Music in the New Testament Church

[Vic C.]

Interesting article, Lewis.

I agree with so much of it. Especially the part about music during worship not being about exulting talents and the fact that music in many churches is creating an atmosphere of "spectators" and "performers". As one who has been a part of a church choir that not only sang during worship each Sunday, but had also put on special performances, I know first hand that there is a difference between lifting up voices in worship in song...and putting on a performance for an audience.

It's a real pet peeve of mine as well.

Somewhere...and it seems to have happened during the 80's and 90's....worship services have somehow morphed into concerts where the emphasis is on the music and yes, the musicians...not the One whom the music is supposedly exulting.

Please, PLEASE tell this to the other members of my Praise team!

Now, I do believe my musical talents are a gift from and what I do with it is my gift back to Him. I should do my best to play my best, just as should dress in a way that is pleasing to Him, meaning, I should not wear my cutoff to service, etc.

But, I should not be making a spectacle of myself on the stage either. We should be leading the congregation in praise and worship and not adopt a "watch and listen" environment. I can play at my best and still not be a show-off.

It is error to conclude that instruments should not be used in church just because the NT remains silent on the matter as it pertains to the church. Revelation seems to show that at least angels have instruments in worshiping God, and given that they were used by the Jews in the OT, there really is no reason to think that the Jews would have stopped using them in the church.

There is far too much of this argument from silence that goes on in Christian circles and it is wrong.

I've had this conversation with Stove when he first got here. I'm glad he isn't as dogmatic about it now as he was them. :D

The word psalm, as used in this verse:

Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

is psalmós, in the Greek.

song sung to the harp, orig., a plucking, as of strings, akin to psállein to pluck, pull, play (the harp)

Psalm | Define Psalm at Dictionary.com

Now, I do not play a harp, but I do play guitar. My point is, the NT isn't totally silent on the matter.

The Bible doesn't mention recording the Sermons and putting them on our website for others to listen to later on. Should we not be doing that either? Should we even have heat or a/c or even lights or electricity?

 

[Free]

I've had this conversation with Stove when he first got here. I'm glad he isn't as dogmatic about it now as he was them. :D

The word psalm, as used in this verse:

Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

is psalmós, in the Greek.

Psalm | Define Psalm at Dictionary.com

Well, look at that, so it isn't silent.

Now, I do not play a harp, but I do play guitar. My point is, the NT isn't totally silent on the matter.

But you could play your guitar like a harp...

The Bible doesn't mention recording the Sermons and putting them on our website for others to listen to later on. Should we not be doing that either? Should we even have heat or a/c or even lights or electricity?

Exactly. One could make a long list.

 

[Vic C.]

But you could play your guitar like a harp...

Stop... you're killing me with laughter here! :D

 

[Former Christian]

Vic C

I find the argument in Protestantism concerning instrumental music to be interesting only because the underlying issue is the authority of the New Testament as the Word of God vs. the authority of the Bible as the Word of God. The Churches of Christ that I’ve had contact with believed in the New Testament as the explanation of the Old Testament and thus the superior authority.

And I find it interesting that the official canonization of the New Testament would even be brought up by Protestants. Especially since there’s good reason to believe that what is included in the New Testament today was already known by the end of the first century and quoted by second century writers.

I’m glad you pointed out the meaning of Psalm, so I don’t have to. It does give a different meaning to “silence†in the New Testament on the subject of instruments.

In Orthodoxy/Catholicism, wherein Tradition rather than the Bible is the authority, there is no argument, only two different Traditions. Orthodoxy continues a Tradition wherein no instruments are used. Catholicism, wherein Tradition is progressive, currently uses instruments. In fact, there is evidence that the use of instruments in the Protestant Liturgy was influenced by Catholicism, not by the Bible nor Tradition. Though I understand that certain of the Reformed denominations don’t use instruments. Which, if true, may be where the Churches of Christ picked up the practice. The Campbells were originally Presbyterians, if I remember correctly.

“"I suppose it depends on a person's fundamental outlook. If we assume that everything is authorized unless specifically prohibited then we have to look to the scriptures to see where our limits are. On the other hand, if we assume that everything is prohibited unless specifically authorized we go to the scriptures to see what our liberties are. I guess this statement is just a summation of this entire topic isn't it." â€

This is an interesting insight. Taking one example....wine. The use of wine in the Old Testament only recommends moderation. Alcohol is the only drug mentioned in the Bible. So does silence concerning other drugs imply their legitimate use or not? And if Marijuana can’t be used because of silence, then what of modern Pharmaceuticals that are supposed to be used for health purposes? They aren’t mentioned either. Whether limits or liberties, it really becomes a matter of opinion when it comes to using silence as a basis for doctrinal ideas.

What I really find interesting is that in Protestantism, there is no concern about the use of what amounts to a second Bible. It is acknowledged that one purpose of the hymnal is doctrinal. And experiential doctrines at that. The use of which would be more understandable in Catholicism where the Bible has little authority in itself. But for there to be no question as to its use in Protestantism, where the Bible is considered the ultimate authority, is not understandable at all.

The Psalms, the Old Testament hymnal, still in use in the first century, are considered in contrast to the modern hymnal as hopelessly out of date or too Jewish to mean much to Christians today. The Psalms, part of what is considered the Word of God, the ultimate authority, replaced by a man-made hymnal. Protestantism offers a great deal of irony.

FC

 

[Lewis]

I found this out a long time ago Former Christian. Drugs are mentioned in the Bible Former Christian. Take a look at the below verses and translate the words Sorceries, which is Pharmakeia, Witchcraft, and Pharmacia, which these words are tied to drugs. Take a look at this article. This is another topic though. And if I can remember right it is in Galatians somewhere too, but it is called Witchcraft in Galatians.
Where does the word pharmacia appear in the Greek version of the New Testament

Revelation 9:21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.


Revelation 18:23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

 

[stovebolts]

I've had this conversation with Stove when he first got here. I'm glad he isn't as dogmatic about it now as he was them.

I just don't argue about it anymore ;)

Also, back then if I remember right, I felt like I was being attacked (not by you), and I found myself defending why we didn't use musical instruments. In short, I don't need to defend why we don't use them because what matters, is that we are worshiping in spirit and truth. And I'll add, there isn't anything wrong with worshiping with, or without instruments IF it's all for the glory of God. I've always maintained that position and never have I maintained that using musical instruments wasn't "authorized".

And you have to admit, to most people now days it's odd to come into a service that doesn't have a guitar, or at least a piano.

It's kinda funny, cause yesterday at service our preacher was using an example about kids, and started singing a kids song, and the congregation just jumped right in and sang it softly with him. Then he did another , "just cause it sounded so good"

It was beautiful and raised the hair on my arm, that's all I can say

 

[Former Christian]

Lewis W

While there is an obvious connection between the words, the English word coming from the Greek word, we can’t say that they are the same thing.

Medicinal pharmaceuticals certainly doesn’t relate to the ideas of witchcraft and sorcery 2000 years ago. Nor does the use of drugs for recreational purposes, I’ve heard of people trying to make that connection before. The connection of modern medicine and recreational drugs with monetary greed, that is what I take issue with. The power to take advantage of the fearful and hurting.


I’m not surprised you chose to comment on pharmaceuticals rather than the elephant. The second Bible isn’t a problem to Protestants. Which was the first clue that I had that Protestants don’t really believe in Sola Scriptura, but rather their execution of Sola Scriptura through the practice of interpretation. Protestants perpetuate the same thinking as the Catholics. And not continuing in the doctrinal Tradition of the Western Church as did the Catholics, the Protestants have had a much greater variety of doctrinal results. And yet there are things from that Tradition that continue in Protestantism. The second Bible or the hymnal, is one of those things.

FC