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God Said "Sing"!
When people visit our assembly and express their curiosity about our vocal
music, I reply with this simple expression of our conviction: God said "sing." I
make it clear that the absence of the man-made instruments is not a matter of
economics (cannot afford one) or preference (we just like to sing). It goes much
deeper than any "church of Christ" or "restoration" heritage or tradition. It
has to do with faith and our desire to follow God's instructions. We are
convinced He said "sing."
When a man offers a gift to his wife, the considerate thing to do is to offer a
gift that will please her. She is the recipient of the gift. I may want a rifle,
a new computer or a truck. But if I'm going to give something to her that she
will appreciate, I will select something I believe will please her, not me.
As God's people, we want to offer worship to Him in response to His greatness
and grace to us. In offering that worship, what's important? What I want, or
what He wants? You will agree, the most important thing is what God wants. The
right course to take is to offer that worship to God that I know will please
Him.
How can I find out what pleases Him? I can consult His Word! I don't need to
even consider human preferences, denominational practices, historical precedence
or majority desire. If I want to know what pleases God I can read what He has
said about worship, determined to worship Him in spirit and truth (Jno. 4:24).
This quest takes me to the New Testament. I want to know what the apostles of
Christ did, since these were the men through whom the will of God was conveyed
(1 Cor. 1:1; 1 Cor. 2:10-12). The apostles - in their practice and instruction -
endorse only one kind of music in worship to God, vocal.
Paul and Silas, "at midnight . . . were praying and singing hymns to God," (Acts
16:25). To the church at Corinth Paul said, "sing with the understanding," (1
Cor. 14:15). He instructed the saints at Ephesus: "speaking to one another in
psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to
the Lord," (Eph. 5:19). In another place he wrote: "Let the word of Christ dwell
in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms,
hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord,"
(Col. 3:16). Is anyone cheerful? "Let him sing psalms," (Jas. 5:13).
Strange isn't it. All the years of controversy; all the debates, disputes and
division. Then you open your Bible and focus on what God said. There is it: God
said "sing."
Several generations ago, the founding fathers of some of the modern
denominations could see this plainly and said so.
Martin Luther said, "An organ in the worship of God is an ensign of Baal." John
Calvin stated "Musical instruments in the celebration of praises of God would be
no more suitable than the burning of incense, the lighting of lamps, and the
restoration of other shadows of the law...men who are fond of outward pomp may
delight in such noise; but the simplicity which God recommends to us by the
apostles is far more pleasing." John Wesley put it this way; "I have no
objection to instruments of music in our chapels, provided they are neither seen
or heard." These statements are from the founders of the Lutheran, Reformed and
Methodist churches! The greatest Baptist preacher of all time was Charles
Spurgeon, who said; "I'd as soon pray to God with machinery as to sing to God
with machinery."i They could see then what every Bible student should be willing
to freely admit today. Adam Clarke (Methodist) said, "I am an old man, and an
old minister; and I here declare that I never knew them productive of any good
in the worship of God; and have had reason to believe that they were productive
of much evil. Music, as a science, I esteem and admire: but instruments of music
in the house of God, I abominate and abhor. This is the abuse of music; and here
I register my protest against all such corruptions in the worship of the Author
of Christianity," (Clarke's Commentary, Vol. 4, p.684).
God said "sing." This is serious because, "Whoever transgresses and does not
abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine
of Christ has both the Father and the Son." (2 Jno. 9).
I am indebted to Wayne Wells for the historical
quotations. Sources available upon request.
By Warren E. Berkley
The Final Page
From Expository Files 4.10; October 1997
