Music in Worship?

Which Way is Right? Instrumental Music Soloists Congregational Singing A capella Singing Quartets Choirs DOES IT REALLY MATTER? Praise Teams

God Says it Does… 1 Peter 4:11 “ If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God” 1 Peter 4:11 “ If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God” John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Col. 3:17 “And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.” Col. 3:17 “And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.”

The Folly of Disobedience… Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10:1-3) Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10:1-3) Offered sacrifice with unauthorized fire Offered sacrifice with unauthorized fire God had commanded which fire to use God had commanded which fire to use –“Burning coals from off the altar” (Lev. 16:12) –Fire to be continually burning (Lev. 6:12, 13) They offered unauthorized worship They offered unauthorized worship Such does not sanctify nor glorify God Such does not sanctify nor glorify God

The Folly of Disobedience… King Saul (1 Samuel 15) King Saul (1 Samuel 15) Commanded to utterly destroy Amalekites Commanded to utterly destroy Amalekites Listened to the people instead of God Listened to the people instead of God Peter and other apostles: “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29) Peter and other apostles: “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29) Saul saved: King, spoils, sheep, and oxen Saul saved: King, spoils, sheep, and oxen Sheep and oxen were to sacrifice to God Sheep and oxen were to sacrifice to God Human wisdom says: “It’s for a good cause” Human wisdom says: “It’s for a good cause” What does God say? What does God say?

God Said… To obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. (1 Samuel 15:22)

The Restoration Plea Speak where the Bible speaks Speak where the Bible speaks Be silent where the Bible is silent Be silent where the Bible is silent Do Bible things in Bible ways Do Bible things in Bible ways Call Bible things by Bible names Call Bible things by Bible names In matters of faith, unity In matters of faith, unity In matters of opinion, liberty In matters of opinion, liberty In all matters, charity In all matters, charity

The Witness of History

“ From the apostolic age singing was always a part of divine service, in which the whole body of the Church joined together; and it was the decay of this practice that first brought the order of singers into the Church.” (McClintock and Strong; Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature) “ From the apostolic age singing was always a part of divine service, in which the whole body of the Church joined together; and it was the decay of this practice that first brought the order of singers into the Church.” (McClintock and Strong; Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature)

“Now all of you together become a choir so that being harmoniously in concord and receiving the key note from God in unison you may sing with one voice through Jesus Christ to the Father.” Ignatius of Antioch Around 110 A.D.

“The early worship of the Christian church was completely congregational, so far as we can tell. However … the increasing power and sophistication of the church was accompanied by the development of trained choirs and music leaders. Church history records that about the fifth century congregational singing was largely eliminated n Christian worship, and the music was given to choirs…” Donald P. Hustad, Moody Bible Institute

“It is scarcely necessary for us to say to our readers, that we regard the organ and violin worship, and even the fashionable choir singing of our country as mockery of all that is sacred.” Tolbert Fanning (Restoration Movement)

“The choir in a church is composed of artistic performers, who sing for the church; sing difficult pieces that the masses cannot sing, for music and musical display, to attract, entertain, and gratify the people – to charm them with music. These are professional singers, chosen without any regard to their moral character. They sing to show how they can sing, amuse, and entertain.” Ben Franklin (1800’s) Ben Franklin (1800’s)

What Does the Bible Say? Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God (Eph. 5:19 )

What Does the Bible Say? 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 whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (Col. 3:16-17)

Speaking to YourselvesTeaching and Admonishing One Another Vocal Congregational Reciprocal Psalms, Hymns, Spiritual Songs Eph. 5:19Col. 3:16

God Has Told Us What He Wants! We are told what to do and how to do it We are told what to do and how to do it “One another” - Each person teaches and admonishes the other by singing “One another” - Each person teaches and admonishes the other by singing “Speaking to yourselves” – singing in unison “Speaking to yourselves” – singing in unison –The whole congregation “speaks” to each other –Excludes choirs, quartets, solos, etc.

Singing/Making melody in your heart to the Lord Singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord “Ado” – To sing (using voice) “Psallo” – To twitch or twang Instruments are specified: Sing with voice Play the chords of your heart Eph. 5:19Col. 3:16

Giving thanks to God in the name of Jesus Christ Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God Thankful heart = Obedient heart In the name of = By the authority of In the name of Jesus…or man? Eph. 5:20Col. 3:17

The Principle of Submission “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God” (Eph. 5:21) “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God” (Eph. 5:21) The “pericope” of Eph. 5:18-21 The “pericope” of Eph. 5:18-21 Applies to the act of singing Applies to the act of singing –The fear of God involves submission to others –Singing must be done in submission to others –Excludes any “special music” in which one is not on the same level as others in singing

What is the Purpose of Worship? To please man? Do as you wish! To please man? Do as you wish! To please God? Do as He commands! To please God? Do as He commands! True worship seeks to magnify God True worship seeks to magnify God God is a spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24)