Welcome!Sunday

Bible Classes 9:30 AMWorship 10:30 AM

5:30 PM

Wednesday Bible Classes 7:00 PM

Bibles and copies of sermons are available

Please silence your cell phones

Instrumental Music?

Two Theories of AuthorityThe Church may do those things:

1. Specifically authorized Silence prohibits

2. Not specifically prohibited Silence permits

Conservative

Liberal

History of Instrumental Music

Acapella – as in the church5th-10th Century – introduction of organs

Reformation – rejection of instrumentsFrom 1800 to 1880 - Protestant changes

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

“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”

John Spencer Curwen, the Royal Academy of Music, 1880

History of Instrumental MusicPOINT – As go the denominations, so

does the Lord’s church digress

History of Instrumental MusicPOINT – As go the denominations, so

does the Lord’s church digress….Now make us a king to judge us like all

the nations. 1 Samuel 8:5b ….they followed idols, became idolaters,

and went after the nations who were all around them. 2 Kings 17:15b

MisconceptionsWe have a personal distaste for musicWe think Acapella is betterA cultural objectionWe cannot afford a pianoWe have no one to play the pianoWe think mechanical music is sinful

Four Points on Worship1. Worship is for God, not men

“….Him you shall fear, Him you shall worship, and to Him you shall offer sacrifice.” 2 Kings 17:36b

Four Points on Worship1. Worship is for God, not men2. Not ALL worship is pleasing to God

By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain,

Hebrews 11:4

Four Points on Worship1. Worship is for God, not men2. Not ALL worship is pleasing to God3. God reveals what worship is pleasing

His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 2 Peter 1:3

Four Points on Worship1. Worship is for God, not men2. Not ALL worship is pleasing to God3. God reveals what worship is pleasing4. Wrong worship is sinful Jeroboam’s error – “This thing became a sin” I Kings 12:30

Has God Spoken on Music?In Examples

Mark 14:26, Acts 16:25, Hebrews 2:12In Commands

Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16, James 5:13In Inferences

Hebrews 13:15, I Corinthians 14:15

God has revealed HIS desire every way possible!

But What About David?Then David and all Israel played music before God with all their might, with singing, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on cymbals, and with trumpets.

1 Chronicles 13:8

Carnal Old LawCarnal Old LawPhysical IsraelPhysical JerusalemPhysical TemplePhysical PriesthoodPhysical SacrificesPhysical Music

Spiritual New LawCarnal Old LawPhysical IsraelPhysical JerusalemPhysical TemplePhysical PriesthoodPhysical SacrificesPhysical Music

Spiritual New LawSpiritual Israel

Spiritual JerusalemSpiritual Temple

Spiritual PriesthoodSpiritual Sacrifices

Spiritual Music

David & the Old LawThere is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 8:1-2

God’s RuleCarnal Old LawPhysical IsraelPhysical JerusalemPhysical TemplePhysical PriesthoodPhysical SacrificesPhysical Music

Spiritual New LawSpiritual Israel

Spiritual JerusalemSpiritual Temple

Spiritual PriesthoodSpiritual Sacrifices

Spiritual Music

Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are

under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does

not continue in all things which are written in the book of the

law, to do them."

God Didn’t Say “Don’t”He also does not say:

“Don’t sacrifice your children”“They have also built the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings to Baal, which I did not command or speak, nor did it come into My mind”

Jeremiah 19:5

God Didn’t Say “Don’t”He also does not say:

“Don’t offer strange fire”Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. Leviticus 10:1

God Didn’t Say “Don’t”God does not need to say “don’t”

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 4:6

A Mistranslation of Psallo?Psallos, Psalmos “to sing” (with

instruments?)If so, then instruments are commanded!

Paul sinned in Acts 16Jesus at the Lord’s Supper

No translator has ever rendered Psallo or Psalmos anything other than “to sing”

Simply an Aid or ExpedientTo “aid” in singing, not to accompanyAn Aid: that which is needed or

helpful in order to accomplish

Simply an Aid or ExpedientTo “aid” in singing, not to accompanyIf so then it is an aid:

That dominates the musicThat creates a new form of musicThat changes music to entertainmentThat divides brethren

Can it be expedient or an aid as such?

Musical Instruments in Revelation

Revelation 14:2 – HarpsRevelation 6:9 – AltarsRevelation 8:3 – Incense offeringsRevelation 1:13 – LampstandsRevelation 4:4 – Robes & CrownsRevelation 3:12 – TempleRevelation 20:6 - Priesthood

Literal Doctrine or Old Testament

Imagery?

Two Theories of AuthorityThe Church may do those things:

1. Specifically authorized Silence prohibits

2. Not specifically prohibited Silence permits

Habakkuk 2:20 But the LORD is in His holy temple. Let all the

earth keep silence before Him."