Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

1.

One thing people notice when they worship in the Lord’s church is that there is no piano, organ, drums, or orchestra; just vocal music.

1.

One thing people notice when they worship in the Lord’s church is that there is no piano, organ, drums, or orchestra; just vocal music.

2. This is very different to what most people are used to as most churches use mechanical instruments with “praise” bands, etc.

2. This is very different to what most people are used to as most churches use mechanical instruments with “praise” bands, etc.

3. Why do we sing and not play when we worship God with music?

3. Why do we sing and not play when we worship God with music?

DISCUSSION

DISCUSSION

I. THE NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES

I. THE NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES

A. Jesus declared following His resurrection that God had given Him all authority ().

A. Jesus declared following His resurrection that God had given Him all authority ().

B. Where in the New Testament can one find Jesus commending worship to God in His church with mechanical instruments of music?

B. Where in the New Testament can one find Jesus commending worship to God in His church with mechanical instruments of music?

i.

It is noteworthy that even though Jesus lived under the dispensation when God accepted worship in the temple with mechanical instruments, the only record of Jesus worshipping God with music with His disciples is through vocal music (; ).

i.

It is noteworthy that even though Jesus lived under the dispensation when God accepted worship in the temple with mechanical instruments, the only record of Jesus worshipping God with music with His disciples is through vocal music (; ).

ii.

This is in keeping with the Jewish practice of synagogue worship where, according to scholars, no instruments of music were used.

ii.

This is in keeping with the Jewish practice of synagogue worship where, according to scholars, no instruments of music were used.

C.

Where in the New Testament can one find Jesus’ apostles commending worship to God in the Lord’s church with mechanical instruments of music?

C.

Where in the New Testament can one find Jesus’ apostles commending worship to God in the Lord’s church with mechanical instruments of music?

i.

Even a casual reading of different English translations will find nothing commending mechanical instruments of music.

i.

Even a casual reading of different English translations will find nothing commending mechanical instruments of music.

ii.

The only music commended in the New Testament scriptures used in worshiping God was vocal (; ; ; ; ; ; ; ).

ii.

The only music commended in the New Testament scriptures used in worshiping God was vocal (; ; ; ; ; ; ; ).

D. God said nothing about mechanical instruments in worship in the New Testament.

E. God specified vocal music in worship in the New Testament.

D. God said nothing about mechanical instruments in worship in the New Testament.

F. Since there are no passages in the New Testament where God has told, showed, or implied that He desires worship with mechanical instruments of music their use is without authority!

E. God specified vocal music in worship in the New Testament.

F. Since there are no passages in the New Testament where God has told, showed, or implied that He desires worship with mechanical instruments of music their use is without authority!

II.

THE TESTIMONY OF HISTORY

II.

THE TESTIMONY OF HISTORY

A. The fact that the New Testament scriptures do not commend the use of an instrument should settle the matter.

A. The fact that the New Testament scriptures do not commend the use of an instrument should settle the matter.

B. But consider that not only can we find no evidence of the instrument in the New Testament, we can find no evidence of their use in the early church.

B. But consider that not only can we find no evidence of the instrument in the New Testament, we can find no evidence of their use in the early church.

C. Writings from the first, second, third, and fourth centuries show that vocal music was used in the churches and not instrumental.

C. Writings from the first, second, third, and fourth centuries show that vocal music was used in the churches and not instrumental.

“They asserted, however, that the sum and substance of their fault or error had been that they were accustomed to meet on a fixed day before dawn and sing responsively a hymn to Christ as to a god…”[1]

D. It was not introduced until centuries later in the Catholic church.

i. “They asserted, however, that the sum and substance of their fault or error had been that they were accustomed to meet on a fixed day before dawn and sing responsively a hymn to Christ as to a god…”[1]

E.

Even then, John Calvin and other reformers were against it.

ii.

“One reason the early church did not include instrumental music in their worship was in reaction to the debased secular use of instruments by the Romans.”[2]

iii.

“Though we know that early Christians sang during worship, they probably used no instruments.

Nearly all of the backgrounds from which early Christians came-Jewish, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and more-had instrumental traditions, but these traditions carried negative associations.

Most church fathers saw the use of instruments in Jewish worship as a "childish" weakness, less glorifying to God than words of praise…Unaccompanied vocal music continued to be the norm in Christian worship for centuries”[3]

F. In Calvin’s commentary on Psalms, speaking about using instruments in worship wrote, “to proceed beyond what we are there warranted by him [Paul]is not only, I must say, unadvised zeal, but wicked and perverse obstinacy.”[1]

G.

The testimony of history agrees with the New Testament text.

iv.

“For almost a thousand years Gregorian chant, without any instrumental or harmonic addition, was the only music used in connection with the liturgy”[4]

H. Instruments of music were foreign to the worship of New Testament churches from the beginning and are a relatively recent development in the history of the church.

v. “The early Christians rigidly banned musical instruments from their religious assemblies.

At any rate, there is no mention of their use, and several texts positively show that, at least in the period preceding the Peace of the Church, the singing of the clergy and people was unsupported by any instrument whatever.”

[5]

III.

THE CONTRAST IN THE COVENANTS

D. It was not introduced until centuries later in the Catholic church.

i. “At what period was the organ admitted into our churches?

It is impossible to answer the question with absolute certainty, but it would appear that Pope Vitalian first gave it right of citizenship in the Christian assembly.

This would be prior to Charlemagne”.[6]

A. Perhaps you are wondering about music in worship under the Old Testament.

B. One of the main arguments that has been used to justify the use of instruments of music in worship is the Old Testament.

ii.

Pope Vitalian reigned from 30 July 657 to his death in 672 (7th Century) and he was born in Segni, Lazio, the son of Anastasius.[7]

C. It is true that they were used under the Old Covenant.

E.

Even then, John Calvin and other reformers were against it.

i. “But when they frequent their sacred assemblies, musical instruments in celebrating the praises of God would be no more suitable than the burning of incense, the lighting up of lamps, and the restoration of the other shadows of the law.

The Papists, therefore, have foolishly borrowed this, as well as many other things, from the Jews.

Men who are fond of outward pomp may delight in that noise; but the simplicity which God recommends to us by the apostle is far more pleasing to him.”[8]

D. But why were they used?

ii.

“What shall we then say of chanting, which fills the ears with nothing but an empty sound?

Does any one object, that music is very useful for awakening the minds of men and moving their hearts?

I own it; but we should always take care that no corruption creep in, which might both defile the pure worship of God and involve men in superstition.

Moreover, since the Holy Spirit expressly warns us of this danger by the mouth of Paul, to proceed beyond what we are there warranted by him is not only, I must say, unadvised zeal, but wicked and perverse obstinacy.”[9]

E. It was because God said so ().

F. The testimony of history agrees with the New Testament text.

i. God specified what instruments were to be used, who was to use them, and when they were to be used ().

ii.

God specified their use by the Levitical priests in the temple through David (; ; ; ).

G. Instruments of music were foreign to the worship of New Testament churches from the beginning and are a relatively recent development in the history of the church.