The New Testament Church

1
The New Testament Church

• Instrumental Music

2
Introduction

• We will discuss this special topic in our study
  of Christian worship.
• Why? In order to examine some of the most
  commonly used contentions in favor of mechanical
  instruments being added to the music in Christian
  worship.

3
The Argument That Has Never Been Made

• No one has ever contended or argued that
  instrumental music should be added to the worship
  because of New Testament Scriptures, as given to
  us by Gods providence, teach that it should be
  used.
• Not ONE passage has ever been produced which even
  indirectly mentions mechanical instruments of
  music.
• So they seek to prove by other means.
• The following arguments are made

4
It Was Practiced Under the Law of Moses in OT
Times

• This same argument would introduce
• Burning incense
• Infant membership
• Animal sacrifices
• Polygamy
• Levi priests
• Sabbath keeping
• Anything else characterized in the Old Testament
  period.
• That which proves too much proves nothing.

5
It Was Practiced Under the Law of Moses in OT
Times

• To practice anything taught by Moses but not
  taught by Christ is fatal in Christianity,
  because it places the authority of Moses on par
  with authority of Christ.
• Two different laws
• Two different covenants

6
Practiced Under the Law of Moses

• Live under both laws would be spiritual
  adultery.

• So then if, while her husband lives, she marries
  another man, she will be called an adulteress
  but if her husband dies, she is free from that
  law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has
  married another man. Therefore, my brethren, you
  also have become dead to the law through the body
  of Christ, that you may be married to another--to
  Him who was raised from the dead, that we should
  bear fruit to God.
  Romans 73,4

7
Practiced Under the Law of Moses

• To justify what we do by Law of Mosessevers us
  from Christ and His grace.

• You have become estranged from Christ, you who
  attempt to be justified by law you have fallen
  from grace. Galatians 54

8
Practice Under the Law of Moses

• Going back to the Law of Moses for some practice
  not taught by Christ and the apostlesdeny the
  all sufficiency of NT scriptures.
• Disrespect Christs authority.

• For Moses truly said to the fathers, 'The LORD
  your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me
  from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all
  things, whatever He says to you. Acts 322

9
Practice Under the Law of Moses

• Going back to the Law of Moses for some practice
  not taught by Christ and the apostlesdeny the
  all sufficiency of NT scriptures.
• Disrespect Christs authority.

• And He put all things under His feet, and gave
  Him to be head over all things to the church,
  which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills
  all in all. Ephesians 122,23

10
Practice Under the Law of Moses

• To depend on Old Testament authority for
  Christian practice is to resurrect an invalid law
  and deny the effectiveness of Christs death on
  the cross!

• Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that
  is, the law of commandments contained in
  ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new
  man from the two, thus making peace, and that He
  might reconcile them both to God in one body
  through the cross. Ephesians
  215,16

11
Practice Under the Law of Moses

• To depend on Old Testament authority for
  Christian practice is to resurrect an invalid law
  and deny the effectiveness of Christs death on
  the cross!

• Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements
  that was against us, which was contrary to us.
  And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed
  it to the cross. Colossians 214

12
Practice Under the Law of Moses

• To depend on the Old Law is to cling to the
  shadow and lose the substance.

• For the law, having a shadow of the good things
  to come, and not the very image of the things,
  can never with these same sacrifices, which they
  offer continually year by year, make those who
  approach perfect. Hebrews 101

13
Instrumental Music is Not Expressly Forbidden in
the NT

• This argument puts a premium on the silence of
  the scriptures.
• It creates a respect for what the Bible DOES NOT
  say rather than what it does say.
• To put it affirmatively it looks likes this
• One has the right to practice anything that the
  Bible does not expressly forbid.

14
Instrumental Music is Not Expressly Forbidden in
the NT

• To put it affirmatively it looks likes this
• One has the right to practice anything that the
  Bible does not expressly forbid.
• Counting beads in prayer
• Wearing religious robes
• Burning incense
• Praying to the virgin Mary
• Changing Lord Supper to common meal
• Observing the Sabbath
• Dancing, drinking, gambling, etc.

15
Not Expressly Forbidden in the New Testament

• We MUST NOT go beyond what the scriptures teach.

• Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively
  transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes,
  that you may learn in us not to think beyond what
  is written, that none of you may be puffed up on
  behalf of one against the other.
  1 Corinthians 46

16
Instrumental Music is Only An Aid

• It is not just an aid, it is an addition of
  another kind of music.
• It is not on par with books, seats, lights, etc.
  Even when all of these are used, still you have
  singing.
• But when the instrument is supplied, we have not
  only singing but singing AND playing.
• An addition has been made

17
Instrumental Music is Only An Aid

• Instrumental music does not aid in carrying out
  the God given purpose in music in the worship.
• No assurance anywhere that it pleases God
• It makes teaching and admonishing and speaking
  to one another in singing more difficult by
  making the words of the song less audible and
  understandable.
• Interferes with the divine purpose of singing
  rather than aiding it.

18
A Matter of Christian Liberty

• Christian liberty means freedom from the law and
  the rudiments of the world.

• Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the
  law, having become a curse for us for it is
  written, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.
  Galatians
  313

19
A Matter of Christian Liberty

• Christian liberty means freedom from the law and
  the rudiments of the world.

• Even so we, when we were children, were in
  bondage under the elements of the worldYou
  observe days and months and seasons and years.
  Galatians
  43,10

20
A Matter of Christian Liberty

• It is not to be used as an occasion to the flesh.

• For you, brethren, have been called to liberty
  only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the
  flesh, but through love serve one another.
  Galatians 513

21
A Matter of Christian Liberty

• It is not to be exercised in any matter offensive
  to the conscience of a brother.
• Instrumental music is offensive to many, and has
  caused division.

• But if anyone says to you, "This was offered to
  idols," do not eat it for the sake of the one who
  told you, and for conscience' sake for "the
  earth is the LORD'S, and all its fullness.
  1 Corinthians
  1028

22
Practiced at Home

• Many things morally right but religiously wrong.
• Washing of hands and feet
• Instrumental music not wrong in itself.
• Wrong to add it to the Christians worship.

• Now when they saw some of His disciples eat
  bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands,
  they found fault. For the Pharisees and all the
  Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a
  special way, holding the tradition of the
  elders.
  Mark 73

23
Expedient - In Order for Anything to Be It must
First be Lawful

• It must first be lawful.

• All things are lawful for me, but all things are
  not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I
  will not be brought under the power of any.
  1 Corinthians
  612

24
Expedient - In Order for Anything to Be It must
First be Lawful

• Must also edify.

• All things are lawful for me, but not all things
  are helpful all things are lawful for me, but
  not all things edify.
  1 Corinthians 1023

25
Expedient - In Order for Anything to Be It must
First be Lawful

• Must not offend the conscience of others.
• Instrumental Music inexpedient in all three areas!

• But if anyone says to you, "This was offered to
  idols," do not eat it for the sake of the one who
  told you, and for conscience' sake for "the
  earth is the LORD'S, and all its fullness.
  1 Corinthians
  1028

26
Instrumental Music in Heaven

• To grant this does not yet prove we have it in
  the church.
• Figurative?

• Now when He had taken the scroll, the four
  living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell
  down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and
  golden bowls full of incense, which are the
  prayers of the saints.
  Revelation 58

27
Psallo the Greek Word Translated for Sing

• Translated in our English text means to accompany
  the singing with instrumental music
• If true, then instrumental music is a command and
  not a matter of choice with those
  seeking to obey God.
• Imperative each one that singshave their own
  instrument to do his playingsince the command is
  individual and personal in its meaning.

28
Psallo the Greek Word Translated for Sing

• Someone else could no more do the playing for a
  person than they could sing acceptably for him.
• Becomes absolutely absurd.
• Most reliable translations do not so render the
  word. (ASV, KJV, NKJV, NRSV)
• Make it necessary to go to the Greek language in
  order to learn how to worship God.
• Place our faith in the word of men?
• 1 Corinthians 25

29
Psallo the Greek Word Translated for Sing

• It means that our English Bibles are unreliable
  and this being true, the truth has not been made
  accessible to men today.
• Only the man who believes that Gods providence
  has withheld a knowledge of the truth from men
  today could so contend.
• 2 Peter 13 2 Timothy 316,17.

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Final Objections to Instrumental Music

• Instrumental music transgresses and disrespects
  the authority of Christinjecting something
  Christ and apostles did not teach.

• Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the
  doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who
  abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the
  Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and
  does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him
  into your house nor greet him.
  2 John 9,10)

31
Final Objections to Instrumental Music

• Instrumental music corrupts and makes our worship
  vain.

• These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
  And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is
  far from Me. And in vain they worship Me,
  Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.
  Matthew
  158,9)

32
Final Objections to Instrumental Music

• It creates dissension and division by offending
  many consciences.

• Yet if your brother is grieved because of your
  food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not
  destroy with your food the one for whom Christ
  died.
  Romans 1415)

33
Final Objections to Instrumental Music

• We cannot worship in spirit and truth.
• Not revealed in all the truth.

• However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come,
  He will guide you into all truth for He will not
  speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears
  He will speak and He will tell you things to
  come. John
  1613)

34
Final Objections to Instrumental Music

• We cannot walk by faith and practice itnot
  taught in His word.

• So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by
  the word of God.
  Romans 1017)
• For we walk by faith, not by sight.
  2 Corinthians 57

35
Final Objections to Instrumental Music

• It is no part of the divine pattern.
• Corrupting Gods house and labor in vain.

• Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in
  vain who build it Unless the LORD guards the
  city, The watchman stays awake in vain.
  Psalm 1271