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The Gospel Observer
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to
observe all that I commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to
the end of the age" (Matt. 28:19,20).
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March 28, 1990
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Contents:
1) The Music of the Church (Tom Edwards)
2) God's Word on the Deity of Christ
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-1-
The Music of the Church
by Tom Edwards
Perhaps one "peculiarity" that people often consider about members in
the church of Christ is that they are the Christians who "do not
believe in music." Actually, members in the church of Christ do believe
in music; and they respectfully practice the instruction within God's
word to "sing praises."
"Music" is a general term that does not specify a particular
mode. One can make music with or without instruments. The New
Testament, however, does not use the expression "to make music"; but
rather it commands the Christian "to sing" -- an instruction just as
exclusive as God's specific command for Noah to use gopher wood in the
building of the ark, thus prohibiting the use of any other type.
Not too long ago I had an interesting conversation with a man whom I
met at a nearby laundry mat. I had soon learned that he was
a college music teacher and enjoyed teaching especially on the subject
of early "church music." Though his father had been a Baptist preacher,
and he himself had loved to play the trumpet; he acknowledged that in
the early church a cappella music (music without instrumental
accompaniment) was the only kind used.
It's interesting to note that it is not just those in the church of
Christ who have realized that God does not authorize the use of
instrumental music for worship in the church. Various prominent men,
representing a wide array of denominational backgrounds, have also
stood opposed to its use in worship during New Testament times.
Let us consider a few short statements from some of these men --
not as a basis for our authority; but to see that there are various
others than just those in the church of Christ who have found "a
cappella" music to be the only kind which God authorizes for worshiping
in spirit and in truth during this gospel age.
John Calvin: "Musical
instruments in celebrating the praises of God would be no more suitable
than the burning of incense, the lighting of lamps, and the restoration
of other shadows of the Law."
Charles Spurgeon (Baptist):
"What a degradation to supplant the intelligent song of the whole
congregation by the theatrical prettiness of a quartet, bellows, and
pipes! We might as well pray by machinery as praise by it."
John Wesley (Methodist): "I
have no objection to instruments of music in our chapels, provided they
are neither heard nor seen."
John Girardeau (Presbyterian):
"It is heresy in the sphere of worship."
Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religions:
"In
the
Greek church the organ never came into use, but after the
eighth century it became common in the Latin church, not however,
without opposition from the side of the Monks -- the reformed church
discarded; and though the church of Basil very early introduced
it, it was in other places admitted only sparingly and after long
hesitation."
American Encyclopedia: "Pope
Vitalian is related to have introduced organs into some of the churches
of Southern Europe about A.D. 670, but the only trustworthy account is
that of one sent as a present by the Greek emperor, Constantine
Copronymus, to Pepin, king of the Franks in 775."
Martin Luther
(Catholic/Lutheran): "An organ in the worship of God is an ensign of
Baal."
Adam Clarke (Methodist): "I am
an old man and a minister; and I declare that I never knew them
(mechanical instruments) productive of any good in the worship of God;
and I have reason to believe that they were 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 corruption in the
worship of the Infinite Spirit who requires his followers to worship
him in spirit and in truth."
Andrew Fuller (one of the most
respected Bible commentators in the Baptist church): "The N.T. speaks
of praising God by singing, but further it says not...Paul speaks more
than once in his epistles to the Corinthians of instruments of music,
but not as being used in religion. He described them as necessary to
war, but not to worship; and speaks of them in a language of
degradation, as `things without life, giving sound....' The history of
the church during the first three centuries affords many instances of
primitive Christians engaging in singing; but no mention, that I
recollect, is made of instruments. Even in times of Constantine,
when everything grand and magnificent was introduced into Christian
worship, I find no mention made of instrumental music. If my memory
does not deceive me, it originated in the dark ages of popery, where
almost every other superstitions are more prevalent, and where the last
regard is paid to primitive simplicity."
Thomas Aquinas (Catholic
theologian about 1250): "Our church does not use mechanical
instruments, as harps and psalteries, to praise God withal, that she
may not seem to Judaize."
Wm. B. Posey, The Baptist
Church in the Lower Mississippi Valley: "For years the Baptists fought
the introduction of instrumental music into the churches...Installation
of the organ brought serious difficulties in many churches."
W. K. Killen: "In the early
church, the whole congregation joined in the singing, but instrumental
music did not accompany the praise."
E. S. Lorenze, Church Music:
"...the music was purely vocal. There were no instrumental
accompaniment of any kind."
A Cappella Music, p. 83: "`A
cappella' comes from the Latin by way of Italian and means `in the
style of the church,' `as is done in the church.' The classical form of
church music is unaccompanied song."
The following passages show the type of music which God specified for
worship during the gospel dispensation -- a cappella:
Matt. 26:30 -- "singing a hymn"
Acts 16:25 -- "singing hymns"
Rom. 15:9 -- "sing to Thy name"
1 Cor. 14:15 -- "I will sing"
Eph. 5:19 -- "singing and
making melody with your heart"
Col. 3:16 -- "teaching and
admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God."
Heb. 2:12 -- "I will sing Thy
praises."
Heb. 13:15 -- "fruit of lips"
James 5:13 -- "sing praises"
May we each desire to worship and serve God in the way in which His
word authorizes, for only in this way is true love and reverence
manifested.
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-2-
God's Word on the Deity of Christ
Matthew 1:23, "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son,
and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, 'God with
us'" (NKJ).
Luke 4:12, "And Jesus answered and said to him, 'It has been said, "You
shall not tempt the Lord your God"'" (NKJ).
John 1:1-3,14: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things
were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was
made...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His
glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace
and truth" (NKJ).
1 Timothy 3:16: "And without controversy great is the mystery of
godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit,
seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world,
received up in glory" (NKJ).
Hebrews 1:8, "But to the Son He says: `Your throne, O God, is forever
and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom'"
(NKJ).
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation
1) Hear the gospel,
for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30,31).
2) Believe in the
deity of Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins
(Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith in Christ
(Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water
for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4;
Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21).
6) Continue in the faith;
for,
if
not,
salvation
can be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet.
2:20-22).
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First published for the Tri-state church of Christ in Ashland,
Kentucky, at 713 13th Street.
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards
tedwards1109@gmail.com
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