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Worshiping God with Music (#2)

Worshiping God with Music (#2). God Regulates Worship. God’s holiness must be honored (Lev. 10:1-3; 1 Pet. 1:15-16) Law of Moses included musical instruments by God’s command (Num. 10:10; 2 Chron. 29:25-27) Done away in Christ (2 Cor. 3:14; Heb. 7:12)

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Worshiping God with Music (#2)

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  1. Worshiping God with Music (#2)

  2. God Regulates Worship • God’s holiness must be honored (Lev. 10:1-3; 1 Pet. 1:15-16) • Law of Moses included musical instruments by God’s command (Num. 10:10; 2 Chron. 29:25-27) • Done away in Christ (2 Cor. 3:14; Heb. 7:12) • New Testament silence is not God’s consent and approval (Heb. 7:13-14)

  3. History of Music in Worship:New Testament • NT Period: Singing, Heb. 2:12 • Heart-expressed worship, Eph. 5:19 • Teach and admonish,Col. 3:16 • Congregational setting with individual responsibility,1 Cor. 14:14-16 • Expression of joyful thanks,Jas. 5:13

  4. History of Music in Worship:New 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. 12:32; 1 Cor. 4:6

  5. History of Music in Worship:2nd-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 Worship:2nd-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 Worship:2nd-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, I:2, 111) (Cited by John Price, Old Light on New Worship, 71 footnote)

  8. History of Music in Worship:2nd-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, I:2, 111) (Cited by John Price, Old Light on New Worship, 71 footnote)

  9. History of Music in Worship:The 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, XII:688)

  10. History of Music in Worship:The 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, X:657)

  11. History of Music in Worship:The Dark Ages • 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 TIMELINE:

  12. History of Music in Worship:The 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 Worship:Protestant 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. 18:1-9)

  14. History of Music in Worship:Protestant Reformation • Puritans (1600-1700’s) 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 Worship:Protestant 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 canmake 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 Worship:Assessing 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 God’s approval

  17. Defending Musical Instruments in Worship • In Eph. 5:19 “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. 15:9; 1 Cor. 14:15; Jas. 5:13) (Vine, III:58) • “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. 5:8; 14:2-3] • Heaven is a spiritual realm (1 Cor. 15:50) • Material things not in the spiritual realm, 1Cor. 15:44 • Revelation: Signs, symbols and figures • Harps are no more literal than the chain that binds Satan (Rev. 20:1-2)

  19. Defending Musical Instruments in Worship • We play musical instruments at home • Things can be morally right but religiously wrong (Lev. 10:1) • Fire…“which He had not commanded” • No authority from the Lord to worship with musical instruments anywhere! Jas. 5:13 • 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. 8:19-20 (7); 2 Cor. 5:7

  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. 15:7-9

  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. 4:23-24)

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