A little history 0n instrumental music in worship

Instrumental music in worship Millions of people will gather into church buildings today and sing praises to God accompanied by musical instruments. You can find a wide variety of instruments being played. From a simple piano to a massive pipe organ From a 3 piece band to a full blown orchestra

Instrumental music in worship They will participate in this worship without ever considering “is this the way God wants it done?” They don’t question it because they have always sang with musical instruments. Just because something has always been done a certain way doesn’t make it right. It reminds me of a story some of you may have heard.

Instrumental music in worship A young bride asked her husband to pick up a broom for her on his way home from work. As soon as he got home with the broom his bride took it out on the porch and cut about 3 inches off of the handle. This puzzled her husband so he asked her why she would cut off the handle.

Instrumental music in worship The bride’s response was that her mother always cut off the handle new brooms. So they called the bride’s mother and asked her why she always cut off the handle of her new brooms. The mother’s response was because her mother (the bride’s grandmother) had always cut off the handles of her new brooms.

Instrumental music in worship By this point in the story all three of them are wondering why they cut off the handle of the new brooms. So, mom calls the grandmother and asks her why she always cut off the handles of her new brooms. The grandmother’s response was simple “darling”, she said “it was because my broom closet was too short for a full size broom”

Instrumental music in worship This story points out the non-sense of doing something a particular way just because that’s the way it’s always been done. As we mentioned earlier, people don’t think anything is wrong with musical instruments in worship because they “think” that’s the way it has always been done. I can tell you it is not the way it has always been done even in some of main line denominations of today

Instrumental music in worship I want us to spend the next few moments looking at what historians and famous teachers of the past have said about instrumental music in worship. As we look at some of these quotes we may ask ourselves “what has changed?” Has God’s law changed or has man simply inserted his own ideas into God’s worship?

Christianity Today Magazine The following question was submitted to Christianity Today Magazine. “When did churches start using instrumental music? Are there churches today that still only use acapella music?” The answer was written by Elesha Coffman an editor of the magazine and an expert in the area of Church history.

Christianity Today Magazine These are a few excerpts from her answer. “Though we know that early Christians sang during worship, they probably used no instruments.” “Nearly all of the backgrounds from which early Christians came-Jewish, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and more-had instrumental traditions, but these traditions carried negative associations.”

Christianity Today Magazine “Unaccompanied vocal music continued to be the norm in Christian worship for centuries. Then, in about the 10th or 12th century, Western Christians began to use the organ in the liturgy.” “A few western churches, such as the Churches of Christ, still eschew the use of instruments in worship. These churches tend to employ primitivist arguments:”

Christianity Today Magazine That word “primitivist” sounds kind of like an insult. But I like that word! Dictionary.com defines it like this: “a recurrent theory or belief, as in philosophy or art, that the qualities of primitive or chronologically early cultures are superior to those of contemporary civilization.” In other words the old ways are better than the new ways!

Christianity Today Magazine Do we remember what God said through the prophet Jeremiah? Jer 6:16 Thus says the LORD: "Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.‘ When it comes to serving God, the old, primitive ways are the best!

Christianity Today Magazine “because there's nothing in the New Testament about instruments, and because the early church almost certainly didn't use instruments, we shouldn't either.” “Churches that do use instruments tend to find support in the Old Testament and to argue that while the New Testament says nothing positive about instruments, it says nothing negative either.” www.christianitytoday.com/history/2008/august/when-did-churches-start-using-instrumental-music.html

Voices from the past I want us to spend the next few minutes looking at how some famous preachers of years past felt about the use of instruments of music in worship. Many of these men were instrumental in founding some of the best known denominations we see around us today.

John calvin John Calvin (1509-1564) was one of the main figures of the reformation movement second only to Martin Luther. He was the creator of the religious doctrine known as “Calvinism” followed by the Presbyterian church today.

- UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION - PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS John Calvin Calvinism is often known by its acronym “TULIP” TULIP - TOTAL DEPRAVITY - UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION - LIMITED ATONEMENT - IRRESISTABLE GRACE - PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS

John Calvin Calvinism, at least in part, is taught in almost every denomination today. John Calvin was strictly opposed to instruments of music in the Christian worship service. Calvin says the following in his commentary on Psalms 33:2 Ps 33:2 Praise the LORD with the harp; Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.

John Calvin “But when they frequent their sacred assemblies, musical instruments in celebrating the praises of God would be no more suitable than the burning of incense, the lighting up of lamps, and the restoration of the other shadows of the law.”

John Calvin “The Papists, therefore, have foolishly borrowed this, as well as many other things, from the Jews.” “Men who are fond of outward pomp may delight in that noise; but the simplicity which God recommends to us by the apostle is far more pleasing to him.” www.studylight.org/commentaries/cal/psalms-33.html

Adam clarke Adam Clarke (1760 - 1832) was a Methodist preacher and Bible scholar. His commentary on the Bible contains 6 volumes of nearly 1000 pages each. It took him 40 years to complete it

Adam clarke This famous Methodist preacher was severely opposed to the use of instruments of music in worship! Listen to what he has to say about the use of instrumental music in Christian worship in his commentary on 1 Chronicles 16:42

Adam clarke “Is not the introduction of such instruments into the worship of God antichristian, and calculated to debase and ultimately ruin the spirit and influence of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?” “And should not all who wish well to the spread and establishment of pure and undefiled religion, lift up their hand, their influence, and their voice against them?”

Adam clarke Both the Episcopalian and Methodist churches today use instruments of music in worship. Makes you wonder “what changed?” Adam Clarke also quotes another famous Methodist in his commentary on Joel 6:5

John Wesley John Wesley (1703-1791) along with his brother Charles founded the Methodist church. Like Adam Clarke, he too was very opposed to instrumental music in the worship service.

John wesley “John Wesley, who was a lover of music, and an elegant poet, when asked his opinion of instruments of music being introduced into the chapels of the Methodists said, in his terse and powerful manner, "I have no objection to instruments of music in our chapels, provided they are neither Heard nor Seen.” www.studylight.org/commentaries/acc/amos-6.html#5

Charles spurgeon Charles Spurgeon (1834 – 1892) was one of the most well known and influential Baptist preachers of all time. He too was against the use of instrumental music in worship Listen to his commentary following Psalms 42:4

Charles spurgeon “What a degradation to supplant the intelligent song of the whole congregation by the theatrical prettiness of a quartet, the refined niceties of a choir, or the blowing off of wind from inanimate bellows and pipes! We might as well pray by machinery as praise by it.” http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/treasury-of-david/psalms-42-4.html

Thomas aquinas Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) was a catholic priest and doctor of the catholic church. He is recognized by many Catholics and others as the greatest theologian of the middle ages He has even been elevated to the level of “saint” by the catholic church

Thomas Aquinas The American Catholic web-site has this to say about Aquinas: “By universal consent, Thomas Aquinas is the preeminent spokesman of the Catholic tradition of reason and of divine revelation. He is one of the great teachers of the medieval Catholic Church, honored with the titles Doctor of the Church and Angelic Doctor.” http://www.americancatholic.org/saint-thomas-aquinas/

Thomas Aquinas Now listen to what this highly regarded Catholic had to say about instrumental music. "Our church does not use musical instruments, as harps and psalteries, to praise God withal, that she may not seem to Judaize.“ He recognized these instruments were used in Jewish worship but not authorized under the Law of Christ

Acceptable worship We have seen statements from prominent Methodist, Baptist, Episcopalian and Catholic teachers from the past rejecting instrumental music in worship. History shows the early church did not use instrumental music. What has changed? Has God’s plan for our worship changed?

Acceptable worship Absolutely not! Man over the years has inserted his own thoughts, ideas and desires into worship. Worship in many churches today has become more about entertainment than about pleasing God. Many so called worship services has become nothing less than a theatrical production.

Acceptable worship We should not approach worship with a “what’s in it for me?” attitude. Worship is not about me having a good time or being entertained. It is about obeying God! We don’t want our worship to become vain or worthless because we have inserted man’s traditions into it.

Acceptable worship Mt 15:7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Acceptable worship The use of musical instruments in worship is the doctrine of men. No where in the New Testament do we read about Christians playing any instruments in the worship service. We do read where they were commanded to sing as a part of worshipping God.

Acceptable worship Eph 5:17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord

Acceptable worship Col 3:16 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. Music in worship has a purpose that can only be accomplished by vocal music. Can a musical instrument teach or admonish?

Conclusion We could go on and list other verses about singing but for the sake of time we won’t We need to understand God wants things done His way and not ours. Many denominations have added instrumental music into their worship services to please man not God. When God has told us exactly what He wants then we have no right to change it!