This document discusses the debate over instrumental music in worship. It provides background on how instrumental music was first introduced among churches of the Restoration Movement in the 1850s. Over time, this led to a division between churches of Christ (vocal only) and the Christian Church (instrumental). The document examines several invalid arguments used to support instrumental music and quotes several prominent religious scholars who were opposed to its use in worship. It concludes by noting churches are again facing challenges as some congregations have started incorporating instruments and other musical additions into worship services.

1. Doctrine: Instrumental Music
Vocal Music OR Instrumental?
Background of the problem
Invalid arguments
What the scholars have said
Issues we face today

2. Background - History

L. L. Pinkerton – first instrument among churches of
the Restoration Movement – Midway, KY – 1858-
1859

Pinkerton wrote articles to defend its use.

Issue smoldered during the Civil War

Thorpe Springs, TX – preacher insisted on using the
instrument. His father presented a petition opposing
the instrument. His son, the preacher, looked at the
organist and said, “Play on, Miss Bertha.”

3. Background - History

J. W. McGarvey – “It is manifest that we cannot
adopt the practice without abandoning the obvious
and only ground on which a restoration of Primitive
Christianity can be accomplished, or on which the
plea for it can be maintained.”

The actual division was long and slow in coming.

By 1906 the division between churches of Christ
(vocal) and the Christian Church (instrumental) was
complete.

4. Invalid Arguments to Support
1 – Aid vs. Addition

Can the instrument be authorized the same way as a
PA system, songbooks and pews are authorized?

Is instrumental music an aid to our singing – OR – Is
it an addition to what God commanded?

5. Invalid Arguments to Support
2 – Used in the Old Testament

Psalm 149 and 150 encourage instruments

David played the harp –

1 Chronicles 23:5 four thousand were gatekeepers,
and four thousand praised the Lord with musical
instruments, "which I made," said David, "for giving
praise."

6. Invalid Arguments to Support
2 – Used in the Old Testament

David played the harp –

What about Amos 6:5? Who sing idly to the sound
of stringed instruments, And invent for yourselves
musical instruments like David;

2 Chronicles 29:25 And he stationed the Levites in
the house of the Lord with cymbals, with stringed
instruments, and with harps, according to the
commandment of David, of Gad the king's seer, and
of Nathan the prophet; for thus was the
commandment of the Lord by his prophets.

7. Invalid Arguments to Support
2 – Used in the Old Testament

SUMMARY

David praised God with instruments – Psalm 149

God approved such use – 2 Chronicles 29:25

God condemned the “entertainment” instead of
worship – Amos 6:5

8. Invalid Arguments to Support
3 – Used in our homes, play in band

Many things are morally right – but wrong in
worship
− Hamburgers are not wrong in life
− In communion they are wrong
− Musical instruments are not wrong in life
− Musical instruments are wrong in worship

It is not the piano that is wrong

It is its use in worship that is not authorized

9. Invalid Arguments to Support
4 – They are in heaven

They had harps in heaven – Revelation 15:2 And I
saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire,
and those who have the victory over the beast, over
his image and over his mark and over the number of
his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps
of God.

Read Revelation – there are horses, frogs, and fruit
trees in heaven – But – they are not part of our
worship – Horse jumping is not worship!

10. Invalid Arguments to Support
4 – They are in heaven

Revelation 14:2-3 2 And I heard a voice from
heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the
voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of
harpists playing their harps.
3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne,
before the four living creatures, and the elders; and
no one could learn that song except the hundred and
forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the
earth.

11. Invalid Arguments to Support
5 – Bible does not say Don't

Radio listener letter - “Why couldn't we have music
with our singing? My Bible doesn't say don't!”

Two types of silence:
− Generic commands – silence allows / includes
− Build ark includes hammer
− Go teach includes the mode of travel
− Specific commands – silence forbids / excludes
− Fruit of the vine excludes Dr. Pepper
− Sing excludes instruments

12. Invalid Arguments to Support
6 – I like it. It makes me feel good.

Radio listener letter - “Maybe some people don't like
music with their singing, but then, not all of us like
peanut butter and jelly on our bread, but that doesn't
mean it would be wrong for us to eat it with our
bread.”

Who sets the rules (guidelines) for worship?

What is the direction of worship – us or God?

Who is the object of our worship? (John 4:24)

Is worship for my pleasure; what I like?

13. What the scholars have said about
Instrumental Music in worship:

John Calvin (founder of Presbyterian Church) - “It
is no more suitable than the burning of incense, the
lighting of tapers, or the revival of the other
shadows of the law. The Catholics foolishly
borrowed it from the Jews.”

Martin Luther (founder of the Lutheran Church) -
“The organ in the worship is the ensign of Baal.”

John Wesley (founder of the Methodist Church) - “I
have no objection to the organ in our chapels
provided it is neither seen nor heard.”

14. What the scholars have said about
Instrumental Music in worship:

Charles Spurgeon (famous Baptist preacher) - “I
had just as soon pray to God with machinery as to
sing to God with machinery.”

Adam Clarke (Methodist commentator) - “Music as
a science I esteem and admire, but instrumental
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 of the worship of
the author of Christianity.”

15. What the scholars have said about
Instrumental Music in worship:

Lyman Coleman (Presbyterian preacher) - “The
tendency of this (instrumental music) was to
secularize the music of the church.”

There are many others that I could quote here.

Notice that in the first hundred years of the
reformation movement – no denomination used
instrumental music in worship.

16. What the scholars have said about
Instrumental Music in worship:

Benjamin Franklin (restoration preacher) - “If one
had told us forty years ago, that we would live to see
the day when those professing to be Christians; who
claim the Holy Scriptures as their only rule of faith
and practice; would bring instruments of music into
the worshiping assembly and use it there in worship,
we should have repelled the idea as an idle dream.
They turn the very worship of God itself into an
attraction for people of the world, an entertainment,
or amusement.”

17. Issues we are facing today

Some congregations among us:
− Have 2 services – 1 vocal, 1 instrumental
− Include hand clapping, praise teams, special
musical presentations
− Have choirs, solos, quartets in worship
− See nothing wrong with making these changes in
the worship

18. Conclusion

Arguments made to justify the instrument are not
valid and will not suppor their claim

Biblical scholars (of all religious backgrounds)
agree that the instrument should not be used in
worship

There was a major problem in the late 1800s.

We are facing the same challenge – again NOW!