Should We Worship God With Instruments

The “Regulative Principle” of Worship

So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground. Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.

Gen. 4.3-5

The “Regulative Principle” of Worship

Gen. 4.3-5

Gen. 8.20-22

Lev. 10.1-3

Mk. 7.6-8

Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. The LORD smelled the soothing aroma; and the LORD said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.

Musical Instruments in OT

Moses and the Silver Trumpets (Num. 10.1-10 ) TWO trumpets made from silver (10.1-2) Only the priests authorized to use them (10.8) Specified when they were to be used (10.10)

David Institutes Instrumental Worship 1 Chron. 16.1-6 1 Chron. 23.1-5, (24-26)

Musical Instruments in OT Hezekiah restores Temple Worship (2

Chron. 29) Hezekiah decides to reverse the past

corruption (5-6,10) Including the musicians and their

instruments (25-28) WHY did David institute the instruments? WHY did Hezekiah restore them?

Restoring Temple Worship Jehoida (170 yrs after David) – 2 Chron. 23.18

Josiah (380 yrs after David) – 2 Chron. 35.4

Remnant Returns (~ 550 yrs after David) – Ezra 3.10

Nehemiah (~ 600 yrs after David) – Neh. 12.24, 35-36

Musical Instruments in NT

Important Passages: 1 Pet. 1.14-16

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”

Musical Instruments in NT

Important Passages: 1 Pet. 1.14-16 Heb. 7.12-16 Heb. 8.13

When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.

Musical Instruments in NT

Important Passages: 1 Pet. 1.14-16 Heb. 7.12-16 Heb. 8.13 Heb. 9.8-10

Musical Instruments in NT

Important Passages: 1 Pet. 1.14-16 Heb. 7.12-16 Heb. 8.13 Heb. 9.8-10

- Altars, Same elders have golden bowls of incense

All NT Passages that mention instruments in worship:

- Water/thunder, 144,000, names on foreheads (v. 1)- Standing on sea of glass mixed with fire

Rev. 5.8 Rev. 14.2 Rev. 15.2

Musical Instruments in NT All NT passages the mention instruments

in worship:

Passages that mention singing in worship: Matt. 26.30 (Mk. 14.26) Acts 16.25 Rom. 15.5-6,9-12 Heb. 2.10-12 1 Cor. 14.15 Eph. 5.19 Col. 3.16 James 5.13

NONE MENTION

INSTRUMENTS!

Music History

Old Light on New Worship

John Price

2nd printing (2007)

Music History Synagogue singing was acapella

All Apostolic/Church Fathers rejected instruments in Worship

Ignatius of Antioch Justin Martyr Chrysostom Clement of Alexandria Origen Eusebius Jerome Augustine, etc.

Music History Synagogue singing was acapella

All Apostolic/Church Fathers rejected instruments in Worship

Justin Martyr (about 140 ad) – “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.” (Pg. 71)

Music History Synagogue singing was acapella

All Apostolic/Church Fathers rejected instruments in Worship

Clement of Alexandria (150 – ca 215) – “Leave the pipe to the shepherd, the flute to the men who are in fear of gods are intent on their idol-worshipping. Such musical instruments must be excluded from our wineless feasts.” (Pg. 71)

Music HistoryEusebius (ca. 260- ca. 339) – “When formerly the people of the circumcision worshipped through symbols and types, it was not unreasonable that they raised hymns to God on psalteries and cithara….we however….upon a living psaltery and animate cithara and in spiritual songs that we render the hymn. And so more sweetly pleasing to God than any musical instrument would be the symphony of the people of God, by which, in every church of God, with kindred spirit and single disposition, with one mind and unanimity of faith and piety, we raise melody in unison in our psalmody.” (Pg. 73)

Music History First instrument was introduced in 670 AD

(Pg. 79)

Instrumental worship was still opposed by most “Christian” thinkers until the late 1200s AD (Pg. 80)

Only Two Reformers Accepted instruments (Pg. 123)John Wycliffe (1320-1384) “considered the many ceremonies and images of the church, along with its use of the organ, ‘a relapse into Judaism, which seeks after signs, and a departure from the spiritual nature of Christianity.’” (Pg. 85)

Music History

Erasmus (ca 1466-1536) – “Modern church music is so constructed that the congregation cannot hear what they are singing, yet according to priests and monks it constitutes the whole of religion. Why will they not listen to Paul? In college or monastery it is still the same: music, nothing but music. There was not music in St. Paul’s time” (Pg 86)

First instrument was introduced in 670 AD (Pg. 79)

Instrumental worship was still opposed by most “Christian” thinkers until the late 1200s AD (Pg. 80)

Only Two Reformers Accepted Instruments (Pg. 123)

Music History

John Calvin (1509-1564) wrote “pure and simple modulation is sufficient for the praise of God, if it is sung with the heart and with the mouth. Instrumental music, we there maintain, was only tolerated on account of the times and the people, because they were boys…but in gospel times we must not have recourse to those unless we wish to destroy the evangelical perfection, and to obscure the meridian light we enjoy in Christ our Lord.” (Pg. 97)

WHY add instruments to Worship?

Jews Refused to Use Instruments in Synagogues

God Never Commands Us in the NT

No Examples or Implications in the NT Whatsoever

Early Christians Ardently and Unanimously Opposed Instrumental Music

Because people WANT instrumental music

What is the God-given Purpose in Singing:

1 Cor. 14.15

Eph 5.19

Col. 3.16

- Edify with understanding

Instruments actually oppose the very purpose of singing!

- Converse with each other

- Teach, Admonish, & Praise