Instrumental Music

Two Theories of AuthorityThe Church may do those things:

1. Specifically authorized Silence prohibits

2. Not specifically prohibited Silence permits

History of Instrumental MusicAcapella – as in the church10th Century – introduction of the organReformation – rejection of instrumentsFrom 1800 to 1880: Protestant changes

History of Instrumental MusicAcapella – as in the church10th Century – introduction of the organReformation – rejection of instruments

John Spencer Curwen, the Royal Academy of Music, 1880: “Men still living can remember the time when organs were very seldom found out of the Church of England. The Methodists, Independents, and Baptists rarely had them, and by the Presbyterians they were stoutly opposed”

What Is the Church?

The Universal Church

What Is the Church?Christ

Body

What Is the Church?Christ

Denominations?

The denominational mindset is that there is one universal church and denominations are the members

What Is the Church?Christ

Denominations?

Ephesians 4:3-6II John 9

What Is the Church?Christ

Body

What Is the Church?Christ

Congregations?

Early restorers thought that sound congregations comprised the universal church

What Is the Church?Christ

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Early restorers thought that sound congregations comprised the universal church

What Is the Church?Christ

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Early restorers thought that sound congregations comprised the universal church

What Is the Church?Christ

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Problems:Hebrews 12:22-23Galatians 4:26

What Is the Church?Christ

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Problems:Where are the dead in Christ? I Thessalonians 4:13-16

What Is the Church?Christ

Body

What Is the Church?Christ

Christians!

The Bible expresses the idea that we are individually in the universal church from baptism until the return of Christ.

What Is the Church?Christ

Christians!

Romans 12:5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

Why is this important?Christ

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Churches could work together to accomplish purposes of the universal church

Why is this important?Christ

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Congregations

Evangelism – a work of multiple churchesSolution – the Missionary Society

The American Christian Missionary Society 1849

The ACMS - ProExpediencyExample in Jesus & the ApostlesNecessary for smaller congregationsResults“Antis” oppose the gospel

The ACMS - ConAll sufficiency of the church

Absence of authority for any united workAbsence for any institution of the church

Silence of the ScripturesConsequences of the ACMS

Divisive Nature of the ACMS

The American Christian Missionary Society EvolutionChristian Women's Board of Missions 1874Foreign Christian Missionary Society 1874 Committee on Church Extension 1883Board of Education 1894Board of Temperance & Social Service 1907

The American Christian Missionary Society EvolutionBecame the United CMS in 1919Today it is “an ecumenical organization of

17 Protestant denominations and approximately 200 Roman Catholic orders”

Two Theories of AuthorityThe Church may do those things:

1. Specifically authorized Silence prohibits

2. Not specifically prohibited Silence permits