Why We Sing & Do Not Play

INTRODUCTION

1. One thing people notice when they worship in the Lord’s church is that there is no piano, organ, drums, or orchestra; just vocal music.

2. This is very different to what most people are used to as most churches use mechanical instruments with “praise” bands, etc.

3. Why do we sing and not play when we worship God with music?

DISCUSSION

I. THE NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES

A. Jesus declared following His resurrection that God had given Him all authority ().

B. Where in the New Testament can one find Jesus commending worship to God in His church with mechanical instruments of music?

i. It is noteworthy that even though Jesus lived under the dispensation when God accepted worship in the temple with mechanical instruments, the only record of Jesus worshipping God with music with His disciples is through vocal music (; ).

ii. This is in keeping with the Jewish practice of synagogue worship where, according to scholars, no instruments of music were used.

C. Where in the New Testament can one find Jesus’ apostles commending worship to God in the Lord’s church with mechanical instruments of music?

i. Even a casual reading of different English translations will find nothing commending mechanical instruments of music.

ii. The only music commended in the New Testament scriptures used in worshiping God was vocal (; ; ; ; ; ; ; ).

D. God said nothing about mechanical instruments in worship in the New Testament.

E. God specified vocal music in worship in the New Testament.

D. God said nothing about mechanical instruments in worship in the New Testament.

F. Since there are no passages in the New Testament where God has told, showed, or implied that He desires worship with mechanical instruments of music their use is without authority!

E. God specified vocal music in worship in the New Testament.

F. Since there are no passages in the New Testament where God has told, showed, or implied that He desires worship with mechanical instruments of music their use is without authority!

II. THE TESTIMONY OF HISTORY

A. The fact that the New Testament scriptures do not commend the use of an instrument should settle the matter.

B. But consider that not only can we find no evidence of the instrument in the New Testament, we can find no evidence of their use in the early church.

C. Writings from the first, second, third, and fourth centuries show that vocal music was used in the churches and not instrumental.

“They asserted, however, that the sum and substance of their fault or error had been that they were accustomed to meet on a fixed day before dawn and sing responsively a hymn to Christ as to a god…”[1]

D. It was not introduced until centuries later in the Catholic church.

i. “They asserted, however, that the sum and substance of their fault or error had been that they were accustomed to meet on a fixed day before dawn and sing responsively a hymn to Christ as to a god…”[1]

E. Even then, John Calvin and other reformers were against it.

ii. “One reason the early church did not include instrumental music in their worship was in reaction to the debased secular use of instruments by the Romans.”[2]

iii. “Though we know that early Christians sang during worship, they probably used no instruments. Nearly all of the backgrounds from which early Christians came-Jewish, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and more-had instrumental traditions, but these traditions carried negative associations. Most church fathers saw the use of instruments in Jewish worship as a "childish" weakness, less glorifying to God than words of praise…Unaccompanied vocal music continued to be the norm in Christian worship for centuries”[3]

F. In Calvin’s commentary on Psalms, speaking about using instruments in worship wrote, “to proceed beyond what we are there warranted by him [Paul]is not only, I must say, unadvised zeal, but wicked and perverse obstinacy.”[1]

G. The testimony of history agrees with the New Testament text.

iv. “For almost a thousand years Gregorian chant, without any instrumental or harmonic addition, was the only music used in connection with the liturgy”[4]

H. Instruments of music were foreign to the worship of New Testament churches from the beginning and are a relatively recent development in the history of the church.

v. “The early Christians rigidly banned musical instruments from their religious assemblies. At any rate, there is no mention of their use, and several texts positively show that, at least in the period preceding the Peace of the Church, the singing of the clergy and people was unsupported by any instrument whatever.” [5]

III. THE CONTRAST IN THE COVENANTS

D. It was not introduced until centuries later in the Catholic church.

i. “At what period was the organ admitted into our churches? It is impossible to answer the question with absolute certainty, but it would appear that Pope Vitalian first gave it right of citizenship in the Christian assembly. This would be prior to Charlemagne”.[6]

A. Perhaps you are wondering about music in worship under the Old Testament.

B. One of the main arguments that has been used to justify the use of instruments of music in worship is the Old Testament.

ii. Pope Vitalian reigned from 30 July 657 to his death in 672 (7th Century) and he was born in Segni, Lazio, the son of Anastasius.[7]

C. It is true that they were used under the Old Covenant.

E. Even then, John Calvin and other reformers were against it.

i. “But when they frequent their sacred assemblies, musical instruments in celebrating the praises of God would be no more suitable than the burning of incense, the lighting up of lamps, and the restoration of the other shadows of the law. The Papists, therefore, have foolishly borrowed this, as well as many other things, from the Jews. Men who are fond of outward pomp may delight in that noise; but the simplicity which God recommends to us by the apostle is far more pleasing to him.”[8]

D. But why were they used?

ii. “What shall we then say of chanting, which fills the ears with nothing but an empty sound? Does any one object, that music is very useful for awakening the minds of men and moving their hearts? I own it; but we should always take care that no corruption creep in, which might both defile the pure worship of God and involve men in superstition. Moreover, since the Holy Spirit expressly warns us of this danger by the mouth of Paul, to proceed beyond what we are there warranted by him is not only, I must say, unadvised zeal, but wicked and perverse obstinacy.”[9]

E. It was because God said so ().

F. The testimony of history agrees with the New Testament text.

i. God specified what instruments were to be used, who was to use them, and when they were to be used ().

ii. God specified their use by the Levitical priests in the temple through David (; ; ; ).

G. Instruments of music were foreign to the worship of New Testament churches from the beginning and are a relatively recent development in the history of the church.

F. This wasn’t a matter of preference or choice, but was God’s directive.

III. THE CONTRAST IN THE COVENANTS

A. Perhaps you are wondering about music in worship under the Old Testament.

G. But we no longer live or worship God under the Old Covenant.

B. One of the main arguments that has been used to justify the use of instruments of music in worship is the Old Testament.

H. It was merely a shadow of the better things in Christ (; ; ).

C. It is true that they were used under the Old Covenant.

I. To seek to please God through the Old Covenant is futile ().

D. But why were they used?

J. The temple, sacrifices, and all of the trappings of the Old Covenant have been fulfilled and transformed in Christ ().

K. Today, the people of God in Christ are the temple, the priests, the sacrifices and the instruments (; ; ; ; ).

E. It was because God said so ().

i. God specified what instruments were to be used, who was to use them, and when they were to be used ().

L. As one brother noted, “The differences between the Old and New on this point are significant, and it is important to notice this contrast: in the Old, God was specific about both singing and playing. In the New, God is specific about singing, but not a word about playing anything mechanical in worship.”[2]

Numbers 10:1–2 ESV

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work you shall make them, and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp.

Numbers 10:8–10 ESV

And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. The trumpets shall be to you for a perpetual statute throughout your generations. And when you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the Lord your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies. On the day of your gladness also, and at your appointed feasts and at the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings. They shall be a reminder of you before your God: I am the Lord your God.”

ii. God specified their use by the Levitical priests in the temple through David (; ; ; ).

CONCLUSION

1 Chronicles 16:4–6 ESV

Then he appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the Lord, to invoke, to thank, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel. Asaph was the chief, and second to him were Zechariah, Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, who were to play harps and lyres; Asaph was to sound the cymbals, and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.

1 Chronicles 23:5 ESV

4,000 gatekeepers, and 4,000 shall offer praises to the Lord with the instruments that I have made for praise.”

1 Chronicles 28:11–13 ESV

Then David gave Solomon his son the plan of the vestibule of the temple, and of its houses, its treasuries, its upper rooms, and its inner chambers, and of the room for the mercy seat; and the plan of all that he had in mind for the courts of the house of the Lord, all the surrounding chambers, the treasuries of the house of God, and the treasuries for dedicated gifts; for the divisions of the priests and of the Levites, and all the work of the service in the house of the Lord; for all the vessels for the service in the house of the Lord,

1 Chronicles 28:11–12 ESV

Then David gave Solomon his son the plan of the vestibule of the temple, and of its houses, its treasuries, its upper rooms, and its inner chambers, and of the room for the mercy seat; and the plan of all that he had in mind for the courts of the house of the Lord, all the surrounding chambers, the treasuries of the house of God, and the treasuries for dedicated gifts;

2 Chronicles 2:11–13 ESV

Then Hiram the king of Tyre answered in a letter that he sent to Solomon, “Because the Lord loves his people, he has made you king over them.” Hiram also said, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, who has given King David a wise son, who has discretion and understanding, who will build a temple for the Lord and a royal palace for himself. “Now I have sent a skilled man, who has understanding, Huram-abi,

2

1 Chronicles 28:19 ESV

“All this he made clear to me in writing from the hand of the Lord, all the work to be done according to the plan.”

F. This wasn’t a matter of preference or choice, but was God’s directive.

1. Worship is about pleasing God and not ourselves ().

G. But we no longer live or worship God under the Old Covenant.

2. He alone has the authority to regulate His worship ().

H. It was merely a shadow of the better things in Christ (; ; ).

3. God has communicated clearly that He desires vocal music in His worship.

Hebrews 9:9–10 ESV

(which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.

I. To seek to please God through the Old Covenant is futile ().

4. May we be content to simply trust and obey and worship Him in spirit and truth.

[1] Pliny, Letters 10.96-97. (n.d.). Retrieved July 19, 2017, from http://bit.ly/2vCByZP

J. The temple, sacrifices, and all of the trappings of the Old Covenant have been fulfilled and transformed in Christ ().

K. Today, the people of God in Christ are the temple, the priests, the sacrifices and the instruments (; ; ; , ; ).

[1] Calvin, J., & Anderson, J. (2010). Commentary on the Book of Psalms (Vol. 1, p. 539). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

1 Corinthians 3:16 ESV

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

1 Corinthians 6:19 ESV

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

L. John Chrysostom, writing in the 4th century in his exposition on Psalms makes a similar contrast, “David formerly sang songs, also today we sing hymns. He had a lyre with lifeless strings, the church has a lyre with living strings. Our tongues are the strings of the lyre with a different tone indeed but much more in accordance with piety. Here there is no need for the cithara, or for stretched strings, or for the plectrum, or for art, or for any instrument; but, if you like, you may yourself become a cithara, mortifying the members of the flesh and making a full harmony of mind and body. For when the flesh no longer lusts against the Spirit, but has submitted to its orders and has been led at length into the best and most admirable path, then will you create a spiritual melody.” [10]

L. As one brother noted, “The differences between the Old and New on this point are significant, and it is important to notice this contrast: in the Old, God was specific about both singing and playing. In the New, God is specific about singing, but not a word about playing anything mechanical in worship.”[10]

M. As one brother noted, “The differences between the Old and New on this point are significant, and it is important to notice this contrast: in the Old, God was specific about both singing and playing. In the New, God is specific about singing, but not a word about playing anything mechanical in worship.”[11]

[2] Moyer, D. (2016). Mind Your King: Lessons and Essays on Biblical Authority (p. 133). Kindle Edition. Moyer Press.

CONCLUSION

1. Why do we sing and not play when we worship God with music?

2. Because worship is about pleasing God and not ourselves ().

3. He alone has the authority to regulate His worship ().

4. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments ().

5. Do you love God?

6. Do you love Jesus?

7. Are you obeying Him in your worship with music?

8. God has communicated clearly that He desires vocal music in His worship.

9. May we be content to simply trust and obey and worship Him in spirit and truth.

[1] Pliny, Letters 10.96-97. (n.d.). Retrieved July 19, 2017, from http://bit.ly/2vCByZP

[2] Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). Music and Musical Instruments. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 2, p. 1508). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

[3] Coffman, E. (n.d.). When did churches start using instrumental music? Retrieved July 19, 2017, from http://bit.ly/2vjsj1d

[4] Catholic Encyclopedia: Musical Instruments in Church Services. (n.d.). Retrieved July 19, 2017, from http://bit.ly/2tfye63

[5] Benedictine Monks of Buckfast Abbey. Library : Instrumental Music in Church. (n.d.). Retrieved July 19, 2017, from http://bit.ly/2tqM0qM

[6] Ibid.

[7] Pope Vitalian. (2017, October 16). Retrieved July 19, 2017, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Vitalian

[8] Calvin, J., & Anderson, J. (2010). Commentary on the Book of Psalms (Vol. 1, p. 539). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

[9] Calvin, J., & Anderson, J. (2010). Commentary on the Book of Psalms (Vol. 1, p. 539). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

[10] Why do the Orthodox not use musical instruments in worship? (n.d.). quoting from John Chrysostom, Exposition of , (381-398 A.D.) Source Readings in Music History, ed. O. Strunk, W. W. Norton and Co.: New York, 1950, pg. 70. Retrieved July 19, 2017, from http://bit.ly/2vEFY2e

[10] Moyer, D. (2016). Mind Your King: Lessons and Essays on Biblical Authority (p. 133). Kindle Edition. Moyer Press.

[11] Moyer, D. (2016). Mind Your King: Lessons and Essays on Biblical Authority (p. 133). Kindle Edition. Moyer Press.

[11] Why do the Orthodox not use musical instruments in worship? (n.d.). quoting from John Chrysostom, Exposition of , (381-398 A.D.) Source Readings in Music History, ed. O. Strunk, W. W. Norton and Co.: New York, 1950, pg. 70. Retrieved July 19, 2017, from http://bit.ly/2vEFY2e