Date written: February 14th, 2004<\/p>\n
Scripture ref: Ephesians 5:18, 19<\/p>\n
SUBJECT: Worship<\/p>\n
TITLE: Music in the Church — Why It Must Be Vocal<\/p>\n
PROPOSITION: In this lesson, we will look at the arguments for the exclusive use of a cappella singing within the worship of the church.<\/p>\n
OBJECTIVES: Each member should be able to comprehend and teach others the reasons why we sing in worship to God and why we do not use instruments in worship.<\/p>\n
AIM: To conclusively show that a cappella singing is the exclusive type of music that Jesus wants within the church.<\/p>\n
INTRODUCTION:<\/p>\n
1. Read: Ephesians 5:18, 19<\/p>\n
2. About the Text:<\/p>\n
1) The kind of music the church has is certainly a big deal in today’s religious environment.<\/p>\n
2) It is the first and the last thing many hear when visiting some church.<\/p>\n
3) There are many for whom it is the primary reason for “going to church.”<\/p>\n
4) And there is a place for music in worship.<\/p>\n
5) What is the music of the church?<\/p>\n
6) What ought our attitude to be toward music in the church?<\/p>\n
3. The situation today.<\/p>\n
1) Within churches of Christ that music has been a cappella in nature.<\/p>\n
2) We have also taught that it is sinful to use instruments in God’s worship.<\/p>\n
3) There are some churches of Christ today that teach that instruments are optional.<\/p>\n
4) Other churches have adopted the instrument for some of their worship services.<\/p>\n
5) Is this merely a “tradition” that we have within churches of Christ?<\/p>\n
6) Is this something that is optional?<\/p>\n
7) Is the instrument an issue of fellowship?<\/p>\n
4. The series.<\/p>\n
1) In the coming weeks, we will have a series of lessons on “Music in the church.”<\/p>\n
2) In this series, we will discuss, in depth, the various different facets of this issue.<\/p>\n
3) I hope that you will be present for each of these lessons.<\/p>\n
5. Last week<\/p>\n
1) We looked at music in the church from a historical perspective.<\/p>\n
2) We saw that as far as sacred history was concerned, the church sang songs and praises.<\/p>\n
3) Not one word did we find within sacred history regarding the use of instruments.<\/p>\n
4) We saw that in secular history, instruments were condemned by the church up to the sixth century A.D. when Pope Vitalian the I introduced them into the worship. Things were already gone in other ways in that day.<\/p>\n
5) Even so, we saw that even up until the 1200s AD, there were still some opposing its use in the churches.<\/p>\n
6) The reformation came and we saw the great leaders there in opposition to the use of the instrument in worship.<\/p>\n
7) We concluded that it has only been in popular use within the religious world for a period of about 200 years.<\/p>\n
6. Today<\/p>\n
1) Today we will be discussing arguments for the exclusive use of a cappella music within the church.<\/p>\n
2) We want to look at .<\/p>\n
7. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A<\/p>\n
DISCUSSION: To have the right attitude in prayer we must ask in . . .<\/p>\n
I. The Argument from Faith<\/p>\n
1. The argument for a cappella music.<\/p>\n
1) All actions of faith are actions that only come from hearing God’s word (Rom.10:17).<\/p>\n
2) The action of worshiping with a cappella music is an action that comes from hearing God’s word.<\/p>\n
3) Therefore the action of worshiping with a cappella music is an action of faith.<\/p>\n
2. The argument as stated against instrumental accompaniment.<\/p>\n
1) We must establish that the instrument is not an action of faith.<\/p>\n
a. All actions of faith are actions that only come from hearing God’s word (Rom.10:17).<\/p>\n
b. The action of worshiping with the instrument is an action that does not come from hearing God’s word.<\/p>\n
c. Therefore, the action of worshiping with the instrument is not an action of faith.<\/p>\n
2) Now we must establish that the instrument cannot please God.<\/p>\n
a. All actions that are not actions of faith are actions that cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6).<\/p>\n
b. The action of worshiping with the instrument is not an action of faith.<\/p>\n
c. Therefore, the action of worshiping with the instrument cannot please God.<\/p>\n
II. The Argument from Authority<\/p>\n
1. Colossians 3:17 – Jesus must authorized our deeds; this includes worship in the church.<\/p>\n
2. Eph. 1:22; Col.1:18; Eph. 5:23 – Jesus is the Head of the church.<\/p>\n
3. The argument for a cappella music.<\/p>\n
1) All divinely approved actions of worship within the church are actions that are authorized by the Head of the church, Jesus.<\/p>\n
2) The action of worshiping with a cappella music in the church is a divinely approved action of worship within the church (Eph.5:19; Col.3:16).<\/p>\n
3) Therefore, the action of worshiping with a cappella music in the church is an action that is authorized by the Head of the church, Jesus.<\/p>\n
4. The argument against instrumental music.<\/p>\n
1) All divinely approved actions of worship within the church are actions that are authorized by the Head of the church, Jesus.<\/p>\n
2) The action of worshiping with instrumental music is not an action that has been authorized by the Head of the church, Jesus.<\/p>\n
3) Therefore, the action of worshiping with instrumental music is not a divinely approved action of worship within the church.<\/p>\n
III. The Argument from Restoration of the Pattern<\/p>\n
1. Luke 8:11 – The seed is the word of God.<\/p>\n
1) A seed is a blueprint, a pattern, a code for the restoration of offspring.<\/p>\n
2) Addition to that pattern will destroy the ability to restore offspring.<\/p>\n
3) Subtraction from that pattern will destroy the ability to create offspring.<\/p>\n
2. 2 Timothy 1:13 Paul told Timothy, “Hold the form (pattern, ASV) of sound words which thou hast heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”<\/p>\n
1) As Christians we must “hold” to that pattern;<\/p>\n
2) Stick with it;<\/p>\n
3) Never modify or abandon it.<\/p>\n
3. The argument for a cappella music in the church.<\/p>\n
1) All items of worship that are included within the New Testament pattern for worship, are items that we may restore in worship to God.<\/p>\n
2) A cappella music in the church is an item of worship that is included within the New Testament pattern for worship.<\/p>\n
3) A cappella music in the church is an item that we may restore in worship to God.<\/p>\n
4. The argument against instrumental music in the church.<\/p>\n
1) All items of worship that are not included within the New Testament pattern for worship, are items that we may not restore in worship to God.<\/p>\n
2) Instrumental music in the church is an item of worship that is not included within the New Testament pattern for worship.<\/p>\n
3) Instrumental music is an item that we may not restore in worship to God.<\/p>\n
IV. The New Covenant Argument<\/p>\n
1. Hebrews 9:15<\/p>\n
2. The argument for a cappella music in the worship of the church.<\/p>\n
1) All actions for which Jesus mediates are actions that are part of the New Covenant.<\/p>\n
2) The action of a cappella music in the worship of the church is an action for which Jesus mediates (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16).<\/p>\n
3) The action of a cappella music in the worship of the church is an action that is part of the New Covenant.<\/p>\n
3. The argument against instrumental music in the church.<\/p>\n
1) All actions for which Jesus mediates are actions that are part of the New Covenant.<\/p>\n
2) The action of instrumental music in the worship is an action that is not part of the New Covenant.<\/p>\n
3) Therefore, the action of instrumental music in the worship is not an action for which Jesus mediates.<\/p>\n
V. The Argument from Silence<\/p>\n
1. Many state that the argument against instrumental music is just an argument from silence and they claim that is not a very strong argument.<\/p>\n
1) However, we see that argument used in Hebrews by the Holy Spirit 1:5-7; 1:13; 2:5; 4:7; 7:14.<\/p>\n
2) As the old spiritual says, “If it was good enough for the Holy Spirit, then it is good enough for me!”<\/p>\n
2. This one doesn’t apply to a cappella music, because the scriptures are not silent on that kind of music. We noted the several passages in which singing was found last week.<\/p>\n
3. The argument against instrumental music in the church.<\/p>\n
1) All actions about which the Bible is silent, are action about which we have no scriptural right to employ in worship.<\/p>\n
2) The Bible is silent regarding the action of using instrumental music to worship God.<\/p>\n
3) Therefore, we have no scriptural right to use instrumental music in worship to God.<\/p>\n
VI. The Specification of the Instrument Argument<\/p>\n
1. Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16<\/p>\n
1) Both verses specify the instrument that we are to use in worshiping God – the heart.<\/p>\n
2) To use any other instrument is to supplant the instrument which God has told us to use.<\/p>\n
3) The argument from specific authority. Noah, the Lord’s supper, etc.<\/p>\n
2. The argument for a cappella music in the worship of the church.<\/p>\n
1) All accompaniment which God specifies we use with our singing in worship is the only accompaniment that we may use in our singing in worship.<\/p>\n
2) The heart is the accompaniment that God has specified we use with our singing.<\/p>\n
3) Therefore, the heart is the only accompaniment that we may use in our singing in worship.<\/p>\n
3. The argument against instrumental music in the church.<\/p>\n
1) All accompaniment which God has not specified for us to use with our singing in worship is accompaniment that we may not use in our singing in worship.<\/p>\n
2) The accompaniment of instrumental music is not specified for us to use with our singing in worship.<\/p>\n
3) Therefore, the accompaniment of instrumental music is accompaniment that we may not use in our singing in worship.<\/p>\n
VII. The Righteousness of One’s Own Argument<\/p>\n
1. Romans 10:3; Philippians 3:9.<\/p>\n
1) These passage teach that when we substitute our own righteousness for God’s righteousness, then we do not please God.<\/p>\n
2) God’s righteousness is revealed within the gospel (Romans 1:17).<\/p>\n
3) If it is not within the gospel, then it is not according to God’s righteousness, and we make a righteousness of our own.<\/p>\n
2. The argument for a cappella music in the worship of the Church.<\/p>\n
1) All worship which is from a righteousness of our own is worship that is not revealed within the gospel.<\/p>\n
2) A cappella singing is worship that has been revealed within the gospel.<\/p>\n
3) Therefore, a cappella singing is not worship which is from a righteousness of our own.<\/p>\n
3. The argument against instrumental music in the worship of the Church.<\/p>\n
1) All worship which is according to the righteousness of God is worship that has been revealed to us in the gospel.<\/p>\n
2) Worship with instrumental music has not been revealed to us within the gospel.<\/p>\n
3) Therefore, worship with instrumental music is not according to the righteousness of God..<\/p>\n
CONCLUSION:<\/p>\n
1. We have conclusively demonstrated this morning two things.<\/p>\n
1) God is pleased with a cappella singing in the worship of the church.<\/p>\n
a. It is according to faith.<\/p>\n
b. It is authorized.<\/p>\n
c. It is part of the pattern preserved for restoration.<\/p>\n
d. It is part of the new covenant.<\/p>\n
e. God is not silent on the use of this type of music.<\/p>\n
f. God has specified the instrument of the heart to accompany singing.<\/p>\n
g. A cappella singing is according to the righteousness of God.<\/p>\n
2) God is not pleased with singing accompanied by the instrument because<\/p>\n
a. It is not according to faith.<\/p>\n
b. It is not authorized.<\/p>\n
c. It is not part of the pattern that was preserved for restoration.<\/p>\n
d. It is not part of the New Covenant.<\/p>\n
e. God is silent on the use of the instrument.<\/p>\n
f. God has not specified the mechanical instrument to accompany singing.<\/p>\n
g. Instrumental music is not according to the righteousness of God.<\/p>\n
2. Invitation<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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