Why I Oppose Instruments in I am not

Why I Oppose Instruments in

I am not opposed to instrumental music on the basis of: • • • Tradition (We’ve always done it this way) Cannot afford them Do not have anybody to play them We want to be different We took a vote (majority vote does not determine what is doctrinal, scripture does) • We like it this way (If you were to survey members of congregations personal preferences might vary, if it were left up to them. )

Two basic categories of music: • Instrumental Accompaniment • A Capella : “in the style of the church” or “as in the church”

“It would be impossible to preach a sermon on "The Use Of Instrumental Music In The New Testament Church. " There is not one word in all the New Testament about Christians using mechanical instruments in worship to God. ” - David Padfield

“join in following my example…you have us for a pattern” (Ph. 3: 17) A e t t a P R rn a e ep t I ts ! f l se

The Bible Our Pattern: “hold fast the form of sound words. ” (2 Tim 2: 14)

The Bible Our Pattern: “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. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. ” (Colossians 3: 16 -17 NKJV)

The pattern for authority can only be established in one of 3 ways: 1. Direct Command: Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, "Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread. " He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? "For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death. ' (Matthew 15: 1 -4 NKJV)

The pattern for authority can only be established in one of 3 ways: 2. Approved Example: Therefore I urge you, imitate me. For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. (1 Corinthians 4: 16 -17 NKJV)

The pattern for authority can only be established in one of 3 ways: 2. Inescapable Conclusion: (Mat. 22: 23 -33) • “The Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him” • The Answer: • God is the God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob • God is the God of the living, not the dead • Therefore Abraham, Isaac & Jacob will be in the resurrection!

Cannot Alter or Stray from God’s Commands and Be Faithful 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; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. (2 John 9 -11 NKJV)

Cannot Alter or Stray from God’s Commands and Be Faithful A Biblical Principle "You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. (Deuteronomy 4: 2 NKJV)

How God Wants to Be Worshipped "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. " (John 4: 24 NKJV) "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. (John 17: 17 NKJV)

What is Not by Faith is Sin So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10: 17 NKJV)

What is Not by Faith is Sin that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2: 5 NKJV)

What is Not by Faith is Sin Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. (1 John 3: 4 NKJV) "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? ' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' (Matthew 7: 22 -23 NKJV)

What is Not by Faith is Sin "And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. (Matthew 5: 30 NKJV)

The Law of Exclusion “The statement or command to do one thing only authorizes the doing of the thing specified. The doing of all others is, in effect, forbidden. ”

The Law of Exclusion Ø Gopher wood (Gen. 6: 14) Ø Bull; by the door of the tabernacle (Ex. 29: 11) Ø A red heifer (Num. 19: 1 -4) Ø A bronze serpent (Num. 21: 8) Ø Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy (Ex. 20: 8) Ø Fire from the altar (Lev. 16: 12; Lev. 10: 1 -2) Ø Priests to burn incense (2 Chr. 26) Ø Corinthian church condemned for partaking of L. S. different than Paul had delivered to them; drank judgment on themselves (1 Cor. 11: 23) Ø Sing; Songs, hymns and spiritual songs (Eph. 5: 19; Col. 3: 16)

The N. T. Pattern ü Mat. 26: 30 “sung a hymn” ü Mk. 14: 26 “sung a hymn” ü Ac. 16: 25 “singing hymns to God” ü Rom. 15: 9 “sing to your name” ü 1 Cor. 14: 15 “sing with the understanding” ü Eph. 5: 19 “…speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing…” ü Col. 3: 16 “…teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing…” ü Heb. 2: 12 “sing praise” ü Heb. 13: 15 “…. sacrifice of praise…fruit of our lips…” ü Jas. 5: 13 “sing psalms” No verse EVER MENTIONS of the accompaniment of the instrument!

Which Pertain to Assembly Worship? ü Mat. 26: 30 “sung a hymn” ü Mk. 14: 26 “sung a hymn” ü Ac. 16: 25 “singing hymns to God” ü Rom. 15: 9 “sing to your name” ü 1 Cor. 14: 15 “sing with the understanding” ü Eph. 5: 19 “…speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing…” ü Col. 3: 16 “…teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing…” ü Heb. 2: 12 “sing praise” ü Heb. 13: 15 “…. sacrifice of praise…fruit of our lips…” ü Jas. 5: 13 “sing psalms” No verse EVER MENTIONS of the accompaniment of the instrument!

With what did they sing? Ø Spirit: “sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding” (1 Cor. 14: 15) Ø Mouth and heart: “Speak …with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs…sing and make melody in your heart” (Eph. 5: 19) Ø Mouth: “teach …one another with all wisdom” (Col. 3: 16) Ø Lips: “the fruit of our lips…giving thanks” (Heb. 13: 15) The sang with all of these, But never with an instrument!

Why did they sing? Ø Praise/worship: "I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You. " (Hebrews 2: 12 NKJV) Ø Teach the Lost: “I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name” (Rom. 15: 9) Ø Teach One Another: “teach …one another with all wisdom…sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs” (Col. 3: 16)

How did they sing? Ø The scriptural way: John 4: 24 “in spirit and in truth” Ø “sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. ” 1 Cor. 14: 15 Ø With melody in their hearts: “making melody in your heart to the Lord, ” (Ephesians 5: 19) Ø When happy: “Is any merry? Let him sing psalms. ” (James 5: 13 ) Ø Without corruption: “whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3: 17 NKJV) Ø Words should match biblically sound principles and doctrines: “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. ” (1 Pet. 4: 11)

To whom did they sing? Ø “to God” (Ac. 16: 25) Ø “to one another” (Col. 3: 16; Eph. 5: 19) Ø To the lost Ø“the prisoners were listening to them” (Ac. 16: 25) Ø“I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name” (Rom. 15: 9)

Conclusion: Since every command regarding N. T. musical worship is only translated “sing, “sang, ” or “sung” then that is the only thing we are authorized to do.

Historical evidence suggests they were not used. Aquinas (AD 1270) "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)

Historical evidence suggests they were not used. Augustine (354– 430 C. E. ) "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)

Introduced 7 Centuries Later! Chambers’ Encyclopedia: "The organ is said to have been introduced into church music by Pope Vitalian I in 666. In 757, a great organ was sent as a present to Pepin by the Byzantine emperor, Constantine Copronymus, and placed in the church of St. Corneille at Compiegne. " (Vol. 7, p. 112)

Great controversy arose at the time they were introduced: John Kurtz: "At first church music was simple, artless, recitative…Chrysostom (c. 344 -407) had to declaim against the secularization of church music. More lasting was the opposition of the church to the introduction of instrumental accompaniment. " (Church History, Vol. I, p. 376)

Great controversy arose at the time they were introduced: “Edward Dickinson: "In view of the controversies over the use of instrumental music in worship, which have been so violent in the British and American Protestant churches…We know that instruments performed an important function in the Hebrew temple service and in the ceremonies of the Greeks. At this point, however, a break was made with all previous practice, and although the lyre and flute were sometimes employed by the Greek converts, as a general rule the use of instruments in worship was condemned. Many of the fathers, speaking of religious song, make no mention of instruments; others, like…

Great controversy arose at the time they were introduced: Clement of Alexandria and St. Chrysostom, refer to them only to denounce them. Clement says: ‘Only one instrument do we use, viz. the word of peace wherewith we honor God, no longer the old psaltery, trumpet, drum, and flute. ’ Chrysostom exclaims: ‘David formerly sang in psalms, also we sing today with him; he had a lyre with lifeless strings, the church has a lyre with living strings. Our tongues are the strings of the lyre, with a different tone, indeed, but with a more accordant piety. ’ St. Ambrose (c. 339 -397) expresses his scorn for those who would play the lyre and psaltery instead of singing hymns and psalms; and St. Augustine (354 -430) adjures believers not to turn their heart to theatrical instruments. :

Great controversy arose at the time they were introduced: Mc. Clintock & Strong: "Neither Ambrose, nor Basil, nor Chrysostom in the noble encomiums which they severally pronounced upon music make any mention of instrumental music. Basil indeed, expressly condemns it as ministering only to the depraved passions of men. . Even Gregory the Great, who towards the end of the 6 th century added greatly to the existing church music, absolutely prohibited the use of instruments. " (Cyclopedia Of Biblical, Theological, And Ecclesiastical Literature, Vol. 6, p. 759) So say dozens of others!