Defenses of Instrumental Music in Worship

1
Defenses of Instrumental Music in Worship

• Answered

2
Defenses of Instrumental Music in Worship

• Some claim to find authorization in the Old
  Testament.
• It is true that the Old Testament authorized the
  use of man-made musical instruments in Jewish
  worship.
• But neither Moses nor the Old Testament prophets
  have any authority, today.

3
Matthew 2818

• And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All
  authority has been given to Me in heaven and on
  earth."

4
Luke 928-31

• Now it came to pass, about eight days after these
  sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and
  went up on the mountain to pray. As He prayed,
  the appearance of His face was altered, and His
  robe became white and glistening. And behold, two
  men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah,
  who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease
  which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

5
Luke 932-33

• But Peter and those with him were heavy with
  sleep and when they were fully awake, they saw
  His glory and the two men who stood with Him.
  Then it happened, as they were parting from Him,
  that Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for
  us to be here and let us make three tabernacles
  one for You, one for Moses, and one for
  Elijah"--not knowing what he said.

6
Luke 934-36

• While he was saying this, a cloud came and
  overshadowed them and they were fearful as they
  entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the
  cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son. Hear
  Him!" When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found
  alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in
  those days any of the things they had seen. ?

7
Hebrews 11-2

• God, who at various times and in various ways
  spoke in time past to the fathers by the
  prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by
  His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all
  things, through whom also He made the worlds

8
Defenses of Instrumental Music in Worship

• Some claim to find authorization in the Old
  Testament.
• It is true that the Old Testament authorized the
  use of man-made musical instruments in Jewish
  worship.
• But neither Moses nor the Old Testament prophets
  have any authority, today.
• Christians are to worship according to the New
  Testament.

9
Galatians 16-9

• I marvel that you are turning away so soon from
  Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a
  different gospel, which is not another but there
  are some who trouble you and want to pervert the
  gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel
  from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than
  what we have preached to you, let him be
  accursed. As we have said before, so now I say
  again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you
  than what you have received, let him be accursed.
  ?

10
Colossians 317

• 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.

11
Hebrews 21-3

• Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to
  the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For
  if the word spoken through angels proved
  steadfast, and every transgression and
  disobedience received a just reward, how shall we
  escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which
  at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and
  was confirmed to us by those who heard Him...?

12
Defenses of Instrumental Music in Worship

• Some claim to find authorization in the New
  Testament book of Revelation ("After all, there
  are going to be harps in heaven, aren't there?").
  
• The book of Revelation contains several visions
  in which harps are prominent.

13
Revelation 58

• Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living
  creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down
  before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden
  bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of
  the saints.

14
Revelation 142

• And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice
  of many waters, and like the voice of loud
  thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists
  playing their harps.

15
Revelation 152

• And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled
  with fire, and those who have the victory over
  the beast, over his image and over his mark and
  over the number of his name, standing on the sea
  of glass, having harps of God.

16
Defenses of Instrumental Music in Worship

• Some claim to find authorization in the New
  Testament book of Revelation ("After all, there
  are going to be harps in heaven, aren't there?").
  
• The book of Revelation contains several visions
  in which harps are prominent.
• But these are highly figurative visions,
  apparently of things occurring (whether now or in
  the future) in heaven.

17
Defenses of Instrumental Music in Worship

• Even if the harps are somehow literal, they are
  certainly not man-made.
• If, when I get to heaven, God hands me a harp, I
  will play it to the best of my ability.
• But where in the New Testament are Christians
  authorized to use harps in worship while on
  earth?
• Besides, specific authority for a harp would not
  provide generic authority for all other
  instruments.

18
Defenses of Instrumental Music in Worship

• Some claim that the Greek words, "psallo" and
  "psalmos," necessarily imply the use of a musical
  instrument.
• Psallo is variously translated as "sing", "sing
  psalms" and "making melody."
• Psalmos is simply "psalms."

19
Romans 159

• Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you
  to be like-minded toward one another, according
  to Christ Jesus, and that the Gentiles might
  glorify God for His mercy, as it is written "For
  this reason I will confess to You among the
  Gentiles, And sing to Your name."

20
1 Corinthians 1415

• 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.

21
James 513

• Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is
  anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.

22
Ephesians 519

• speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and
  spiritual songs, singing and making melody in
  your heart to the Lord,

23
Colossians 316

• 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.

24
Defenses of Instrumental Music in Worship

• In Romans 159, Paul is quoting an O.T. Prophecy.

25
2 Samuel 2250 Psalm 1849

• Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord,
  among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your
  name.

26
Defenses of Instrumental Music in Worship

• In Romans 159, Paul is quoting an O.T. Prophecy.
  
• We must interpret O.T. prophecy in the light of
  N.T. fulfillment.
• In 1 Corinthians 1415, the singing is to be done
  "with the spirit and with the understanding."

27
Defenses of Instrumental Music in Worship

• In Ephesians 519, the melody is to be made "in
  your heart." I know of no instrument (other than
  the human voice and the human heart) that is
  anywhere authorized for use in New Testament
  worship.

28
Defenses of Instrumental Music in Worship

• Some argue that musical instruments are just aids
  such as songbooks.
• However, songbooks can be an aid to either
  singing (vocal music) or playing (instrumental
  music).
• When singers use songbooks, no other music is
  created, but when man-made instruments accompany
  the singers, playing is added to the singing.

29
Defenses of Instrumental Music in Worship

• Since singing is authorized it may be aided.
• But, since playing is not authorized, it may not
  be used, much less aided.
• And, since playing is obviously more like singing
  than it is like songbooks, it cannot logically be
  considered an aid to the singing, but must be
  considered an addition or a substitution.

30
Defenses of Instrumental Music in Worship

• Some, in a last ditch attempt to cling to the use
  of the instrument, but being unable to show
  authority for its use in N.T. worship, claim that
  they can use it at certain stated times (e.g.,
  outside the formal, collective worship of a
  congregation), so long as they are not actually
  worshiping (e.g., they may be entertaining one
  another).

31
Defenses of Instrumental Music in Worship

• But if they are singing without actually
  worshiping, are they not misusing the psalms,
  hymns and spiritual songs?
• Would this not be like giving alms, praying and
  fasting "to be seen of men" like the hypocrites
  in Matthew 61-8?

32
Matthew 61-2

• "Take heed that you do not do your charitable
  deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise
  you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
  Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not
  sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do
  in the synagogues and in the streets, that they
  may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you,
  they have their reward.

33
Matthew 63-5

• "But when you do a charitable deed, do not let
  your left hand know what your right hand is
  doing, that your charitable deed may be in
  secret and your Father who sees in secret will
  Himself reward you openly. "And when you pray,
  you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they
  love to pray standing in the synagogues and on
  the corners of the streets, that they may be seen
  by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their
  reward.

34
Matthew 66-8

• "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and
  when you have shut your door, pray to your Father
  who is in the secret place and your Father who
  sees in secret will reward you openly. And when
  you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the
  heathen do. For they think that they will be
  heard for their many words. Therefore do not be
  like them. For your Father knows the things you
  have need of before you ask Him. ?

35
Defenses of Instrumental Music in Worship

• If they are "singing and making melody in their
  heart to the Lord" it is worship.
• If they are "singing with grace in their hearts
  to the Lord" it is worship.
• If they are not "making melody in their heart
  to the Lord" or they are not "singing with grace
  in their hearts to the Lord," why are they not?

36
Defenses of Instrumental Music in Worship

• And would they not be drawing nigh unto God with
  their mouth, and honoring God with their lips
  while their heart is far from Him?
• And would this not be "vain worship" according to
  Matthew 158-9?

37
Matthew 158-9

• "'These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
  And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is
  far from Me. And in vain they worship Me,
  Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"

38
Defenses of Instrumental Music in Worship

• As far as I have been able to determine, and I
  know of no defenses other than those dealt with
  here, there is no authority in the New Testament
  for instrumental music in worship, whether in or
  out of the congregational assembly.
• Therefore, I refuse to use it, or to sing with
  those who do.

39
Defenses of Instrumental Music in Worship

• Interestingly, the Italian Phrase, "a cappella"
  (which refers to singing without instrumental
  accompaniment), literally means "as in the
  chapel."