Does the New Testament teach us that we can use instrumental music in worship

I can just see it now, signs all over the place: "NO Worship may occur until the pitch pipe has been blown."

 

Can you imagine the horror of everyone if the pitch pipe accidently "went off" halfway through the song? All that good worship wasted.

While we're on the subject...what do you call the person who blows the pitch pipe?

a. Pitch piper
b. Pitcher
c. Piper
d. Starting pitcher (for the first song)
e. Relief pitcher (if the SP can't continue)
f. the Tooter (that's all I'm saying)

 

To All,

bmerr here. You go ahead and scoff at God's word all you want. The fact remains that the NT does not authorize mechanical musical instruments in worship.

What many don't know is that the church of Christ is just holding to ground that most denominational bodies have long since surrendered. Here are a few quotes from well respected denominationalists of days gone by on the use of the instrument in worship of God.

David Benedict - “50 Years Among the Baptists”


“Staunch old Baptists in former times would as soon have tolerated the Pope of Rome in their pulpits as an organ in their galleries, and yet the instrument has gradually found its' way among them and their successors in church management with nothing like the jars and difficulties which arose of old concerning the bass viol and smaller instruments of music.”


Charles H. Spurgeon – Baptist preacher, on Ps 42, from “The Treasury of David”,


“David appears to have had a peculiarly tender remembrance of the singing of the pilgrims, and assuredly it is the most delightful part of worship, and that which comes nearest to the adoration of Heaven. What a degradation to supplant the intelligent song of the whole congregation by the theatrical prettiness of a quartet, the refined niceties of a choir, or the blowing of wind from inanimate bellows and pipes. We might as well pray by machinery as praise by it.” (emphasis added - bmerr)


John Spencer Kerwin – musical historian


“Men still living can remember the time when organs were very seldom found outside the church of England. The Methodists, Independants, and Baptists rarely had them, and by the Presbyterians they were stoutly opposed.” - 1880


John Calvin – founder of the Presbyterian church, on Ps 33


“Musical instruments in celebrating the paises of God would be no more suitable than the burning of incense, the lighting up of lamps, and the utter shadows of the Law.”


“The Baptists have borrowed this, and many other things from the Jews.”

I've got a few more, if anyone's interested.

Of course, none of us claim any mortal man as our authority. We all claim to hold the Bible as the authority. But not many are making their arguments on the basis of Bible authority...

God's Word is TRUTH has presented the truth on the instrument as well as anyone I've heard or read. You are to be commended, brother.

In Christ,

bmerr​

 

Hey bmerr, Gib here. There is no scriptural evidence showing that the New Testament forbids use of musical instruments in church. There has been no scoffing here regarding the Word of God.

 

SBC here. Amen Gib

 

Brian here. (I just wanted to say that).

 

ccrobinson here.

When well-respected denominationalists of the past make statements that are not supported by the Bible, then those statements should be taken for what they are. Opinions, not doctrine.

If these arguments constitute what the Church of Christ believes worship is, then I submit that the Church of Christ has the wrong idea about what worship is. Worship should not be limited to Sunday morning, but should be something we do everyday and is not limited to just singing.

 

here here!

 

so bmerr...

why are you giving us the quotes of men (opposing "mechanical music"--I love that term...it's funny)? Why not quote where the NT forbids "mechanical music?"

What an abosolutely silly notion. God can't be blessed by our hands, which He made, gliding over a piano's keys. He can only be blessed by the resonation of our vocal cords.

I'm not mocking God's word...I'm getting a kick out of trying to score these mental gymnastic routines.

Then again, maybe I just need to take my smart-aleck medication...

 

Dustin

Pete's answer was not only humerous - it shows the conflict that you live in. Follow a narrow interpretation of the GNT & not be on the internet, or you can use the GNT for what it was intended to be and be on the BB.

No internet would certainly limit your dialogue with other Christians.

 

All this crazy theology, and people are going to HELL!!!!!
Who cares what you use to worship God. As long as you do it!

If you think you are holier than me because you don't use "mechanical music" you are guilty of the sin of pride.. the same sin as Satan.

I can hear it now... "I use a pitch pipe... I'm right with God.. you are not"

PRIDEFUL!

You never answered my question... do you have altars in your church?
My guess you don't because the NT doesn't mention the use of them in church.. If you do have them, you are in danger of being hypocritical.

 

Rev. 15:2 And I saw something like a (E)sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had (F)been victorious over the (G)beast and (H)his image and the (I)number of his name, standing on the (J)sea of glass, holding (K)harps of God. (NASB)

Rev. 5:8 When He had taken the book, the (Q)four living creatures and the (R)twenty-four elders (S)fell down before the (T)Lamb, each one holding a (U)harp and (V)golden bowls full of incense, which are the (W)prayers of the saints. (NASB)

Brice here. Seems to me that God owns some instruments himself.

 

oh my goodness, that is just ridiculous. Now heaven is not a physical place?

 

ooooh, OK....we're talkin' Spiritual harps now...Now it's all crystal clear.

I would play Twilight zone music here, but I'd probably end up in the Pit...

I'll just play it on my pitch pipe.

 

And it's a good thing since the angels didn't have a pitch pipe.

 

Spiritual harps in spiritual places...sounds to me like you added a little something that was unsaid, but for now, I'll go with it.

It does stand to reason that all worship is spiritual. After all, Jesus said to worship in spirit and in truth.

So the physicial vibration of a vocal chord...that's out, eh?

Seriously, the old testament has plenty of references to instruments, so my question for you would be this: What about the new covenant suddenly made instruments sinful?

Also, do you only seek God's word in the New Testament and ignore anything in the old? How do feel about tithing?

 

Are we to ignore the book of Psalms? Can your site one verse of scripture in the NT which forbids instrumental music in worship? No you can't.