IT REALLY DOES MATTER WHAT YOU BELIEVE ABOUT
July 16, 2006 AM
Sermon Outline
THE MUSIC OF THE CHURCH
EPH 5:18-21 - COL 3:16 - 1 COR 14:15 - HEB 13:15
INTRO: In the year 1906 a great division occurred among disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. While other factors certainly contributed to that division, the use of instrumental music in the worship assemblies of the church was one of the most prominent of the causes. There are matters of opinion, and there are matters of sound doctrine. The division involved those two viewpoints. One group said it was a matter of opinion while the other held that this was an issue of sound doctrine. The whole issue really revolved about ones view of the authority of the scriptures. May I kindly and lovingly affirm that it really does matter what you believe about the music of the church.
I. LOOKING AT THE BIBLICAL TEXTS
A. Eph 5:19 - "...singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord"
1. singing is specified as the way in which we are to speak to ourselves
2. the word translated "singing" is correctly translated and does not include or imply the addition of any instruments of music
3. the melody made in the heart is expressed from the mouth by singing!
B. Col 3:16 - "...singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord"
1. singing is specified as one way in which we teach and admonish by the use of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs
2. the word translated "singing" is correctly translated and does not include or imply the addition of instrumental accompaniment to the singing
3. in both texts there is the reflexive action of one to another singing - and the notice that the ultimate objective is "to the Lord"
C. 1 Cor 14:15 - "...I will sing with the spirit, and...the understanding also"
1. singing in the assembly of the church is specified here
2. the word translated "singing" is correctly translated and does not include or imply the addition or use of any instruments of music.
3. translators for years to the present have never suggested in their translations the use of instrumental music in translating the words in these texts
II. SO, WHENCE HAS COME THE IDEA OF ADDING INSTRUMENTS?
A. For 100's of years music of the church was a cappella
1. this, in contrast to the music of the Jewish temple - Levites only!
2. textually and historically singing without accompaniment was the pattern
3. it was perhaps as late at the 10th century before instruments were used in religious services of the then apostate church - the general use of them is a relatively modern historical phenomenon!
B. "The New Testament does not forbid their use"
1. I believe this to be the most used defense of the use of instruments
2. however, the well defined laws of language do, indeed, forbid their use
3. in an imperative setting a specific term is exclusive in its nature - "singing" is a specific kind of music - that term used in scripture excludes other kinds of music
4. "a cappella" - "in the manner of the church" - all choral people know the meaning of this word and this style of music ... unaccompanied singing
5. a Biblical example? my favorite has been Gen 6:14 - "gopher wood"
C. "This is not a serious issue involving sin"
1. in one form or another I hear and read this justification for instruments
2. how are we to make such arbitrary decisions? who says it's not serious?
3. an illustration: 1 Chron 13:2-10 with 1 Cor 15:12-15
a. "it's not important how we get the ark to Jerusalem"
b. but God has specified how the ark was to be moved (Ex 25:12-15)
c. the word "sin" was not used in the specifications - but Uzza died for not following the prescribed directions (Num 4:15)
d. what man considered "opinion" God considered to be "doctrine"!
4. this may not be part of how sins are remitted and we are added to the body, but it is very much a part of faithful observance of God's plan, pattern
5. whatever violates God's revealed pattern is sin - and sin is serious
D. Instrumental music in worship is clearly a departure from revealed pattern
1. language and history both attest to the pattern of congregational singing
2. just as certainly as the use of donuts and diet coke for the elements of the Lord's supper would be a departure from the pattern
3. am I aware that there are those departing from the pattern? of course
4. and I fear the reason for their departing has everything to do with pleasing people and nothing to do with pleasing God! there is no scriptural authority!
5. I love all kinds of music - as most of you know ... I am a musician by desire and education ... but in matters in which God has spoken I will not put my personal interests and desires ahead of His
CLOSE: Precious friends, I implore that you give careful thought and attention to this subject. And hold fast to the pattern of sound words (2 Tim 1:13).
Cecil A. Hutson
16 July 2006