MUSIC and WORSHIP

“The study of music and its influence confronts the Christian with a complicated paradox. The less he studies and thinks about music, the more he imagines he knows about it. However, the more he studies and thinks about music, the more he realizes how little he actually knows about it.” (back cover)

Music and Worship I.References II.Technical Development A. Musicology B. Beauty C. Physiology of Music III.Biblical Development A. Directive/Descriptive/Principle B. Textual Exposition IV.Sacred Music—Standards and Hymnody V.FAQs VI.Summary/Conclusion

Standards A.Content B.Arrangement C.Instrumentation

Rationale Against Instruments in Worship 1.Associated with Pagan Worship 2.Associated with Excessive Emotion 3.Associated with the Mosaic Law 4.Associated with Catholic Pomp 5.Unspiritual

Clement of Alexandria excerpts from 185 and 190 AD writings “Leave the pipe to the shepherd, the flute to the men who are in fear of gods and intent on their idol worshiping. Such musical instruments must be excluded from our wingless feasts, for they are more suited for beasts and for the class of men that is least capable of reason than for men... Then to all mankind He calls out, 'Let every spirit praise the Lord,' because He rules over every spirit He has made. In reality, man is an instrument for peace, but these other things, if anyone concerns himself overmuch with them, become instruments of conflict, for [they] inflame the passions... But as for us, we make use of one instrument alone: only the Word of peace by whom we [give] homage to God, no longer with ancient harp or trumpet or drum or flute which those trained for war employ.” “The Lord fashioned man a beautiful, breathing instrument, after His own image and assuredly He Himself is an all-harmonious instrument of God, melodious and holy, the wisdom that is above this world, the heavenly Word… He who sprang from David and yet was before him, the Word of God, scorned those lifeless instruments of lyre and cithara. By the power of the Holy Spirit He arranged in harmonious order this great world, yes, and the little world of man too, body and soul together; and on this many-voiced instrument of the universe He makes music to God, and sings to the human instrument. 'For thou art my harp and my pipe and my temple.'”

Rationale Against Instruments in Worship 1.Associated with Pagan Worship 2.Associated with Excessive Emotion 3.Associated with the Mosaic Law 4.Associated with Catholic Pomp 5.Unspiritual

Rationale Against Instruments in Worship 1.Associated with Pagan Worship 2.Associated with Excessive Emotion 3.Associated with the Mosaic Law 4.Associated with Catholic Pomp 5.Unspiritual

Rationale Against Instruments in Worship 1.Associated with Pagan Worship 2.Associated with Excessive Emotion 3.Associated with the Mosaic Law 4.Associated with Catholic Pomp 5.Unspiritual

Eusebius excerpt from early 4 th Century writings “Of old at the time those of the circumcision were worshiping with symbols and types it was not inappropriate to send up hymns to God with the psalterion and cithara and to do this on Sabbath days... We render our hymn with a living psalterion and a living cithara with spiritual songs. The unison voices of Christians would be more acceptable to God than any musical instrument.”

gospelway.com David E. Pratte “Instrumental Music in Worship: Does God Want Singing or Playing Instruments?” “These facts will be important in our study; however, they prove nothing about what God wants in His worship today. We will later show that we are no longer under the Old Testament, and the acts it authorizes do not apply to us (Gal. 5:1-4; Heb. 10:9,10; Rom. 7:1-6; Col. 2:14)... “The Old Testament explicitly stated that singing, playing instruments, and dancing were three distinct forms of musical expression, and each was an acceptable act of praise to God. The New Testament continues to describe singing as acceptable praise, but not one time are instruments or dancing mentioned as accepted forms of praise to God... “The Old Testament expressly authorized many practices which are nowhere authorized in New Testament service to God: the seventh-day sabbath, animal sacrifices, Levitical priesthood, burning incense, infant membership, circumcision, tithing, holy days, roast lamb in memorial feasts, dancing, and instrumental music... “The very fact that God mentioned these practices repeatedly in the Old Testament, but does not mention them at all in the New Testament, proves that He does not want them now. If He wanted them, He would mention them now as He did then.”