Understanding Instrumental Music in the New Testament Church
Delve into the exploration of instrumental music within the context of worship in the New Testament Church. Discover various perspectives on the usage of instruments in religious practices, contrasting with the emphasis on vocal singing as the authorized form of musical expression in Christian worship.
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Worshipping God (5) Can We Use Instrumental Music? NT Church 2018
Singing and the New Testament Singing is authorized 1 Corinthians 14:15 Ephesians 5:19 Colossians 3:16 Directed toward God, teaching and admonishing one another, reciprocal, variety of songs all fulfilled with vocal music
Singing and the New Testament 9 NT passages that address Christians and their music Matthew 26:30, Mark 14:26 Acts 16:25 Romans 15:9 (2 Samuel 22:50, Psalm 18:49) Hebrews 2:12 (Psalm 22:22) James 5:13 Hebrews 13:15 the fruit of our lips
Authority for Instrumental Music? The NT gives no command, example or inference that instrumental music is acceptable or needed God says what He means and means what He says Cain and Abel Genesis 4 Nadab and Abihu Leviticus 10:1-3 Uzzah 2 Samuel 6
Authority for Instrumental Music? Two types of authority Specific restricts Generic gives liberty go Mark 16:15, Matthew 28:19-20 When God specifies Noah to use Gopher wood (Genesis 6:14) Ark to be transported by Levites with poles (Exodus 25:14-15, Numbers 4:15, 7:9) Singing is SPECIFIED! Instrumental music a different type of music
Authority for Instrumental Music? Some contend Instruments just an aid to singing Instrumental music is an ADDITION! An aid does not change the nature of something (song books, song leader, pitch, etc.); Additions make it a different type
Authority for Instrumental Music? Some contend Instruments just an aid to singing Consider truthfully, instruments are more about what we want and enjoy than simply an aid. Often instruments are played without singing and to set mood. HOW does an instrument help us fulfill the purpose of our singing?
Authority for Instrumental Music? But God didn t say we couldn t use them Silence is NOT consent. 1 Corinthians 4:6 Hebrews 7:14, Moses spoke nothing of priesthood of the tribe of Judah
Authority for Instrumental Music? Psallo, . A word meaning to pluck or twang, as with an instrument. Used at times in OT to describe such (Psalm 144:9, 150:3, etc.) Thus some advocate we need instruments as we sing.
Authority for Instrumental Music? Psallo, . By NT times, the word was used to describe the action plucking, such as a hair or bow string (or an instrument). It did NOT have to include musical accompaniment. Many NT word scholars acknowledge this (Vine s, Thayer, BDAG, etc.)
Authority for Instrumental Music? Psallo, . Thought: The word is found 5 times in the NT Romans 15:9, sing to Your name 1 Corinthians 14:15 sing with the Spirit, and I will sing with the understanding James 5:13 Cheerful, Let him sing songs. WHY is it not translated play or accompanied ? NOT required!
Authority for Instrumental Music? Psallo, . Ephesians 5:19, what are the elements of making melody? With your heart (John 4:24) We are speaking to one another 1 Corinthians 14:15 with the spirit and understanding Do any of these require, or are they enhanced with instrumental music?
Authority for Instrumental Music? What about their usage in the OT? We are not under the Old Testament today (Colossians 2:14, John 4:23-24) We cannot use the Old Testament to justify what or how we worship God today. More on this later
History of Instrumental Music Early church historians: EUSEBIUS (263-339 AD) "Of old at the time those of the circumcision were worshipping 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... (commentary on Psalms 91:2-3)
History of Instrumental Music Early church historians: EUSEBIUS (263-339 AD) "... 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. 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." (commentary on Psalms 91:2-3)
History of Instrumental Music Early church historians: AUGUSTINE (354-430 AC), "musical instruments were not used. The pipe, tabret, and harp here associate so intimately with the sensual heathen cults, as well as with the wild revelries and shameless performances of the degenerate theater and circus, " (Augustine 354 A.D., describing the singing at Alexandria under Athanasius)
History of Instrumental Music Early church historians: AUGUSTINE (354-430 AC), it is easy to understand the prejudices against their use in the worship." (Augustine 354 A.D., describing the singing at Alexandria under Athanasius)
History of Instrumental Music Early church historians: CHRYSOSTOM (349-407 AD) "David formerly sang songs, also today we sing hymns. He had a lyre with lifeless strings, the church has a lyre with living strings. Our tongues are the strings of the lyre with a different tone indeed but much more in accordance with piety. Here there is no need for the cithara, or for stretched strings, or for the plectrum, or for art, or for any instrument; ..." (Chrysostom, 347-407, Exposition of Psalms 41, (381-398 A.D.)
History of Instrumental Music Early church historians: CHRYSOSTOM (349-407 AD) but, if you like, you may yourself become a cithara, mortifying the members of the flesh and making a full harmony of mind and body. For when the flesh no longer lusts against the Spirit, but has submitted to its orders and has been led at length into the best and most admirable path, then will you create a spiritual melody." (Chrysostom, 347-407, Exposition of Psalms 41, (381-398 A.D.)
History of Instrumental Music Earliest recorded introduction of instruments We do not know exact dates, but records point toward around 666 AD introduced by Pope Vitalian I. It was divisive and sparse It did not become common until centuries later and was STILL divisive. EVERY time introduced, it divides!
History of Instrumental Music Early denominational leaders did not accept instrumental music JOHN CALVIN "Musical instruments in celebrating the praises of God would be no more suitable than the burning of incense, the lighting of lamps, and the restoration of the other shadows of the law. The Papists therefore, have foolishly borrowed, this, as well as many other things, from the Jews (John Calvin, Commentary on Psalms 33)
History of Instrumental Music Early denominational leaders did not accept instrumental music JOHN CALVIN Men who are fond of outward pomp may delight in that noise; but the simplicity which God recommends to us by the apostles is far more pleasing to him. Paul allows us to bless God in the public assembly of the saints, only in a known tongue (I Cor. 14:16) What shall we then say of chanting, which fills the ears with nothing but an empty sound?" (John Calvin, Commentary on Psalms 33)
History of Instrumental Music Early denominational leaders did not accept instrumental music MARTIN LUTHER, "The organ in the worship Is the insignia of Baal The Roman Catholic borrowed it from the Jews." (Martin Luther, Mcclintock & Strong's Encyclopedia Volume VI, page 762)
As we worship God, let us always strive to follow the pattern He has given us!
