| I am sure there are millions of those who lay claim to | | | | eternal. It is quite a gamble. Of course, if you ask the |
| being Christians who have never given the subject of | | | | man or woman who is involved in the worship where |
| instrumental music in Christian worship a thought. It is | | | | the instrument is used they will tell you they are not |
| just taken for granted that it is a part of acceptable | | | | gambling, they know it is okay. Ask them how they |
| worship to God. I suspect even most of us who | | | | know and they are not able to give a satisfactory |
| were raised in a religious setting where instruments | | | | answer only that their heart tells them so. |
| were never used in worship wondered about it at | | | | G. K. Wallace wrote a tract on the subject of |
| one point in time or another. Was it really wrong to | | | | instrumental music years ago that took an unusual |
| use them in worship and if so why? Perhaps we | | | | slant but one that also left a lasting impression with |
| were troubled to the point of studying the subject. If | | | | me. His thesis was that we have to decide what we |
| so we were to be commended. Our religion should | | | | will be guided by. Will it be by what the Bible says or |
| never be just a matter of inheritance from one | | | | by what the Bible does not say? |
| generation to another. | | | | The New Testament is the new covenant of Christ |
| In studying the subject of instrumental music no man | | | | under which we live today, not the Old Testament. |
| alive today can remember when there was a time | | | | There were instruments of music used in Old |
| when instruments were not in common use and | | | | Testament worship. Why was it okay to use them? |
| generally accepted across what is called Christendom. | | | | Because there was word from God approving such |
| However, it was over 600 years after Christ before | | | | under the law of Moses (read the Psalms). Why is it |
| instrumental music was introduced into worship. Pope | | | | wrong to use them today? Because there is no word |
| Vitalian, it is said, was the first to add the instrument | | | | from God approving such under the law of Christ |
| to the worship with the date being a little uncertain | | | | under which we live today. |
| but it was somewhere between 658 and 670 AD. | | | | If a man desired to live under the law of Moses |
| While the Roman Catholic Church came to accept it | | | | today he could not be saved. Much of the books of |
| the Greek Catholic Church never did although that | | | | Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews discuss this very |
| may now be changing some. | | | | issue. We cannot hope to be saved today by animal |
| This historical fact is immensely important. It proves | | | | sacrifice, by worshipping as they worshipped, by |
| the introduction of instrumental music into the | | | | observing Jewish festivals, etc.. |
| worship was done by man rather than God. If of | | | | Faith comes by hearing the word of God (Rom. |
| God rather than man why did they not use the | | | | 10:17). Where there is no word from God there can |
| instrument from the beginning? | | | | be no faith. Yes, people believe it is okay to use |
| If it was of man who gave man the authority to | | | | instruments of music in Christian worship but their |
| bring it into the worship? | | | | belief is not based on the word of God and thus is |
| Remember when Jesus was confronted by the chief | | | | not faith as defined by the word of God (Rom. |
| priests and elders who wanted to know by what | | | | 10:17); faith based on the word of God demands |
| authority he was doing the things he was doing? He | | | | word from God. There is no word from God in the |
| said he would answer when they answered his | | | | New Testament regarding men worshipping him with |
| question which was “The baptism of John, where | | | | instruments of music. |
| was it from? From heaven or from men?” (Matt. | | | | When the word of God is silent on a subject no |
| 21:25 NKJV) Thus we need to ask the question of | | | | matter how much you may believe what you really |
| the instrument in Christian worship, where was it | | | | have is opinion, not Bible faith. If there is no word of |
| from, from heaven or from man? To ask is to | | | | God on a subject there can be no faith, only opinion. |
| answer. | | | | To have faith you must first hear the word of God |
| A man then has to ask himself some questions as he | | | | (Rom. 10:17). This is further proof we cannot be |
| considers whether or not he wants to worship with | | | | guided by what the Bible does not say – not if |
| those who use instruments. Do I want as my | | | | we are to walk by faith. |
| authority for worship what men gave or what God | | | | A foundational principle of the Christian faith is that |
| gave? They say it doesn’t matter; God | | | | “without faith it is impossible to please Him (God |
| doesn’t care. How can we know this? I repeat, | | | | – DS)”. (Heb. 11:6 NKJV) Faith is always |
| how can we know this? How can you be sure? Do | | | | dependent on evidence. We don’t believe in little |
| you just know it because your heart tells you so? | | | | green men, pink elephants, nor ten foot tall |
| Jeremiah said, (Jer. 17:9 NKJV), “The heart is | | | | mushrooms because there is no evidence of their |
| deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: | | | | existence. We do not actually have to see a thing to |
| who can know it?” Again the Lord says, “For | | | | believe it but we do have to have evidence. |
| my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your | | | | When it comes to instrumental music the problem is |
| ways my ways, saith the LORD.” (Isa. 55:8 | | | | that evidence is lacking. Not a single word about |
| NKJV) Just how can a person know that a thing that | | | | it’s usage is found in the New Testament. It is |
| clearly came from man, not God, is a matter of little | | | | hard to have faith in a thing that is not even |
| or no consequence with him? | | | | mentioned or hinted at. Is silence reasonable |
| The Bible is full of examples of men who thought it | | | | evidence? |
| was a little thing to deviate a little from what God | | | | There is plenty of evidence, however, in the pages |
| had said with regards to the worship of him - that it | | | | of the Bible about changing worship to God. All the |
| would not matter. One thinks of Nadab and Abihu, | | | | evidence points towards the idea that it is a very |
| Aaron’s sons, who “each took his censer | | | | dangerous thing for man to change the worship of |
| and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered | | | | God. |
| unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not | | | | In Matt. 15:9 Jesus quotes Isaiah and applies it to |
| commanded them. And fire came out from before | | | | those with whom he was speaking as follows: |
| the Lord and consumed them, and they died before | | | | “And in vain they worship me, teaching as |
| the Lord.” (Lev 10:1-2 ESV) You and I can be | | | | doctrines the commandments of men.” (NKJV) I |
| absolutely certain they did not think it mattered. | | | | want you to look at some things. These people were |
| Uzziah was one of the kings of Judah whom you can | | | | worshipping God, not idols. Yet, it was all in vain. |
| read about in 2 Chron. 26. The Bible says “he | | | | Why? They were “teaching as doctrines the |
| transgressed against the Lord his God by entering | | | | commandments of men.” |
| the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar | | | | Those who use instruments of music in Christian |
| of incense.” (2 Chron. 26:16 NKJV) Azariah the | | | | worship teach their acceptability. Is this teaching of |
| priest along with 80 other priests went in after him | | | | God or man? If of God where does the New |
| and withstood him to the face for only the priests, | | | | Testament so teach the thing? If of God why did it |
| the sons of Aaron, had God authorized to perform | | | | take 600 years after Christ's death to get it started? |
| this service. Uzziah became very angry with them at | | | | Had God desired that we use instruments how hard |
| which time leprosy broke out on his forehead from | | | | would it have been for him to of told us? Not very. |
| God. He remained a leper until the day of his death | | | | He told the Jews but he did not tell the Christians. |
| living in isolation. Do you think Uzziah thought it would | | | | Where there is no word from God there can be no |
| matter with God if he entered the temple and | | | | scriptural faith (although there may be a lot of opinion |
| burned incense? Do you think he would have done it | | | | passed off as faith). |
| had he thought so? | | | | That said and understood what does the law of |
| Other examples could be given for in reality much of | | | | Christ teach in the New Testament about |
| the problem with God’s people in the Old | | | | instrumental music? Not one thing. Where is there a |
| Testament can be traced back to the idea that they | | | | single passage found that gives any support |
| did not think who they worshipped or how they | | | | whatsoever, any command, any example of |
| worshipped made much difference. One sees some | | | | instrumental music in the worship of Christians? The |
| of the same tendencies in the New Testament. | | | | passage cannot be found. |
| What is Paul’s rebuke of the Corinthians in 1 Cor. | | | | One might go to the book of Revelation and find it |
| 11 all about if it is not about the corruption of the | | | | there one says. But, the book of Revelation is a |
| worship in how the Lord’s supper is to be | | | | symbolic book. Do we think spiritual beings play literal |
| partaken of? Does it matter to God? Some are still | | | | instruments? Besides, if they are found in heaven |
| saying today it does not matter. We can do this or | | | | what has that to do with the here and now? If they |
| that with it. How can one say that in light of history? | | | | are there I will be glad to play them with you if we |
| Why does Paul place restrictions on women in the | | | | both get there. Right now you and I are living in the |
| public worship if things like that do not matter? | | | | here and now under the law of Christ. |
| Those who say the instrument does not matter | | | | Brother Wallace was correct. If I use the instrument |
| know more than any man can possibly know. No man | | | | in worship I am not being guided by what the Bible |
| can know a thing with certainty about which God has | | | | says but by what the Bible does not say. The Bible |
| said nothing. I once read a sermon whose message in | | | | does not say not to use them. I am being guided by |
| the title has stuck in my memory now for decades. | | | | what the Bible does not say. Is this the way we are |
| The sermon was by a preacher named Benjamin | | | | to live? |
| Franklin, some distant relation to the Benjamin Franklin | | | | Let us be guided by what the Bible does say. If I |
| of historical fame, in a book entitled The Gospel | | | | sing the Bible does say I am to sing and I am thus |
| Preacher, Vol. 1. The name of the sermon was | | | | being guided by what the Bible says. |
| “The Course to Pursue to be Infallibly Safe.” | | | | If this is how I derive Bible authority for what is right, |
| That sermon had nothing to do with instrumental | | | | the silence of the Bible, then we are free to bring |
| music but it seems to me the title is exceedingly | | | | into the worship anything not specifically prohibited by |
| applicable to the subject. | | | | direct command. We can again burn incense as did |
| Is there an infallibly safe way where a man can be | | | | the Jews of old, perform Christian (?) dramas, eat |
| right beyond any question and in which all men would | | | | hamburgers for Jesus, and just about anything else |
| agree there is safety with regards to the subject of | | | | we want to do that the heart can imagine. |
| instrumental music in the worship? Yes there is. No | | | | In fact, we all know this is exactly what is and has |
| person who calls himself a Christian has ever | | | | happened in the so called Christian world of today. |
| questioned the singing of psalms, hymns, and spiritual | | | | You name it and someone is doing it. However, ask |
| songs with the voice only and without the use of | | | | the question whether it is of God or man and you |
| musical instruments. All agree this is pleasing to God | | | | easily come up with the answer. No, not because |
| without question or doubt of any kind. | | | | they will tell you but you are a reasonable person and |
| Paul says we are to speak to one another “in | | | | can figure out that if God gave it you ought to be |
| psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and | | | | able to find the book, chapter, and verse. Happy |
| making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. | | | | hunting. |
| 5:19 NKJV). See also Col. 3:16. All accept the teachings | | | | Of course if your guide is what the Bible does not |
| of these two passages without question as being | | | | say then really who needs the Bible? If a man does |
| what is good and right and acceptable and pleasing | | | | not need the Bible as a guide then of what value is |
| before the Lord. Yes, there is an infallibly safe way | | | | it? |
| we ought to pursue. | | | | Paul tells us, “we walk by faith, not by sight” |
| However, if a person chooses to be reckless, if a | | | | (2 Cor. 5:7 NKJV). The whole teaching of the Bible is |
| person desires to be a gambler, if a person wants to | | | | that a man is to hear the word of God, believe it, |
| take a chance he must also be prepared to take the | | | | and obey it. In fact, this is the bedrock of gospel |
| consequences if his heart misleads him on the matter | | | | obedience. You cannot obey the gospel any other |
| and he finds out that God does not think as he | | | | way. This is the only way a man can walk by faith |
| thinks on the last day. Consequences are in this case | | | | – hear, believe, and obey. |