In 2 Timothy 2:15 the Record reads, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” There are times when religious people never seem to be able to distinguish between the testaments or dispensations of God. Many are still confused about what the New Testament authorizes when it comes to music in worship rendered to God.
What saith the Scriptures? Acts 16:25, “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.” Rom. 15:9, “…for this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.” 1 Cor. 14:15, “… I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.” Eph. 5:19, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord.” Col. 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Heb. 2:12, “Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.” Heb. 13:15, “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” James 5:13, “Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry” Let him sing psalms.” Emphasis the authors)
Heretofore are listed all the passages which pertain to the New Testament Christian as he worships God in song. Now, I would dare to ask again, what saith the Scriptures? Do the references cited say we should sing or play? Let your own fingers do the walkin’ and let the Bible do the talkin’! I recall a statement the late brother J. T. Marlin once said to me, “When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the Truth, he will either quit being mistaken or he will cease being honest!”
As Abe Lincoln said concerning those who sought to defend alcoholism, we say of those who seek to justify the mechanical music in worship: “…it has many defenders, but no defense!”
Several years ago a denominational preacher attempted to justify mechanical instruments of music in worship. His first argument was based upon a statement in Psalm 150: 3-4, “Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.” The sectarian spokesman argued that this would surely justify the use of pianos and organs. The logic is that we can have and use anything that David used. We discussed the fact that the Old Testament law was ended with the death of Christ on the Cross (Heb. 9:15-17; Gal. 3:16-24; Col. 2:13-17). But, he still responded by saying, “David did it!” I reduced his argument to a syllogism:
Major premise: All things David did we may do
Minor premise: David used mechanical music
Conclusion: We may use such in worship today
He agreed with the syllogism, much to my surprise. I pointed out that David practiced polygamy, adultery, murder, lying, etc. Which of these should we bring into our worship today? He said, “None.” I then asked what he would think about the dance being incorporated in worship to God today. He said, “Absolutely not!” I responded that the very Scripture he had sited to prove the piano and organ would be fine in worship had specifically mentioned the “dance”! He gave it up!!
The he quickly moved from there to the end of the spectrum to the other as he cited Rev. 14:2 to show God approved the mechanical instruments of music in worship. The verse states, “And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of harpers harping with their harps.” I pointed out this was a vision on the future abode of heaven, not in the Lord’s church upon earth today. Notice what happened. John (the penman of Revelation) what did you hear? “I heard a voice…” John, what did the voice sound like? “… as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder… the voice of harpers…” You would need professional help to misunderstand this passage. If John heard literal harping on harps then he also heard literal thunder and literal waters. Why the insistence on having some harps but not the great thunder or many waters?
Jesse Whitlock
