Musical instruments in worship on the decline?

Posted on June 2, 2007 

Filed Under Instrumental Music, Matt Clifton

by Matt Clifton

That title may be a little over-the-top, but there are certainly currents of change happening among “reformed” theologians. Even while a few congregations of the Lord’s church are dabbling in the use of mechanical instruments of music in worship, it appears that some among the denominations are turning away from this unscriptural practice.

One instance of this can be found in the new book, “Old Light on New aWorship: Musical Instruments and the Worship of God” by John Price. A review of this book is located here.

Price, a baptist minister of Grace Baptist Church in Rochester, NY, argues strongly in this work that instruments of music have no place in Christian worship.

Another treatise on musical instruments in worship has been written by Brian Schwertley, minister of Westminster Prebyterian Church in Waupaca County, Wisconsin. A second online article may be found here by G.I. Williamson, another Presbyterian minister.

We applaud the diligent study these writers have done and are doing on this subject.

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Comments

4 Responses to “Musical instruments in worship on the decline?”

  1. New book shows a cappella music in first century, no instruments in worship on August 21st, 2007 3:33 pm

    [...] works have surfaced recently arguing against instrumental music and for Biblical eldership. See our previous article for more information. It is good to see scholars considering positions that result from taking the [...]

  2. adam on December 13th, 2007 1:32 pm

    this is very encouraging.

    we must resist change

    because God does not change.

  3. Dale DePeel on January 11th, 2008 9:22 am

    I am frustrated! In the Church of Christ we have a saying, “Where the Bible speaks we speak and where it is silent we are silent.” I’d like to rephrase this, “Where the Bible speaks we speak where is silent we have a strong opionion.” I say this in the area of musical instruments in worship.
    Instruments were silent for several centuries in the church. God does not command to not use intruments anywhere.
    We take John’s account with the woman at the well and then jump to Colossinas 3 to buiold a heology of true worship, which Paul stated was “in your heart.”
    I am afraid for us that we have become experts on what God wants that we have become the Pharisees always looking to find another way to do salvation ourselves; including being faithful to death by not allowing mechanical instruments to be used in public worship.
    Agape,
    Dale DePeel

  4. Matt Clifton on January 16th, 2008 4:36 pm

    Allow me to ask you a question in return.

    Do you feel using rosary beads in the worship or the church is okay?

    Or may we add candy bars to the Lord’s table in addition to the fruit of the vine and bread?

    Neither of these things are prohibited by scripture.

    Is it okay to use them? Why or why not?

    Thanks, and God bless you.

    Matt

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