkerton
Gradual Steps Toward Apostasy 1. Change in attitude 2. Talk about new ideas - long before suggested. 3. Slowly introduce questionable practices 4. Full innovation
Instrument Introduced Slowly
• Adam Hibler (one of the elders) removed the melodeon & chopped it to pieces on front lawn • New one placed in bld. • Hibler removed the second – stored it in the barn. • A 3 rd melodeon purchased • Building & melodeon burned • Second melodeon was found in Hibler’s barn
Midway Christian Church
I. History Behind It A. Discussions about its use - early as 1849 B. Campbell dismissed them as being for those who are not spiritually minded (1851) C. Push for it in the church Millersburg, KY (1851) D. Sixth St. Church (Cincinnati) using it by 1855 E. Introduced at Midway, KY 1859 F. Reaction to the instrument being used
Reaction • Discussions / Debates ü J. W. Mc. Garvey & A. S. Hayden in Millennial Harbinger (1864 -1865)
J. W. Mc. Garvey on the Instrument “We cannot, therefore, by any possibility, know that a certain element of worship is acceptable to God in the Christian dispensation, when the Scriptures which speak of that dispensation are silent in reference to it. To introduce any such element is unscriptural and presumptuous. It is will worship, if any such thing as will worship can exist. On this ground we condemn the burning of incense, the lighting of candles, the wearing of priestly robes, and the reading of printed prayers. On the same ground we condemn instrumental music” (The Millennial Harbinger, 1864, 511513).
Reaction • Discussions / Debates ü J. W. Mc. Garvey & A. S. Hayden in Millennial Harbinger (1864 -1865) ü Gospel Advocate (David Lipscomb) opposed ü 1908 – W. W. Otey & J. B. Briney (Louisville) • Middle of road view – for unity ü Christian Standard (Isaac Errett) ü Mc. Garvey – taught against it – but fellowshipped those who used it. • Division – formed Christian Church • 1911 – M. C. Kurfees – Book on Psallo
Instrumental Music I. History Behind It II. Why Instrumental Music Is Unscriptural
II. Why Instrumental Music Is Unscriptural A. It is not Authorized in Scripture
How Authority Is Established Acts 15 Command / Statement Approved Example Necessary Inference VV. 13 -21 – James appealed to direct statement from Amos 9 V. 12 – Paul & Barnabas appealed to example of their work & miracles VV. 7 -11 – Peter appealed to events at Cornelius’ house – infers…
Authority Illustrated with Lord’s Supper Command / Statement Observance (1 Cor. 11: 23 -24) Approved Example Time of Observance (Acts 20: 7) Necessary Inference Frequency of Observance (Acts 20: 7)
Instrumental Music Command / Statement e n o N Approved Example e n o N Necessary Inference e n o N
II. Why Instrumental Music Is Unscriptural A. It is not Authorized in Scripture B. God Specified Singing
Singing Is All That God Has Authorized § § § § § Matt. 26: 30 – “Sung” Mark 14: 26 – “Sung” Acts 16: 25 – “Sang” Rom. 15: 9 – “Sing” 1 Cor. 14: 15 – “Sing” Eph. 5: 19 – “Singing” Col. 3: 16 – “Singing” Heb. 2: 12 - “Sing” Heb. 13: 15 – “Fruit of our lips” Jas. 5: 13 – “Sing”
Generic & Specific Authority Command Generic Specific Build ark - Gen. 6: 14 Wood Gopher Wash 7 Times - 2 Kings 5 River Jordan Offer – Lev. 14: 12 -13 Animal Lamb Praise – Eph. 5: 19 Music Sing Buy me a canned drink Cola Pepsi
II. Why Instrumental Music Is Unscriptural A. It is not Authorized in Scripture B. God Specified Singing C. Instrumental Music is an Addition
Must Not Add To Or Take From The Word of God Deut. 4: 2 Num. 22: 18 Prov. 30: 5 -7 Rev. 22: 18 -19
Aids Are Authorized, Additions Are Not An Addition Involves Another Element Being Added! Command Aid Addition Eat Bread – 1 Cor. 11 Table, plates … Jam, beef, cola Baptize – Matt. 28: 19 Baptistry, heater Sprinkling Build an ark – Gen. 6: 14 Tool, Animal Oak, Cedar Sing – Eph. 5: 19 Books, Tuner Instrumental Music Contribute – 1 Cor. 16 Basket, Account Mon. / Sat.
Instrumental Music I. History Behind It II. Why Instrumental Music Is Unscriptural III. Arguments Made To Justify It
III. Arguments Made To Justify It A. “Merely an aid”
Aids Are Authorized, Additions Are Not An Addition Involves Another Element Being Added! Command Aid Addition Eat Bread – 1 Cor. 11 Table, plates … Jam, beef, cola Baptize – Matt. 28: 19 Baptistry, heater Sprinkling Build an ark – Gen. 6: 14 Tool, Animal Oak, Cedar Sing – Eph. 5: 19 Books, Tuner Instrumental Music Contribute – 1 Cor. 16 Basket, Account Mon. / Sat.
“I like it” “Just an aid” “It helps the singing / Lord’s Supper”
III. Arguments Made To Justify It A. “Merely an aid” B. God did not say not to”
God’s Silence Is Not Authority Permissive Prohibitive At liberty to do what is not condemned Forbidden to act Without authority Heb. 7: 14 For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood
Silence is Prohibitive Heb. 7: 14 God Did Not Say: Moses spake NOTHING Not to have jam in LS about tribe of JUDAH Not to use oak wood
God Did Not Say Not To: • • Ice Cream with the Lord’s Supper Handle snakes as an act of worship Church sponsored sports Offer a bull or lamb as sacrifice Count beads as an act of worship Mechanical Instrum. of music in worship Church to be in secular business
“God did not say not to”
III. Arguments Made To Justify It A. “Merely an aid” B. God did not say not to” C. “Inherent in the word ‘Psallo’”
“Psallo” Argument Psallo (Verb) Psalmos (Noun) “sing” (Rom. 15: 9) “Psalms” (Lk. 20: 42) “sing” (1 Cor. 14: 15) “Psalms” (Lk. 24: 44) “make melody” (Eph. 5: 19) “Psalms” (Acts 1: 20) “sing psalms” (Jas. 5: 13) “Psalms” (Acts 13: 33) “Psalms” (1 Cor. 14: 26) “Psalms” (Eph. 5: 19) “Psalms” (Col. 3: 16)
“Psallo” Argument: 1. The word means to “pluck” or “twang” 2. Lexicons says it is used of playing a stringed instrument 3. Thus, instrumental music inheres in the word “Psallo”
“Psallo” Argument Answer: 1. The meaning of the word a. Literally: “a. to pluck off, pull out. b. to cause to vibrate by touching, to twang” (Thayer) • Vine: “To twitch, twang” • Strong: “probably strengthened from psao (to rub or touch the surface; compare NT: 5597); to twitch or twang…” • Liddell & Scott: “to touch sharply, to pluck, pull, twitch, to pluck…”
“Psallo” Argument Answer: 1. The meaning of the word a. Literally: “a. to pluck off, pull out. b. to cause to vibrate by touching, to twang” (Thayer) b. Used of: - Pluck hair, bowstring, carpenters red line (L&S) - Strings of an instrument (L&S, Thayer) - Sing – touch the cords of the heart (Thayer) Admission: At some point in history the term used: to play a musical instrument
“Psallo” Argument Answer: 1. The meaning of the word a. Literally: “a. to pluck off, pull out. b. to cause to vibrate by touching, to twang” (Thayer) b. Used of: - Pluck hair, bowstring, carpenters red line (L&S) - Strings of an instrument (L&S, Thayer) - Sing – touch the cords of the heart (Thayer) c. The object of the verb does not inhere in the verb
Object of the Verb The Verb Means: “Pluck, Twitch, or Twang” Does not tell what is to be plucked The what is determined by context If Instrumental music inheres: why not “hair”? why not “bowstring”? why not “carpenter’s line”?
“Psallo” Argument Answer: 1. The meaning of the word a. Literally: “a. to pluck off, pull out. b. to cause to vibrate by touching, to twang” (Thayer) b. Used of: - Pluck hair, bowstring, carpenters red line (L&S) - Strings of an instrument (L&S, Thayer) - Sing – touch the cords of the heart (Thayer) c. The object of the verb does not inhere in the verb d. In the New Testament – means to sing
Psallo In The New Testament W. E. Vine- primarily "to twitch, twang, " then, "to play a stringed instrument with the fingers, " and hence, in the Sept. , "to sing with a harp, sing psalms, " denotes, in the NT, "to sing a hymn, sing praise"; in Eph 5: 19, "making melody" (for the preceding word ado, see SING). Elsewhere it is rendered "sing, " Rom 15: 9; 1 Cor 14: 15; in James 5: 13, RV, "let him sing praise" (KJV, "let him sing psalms"). Thayer- …in the New Testament to sing a hymn, to celebrate the praises of God in song, Jas. 5: 13; in honor of God, Eph. 5: 19; Rom. 15: 9; …
“Psallo” Argument Answer: 1. The meaning of the word 2. Missing evidence a. No lexicon says – instrument inheres in Psallo b. No translation says – play an instrument
“Psallo” Argument Answer: 1. The meaning of the word 2. Missing evidence 3. Instrument: The heart Eph 5: 19 “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord”
“Psallo” Argument Answer: 1. The meaning of the word 2. Missing evidence 3. Instrument: The heart 4. If instrument inheres in Psallo: a. Must be used – not merely an “aid” b. Required of all who worship – not just one player c. Must use a harp or stringed instrument
Instrumental Music I. History Behind It II. Why Instrumental Music Is Unscriptural III. Arguments Made To Justify It
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