“ Mark Fitzpatrick ” Thank you, Sir. The adding of water would openly contradict or violate the teaching of Christ and Paul in Scripture where only two elements were established for the Lord's Table. This should be considered as adding to Scripture, with no antecedent. However, we can perceive an antecedent of the use of instruments in personal worship in the Psalms. Perhaps you could kindly help me in this, but I do not perceive an open contradiction otherwise. I would be pleased to have your aid in this.
Without wishing to be contentious, comments presented aim to check or expand mutual understanding. I am concerned about the use of instruments as much as you would perhaps, but for different reasons. Perceiving a potential risk of detraction from simple devotion in worship, and coming from a different angle, I suggest different arguments, than the ones presented in R. McCurley's circles.
I trust this eases your miss-givings. I would willingly answer further personal queries at the address provided above.
“ A question for Mr McCausland ” Would it be acceptable to add a third element to the Lord's Table like the Roman church in the adding of water? If not, Why not? Note, there is no prohibition in scripture to the adding of something else to the Lord's Table!
“ Ethical consideration ” Instrumental music can be compared to the use of fire. With lawful, matured, and controlled use and setting, it might have a place and value; in the hands of lawless, self-willed, or irresponsible individuals it becomes a sensual detrimental factor.
“ Historical remarks ” Aesthetic values are not fully present in societies unless basic needs are mastered, or intellectual, and ritual emancipation is achieved.
Due to man’s fallen nature, matters regarding music, life-style and clothing have seemed better handled throughout history, when eliminating risks of temptation, misuse, or abuse. Such has been the case regarding monasticism, celibacy, hermit habits, Puritan plain clothing, and perhaps unaccompanied singing in worship. The Reformers abhorred organ music out of repulsive connotations with the apostasy and miss practices of Rome. Denunciations against instruments in worship throughout history, either from the early Church Fathers to the late Puritans, exist on the grounds of serious commitment to purity, exception to worldliness, or in the context of mysticism.
“ Theological comment ” The theological arguments presented seem encaged by a particular biblical interpretation.
If something is not ‘prescribed’ in Scripture, it should not be permissible when it contradicts, compromises, enslaves or detracts biblical value. With the antecedent of instruments in personal worship in the Psalms, the practice may correlate into collective praise in the NT context if wished to, though fully aware of the risks involved and of the fact that genuine worship never relies on external props. Differentiation between public and collective worship is subject to definitions of worship.
“ Great Sermon! ” Dear Brother McCurley, We thoroughly enjoyed this message. It is the TRUTH! May the Lord open the eyes of His people to see the important truths you bring forth in this message.
“ Great Sermon! ” The sermon thoughtfully answers the objections most common, especially that the Psalms extol instruments but which only belonged to Jewish worship before Christ's coming as part of the types and shadow elements clearly abolished per the book of Hebrews and contrary to New Testament church worship. Also it is the 'beauty of holiness' and not a sensual beauty that is instructed for worship, as the sermon explains as well.
“ Personal observations 3 ” On the other hand, the use of instruments in worship in the Psalms is well established. See Psalm 33:2 “Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings” or 71:22 “I will also praise thee with the psaltery, … O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.” 150:3-6 “Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp etc…”.
Of course we should not think that we create music to ‘delight’ “appease” or ‘amuse’ God, or ourselves. We create music to honour him by reflecting in the music his holy character out of a sanctified vessel. Either using instrumental or vocal music, we may end exalting Him, or extolling man’s fallen state.
“ Personal observations 2 ” To distinguish non-valid music in worship from the valid, instrumental or vocal, one should identify the appeal it creates. Valid music, instrumental or vocal, should appeal to the spirit, not to bodily-based senses. It should reflect the attributes of God, not base, lower feelings pointing to the flesh, as sensuality, or contempt for example. Not all music produced is amoral. There is bad music and good music, which it does not come defined by preference, taste, style, or culture. To illustrate the proper use of instruments in worship, let’s single out the Halleluiah Chorus in Handle’s Messiah. If one takes away the underlying orchestration, the piece becomes conspicuously poorer, shorn significantly from the Christ-exalting vitality it conveys. The instruments lay a substratum to the content, supporting, embracing and enhancing devotion, accordingly to the mode of the theme in question. This is what correct instrumentation should do. Surely, either, instrumentalists of vocalists can rob spiritual value, and draw attention towards themselves, in particular when motivation in the heart runs amiss. Correct musicianship in worship demands extreme godliness.
“ Personal observations ” There are commendable points in BWS’s comment.
However, one wonders if there is a need to so drastically, (or per-norm) strip the worship of God from all aesthetics, which by the way, belong to God by creation. “Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness”. The worshipping of God in holiness may include beyond the beauty of a quite pure heart’s devotion, or beyond the sound made with human throats backed by inner, sincere adoration. As with any other good thing, music, instrumental or vocal, can be misused and abused. One can sing polyphony a cappella to point towards self, or sing, unaccompanied a contemporary/pop-style piece or a spiritual-negro-styled song, to promote sensuality, promiscuity or ego pleasing. Let us be aware that not only instruments can induce base traits.
Yes, instrumental music can easily detract, distract and deviate the senses, stimulating the flesh rather than enhancing the spirit, no doubt. But so is proud preaching, prayer, or any other self-centred practice. (For instance, excessively ornamented, luxurious places of worship, platform lightening, or stage-like-built meetinghouses, might endear a selfish ‘good feeling factor’ to a congregation).
“ Powerful message, instruments in church worship? ” This is a powerful and practical message challenging the tradition, and increasing variety, of the use of musical instruments in church worship. Truly what is esteemed (and excused) among men is error and arrogance before God when the holy light of Scripture shines on it. If the truth be told instruments are used to get the youth involved or to please popular sentiment, not merely to accompany or aid worship, but to enhance and attract others to come to church. Especially now among churches claiming to be reformed instruments are on the increase from massive pipe organs to bands or string ensembles in the face of the 2nd command and regulative principle they claim to follow! Gill and Spurgeon as well as Puritans and Presbyterians of history all condemned it as a mark of popery or apostasy, not conservative but liberal error!
“ Foundational ” I'm sending this out now to a new believer. It is a very clear presentation of a much neglected and misunderstood element of basic Christianity...the law of God.
“ Great Sermon! ” Dear Pastor Robert McCurley. We were recommended to hear your ministry and we thank the Lord for this direction. We have been much blessed by all these truths you have spoken and hasten to send the sermon out to others. We were once caught up in the charismatic scene many years ago, but by God's grace and mercy, brought to see Truth that the canon of scripture is complete.
May God strengthen and bless you, for His glory and praise.
Love in Christ, English Rose and George
“ Great Sermon! ” Very good message. If you know or have been confronted by people that think they are getting extra "words", "visions", or "tongues" from God , then give them the link to this sermon! I've listened to it twice now and have linked it on Facebook. Sola Scriptura!
“ Great Sermon! ” Very, very good sermon, brilliant! Ive always been thought the importance of singing the Psalms, in family worship, at church, in private worship, in public worship. Listening to this sermon brought me much joy and thankfulness to God for revealing this truth to me and many people I know.
1/15/15 11:09 AM
