Why Primitive Baptist and Old regular baptist don't use instrumental music

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Thats right & he CHS had his personal choices too:

Had I no conscientious objection to instrumental music in worship, I should still, I
think, be compelled to admit that all the instruments that were ever devised by man,
however sweetly attuned, are harsh and grating compared with the unparalleled
sweetness of the human voice.

 

[glfredrick]

First, I'm surprised that no one has brought up Revelation, which shows multiple uses of musical instruments -- gasp -- right before the throne of GOD! So, clearly there ARE cases of instrumental worship in the NT.

Second, the argument used above is an argument from silence. We have a very clear use of musical instruments of all types in the OT and that is bookended by instrumental use before God's throne in heaven. Silence between these bookends where instruments are clearly used ought not be taken as a "no instruments" doctrine, which is why most churches DO use musical instruments.

Third, I would suggest a lack of musical instrument use may be for the same reasons we don't always have instruments (or all of them) in our churches -- a mere lack of players and available instruments.

Rev 5:8-9 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,

Rev 8:2 Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.

Rev 14:2-3 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.

Rev 15:2-3 And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire--and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!

 

[revmwc]

First, I'm surprised that no one has brought up Revelation, which shows multiple uses of musical instruments -- gasp -- right before the throne of GOD! So, clearly there ARE cases of instrumental worship in the NT.

Second, the argument used above is an argument from silence. We have a very clear use of musical instruments of all types in the OT and that is bookended by instrumental use before God's throne in heaven. Silence between these bookends where instruments are clearly used ought not be taken as a "no instruments" doctrine, which is why most churches DO use musical instruments.

Third, I would suggest a lack of musical instrument use may be for the same reasons we don't always have instruments (or all of them) in our churches -- a mere lack of players and available instruments.

Rev 5:8-9 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,

Rev 8:2 Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.

Rev 14:2-3 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.

Rev 15:2-3 And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire--and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!

You missed my quote, am I on the ignore list or something?:tear::laugh:

 

[Jerome]

Spurgeon's last word on the topic, shortly before his death:

Piano, with hymns ad lib., and I preached from Deut. xxxii. 10

From a Jan. 1892 letter, account of one of his last services, at which Mrs. Spurgeon played the piano and he preached.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

OK so what if you gots no money for a piana?

 

[revmwc]

OK so what if you gots no money for a piana?

Get yourself a Fiddle, since many Baptist like to fiddle around any how's. :laugh:

 

[Steadfast Fred]

Thats correct Steve.....Here is CHS's commentary:

As for instrumental music, I fear that it often destroys the singing of the
congregation, and detracts from the spirituality and simplicity of worship. If I could
crowd a house twenty times as big as this by the fine music which some churches
delight in, God forbid that I should touch it; but let us have the best and most orderly
harmony we can make—let the saints come with heir hearts in the best humour, and
their voices in the best tune, and let them take care that there be no slovenliness and
discord in the public worship of the Most High.

By saying, "it often destroys the singing of the congregation," isn't Spurgeon admitting that instruments are often used in the sanctuary?

 

[Grace&Truth]

Reading through this brought to mind a Question:

How would one know the tune (or melody, harmony etc) of a song without music or the tune given in musical notes if one never used instruments of any kind?

 

[Jerome]

See, I think these folks do use musical instruments at their hoedowns, barn dances, or what have you; just not at their churches.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Reading through this brought to mind a Question:

How would one know the tune (or melody, harmony etc) of a song without music or the tune given in musical notes if one never used instruments of any kind?

The songs are done in line......have you ever seen this? hope I'm not being insensitive to you by answering in this manner? If I am just let me know & I will try to be better! :smilewinkgrin:

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

See, I think these folks do use musical instruments at their hoedowns, barn dances, or what have you; just not at their churches.

I reckon, on rare occasions when their not makin moonshine & feuding with one another, they're listen to the radio in the parlor.

 

[kyredneck]

... I am not attacking anyone's way of worship....

I, for one, know what you mean, and know that you are sincere with this statement. It's an odd thing; if the Old Baptists are guilty of anything, it's simply that they refused to change; thus the derogatory title, 'Hardshell'; implying obstinacy on their part. I suspect that at least some of the flak on this thread will arise, not from a perceived attack on anyone's way of worship, but from a perceived attack on the livelihoods of those who are paid for their musical skills.

"in tune and in line"

The PB church in my area does this by use of a "music school" camp type thing that is held every summer.

Their form of a capella music is a cultural art form that should be respected.

Thank you for the kind words MK. It was not the a capella singing that attracted me to the Old Baptists; in fact, it was a non issue at the time. However, a piano or an organ now seems to be a blaring interference to the sound of the purest of music, the human voice. And like OUB, I'm not attacking anyone's form of worship.

 

[revmwc]

I, for one, know what you mean, and know that you are sincere with this statement. It's an odd thing; if the Old Baptists are guilty of anything, it's simply that they refused to change; thus the derogatory title, 'Hardshell'; implying obstinacy on their part. I suspect that at least some of the flak on this thread will arise, not from a perceived attack on anyone's way of worship, but from a perceived attack on the livelihoods of those who are paid for their musical skills.




Thank you for the kind words MK. It was not the a capella singing that attracted me to the Old Baptists; in fact, it was a non issue at the time. However, a piano or an organ now seems to be a blaring interference to the sound of the purest of music, the human voice. And like OUB, I'm not attacking anyone's form of worship.

To me it isn't the instruments it is not having a volume switch on some of them. The people have in many cases forgotten the menaing of the word accompanyment.

 

[glfredrick]

You missed my quote, am I on the ignore list or something?:tear::laugh:

Whoops! :smilewinkgrin:

 

[glfredrick]

To me it isn't the instruments it is not having a volume switch on some of them. The people have in many cases forgotten the menaing of the word accompanyment.

Bring ear plugs if you visit our church... :wavey:

Back in the 60s, they often said, "If the music is too loud, you are too old..." I'm fairly sure our musicians are there.

 

[revmwc]

Bring ear plugs if you visit our church... :wavey:

Back in the 60s, they often said, "If the music is too loud, you are too old..." I'm fairly sure our musicians are there.

I was brought in the 60's and 70's and I don't like rock and roll music and never have. It gives me a headache and it was too loud back then. Of course my favorite music to listen too other than christian music is classical, Bach, Beetovan and the like. So you can imagine how this new load stuff affects me.

 

[just-want-peace]

To me it isn't the instruments it is not having a volume switch on some of them. The people have in many cases forgotten the menaing of the word accompanyment.

BINGO!!!!

This is at least half of my objection to "modern" Christian music.

The other half is the ridiculous repeating of a phrase 10-15 times! No wonder the nickname of this style is "7-11" - take 7 words and repeat 11 times.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Primitive Baptist churches, in refusing the use of instrumental music in worship, do not do so just to be peculiar. To them, it is not a matter of expediency, but an issue of principle. They believe that no religious problem is rightly solved by the criteria of personal preferences, individual tastes, or human wisdom, but by the supreme authority of Jesus Christ expressed in the New Testament. They have reverently and humbly sought out the correct answer to the all-important question: Does Jesus Christ authorize the use of instrumental music in the worship of God? Their objective investigation of the divine word has produced the conclusion that there is neither command, precept, nor example for the worship of God by the use of instrumental music during the New Testament dispensation. Therefore, they sincerely believe that the practice of instrumental music in the worship service is a departure from the divine plan.

 

[Old Union Brother]

Primitive Baptist churches, in refusing the use of instrumental music in worship, do not do so just to be peculiar. To them, it is not a matter of expediency, but an issue of principle. They believe that no religious problem is rightly solved by the criteria of personal preferences, individual tastes, or human wisdom, but by the supreme authority of Jesus Christ expressed in the New Testament. They have reverently and humbly sought out the correct answer to the all-important question: Does Jesus Christ authorize the use of instrumental music in the worship of God? Their objective investigation of the divine word has produced the conclusion that there is neither command, precept, nor example for the worship of God by the use of instrumental music during the New Testament dispensation. Therefore, they sincerely believe that the practice of instrumental music in the worship service is a departure from the divine plan.

and we Old regular baptist as well:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[psalms109:31]

Sheep

I myself believe David alone watching the sheep on the Sabbath in his youth, his worship service could contend with any service today. The shepherd was consider the low, because you couldn't go to the sabbath service. I wonder how his service was by himself?