What Some Denominational People Have Said Regarding Mechanical Instruments Of Music Garland M. Robinson The vast majority of denominational churches today use instrumental music in worship. However, the church of Christ does not use it. The Lord’s people are content with the original New Testament practice of congregational singing. As far as history records, mechanical instruments of music did not have their introduction into any type of Christian worship until about 670 A.D. And even then, it was met with violate opposition. That means for well over 600 years, instrumental music was not used in worship. It was man who introduced it, not God. It did not gain widespread acceptance for 1,000 years after the church was established in the first century. There is not one shred of evidence in the Bible from Matthew 1:1 through Revelation 22:21, that it was ever commanded or that it was ever practiced, nor is it even implied! God specifies the kind of music he wants and in every passage it is always SINGING, never playing! Since its first introduction in the 7th century, many since then have opposed its introduction and use in worship. It is interesting to note what some of these well-known religious reformers in centuries past have said on the subject. And, even though their words are quoted here, it is to be understood that mechanical instruments are wrong and sinful because the Bible gives no authority for them, not because these men opposed them. However, to show that members of the church of Christ are not alone in recognizing this basic Bible truth, note what many others have said concerning the use of instruments of music in worship. Adam Clarke, recognized by many to be a distinguished Methodist scholar, made these comments concerning Amos 6:5 (Clarke’s Commentary, Vol. IV, p.684): “...The use of such instruments of music, in the Christian Church, is without the sanction and against the will of God; that they are subversive of the spirit of true devotion, and that they are sinful.” ... “I am an old man, and an old minister; and I here declare that I never knew them 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. This is the abuse of music; and here I register my protest against all such corruptions in the worship of the Author of Christianity.” John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church said: “I have no objection to instruments of music in our chapels, provided they are neither heard nor seen.” John Calvin, founder of the Presbyterian Church (John Calvin’s Commentary, 23rd Psalm): “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 other shadows of the law. The Papists, therefore, have foolishly borrowed this, as well as many other things, from the Jews.” Charles H. Spurgeon preached to 20,000 people every Sunday for 20 years in the Metropolitan Baptist Tabernacle in London in the 1800s and never were mechanical instruments of music used in these services. When asked why, he quoted I Corinthians 14:15, “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.” He then declared: “I would as soon pray to God with machinery as to sing to God with machinery.” Martin Luther, founder of the Lutheran Church, opposed the use of the instrument in worship (McClintock & Strong, Vol. VI, p.762). He called the organ “an ensign of Baal.” An ensign is a flag, banner, sign, signal or badge. Luther called the organ a banner of idolatry, a sign or signal of sin. John Knox, a Presbyterian preacher called the organ “a kist (chest) of whistles.” (McClintock & Strong, Vol. VI, p.762). W. J. Conybeare and J. S. Howson, both of the Church of England commented on Ephesians 5:19 by saying (Life and Epistles of St. Paul, Vol. II, p.408): “Throughout the whole passage there is a contrast implied between the Heathen and the Christian practice. ...When you meet, let your enjoyment consist not in fulness of wine, but fulness of the Spirit; let your songs be, not the drinking songs of heathen feasts, but psalms and hymns; and their accompaniment, not the music of the lyre, but the melody of the heart; while you sing them to the praise not of Baccus or Venus, but of the Lord Jesus Christ.” J. H. Garrison from the Christian Church said: “There is no command in the New Testament, Greek or English, commanding the use of the instrument. Such a command would be entirely out of harmony with the New Testament.” Lyman Coleman, a Presbyterian scholar commented: “It is generally admitted that the primitive Christians employed no instrumental music in their Christian worship. Neither Ambrose, nor Basil, nor Chrysostom, in the noble encomiums which they severally pronounce upon music, make any mention of instrumental music. Basil condemns it as ministering only to the depraved passion of men. Musical accompaniments were gradually introduced; but can hardly be assigned to a period earlier than the fifth or sixth centuries. Organs were unknown in the church until the eighth or ninth century. Previous to this they had their place in theater rather than in the church. They were never regarded with favor in the Eastern Church, and were vehemently opposed in many places in the West.” Joseph Bingham, who was of the Church of England: “...music in the church is as ancient as the apostles, but instrumental music is not.” John Giradeau, a Presbyterian professor wrote that the Church, “although lapsing more and more into defection from the truth and into corruption of apostolic practice, had no instrumental music for twelve hundred years.” The Jews did not use mechanical instruments of music in the tabernacle and the synagogue -- although it was used in the temple. Winford C. Douglas, in Church Music History and Practice, p.15, states: “The synagogue music was an adoption without musical instruments of the temple music.” It wasn’t until 1815, in Berlin, that the first instrument was introduced in the Jewish Synagogue under violent opposition by many of its members. The first use of it in America by Jews was in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1840. There was bitter opposition to it resulting in a court trial with the ultimate victory given to the instrument. Alexander Campbell wrote: “I presume, to all spiritually-minded Christians such...would be as a cowbell in a concert.” David Lipscomb wrote: “The church that adopts instrumental music goes into apostasy.” People today may quibble and bicker over the use of instruments of music in worship and say that the practice must be acceptable to God if it comes from the heart, but the silence of a “thus saith the Lord” cannot be ignored. It must be remembered that the apostles were inspired. They were guided infallibly by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in teaching the Will of God and showing the church how to worship. Bible history and secular history both bear out the fact that mechanical instruments of music were not used in the worship of God in the church. This point is insurmountable and overwhelming. Regardless of what men may say about “this verse” or “that verse” or “this argument” or “that argument,” the apostles were guided into “all truth” (John 16:13). However, they were not guided to use mechanical instruments of music. Therefore, their use is sinful since it stands without any inspired authority. They stand on nothing more than man’s whim. They are plants that our heavenly Father did not plant and in the end, they shall be rooted up and cast into a furnance of fire along with those who use, endorse, propogate and defend them (Matt. 15:13)! Jesus clearly taught about the danger of manmade doctrine when he spoke to the religious leaders of His time. He said: “But in vain they do worship me [God], teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt. 15:9).
Posted on: Fri, 17 Jan 2014 09:18:54 +0000
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