Worshiping God with Music

1
Worshiping God with Music (2)
2
God Regulates Worship

• Gods holiness must be honored (Lev.
  101-3 1 Pet. 115-16)
  
• Law of Moses included musical instruments by
  Gods command (Num. 1010 2 Chron. 2925-27)
  
• Done away in Christ (2 Cor. 314 Heb. 712)
• New Testament silence is not Gods consent and
  approval (Heb. 713-14)

3
History of Music in WorshipNew Testament

• NT Period Singing, Heb. 212
• Heart-expressed worship, Eph. 519
• Teach and admonish, Col. 316
• Congregational setting with individual
  responsibility, 1 Cor. 1414-16
  
• Expression of joyful thanks, Jas. 513

4
History of Music in WorshipNew Testament

• SINGING IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
• NT is completely silent on using musical
  instruments in worship
  
• Where do you go to condone their use?
• Old covenant that has been abolished?
• Traditions of men who introduced it
• Warnings Deut. 1232 1 Cor. 46

5
History of Music in Worship2nd-5th centuries

• Unanimous rejection in worship
• In regard to the singing
  of the early church, there was no
  instrumental accompaniment.
  
• Edmund S. Lorenz, Church Music, 217
• (Cited by John Price, Old Light on New Worship,
  68)

6
History of Music in Worship2nd-5th centuries

• Unanimous rejection in worship
• The antagonism which the Fathers of the early
  Church displayed toward instruments has two
  outstanding characteristics vehemence and
  uniformity.
• James McKinnon, The Temple, the Church Father and
  Early Western Chant, 69
  
• (Cited by John Price, Old Light on New Worship,
  68)

7
History of Music in Worship2nd-5th centuries

• Justin Martyr (ca. 100-165)
• The use of singing with instrumental music was
  not received in the Christian churches as it was
  among the Jews in their infant state, but only
  the use of plain song.
• Charles Spurgeon, Treasury of David, I2, 111)
• (Cited by John Price, Old Light on New Worship,
  71 footnote)

8
History of Music in Worship2nd-5th centuries

• Justin Martyr (ca. 100-165)
• Musical organs pertain to the Jewish ceremonies
  and agree no more to us than circumcision.
  
• Charles Spurgeon, Treasury of David, I2, 111)
• (Cited by John Price, Old Light on New Worship,
  71 footnote)

9
History of Music in WorshipThe Dark Ages

• Pope Vitalian is related to have
  first introduced organs into some
  of the churches of western Europe
  about 670 but the earliest trustworthy
  account is that of the one sent as a present by
  the Greek Emperor Constantine Copronymos, to
  Pepin, king of the Franks, in 775.
• (American Encyclopedia, XII688)

10
History of Music in WorshipThe Dark Ages

• For almost a thousand years
  Gregorian chant, without any
  instrumental or harmonic addition
  was the only music used in connection with the
  liturgy. The organ, in its primitive and rude
  form, was the first, and for a long time the
  sole, instrument used to accompany the chant.
• (Catholic Encyclopedia, X657)

11
History of Music in WorshipThe Dark Ages
TIMELINE

• 660 (Pope Vitalianus)
• 812 (Charlemagne)
• 9th century Two organs in use
  (by an apostate church)
  
• Considerable resistance for the next 500 years
• Used sparingly until late 13th century
• Gained acceptance in RCC in 14th-15th century

12
History of Music in WorshipThe Dark Ages

• Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
• The church does not use musical instruments
  such as the harp or lyre
  when praising God, in case she should seem to
  fall back into Judaism
• (Cited by John Price, Old Light on New Worship,
  81)
  

13
History of Music in WorshipProtestant
Reformation

• Martin Luther (1483-1546)
• Huldriech Zwingli (1484-1531)
• Removed instruments from the
  churches in Zurich only singing (Price, 91)
  
• John Calvin (1509-1564)
• Musical instruments in celebrating the praises
  of God would be no more suitable than the burning
  of incense, the lighting up of lamps, and the
  restoration of the other shadows of the law.
  (Commentary on Psalm 33 and 1 Sam.
  181-9)

14
History of Music in WorshipProtestant
Reformation

• Puritans (1600-1700s) rejected
  the organ as popish
  
• 18th-20th centuries saw at first
  a gradual and finally an almost complete
  reversal, with all kinds of musical instruments
  eventually used

15
History of Music in WorshipProtestant
Reformation

• Charles Spurgeon (19th cent. London Baptist)
• Praise the Lord with harp. Israel was at school,
  and used childish things to help her to learn
  but in these days when Jesus gives us spiritual
  food, one can make melody without strings and
  pipes.We do not need them. That would hinder
  rather than help our praise. Sing unto him. This
  is the sweetest and best music. No instrument
  like the human voice.
• (Commentary on Psalms 42)

16
History of Music in WorshipAssessing the
Evidence

• Use of musical instruments in worship was not
  instituted by Christ or apostles
  
• They had no controversy over its use they did
  not use them!
  
• They used vocal music to worship God
• Added by man (2 John 9-11)
• It does not have Gods approval

17
Defending Musical Instruments in Worship

• In Eph. 519 psallo means to pluck / twang
  Therefore an instrument must be included in this
  word
  
• Heart is the instrument here
• psallo In the N.T., to sing a hymn, sing
  praise (Rom. 159 1 Cor. 1415 Jas. 513)
  (Vine, III58)
  
• In the N.T. to sing a hymn, to celebrate the
  praises of God in song. (Thayer, 675)

18
Defending Musical Instruments in Worship

• There are musical instruments in heaven Rev.
  58 142-3
  
• Heaven is a spiritual realm (1 Cor. 1550)
• Material things not in the spiritual realm,
  1 Cor. 1544
  
• Revelation Signs, symbols and figures
• Harps are no more literal than the chain that
  binds Satan (Rev. 201-2)

19
Defending Musical Instruments in Worship

• We play musical instruments at home
• Things can be morally right but religiously wrong
  (Lev. 101)
  
• Firewhich He had not commanded
• No authority from the Lord to worship with
  musical instruments anywhere! Jas. 513
  
• Not congregationally or individually

20
Defending Musical Instruments in Worship

• We like it, we want it and we are going to have
  it.
  
• Obstinate rebellion and faithlessness, 1
  Sam. 819-20 (7) 2 Cor. 57

21
Defending Musical Instruments in Worship

• Worship is a right thing to do and there is no
  wrong way to do it.
  
• Tell that to Nadab and Abihu!
• Tell that to Jeroboam and Israel!
• Jesus said there is a wrong way to worship God,
  Matt. 157-9

22
Defending Musical Instruments in Worship

• The defense we have never heard
• We should use musical instruments in worship
  because the New Testament commands it and because
  the New Testament church used them.

23
Music in Worship

• Modern Baptist preacher who rejects musical
  instruments in worship wrote
  
• God has not left His worship open to the
  inventions, desires, or preferences of men.
  
• (Old Light on New Worship, John Price,
  53)
  
• God seeks those who will worship Him in spirit
  and truth (Jno. 423-24)