WELL-KNOWN MEN SPEAK CONCERNING

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
A. Read: Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; James 5:13
   1. Thus, the Scriptures plainly teach that we are to "sing" in our
      worship. There is no mention anywhere in the New Testament of  
      mechanical instruments of music in worship.
   2. Thus, whether to use, or not to use the instruments, is a      
      matter of authority with us.
B. It is interesting to note what some well-known men have said      
   regarding instruments of music in worship.

John Wesley, when asked about the use of the organ, replied, "I have
no opposition to the organ in our chapel provided it is neither seen
nor heard." (Adam Clark's Commentary, Vol. IV, p. 868)

Adam Clark, a Methodist, and author of a very fine commentary said:
"I am an old man, and an old minister; and I here declare that I
never knew them to be 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." (Adam Clark's
Commentary, Vol. IV, p. 686)

Charles Spurgeon, a Baptist, preached for twenty years in the
Metropolitan Baptist Tabernacle in London, England. Instruments of
music were never used in the tabernacle. When asked why he did not
use the organ in worship he gave 1 Cor. 14:15 as his answer and said,
"I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the understanding
also, I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the
understanding also," and remarked, "I would as soon pray to God with
machinery as to sing to God with machinery."

John Calvin says: "Musical instruments in celebrating the praises of
God would be no more suitable than the burning of incense, the
lighting 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.  (Commentary of Psalms 33)

Alexander Campbell, "But I presume to all spiritually-minded
Christians such aids would be as a cowbell in a concert." (Memoirs of
Alexander Campbell, p. 366).

Concl.
A. As we mentioned, using or not using mechanical instruments in     
   worship is a matter of authority with us.
B. Since they are not mentioned in the New Testament, we will not use
   them.
C. Consider Rev. 22:18-19 - The same principle is in Deut. 4:2;      
   12:32; Prov. 30:5-6; 2 John 9; Matt. 15:9; Gal. 1:8-9.
   1. The words in Rev. 22:18-19 apply to not only "rewriting" the   
      Scriptures, but teaching or doing something as though it comes 
      from the Scriptures.
   2. Thus, we dare not use mechanical instruments in worship because
      it is adding to the word of God.