Having engaged in numerous online discussions about music over the years,
I think I see what Sam is attempting to do. (I know, the initials are SMA, but Sam just rolls off the tongue better.)
No doubt in his quest to slay the CCM dragon, SAM has come across the argument that since God created music, all forms of it must be good, and in themselves cannot be impure—just misused. So he comes up with this "drum", the inspiration of which springs from occultic practices, rendering it an "evil machination" of sorts. The machine, in and of itself being evil (according to him), the sound produced from it must also be evil.
One point on which he errs is the thought that God has commanded or even desires to be worshipped with musical instruments. Most will point to the Psalms. And therein appear to be some commandments to do so, but there are also commandments to bring animal sacrifices. So they have to be viewed through the lense of the OT economy. Their mention, though literal for the infant church under the law (Israel), are spiritual for the church come of age under the New Covenant in Christ's blood.
Verse 2. Praise the Lord with harp. Men need all the help they can get to stir them up to praise. This is the lesson to be gathered from the use of musical instruments under the old dispensation. Israel was at school, and used childish things to help her to learn; but in these days, when Jesus gives us spiritual manhood, we can make melody without strings and pipes. We who do not believe these things to be expedient in worship, lest they should mar its simplicity, do not affirm them to be unlawful, and if any George Herbert or Martin Luther can worship God better by the aid of well tunes instruments, who shall gainsay their right? We do not need them, they would hinder than help our praise, but if others are otherwise minded, are they not living in gospel liberty? Sing unto him. This is the sweetest and best of music. No instrument like the human voice. As a help to singing the instrument is alone to be tolerated, for keys and strings do not praise the Lord. With the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. The Lord must have a full octave, for all notes are his, and all music belongs to him. Where several pieces of music are mentioned, we are taught to praise God with all the powers which we possess.
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Verse 2. Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Here we have the first mention of musical instruments in the Psalms. It is to be observed that the early fathers almost with one accord protest against their use in churches; as they are forbidden in the Eastern church to this day, where yet, by the consent of all, the singing is infinitely superior to anything that can be heard in the West. J. M. Neale.
Verse 2. Harp; Psaltery, etc. Our church does not use musical instruments, as harps and psalteries, to praise God withal, that she may not seem to Judaise. Thomas Aquinas. It was only permitted to the Jews, as sacrifice was, for the heaviness and grossness of their souls. God condescended to their weakness, because they were lately drawn off from idols; but now instead of organs, we may use our own bodies to praise him withal. Chrysostom. The use of singing with instrumental music was not received in the Christian churches as it was among the Jews in their infant state, but only the use of plain song. Justin Martyr.
Verse 2. (last clause). It is said that David praised God upon an instrument of ten strings; and he would never have told how many strings there were, but that without doubt he made use of them all. God hath given all of us bodies, as it were, instruments of many strings; and can we think it music good enough to strike but one string, to call upon him with our tongues only? No, no; when the still sound of the heart by holy thoughts, and the shrill sound of the tongue by holy words, and the loud sound of the hands by pious works, do all join together, that is God's concert, and the only music wherewith he is affected. Sir Richard Baker.
There is no commandment to worship with instruments. The premise being faulty, the reasoning from it is also faulty.
That doesn't mean every form of music is hallowed or compatible with the behaviors becoming of Christians, but that's a different argument.
