Should We Worship God with Instrumental Music? As some see it… “Instrumental music is much more moving.”“Instrumental music is much more moving.” “Many enjoy it more than singing alone.”“Many enjoy it more than singing alone.” “It is a mark of growing progressive modern churches.”“It is a mark of growing progressive modern churches.” “The Bible doesn’t say you can’t use instruments.”“The Bible doesn’t say you can’t use instruments.”

Should We Worship God with Instrumental Music? What does the Bible teach on this? What should our position be on this subject?

Should We Worship God with Instrumental Music? I. Instruments of Music in the Bible. A. Instrumental music was authorized during the Old Testament period in temple worship (2 Chron. 29:25). 1. According to the Jewish Encyclopedia instrumental music is “a modern feature in synagogal worship” (“Synagogal Music”). 2. The first organ was introduced in Berlin June 14, 1815 by Israel Jacobson causing great indignation and division (“Organ”).

Should We Worship God with Instrumental Music? I. Instruments of Music in the Bible. B. Singing is commanded under the Law of Christ (Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:18-19; James 5:13). 1. New Testament examples of music in worship are all singing alone. Jesus and the disciples sang a hymn (Mark 14:26).Jesus and the disciples sang a hymn (Mark 14:26). Paul and Silas (Acts 16:25).Paul and Silas (Acts 16:25). Church assembly (1 Cor. 14:26).Church assembly (1 Cor. 14:26).

Should We Worship God with Instrumental Music? I. Instruments of Music in the Bible. B. Singing is commanded under the Law of Christ (Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:18-19l James 5:13). 1. New Testament examples of music in worship are all singing alone. 2. New Testament references to instrumental music in worship describe conditions in heaven (Rev. 5:8; 14:2; 15:2).

Should We Worship God with Instrumental Music? II. Instrumental Music in Church History. A. Early church writers opposed instrumental music. “The one instrument of peace, the Word alone by which we honour God, is what we employ. We no longer employ the ancient psaltery, and trumpet, and timbrel, and flute” — Clement of Alexandria, A.D ).“The one instrument of peace, the Word alone by which we honour God, is what we employ. We no longer employ the ancient psaltery, and trumpet, and timbrel, and flute” — Clement of Alexandria, A.D ).

Should We Worship God with Instrumental Music? II. Instrumental Music in Church History. A. Early church writers opposed instrumental music. “...Now, instead of organs, we may use our own bodies to praise him withal.... Instruments appertain not to Christians.” — John Chrysostom, Homily on Psalm 149 (4 th century). “...Now, instead of organs, we may use our own bodies to praise him withal.... Instruments appertain not to Christians.” — John Chrysostom, Homily on Psalm 149 (4 th century).

Should We Worship God with Instrumental Music? II. Instrumental Music in Church History. A. Early church writers opposed instrumental music. “We render our hymn with a living psalterion and a living kithara, with spiritual songs. The unison voices of Christians would be more acceptable to God than any musical instrument. Accordingly in all the churches of God, united in soul and attitude, with one mind and in agreement of faith and piety, we send up a unison melody in the words of the Psalms.” — Eusebius (church historian/bishop, Palestine), Commentary on Psalm 91 (4 th century). “We render our hymn with a living psalterion and a living kithara, with spiritual songs. The unison voices of Christians would be more acceptable to God than any musical instrument. Accordingly in all the churches of God, united in soul and attitude, with one mind and in agreement of faith and piety, we send up a unison melody in the words of the Psalms.” — Eusebius (church historian/bishop, Palestine), Commentary on Psalm 91 (4 th century).

Should We Worship God with Instrumental Music? II. Instrumental Music in Church History. A. Early church writers opposed instrumental music. 1. It was gradually introduced into Roman Catholic practice. a. According to Vatican librarian Bartholomaeo Platina, in his De vitis Pontificum (Cologne, 1593), pope Vitalian I (657-72) first introduced the organ into church worship. a. According to Vatican librarian Bartholomaeo Platina, in his De vitis Pontificum (Cologne, 1593), pope Vitalian I (657-72) first introduced the organ into church worship.

Should We Worship God with Instrumental Music? II. Instrumental Music in Church History. A. Early church writers opposed instrumental music. 1. It was gradually introduced into Roman Catholic practice. b. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, “a strong objection to the organ in church service remained pretty general down to the twelfth century... But from the twelfth century on, the organ became the privileged church instrument…” (“Organ”). b. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, “a strong objection to the organ in church service remained pretty general down to the twelfth century... But from the twelfth century on, the organ became the privileged church instrument…” (“Organ”).

Should We Worship God with Instrumental Music? II. Instrumental Music in Church History. A. Early church writers opposed instrumental music. 1. It was gradually introduced into Roman Catholic practice. c. “But our Church does not make use of musical instruments such as harps and psalteries, in the divine praises, for fear of seeming to Judaize.... As the Philosopher says (Polit. viii, 6).

Should We Worship God with Instrumental Music? II. Instrumental Music in Church History. A. Early church writers opposed instrumental music. 1. It was gradually introduced into Roman Catholic practice. c. “Teaching should not be accompanied with a flute or any artificial instrument such as the harp or anything else of this kind: but only with such things as make good hearers.” — Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica (1200s).

Should We Worship God with Instrumental Music? II. Instrumental Music in Church History. A. Early church writers opposed instrumental music. 1. It was gradually introduced into Roman Catholic practice. 2. Greek Orthodox churches have generally opposed its use.

Should We Worship God with Instrumental Music? II. Instrumental Music in Church History. B. During the time of the Protestant Reformation instrumental music was again opposed. “We have brought into our churches a certain operose and theatrical music...as I hardly think was ever heard in any of the Grecian or Roman theatres. The church rings with the noise of trumpets, pipes and dulcimers; and human voices strive to bear their part with them.... Men run to church as to a theatre, to have their ears tickled.” — Erasmus (classical scholar and humanist), In Novum Testamentum... Annotationes (1522).“We have brought into our churches a certain operose and theatrical music...as I hardly think was ever heard in any of the Grecian or Roman theatres. The church rings with the noise of trumpets, pipes and dulcimers; and human voices strive to bear their part with them.... Men run to church as to a theatre, to have their ears tickled.” — Erasmus (classical scholar and humanist), In Novum Testamentum... Annotationes (1522).

Should We Worship God with Instrumental Music? II. Instrumental Music in Church History. B. During the time of the Protestant Reformation instrumental music was again opposed. “When we are told that David sang with a musical instrument, let us carefully remember that we are not to make a rule of it. Rather, we are to recognise today that we must sing the praises of God in simplicity, since the shadows of the Law are past, and since in our Lord Jesus Christ we have the truth and embodiment of all these things which were given to the ancient fathers in the time of their ignorance or smallness of faith.” — John Calvin (Reformer, Geneva), Sermons on Second Samuel (1562).“When we are told that David sang with a musical instrument, let us carefully remember that we are not to make a rule of it. Rather, we are to recognise today that we must sing the praises of God in simplicity, since the shadows of the Law are past, and since in our Lord Jesus Christ we have the truth and embodiment of all these things which were given to the ancient fathers in the time of their ignorance or smallness of faith.” — John Calvin (Reformer, Geneva), Sermons on Second Samuel (1562).

Should We Worship God with Instrumental Music? II. Instrumental Music in Church History. B. During the time of the Protestant Reformation instrumental music was again opposed. 1. It was gradually introduced into most Protestant churches. 2. Some still opposed its use. a. 1888, John L. Girardeau a Presbyterian seminary professor - Instrumental Music in the Public Worship – a return to Roman Catholic practice.

Should We Worship God with Instrumental Music? II. Instrumental Music in Church History. C.This issue divided the Restoration Movement in the late 19 th Century. Midway, KY in 1859 L.L. Pinkerton introduced a melodeon into worship. Midway, KY in 1859 L.L. Pinkerton introduced a melodeon into worship. 1. Those who became the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) accepted this. 2. Those who sought to be simply churches of Christ opposed this. a. This is not “progressive” but an old digression.

Should We Worship God with Instrumental Music? III. Answering a Few Objections. A. “This is just an argument from silence!” B. “But, the Bible doesn’t say you can’t!”

Should We Worship God with Instrumental Music? III. Answering a Few Objections. C. “Doesn’t the word psallō mean ‘to pluck’?—Doesn’t that show it’s ok?” 1. A word used five times in the NT. a.In Ephesians 5:19 it is translated, “singing and MAKING MELODY in your heart to the Lord.” b.In James 5:13 it is translated, “Is any merry? let him SING PSALMS.”

Should We Worship God with Instrumental Music? III. Answering a Few Objections. C. “Doesn’t the word psallō mean ‘to pluck’?—Doesn’t that show it’s ok?” 1. A word used five times in the NT. c.In 1 Corinthians 14:15 it is translated, “I WILL SING with the spirit, and I WILL SING with the understanding also.”

Should We Worship God with Instrumental Music? III. Answering a Few Objections. C. “Doesn’t the word psallō mean ‘to pluck’?—Doesn’t that show it’s ok?” 1. A word used five times in the NT. d.In Romans 15:9 it is translated, “I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and SING unto thy name.” This is a quote from 2 Sam. 22:50.

Should We Worship God with Instrumental Music? III. Answering a Few Objections. C. “Doesn’t the word psallō mean ‘to pluck’?—Doesn’t that show it’s ok?” 2. Psallō is defined to mean... “1) to pluck off, pull out; 2) to cause to vibrate by touching, to twang; 2a) to touch or strike the chord, to twang the strings of a musical instrument so that they gently vibrate; 2b) to play on a stringed instrument, to play, the harp, etc; 2c) to sing to the music of the harp; 2d) in the NT to sing a hymn, to celebrate the praises of God in song” (Thayer). “1) to pluck off, pull out; 2) to cause to vibrate by touching, to twang; 2a) to touch or strike the chord, to twang the strings of a musical instrument so that they gently vibrate; 2b) to play on a stringed instrument, to play, the harp, etc; 2c) to sing to the music of the harp; 2d) in the NT to sing a hymn, to celebrate the praises of God in song” (Thayer).

Should We Worship God with Instrumental Music? III. Answering a Few Objections. C. “Doesn’t the word psallō mean ‘to pluck’?—Doesn’t that show it’s ok?” 3. Evidence shows change in meaning over time: “play” > “sing with accompaniment” > “sing.” If it means “play” why hasn’t it been translated that way? If it means “play” why hasn’t it been translated that way? If it means “play” what instrument is to be played? (Eph. 5:19; 1 Cor. 14:15). If it means “play” what instrument is to be played? (Eph. 5:19; 1 Cor. 14:15).