Is
Instrumental Music Scriptural?
By: M. Allen
FILING
INFORMATION:
98032
Subject: instrumental music
Preached Originally: 06/14/98 - Rapid City, SD
I. Introduction.
A.
As someone who grew up in
the church I believe IM against God's Word.
1.
College: defended it using two scriptures: Eph.
5:19; Col. 3:16
2.
Had objections raised to me
that these scriptures do not matter. Couldn't answer them.
3.
Seems that I drilled myself
all of my life that IM is wrong & citing these two scriptures was all I
could do to back argument up.
B.
Venture to say that this is
the condition of many children of God. Ability to teach truth on this matter beyond these 2 scriptures is very
limited.
1.
A growing mvmt. among some brethren among is that there is no harm with IM.
a.
quote from Carroll Osburn, a professor at Abilene
Christian University…
b.
there should be room in the Christian fellowship for those who differ on
whether more than one cup in communion is acceptable, whether the communion
bread is to be pinched or snapped, whether one can eat in the church building,
whether funds can be used from the church treasury to support orphan homes;
whether the Lord's Supper must be taken every Sunday, or whether instrumental
music should be used in worship.
2.
Most of the people who see
no harm are honest & sincere and they are to be commended for their
honesty.
a.
must remember that honesty &
sincerity are not all that matters in religion.
b.
Prov. 14:12; 16:25
3.
wise people need to learn to
turn to the Scriptures to find out what is Scriptural. See Acts 17:11-12
C.
It is our intention in this
lesson tonight to examine what the Bible says on this important subject.
1.
we will get a description of
NT Music.
2.
We will see the need to
learn respect for the authority of God.
3.
IM is an addition to the
worship service and therefore unscriptural.
4.
Congregational singing is what God has authorized for NT Christians.
D.
Take notes and apply this
lesson. This subject will continue
to be an important one as more and more around us try to advocate the use of
IM.
II. A Description of Music in NT Times.
A.
Here are the Scriptures in
the NT that deal with singing here on earth.
1.
Mt. 26:30; Mk. 14:26
2.
Acts 16:25
3.
Rom. 15:9
4.
Eph. 5:18-19
5.
Col. 3:12-17
6.
Heb. 2:11-12
7.
Js. 5:13
8.
1 Cor. 14:26 - notice the
last phrase let all things be done for
edification.
B.
Notice
from all the above Scriptures we find the exhortation to sing. No mention given anywhere to play a musical
instrument.
1.
Many ask, why doesn't your church use a piano/organ in
worship?
2.
After they ask, you ask, is it a sinful practice not to sing w/o aid
of IM?
3.
Usual response: No, But…
4.
If you can prove to me that
it is sinful to sing w/o use in the instrument, I'll go our right now and
purchase a piano for this congregation.
III. Not Having IM Demonstrates Respect for God's
Authority.
A.
The proper authority to
settle all religious questions today is the NT.
1.
no question settled until it
settled right. No questions
settled right until settled according to proper authority.
2.
Not a question of what I
think, what you think, what I like, what you like, but what the NT teaches!
B.
Authority is both exclusive
& inclusive.
1.
a law or command includes the
things that are commanded and excludes all things that are not mentioned.
2.
E.g., the Lord's Supper.
a.
Mt. 26:26-30 Jesus names the
elements to be used in LS and in doing so this EXCLUDES everything else.
b.
No man has right to
substitute Big Mac's for the bread
& Dr. Pepper for the cup - just
because he happens to like them.
c.
No specific command to
substitute…
3.
e.g., baptism.
a.
Mk. 16:15-16 - command given
to us to baptize believers. Easy
to see.
b.
No where do we see command
to baptize disbeliever's.
4.
Likewise we find the
commandment to sing, and to only sing.
a.
this EXCLUDES any other
kind of music - just as the commandment to baptize believers excludes baptism
of disbeliever's.
C.
Authority is both generic
& specific in nature.
1.
Let's talk about generic
authority…
a.
"Go." Is a generic
term.
b.
Mt. 28:19 - Go therefore & make disciples of all the
nations…
1.
if a man rides or walks, he is obeying the command to
"go."
2.
This is a easy principle to see.
2. "Walk" is a specific term.
a.
what if Mt. 28:19 said walk therefore and make disciples of all
nations.
b.
If so, it would be wrong to
ride…
3. Let us focus upon IM now.
a.
Music is a generic term.
b.
Had Christ, or apostles via inspiration of the HS commanded us to make music…
1.
we could obey Him by singing
or making music on any kind of instrument.
c.
he commanded us to sing. This is a specific term and thus it eliminates everything
else.
4. We cannot obey the command to sing by performing on an
instrument. The person who performs
on instrument not obeying commandment to sing.
5.
authority to play instrument is not found anywhere in NT.
a.
he who plays instrument during
worship MUST find a NT passage justifying his action.
b.
Or willfully use it contrary
to NT authority.
D.
Is it a matter of
expediency?
1.
advocates justify IM by saying it as
an expedient.
a.
RL Whiteside defines expedient as "something fit or
suitable to the end in view."
b.
"it expedites the doing of the thing required."
2.
IM is not an
expedient. Why?
a.
it in no way expedites/assists
singing. It is wholly a different
kind of music.
b.
Notice Col. 3:16 again…essential
idea stressed by Paul is by singing we teach, admonish, and make melody in our
hearts.
1.
IM does not assist in
teaching & admonishing another.
2.
IM does not assist in making
melody in one's heart.
3.
If anything it is a
hindrance to these things (commandments)
IV. IM is an addition to the Worship
Service and Therefore Unscriptural.
A.
Not all "worship"
is acceptable to Almighty God.
1.
This is a necessary point
for people in denominations and even some present day NT Christians.
2.
More & more are people
who believe that as long as the attitude is right that
nothing else matters.
a.
Certainly attitude
important!
b.
Attitude
not right? All in vain.
c.
Sincerity not enough!
3.
We must worship according to
Spirit & Truth - Jhn. 4:24…
B.
God has always expected man
to follow His instructions. Deut.
4:2; 12:32
1.
Numerous examples in OT
establishing this thought:
a.
Lev. 10:1-7 - Nadab &
Abihu.
1.
Sin? Addition to what God required.
2.
Mixed worship - did some
things right - but they added and they died.
3.
1 Cor. 10:11 - this story
written for our admonition - so that we might learn.
4.
Heb. 10:28-29 - God
commanded us to sing - let no one add to this lest he pay the price from God.
b.
Gen. 4:1-8 - Cain & Abel
1.
Abel's sacrifice approved by
God. Cain substituted something of
his own - God not pleased.
2.
Conclusion: God will accept no worship
which He has not appointed.
3.
God commands us to
sing. One who plays substitutes something on his own & if not corrected will
answer to God.
2.
NT Teaching - Remember God
meant NT to be the complete guide for the church - 2 Tim. 3:16-17
a.
We should rely upon
commandments of God to direct us. Jesus did: Jhn. 5:30; 12:49
b.
Throughout Scriptures we
find a pattern of worship. The FC
church worshipped according to the divine plan set in order by the apostles!
1.
who is man to rely upon His own
wisdom in worship?
2.
1 Cor. 1:20 - wisdom of men
= foolishness w/God.
3. IM cannot be found anywhere in NT. It must rely upon wisdom of men!
a.
Prov. 14:12
b.
If IM in NT or used by FC
Christians, one would find mention in NT. None found.
4. if manner in which we worship God
musically is not backed by the NT, on judgment we will find out we have
worshipped Him in vain, ignorantly, and according to our own will.
C.
Here is an interesting
contrast to consider:
1.
Who made instruments of
music? MAN. Who plays them? MAN. Who likes to hear them? MAN. This is
why they are still used through totally unsupported by the word of God.
2.
Who gave us our voice? GOD. Who commands singing? GOD. Who likes to hear men
sing praises? GOD. See Heb.
13:15-16.
D.
Some say IM is an aid to
worship.
1.
Consider: Catholics
use images; paintings; the crucifix; the counting of beads to "aid"
to worship.
2.
Most people condemn the use
of such things in the Catholic church.
3.
Hat argument can they make
against all Catholics invention and ceremonies to worship, while denominational
people make same argument for IM?
V. Congregational Singing is Authorized by
God.
A.
Remember scriptures
mentioned at the beginning of the lesson.
1.
Eph. 5:18-19; Col. 3:16 -
command to teach/admonish one another is psalms/hymns/spiritual psalms - clear authority found here for congregational singing.
a.
how could we teach one another
by singing if we weren't gathered together?
2.
one may sing along as much as
he pleases, but teaching commanded in these verses must be done when
congregation assembles.
B.
Singing in a congregation to
be done a cappella.
1.
a cappella Italian in origin. Defined as: "in church music; sing
w/o accompaniment."
2.
Commonly defined as:
"music sung in the chapel."
3.
In most high schools, there
are several levels in choir, and the highest lever is the a cappella choir. The thing
that characterizes this choir and distinguishes it from others is the fact that
it sings w/o instrumental accompaniment.
VI. Conclusion.
A.
There is no instrument like
the human voice.
1.
IM invented 1000's years ago
to imitate & reproduce the beautiful human voice.
a.
violin, cello, etc. reproduce bass
voice.
b.
Oboe, clarinet, reproduce
soprano voice.
2.
fill a room w/people singing out
as they can and ought to it will produce a sound unparalleled by any symphony
filled w/instruments.
B.
God gave us our voice &
he wants to hear it. Man gave us
IM and wants to hear it.
1.
to add instrument of man is
to cloud & obscure the invention of God (voice) w/the invention of man (IM)
C.
Review.
D.
I N V I T A T I O N