WHY NO INSTRUMENTS

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   One of the least known teachings of the Bible involves the distinction between the covenants.

1.    When we refer to “the covenants,” we are speaking of the Old Testament and the New Testament.

2.    These two testaments combined compose what is known as “God’s Holy Word.”

3.    Individuals do not understand:

a.    With whom the covenants were made

b.    The purpose of the covenants

c.    Whether one or both covenants are binding upon humanity today

 

B.   The Law, the Old Covenant, was revealed to Moses at Mount Sinai.  The Law of Christ, the New Covenant, was revealed to inspired men during the first century.

 

C.   The point that really needs to be understood today is that the Law of Moses is no longer a binding covenant. 

1.    It was an operational covenant from Mount Sinai until the crucifixion of Jesus.

2.    Many passages of Scripture can be set forth to establish this truth.

a.    Colossians 2:14

 

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.

 

1)    The “handwriting of ordinances” was the Law of Moses. 

2)    Paul notes three things about it.

a)    It was blotted out.

b)    It was taken out of the way.

c)    It was nailed to the cross.  (NOTE:  The purpose of a cross to bring death).

b.    Ephesians 2:14-15

 

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace.

 

1)    Prior to the removal of the Old Testament, it was a middle wall of partition between the Jews and all other nations.  The Law of Moses separated Jews and made them a holy nation unto God.

2)    Two statements Paul makes about the law:

a)    The middle wall of partition has been broken down.

b)    The law of commandments has been abolished.  (Strong [2673], to be (render) entirely idle (useless))

c.    Romans 7:4, 6

 

Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God…But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

 

1)    Dead to the law

2)    Delivered from the law

3)    That being dead wherein we were held

 

D.   Some may be wondering why we have spent so much time on proving the Law of Moses is no longer the law that governs men today.

1.    It is because of the question that entitled our sermon this morning:  “Why No Instrument?” that is, it is part of the reason why don’t we use instruments of music in our worship of the Almighty God?

2.    It is because we are not under the Old Law, but under the New Law, the Law of Christ, the New Testament (Col. 3:16-17).

 

Let the word of Christ dwell in your 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.  And whatsoever ye do in word of deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

 

a.    Whatever we do in word or deed, all is to be done “in the name of” or “by the authority of” Jesus Christ.

b.    Two other verses:

1)    Titus 2:1

 

But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine.

 

2)    1 Peter 4:11

 

If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God.

 

I.             NOT ONE PASSAGE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

 

A.   The question that we ask is:  “Where is one passage in the New Testament that authorizes instruments of music in worship?”

 

B.   Answer:  There is not one.

 

C.   There are a host of passages that authorize us to sing.

1.    We just noted Colossians 3:16

2.    Ephesians 5:19

 

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.

 

3.    1 Corinthians 14:15

 

What is it then?  I will pray with the spirit, I will pray with the understanding also:  I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

 

4.    The command is to “sing.”

a.    Definition:  to utter words with musical modulations of the voice.

b.    There are some things that are done with the voice that are not singing.

1)    Whistling is not singing.

2)    Humming is not singing.

3)    Beatboxing is not singing.

4)    Clapping and foot-stomping are not singing.

 

D.   We have a command to sing.  We can produce book, chapter, and verse for this action.  This is not true with regard to instrumental music in worship.

 

II.           THE BIBLE DOESN’T SAY YOU CAN’T HAVE INSTRUMENTS OF MUSIC

 

A.   Yes it does. 

1.    No, there is not a verse to which I can turn that says:  “Do not use instruments of music in worship.”

2.    The fact is, however, that the moment the Bible specifies how something is to be done, then everything else is prohibited.

 

B.   Three simple examples:

1.    Noah was commanded to make the ark of gopher wood (Gen. 6:14).

 

Make thee and ark of gopher wood…

 

a.    Only gopher wood was authorized.

b.    The moment God specified gopher wood all other woods were excluded.

c.    Not one board or beam could be made from any other type of wood.

2.    When God choose the Levites to minister unto the holy things of the tabernacle, the other tribes were excluded (Num. 3:9).

 

And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons:  they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel.

 

a.    One tribe, the Levites, was specifically named to be the priestly tribe to assist Aaron and his sons.

b.    NOTE:  We do not read one statement that forbids the other tribes from being priests.  Why?  When the Levites were authorized, all others were prohibited.

c.    The Hebrew writer picked up on this regarding the Christ in Hebrews.

1)    Hebrews 8:4

 

For it he were on earth, he should not be a priest…

 

2)    Hebrews 7:14

 

For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

 

a)    Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood regarding Judah.

b)    He did not authorize that tribe to be priests.

c)    He did not specifically forbid them from being priests.

d)    He did speak specifically about the Levites and this excluded the tribe of Judah.

3.    The unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine on the Lord’s Table.

a.    Would anyone use water and loaf bread on the Lord’s Supper?

b.    NO!  Why?  It is not authorized.

c.    The Lord used unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine when He instituted the Lord’s Supper (Matt. 26:26, 29).

d.    NOTE:  Water and loaf bread are never specifically condemned.

e.    When Jesus used unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine, everything else was excluded from use.

 

C.   QUESTION:  Why is it that all understand these three examples, but for some reason many cannot reason the same way about the command to sing?  Could it be that man wants instrumental music more than he desires doing the will of God?

 

III.         BRIEF CONSIDERATIONS

 

A.   We often use the word acapella to refer to singing without instruments of music.  It is interesting that the literal meaning of the word acapella is “in the manner of the church.”

1.    When we sing without instruments, we sing the way the church sings.

2.    It was so well known that the church sang without instruments of music that a word meaning this very thing was developed.

 

B.   Church history does not record an instrument of music in the worship of the church for some 600 to 800 years.  When it was introduced, it split the church.

 

C.   There have been numerous men who were leaders in denominations who have opposed instrumental music.

1.    Martin Luther: "The organ in the worship to God is an ensign of Baal."

2.    John Calvin: "It is no more suitable than the burning of incense, the lighting of tapers, or revival of other shadows of the law. The Roman Catholics borrowed it from the Jews."

3.    John Wesley: "I have no objection to the organ in our chapels provided it is neither seen nor heard."

4.    Adam Clark: "I am an old man and an old minister, and I here declare that I have never known instrumental music to be productive of any good in the worship to God, and have reason to believe that it has been productive of much evil. Music as a science I esteem and admire, but instruments of music in the house of God I abominate and abhor. This is the abuse of music and I here register my protest against all such corruptions in the worship of that infinite Spirit who requires his followers to worship Him in spirit and truth."

5.    Charles Spurgeon: "I would as soon pray to God with machinery as to sing to God with machinery... Israel was at school and used childish things to help her learn; but in these days when Jesus gives us spiritual food, one can make melody without strings and pipes... they would hinder rather than help our praise." (Commentary on Psalms 42:4)

6.    John Knox: referring to the organ in church worship, called it "a kist of whistles." (a kist is a box or chest)

7.    Alexander Campbell: "To the really spiritually minded, it would be like a cowbell in a concert."

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   There are many who think the churches of Christ are strange because they do not use instruments of music in worship.

 

B.   We are not seeking to be strange; we are seeking to be Scriptural.

1.    Following God’s Word explicitly is very important (Eph. 5:15).

 

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.

 

2.    Additions to God’s Word are condemned (Prov. 30:5-6).

 

Every word of God is pure:  he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.  Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.