Glenn Alexander
I’m afraid the voice of our dear Savior is being heard less and less in the worship services in our brotherhood. Dire predictions have surfaced in recent weeks. Of great concern are the words of Ron Cook in the Sunday edition of The Tennessean dated, August 29, 1999. Forecasting looming changes in our worship as in introduction of instrumental music he said, “Instrumental music is already apart of youth events that happen at churches. Teenagers love Christian music. Music is a fact of life. It’s inevitable.” Ray Waddle, who wrote the newspaper article, added that Cook “predicts the music issue in Churches of Christ will fade away once young churchgoers, awash daily in music, become church leaders.” In other words, they are biding their time until Christians now living lie silent in the grave, freeing them to carry the church into apostasy. Some may wonder what’s the fuss all about? In a word, it’s about whether or not our Master has authority in our worship. Jesus commanded His disciples, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:20). Christ did not say, “Teaching them to observe anything, even what I have not commanded you.” Instrumental music is definitely something Christ has not commanded us to do in worship. Do I hate music? No, I love all kinds of decent music. Did God give people musical talents? Yes! See Genesis 4:21. Does God want us to use every talent we have in worship or every idea we can imagine? No, Peter wanted to build tabernacles to worship Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration in Matthew 17. Did God welcome it? No. How did God answer Peter? He simply commanded what He wanted—therefore ruling out everything else. “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him” (Matthew 17:5). That simple and clear-cut statement automatically ruled out worship of anyone else.
For all of us today Christ has built His only church (Matthew16:18). Likewise, a perfect pattern of worship is outlined for Christians to follow “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). No one can dispute the fact seen in both scripture and history that early Christians never used instruments of music in worship unto God- only singing (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). Churches of Christ began to restore the New Testament pattern of worship to its purity and simplicity in the 1700 and 1800’s. It didn’t take long until Satan started to wiggle back in. A division arose over instruments beginning in Midway, Kentucky in 1859. This led to the forming of the Christian Church, which used the instrument in worship to this day.
The Restoration Handbook, Series V, written by Woodrow Phillips, shows the progression of error that came when the authority of God’s word is silenced. The restoration movement rallied around the principle: “We speak where the Bible speaks and are silent where the Scriptures are silent.” In other words, let Christ do all the talking and thinking in matters of faith (Romans 10:17).
Church of Christ remaining faithful to this hold that divine silence means, “that any act of worship or religious practice not specifically sanctioned by Holy Writ cannot be countenanced by the church.” This is confirmed by 1 Peter 4:11. The Christian Church took the first step away, and as a result are far from the restored church today. Their view became, “…we will not write into ‘divine silence’ with church legislation that is binding upon all- but we do have the right to any religious practice or act of worship that does not contradict the specific commands of the New Testament. This is most clearly illustrated in the use or non-use of the musical instrument in worship” (The Restoration Handbook, page 10). This opened the gate to anything one would want to add or take from Scripture in the face of the warning of Revelation 22:18,19. It ushered in the full-blown liberal view adopted by most denominations. This view was ratified by The Disciples (also page 10), “anything can be written into the divine silence as long as the congregation approves this action by majority vote.” When a majority of men vote on things pertaining to God, you can be sure Satan wins every time because Satan is in the majority of earth (Matthew 7:13,14).
Now approximately 140 years later, here we go again. Some churches of Christ in our area are subtly slipping in soft stereo music during worship and/or full bands, drums and all, into their service. Words from yesteryears’ gospel preachers who fought this issue back then sum up the problem we face today. Robert Richardson remained faithful and focused on the attitude behind such errors: “The introduction of a musical instrument into a church is a triumph of the sensual over the spiritual. The innovation once affected, the sensual mind seeks to justify the act by plausibilities, as any error may be sustained, and to trust to Christian forbearance of those who are unconvinced, until the habit of hearing the instrument shall at lengths silence their scruples.” (The Search for the Ancient Order, Vol. 2, page 92).
This is exactly what Ron Cook predicts, but I don’t believe it has to be that way. Our young people are smart and have good hearts. Let’s teach them well to always listen to the Lord’s voice in His word. The Bible has not changed; the true church has not changed and will stand forever (Matthew 16:18). The remaining question is will we change? We won’t unless we silence the voice of Christ as He speaks to our consciences. Just how does one go about silencing the Lamb of God anyway? Some do it by slaying Christ in their disobedience “…they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame” (Hebrews 6:5). Jesus paid the price fully on the cross. Does that not give Him the right to speak on worship? It is our duty to listen Don’t forget- we are the worshipers and God is the worshiped!
