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Instrumental Music #4
REASONINGS FOR INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC EXAMINED
PART IV
This is the last of a series of 4 studies which examine arguments, or reasonings, for the use of instruments of music in worship. We, as Christians, must wish to please God even in those things which our society names as being unimportant, such as the use of mechanical instruments of music in Christian worship of God. We wish, now, to find scriptural reason for accepting, or rejecting each argument. This lesson examines the argument that instruments of music may be used in worship because a Psalm, by definition, is always sung with instrumental accompaniment, and Eph. 5:19 commands Christians to sing psalms. Thus, say the proponents of this argument, to obey this divine command, instruments must be used.
The following two reasons oppose this argument and show it to be false: 1. Eph. 5:19 defines the instrument to be used; the human heart (or spirit) is to accompany the voice with melody. Thus, other instrumentation is excluded.
2. The Greek word for psalm, "psalmos", when used in the New Testament does not imply accompaniment by instruments of music.
Thus, the Word of God which directs us today, the New Testament, does not command that instruments of music be used.
Part I of this series (Tape # 310) shows that faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17) and that what is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23). Thus, acting by faith is acting in obedience to God's word and acts done without divine authority are sin. Because there is no command to use instruments of music in the worship services, we cannot, in faith, use them. Therefore, we must not use mechanical instruments of music in worship of God today.
Part III of this series (Tape # 312) discussed the translation of the Greek verb "psallo", which (after many earlier changes in meaning) is translated in the New Testament as "to sing"; the use of instruments of music not being inferred in this meaning. The Greek noun "psalmos" is the word translated as "psalm". A somewhat parallel evolution of meaning for "psallo" and "psalmos" occurred in ancient times so that both words once imp3ied the use of instruments; but, this was many years prior to the writing of the New Testament. In the New Testament, neither of these words imply the use of instruments according to the bulk of Greek language lexicographic authorities. Listen to Tape # 312, Part III of this series to learn how languages evolve and how the meanings of words change with time, locality, and application. Tape # 312, studies the Greek word "psallo", in detail.
Acceptable modern New Testament translations are done by assembling of many scholars who represent the various schools of thought and the various religious denominations. These scholars apply vast stores of learning to produce accurate translations. Each scholar has, or course, personal prejudices, but these are nearly always balanced by the opposite prejudices of others in the assembly. Thus, the completed translation is quite free of personal prejudice and of denominational bias. God surely watches over these assemblies to insure that His word will not be corrupted, for I Peter 1:23 promises that the word of God will live and abide forever. Translations produced in this way are the word of God. They are accurate. It is these words that will be used to measure our lives on the judgment day.
In all acceptable modern New Testament translations, the word "psalm" has today's meaning. Webster's NEW SCHOOL AND OFFICE DICTIONARY shows the word "psalm" to mean, "a sacred song". A song, of course, is a musical composition, a poem or ballad; a ballad is a short narrative poem adopted for reciting or for singing. Thus, there is no command or inference for the use of mechanical instruments of music in any of these modern translations.
There are many witnesses who show the use of the word "psalm" does not demand or imply mechanical accompaniment; these disprove the basic premise of the arguments being examined. The witnesses are:
1. The Greek language lexicons which show a particular New Testament use.
2. Assemblies of Bible translators who, collectively, translate "psalmos" as having no inference for the use of instruments.
3. The witness of history. History shows that the early Christians worshipped God in their assemblies without using mechanical instruments of music. They continued this way from the beginning of the Lord's church for more than 500 years until the traditions of men gradually introduced the use of instruments in the worship.
How can some insist, contrary to this group of witnesses, that the use of mechanical musical instruments is implied in the word "psalm", as used in Eph. 5;19, and that we must use instruments if we are to obey God? There is no truth in the argument, instruments of music may not be used in modern Christian worship of God. To use them we must go beyond faith and act without scriptural authority, that is, we must act not of faith. Because, what is not of faith is sin, the Lord's people, today, sing praises to God accompanied only by the melody in their hearts.
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