God ApprovedGod ApprovedMusicMusic in Worshipin Worship

Mechanical instruments have evolved to the point that now most religious people think a

group is “backward” who does not use them.

• It is important how we approach God in our worship to Him– John 4:23-24

• Failure to approach God acceptably causes Him to reject our worship– Leviticus 10:1-3

– Hebrews 11:4

– Amos 5:21-24

IntroductionIntroduction

• New Testament ONLYONLY endorses “singing”– Ephesians 5:19

– Colossians 3:16

• History of instrumental music in worship:– New Testament is silent

– History is silent until the 7th century

• Instrumental music not instituted by Christ– Added by man WITHOUTWITHOUT God’s approval

• 2 John 9-11

IntroductionIntroduction

John Wesley: (Methodist founder) when asked about the use of the organ, replied, “I have no opposition to the organ in our chapel provided it is neither seen nor heard.”(Adam Clark’s Commentary, Vol. IV, P. 868)

QuotationsQuotationsFrom Men in HistoryFrom Men in History

Adam Clark: a Methodist – “I am an old man, and an old minister; and here declare that I never knew them to be productive of any good in the worship of God; and have had reason to believe that they were productive of much evil. Music, as a science, I esteem and admire; but instruments of music in the house of God I abominate and abhor.”(Adam Clark’s Commentary, Vol. IV, P. 686)

QuotationsQuotationsFrom Men in HistoryFrom Men in History

QuotationsQuotationsFrom Men in HistoryFrom Men in History

Charles Spurgeon: a baptist – preached for twenty years in the Metropolitan Baptist Tabernacle in London, England. Instruments of music were never used in the tabernacle. When asked why he did not use the organ in worship he gave 1 Corinthians 14:15 as his answer and said, “I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the understanding also, I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also,” and remarked, “I would as soon pray to God with machinery as to sing to God with machinery.”

QuotationsQuotationsFrom Men in HistoryFrom Men in History

John Calvin: (Presbyterian founder) “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.”(Commentary of Psalms 33)

QuotationsQuotationsFrom Men in HistoryFrom Men in History

Alexander Campbell: “But I presume to all spiritually-minded Christians such aids would be as a cowbell in a concert.”(Memoirs of Alexander Campbell, p. 366)

• ALLALL activities of the church mustbe authorized by the Bible– Colossians 3:17

– Matthew 17:5

– Matthew 28:18

A Matter of Bible AuthorityA Matter of Bible Authority

Where is Christ’s “authorizing signature” “authorizing signature” for instrumental music in worship?

“If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God….” (1 Peter 4:11)

• We must respect the silence of God’s Word– Cannot go beyond

what is written• Galatians 1:8-9• 1 Corinthians 4:6

– The silence from Godis restraint for man• Hebrews 7:13-14

A Matter of Bible AuthorityA Matter of Bible Authority

• The mechanical instrument of music is an addition, not an aid, to true worship– Ephesians 5:19

• When we disregard God’s authority:– Open the gate to error

• 2 Timothy 2:16-17

– Sin and lose our souls• Matthew 7:21-23

A Matter of Bible AuthorityA Matter of Bible Authority

• They were used in Old Testament worship– 2 Chronicles 29:25

• Also used incense, animal sacrifices, and kept the feast days

• Old Testament is obsolete–2 Corinthians 3:14

–Colossians 2:14-17

• “Psallo” means to pluck/twang– The heart was plucked

The Defense ofThe Defense of Instrumental Music in WorshipInstrumental Music in Worship

• There are instruments in heaven– Revelation 14:2

• Heaven is a spiritual realm (1 Cor 15:50)

• We use them at home– No authority to use them in worship to God

anywhere (James 5:13)

• It sounds pretty – we want it no matter what!– Obstinate rebellion

• 1 Samuel 8:19; 2 Corinthians 5:7

The Defense ofThe Defense of Instrumental Music in WorshipInstrumental Music in Worship

• Worship is a right thing to do and there is no wrong way to do it– Nadab and Abihu

• Leviticus 10:1-2

– Jesus said there is awrong way to do it• Matthew 15:7-9

The Defense ofThe Defense of Instrumental Music in WorshipInstrumental Music in Worship

Argument we have never heard:Argument we have never heard:“We should use instrumental music in worship because the New Testament commands it and the early church used it.”

God God ApprovedApprovedMusicMusic in Worshipin Worship

Never go beyond the Never go beyond the authority of Christauthority of Christ1 Corinthians 14:371 Corinthians 14:37

1 Corinthians 4:61 Corinthians 4:62 Timothy 3:162 Timothy 3:16-17-17