Transcript God Approved Music in Worship Mechanical instruments have evolved to the point that now most religious people think a group is “backward” who does not use.

God Approved
Music in Worship
Mechanical instruments have
evolved to the point that now
most religious people think a
group is “backward” who
does not use them.
Introduction
• 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
Introduction
• New Testament ONLY 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 WITHOUT God’s approval
• 2 John 9-11
Quotations
From Men in History
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)
Quotations
From 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)
Quotations
From 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.”
Quotations
From 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)
Quotations
From 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)
A Matter of Bible Authority
• ALL activities of the church must
be authorized by the Bible
– Colossians 3:17
– Matthew 17:5
– Matthew 28:18
Where is Christ’s “authorizing signature” for
instrumental music in worship?
“If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God….” (1 Peter 4:11)
A Matter of Bible Authority
• 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 God
is restraint for man
• Hebrews 7:13-14
A 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
The Defense of
Instrumental Music in Worship
• 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 of
Instrumental 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 of
Instrumental 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 a
wrong way to do it
• Matthew 15:7-9
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 Approved
Music in Worship
Never go beyond the
authority of Christ
1 Corinthians 14:37
1 Corinthians 4:6
2 Timothy 3:16-17