WORSHIP – BY WHAT AUTHORITY DO WE SING? JOHN 4:24 - TEXT

ARGUMENT #1 THE BIBLE DOES NOT SAY YOU CAN’T USE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC, SO WE HAVE THE FREEDOM TO USE IT IF WE CHOOSE.

ANSWER 1 PET. 4:11 – PLACES A PREMIUM ON SILENCE LEV. 24:11-14 – DID THEY ACT ON THE SILENCE OF GOD? HEB. 7:14 – THE PRIEST CAME FROM THE TRIBE OF LEVI PSA. 19:13-14 – DO NOT PRESUME ISA. 55:8-9 – MY THOUGHTS ARE NOT YOUR THOUGHTS

ARGUMENT # 2 SINCE INSTRUMENTS WERE USED UNDER THE LAW OF MOSES IN OLD TESTAMENT DAYS, WE CAN USE THEM TODAY. – 2 CHRON. 5:1, 13-14

ANSWER MATT. 17:5 – PUTS MOSES ON PAR WITH CHRIST ROM. 7:1-4 – SPIRITUAL ADULTERY GAL. 5:4-6 – CAUSES US TO FALL FROM GRACE EPH. 2:15; COL. 2:14-16 – HOLDS US TO THAT WHICH IS ABOLISHED MATT. 28:18 – CHRIST HAS ALL AUTHORITY

ARGUMENT #3 PSALMS IS PART OF THE NEW COVENANT, AND IT AUTHORIZES INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC. – PSA. 150

ANSWER JN. 10:34 VS. PSA. 82:6 – WRITTEN IN YOUR LAW JN. 15:25 VS. PSA. 69:4 – WRITTEN IN THEIR LAW WHAT LAW? THE LAW JESUS NAILED TO THE CROSS – COL. 2:14- 16

ARGUMENT #4 THE AID ARGUMENT – THE INSTRUMENT IS ONLY AN AID TO CARRY OUT THE COMMAND TO SING.

ANSWER AIDS ARE ONLY USED TO EXPEDITE A COMMAND – MK. 16:15 – GO MATT. 26:26-29 – CONTAINERS ARE AIDS HEB. 10:25 – BUILDING IS AN AID 1 COR. 16:1-2 – COLLECTION PLATE IS AN AID EPH. 5:19 – COMMAND IS TO SING - THE INSTRUMENT IS AN ADDITION

ARGUMENT #5 CERTAINLY GOD WOULD ALLOW US TO USE OUR NATURAL TALENTS IN SERVICE TO GOD. SINCE SOME HAVE A TALENT FOR PLAYING AN INSTRUMENT OF MUSIC, IT THEREFORE AUTHORIZES ITS USE IN WORSHIP.

ANSWER IT PROVES TOO MUCH – ROM. 12:1-2; 1 COR. 9:27 BEING A CHRISTIAN IS NOT BASED ON NATURAL TALENTS BUT RATHER ON WHAT IS AUTHORIZED – ROM. 10:17; 2 COR. 5:7

ARGUMENT #6 IF IT CAN BE PRACTICED AT HOME, IT CAN BE USED IN THE WORSHIP.

ANSWER THERE ARE MANY THINGS MORALLY RIGHT, BUT RELIGIOUSLY WRONG – WASHING OF HANDS – MATT. 15:2-3 – WASHING OF FEET – JN. 13:4 – HAMBURGERS AND PEPSI – 1 COR. 11:22 – JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING IS RIGHT AT HOME DOES NOT MAKE IT SO IN THE WORSHIP!

ARGUMENT #7 THE AUTHORITY FOR THE INSTRUMENT LIES IN THE GREEK WORD “PSALLO”

ANSWER EPH. 5:19 – “MAKING MELODY IN YOUR HEART TO THE LORD.” PSALLO – TO PULL OR PLUCK, RUB, TO STRIKE OR VIBRATE VINE’S – “TO SING A HYMN, TO SING PRAISE” – 147 SCHOLARS AGREE SING – ROM. 15:9; 1 COR. 14:15; JAMES 5:13

ARGUMENT #8 THE BOOK OF REVELATION SPEAKS OF HARPS IN HEAVEN, THEREFORE INSTRUMENTS MAY BE USED IN THE CHURCH TODAY.

ANSWER REV. 5:8 – WHAT ABOUT THE BOWLS OF INCENSE? WHO IS TO GOING TO AFFIRM THAT THERE ARE PHYSICAL, FLESHLY, EARTHLY HARPS IN HEAVEN.