S. A CAPELLA MUSIC IN NEW TESTAMENT WORSHIP
ACAPELLA MUSIC IN NEW TESTAMENT WORSHIP
1973-0211 WOR-17
Introduction:
1. I want to speak principally to the young people tonight. But not about teenage problems – but about religion. And I hope the adults will listen in also.
a.Because you talk to your friends a lot about religion. You ask each other questions, and I know that one of the questions you are most frequently asked is, "Why doesn’t the Church of Christ use music?" b.Well, first, young people, let’s look at the word "music" first. c.You see, young people we do use music, we use "vocal music."
2. You see, the word "music" is what would be called, "generic" that is, it is like an umbrella term, and covers a lot. It covers three kinds of music. 1) Instrumental music, 2) vocal music, and 3) mixed instrumental and vocal music.
a.So, we do have music, it is vocal music. b.So, really the question is, "Why don’t we use a piano or an organ in our worship?"
3. As we look at this question, I want us to realize the fundamental way that we look at the Bible.
a.We believe it is the inspired Word of God. 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21 b.We believe as the Word of God, we should let it direct us in all matters of faith. c.Look at Colossians 3:16 "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus", that is, by the authority of the Lord. d.Look also at 1 Peter 4:11, "If any many speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God." The term "oracles" is found 4 times in the New Testament. It means the "Word of God" or Scriptures. 1)This passage is saying that if any man speaks, teaches/ preachers, he is to speak as the Word of God speaks. e.Look at the warning God gave in Deuteronomy 4:2. We are not to add nor take away from the Word of God. f.I’m sure that you’ve heard preached give a lot of examples from the scriptures about some who tried to change God’s Word. It is imperative that we let the Scriptures speaks, and add to them in our religious practice, nor take away.
4. Let me give you an example of the communion. We have unleavened bread and unleavened drink on the Lord’s Table. The drink, by the way, is never called "wine" in its connection with the Lord’s Supper. It is very clearly, unleavened drink, never fermented, and is called, "the fruit of the vine."
a.But would we think of adding another food item to the table? b.Why not? c.When the Lord specified what is to be used, that rules out everything else.
I. WHAT DOES THE NEW TESTAMENT SAY –
1. We find several occasions where singing was present in the life and worship of the early Christians.
a)Where we find it mentioned – NINE TIMES 1)Matthew 26:306)Ephesians 5:19 2)Mark 14:267)Colossians 3:16 3)Acts 16:258)Hebrews 2:12 4)Romans 15:99)James 5:13 5)1 Corinthians 14:15 b)Other passages also to be considered. 1)Acts 2:47 and 2)Hebrews 13:15 c)This was rooted in the practice of Jesus with his disciples – Mark 14:26 "And when they has sung an hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives."
2. But there is just as clearly no reference to instrumental music in Christian worship in any New Testament text.
a.The debate of some contending for instrumental accompaniment have focused on Ephesians 5:19 and the Greek word psallo. "making melody" The word ado = singing. They want to understand it as "singing to the accompaniment of a plucked instrument." b.This argument must realize that in the O.T. in the LXX where it means "singing to the accompaniment of an instrument" the instrument is named. [ cf. . 5 Zamar, See Note # 2] Note: 1 Samuel 16:16; Psalms 32:2; Psalms 81:2; Psalms 149:3; Isaiah 23:16; 1) It is noted by lexicographers that usually it meant singing praises, and if it referred to playing an instrument, the instrument was named. c.In N.T. times it meant singing praises. And IF one attempted to look at Ephesians 5:19 from an O.T. point of view, we notice that the instrument that is to be played is mentioned – the plucking that is to accompany Christian singing is on the heart strings.
3. A FACT – Instrumental music was used by the approval of God in the Temple in connections with the rituals there accompanying the sacrifice. But according to Philo and Rabbinic literature in the Talmud, it was never used in the synagogues where singing was without instrumental accompaniment.
a)The Mishna gave instructions to the Levites how they were to wash their hands and feet in the laver before picking up the holy musical instruments. It gave instructions as to just what precise moment the symbols were to be clapped and the trumpet blown. b)It was an intricate part of the temple ritual – [ cf. p. 31, Note # 3] c)New Testament church worship was patterned after the synagogue worship and not the worship of the Temple. See James 2:2 "synagogue"
II. A LOOK AT CHURCH HISTORY
1. The writings of Church Fathers include the Apostolic Fathers (1 volume); the Ante-Nicene Fathers (10 volumes) and the two series of Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers (30 volumes).
a.No instrumental music is found in Christian worship in the first 6 centuries. When it was first introduced into church in the 7th century for a short while, we find arguments raised against it. 1)Gregory the Great, was Bishop of Rome 590-604 A.D. Many of his sermons and statements are found in the Post Nicene collection. He forbid the use of the instrument that had just been introduced. That settled the issue in the western or Roman church for centuries. 2)The Greek Orthodox Church never used instrumental music. b.From the contention which resulted in its removal– we know that there was none used previous to this.
2. The debate among the church fathers in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd centuries centered on whether a Christian could sing party music and whether instruments of music could be used for such entertainment occasions.
a.Some were extreme– and emphatic and extreme on Christian leisure time and frolicking with entertainment where plucking on harps, guitars, and blowing on flutes were used. 1)One reasons the position was so extreme was that generally such was done in pagan temples in an atmosphere of dancing and intoxication, and places of low morals. 2)It was considered worldly and frowned upon. b.The middle course was generally upheld however. Holding that Christians could attend entertainment and have parties and sing and play– providing they didn’t sing the obscene songs often so popular, nor the pagan temple songs, but more or less decent folk songs. c.It was still held that Christians should not do these things for frequent those place that would hurt their Christian influence.
3. Statements written by Christians to outsiders describing their Christian worship to those never attending and not acquainted with them, specifically laid out that they sang without the accompaniment of any instrument.
4. Commentaries made by the church fathers on the O.T. and the N.T. scriptures, such as Theodoret [ p. 35ff, & p. 54] on the Psalms pointed out the contrast between Mosaic use of the instruments and the Christian’s non-use.
5.The subject is also mentioned in a few sermons which were not arguing against it, for it was not used– but some sermons pointed out that the instrument of the Christian to accompany his singing was his heart. (These arguments were with pagans. The argument was that incense gave way to prayer, and sacrifice gave way to spiritual praise.) III.HISTORY OF THE INTRODUCTION OF INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC INTO CHRISTIAN WORSHIP:
1. Sometime during the 7th century a gift was made by a ruler to a church or congregation in Rome. It created a controversy and was soon withdrawn.
b.History is not clear at what precise moment it was re-introduced. Some say as early as the ten century, but that’s guessing. The testimony is for the 11th and 12 centuries. It appears first, not in accompaniment to singing in Church, but as background music for ritual processions of the Roman Catholic Church in Spain and Italy. c.NOTE: – it was never introduced into the Greek Orthodox Catholic church [See Note #11] and they remained strongly against it’s use. Instrumental music was used in the Emperor’s court – but never in the church. d.When the Protestant Reformation came along the reformers of the 16th century were split over whether it was proper to use instrumental music or not. 1)The Lutherans and the Anglicans kept the Roman Catholic practice. 2)The Reformed Church led by John Calvin, and the Anabaptist, the Mennonites, and others rejected it as not proper. 3)To this day several religious groups refuse to use it in their worship, some Presbyterians, Mennonites, some Baptists groups, and Greek Catholics. 4)An interesting argument is seen in the term that is used in musical circles for unaccompanied singing.
2. One of the strongest arguments is the very word a capella. This word comes from the Latin by way of Italian, and means "in the style of the church" "as is done in the church".
a. This very word is evidence that in ancient times the church didn’t use instrumental music in the accompaniment of its praises to God.
3. We here at Rogersville want to restore the unity of the N.T. church. We believe that if we do things in Bible ways this would be a basis of unity. The church of Christ is ecumenical. The ecumenical ground to occupy is to teach and practice a capella singing in worship.
a.Now we have noted N.T. first century practice – and history of the first ten centuries was without the instruments in church music. We’ve seen how and when it was added to modern worship. b.NOTE: – it was not absent from the N.T. worship and from the first ten centuries because it was not available– some might try to make this argument. It was available and was used in pagan temple worship and in entertainment. But it was just as definitely not used in spiritual worship of the Lord God.
IV. Argument that Instrumental Music is Just an AID.
1.What is an aid. The basket or plate for the contribution. a)The tray for the Lord’s Supper. b)The song books for Singing. c)Teach – our class rooms, and work books are aids. 2.Aid do not change, or add to or subtract from what it to be done. a)But the instrument adds to the MUSIC – it is an addition – And it is not authorized. b)Peanut butter and cracker on the LT would be an addition. It is not authorized.
CONCLUSION:
1. We conclude that the use of instrumental music was done away in the ritual of the Judaic Temple – and found no place in the spiritual worship of the church.
2. You see, we are trying to be loyal to the Bible and the worshiping of God in spirit and in truth.
a.This is our commitment here at Rogersville. Back to God’s way in all things.
3. We preach that if you have reached the age to know right from wrong, you are a sinner– that you must be born again to be saved of God–
a.You are begotten by the Spirit of God when you are convicted of the truthfulness of the Gospel– b.You must then turn from sin in repentance– c.And be baptized into the family of God– receiving the remission of sins and all the spiritual blessings that are found in Christ.
4. If you are not a simple Christian as defined in the New Testament we invite you to come to Christ as we stand and sing.
[A sermon first delivered February 11, 1973, this transcription from that sermon delivered at the Rogersville Church of Christ on Sunday March 13th, 2005.] Some sources use: Cullmann, Oscar. Early Christian Worship. (Studies In Biblical Theology No. 10). SCM Press: Bloomsbury St., London, 1953, Sixth printing 1966. Ferguson, Everett, The New Testament Church, ACC Press, Abilene, Tx., c. 1968 Ferguson, Everett. Early Christians Speak (Life and Faith in the First Three Centuries), Abilene, Texas, c. 1971 Ferguson, Everett. A Capella Music In The Public Worship of the Church. Biblical Research Press: Abilene, Texas, c. 1972