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I DARE YOU TO USE BIBLICAL INSTRUMENTS!

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A Challenge to use Biblical Instruments

Biblical Instruments

ByKenBlue

We live in a day when pastors pick a verse from anywhere, and make it say anything they like. This is seen when one conveniently overlooks certain things in the verse and chooses only those that support his agenda.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the area of musical instruments. Why is that? You know the answer. I dare you to.

Let us consider some Biblical instruments we are called upon to use to praise God:

  1. Trumpets- 2 Chron. 7:6. Are you searching for trumpet players? Why not?
  2. Harp- I Kings 10:12. Got any harp players? Why not?
  3. Psalteries- I Kings 10:12. A stringed instrument.  Why not?
  4. Cornet-I Chron. 15:28. A wind instrument in the trumpet family. Got any, why not?
  5. Cymbals- I Chron. 15:28. A percussion instrument. Can’t find any? When did you look?
  6. Timbrel- 2 Samuel 6:5. “An ancient percussion instrument similar to a tambourine.  [Diminutive of Middle English timbre, drum, from Old French.”  American Heritage Dictionary.]
  7. Tabrets- 2 Samuel 18:6. In the percussion family.

These are a few Biblical instruments found in Scripture. Yet you will not find them in Baptist churches. Perhaps if we added them, those churches that sound like funeral homes could be revived. Why aren’t they used? The answer is because the pastors are cowards. They fear their members and the wrath of fellow pastors. Come on Pastor, don’t be a chicken. Many Baptist churches dare not use anything other than the piano or organ, and then wonder why the music sounds like a Catholic Monastery. Biblical instruments fall into three categories; wind, stringed and percussion. I dare you!

 

 

 

 

WHITEWASHING THE SCAPULARS

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WHITEWASHING THE SCAPULARS

scapulars

Some of the brethren condemn your choice of friends, music and instruments while whitewashing the scapulars of those who would scorn them for their hypocrisy. The men they pretend to esteem would refuse to preach in their churches if they were alive today.

Spurgeon said, “… What a degradation to supplant the intelligent … by the theatrical prettiness of a quartet, bellows, and pipes. We might as well pray by machinery as praise by …strings and pipes… We do not need them. That would hinder rather than help our praise…” (Charles Spurgeon, Commentary on Psalm 42.)

Wesley said, “I have no objection to instruments of music in our worship, provided they are neither seen nor heard.” (Adam Clarke’s Commentary, Vol. 4, p. 685)

Luther said, “The organ in the worship Is the insignia of Baal… The Roman Catholics borrowed it from the Jews.” (Martin Luther, Mcclintock & Strong’s Encyclopedia Volume VI, page 762)

Adam Clarke said, “… Music as a science I esteem and admire, but instrumental music in the house of God I abominate and abhor.”

For the life of me, I cannot figure out those who are under the delusion that their church is like those in Paul’s day. They refuse to accept the departure they have made. Yet, they are quick to condemn anyone who moves twelve inches from them. You must be “just like”…

Some things never change. Some of the brethren continue to whitewash scapulars of the dead while crucifying the living who will not march to their… dare we say “drum”?

ARE BAPTIST COWARDS

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TOO COWARD TO USE BIBLICAL INSTRUMENTS

cowardBy Ken Blue

There must be some logical explanation as to why we go to the Old Testament to support a doctrine or a standard, and then tiptoe past obvious passages which teach an unavoidable truth. That truth is the use of instruments in worship and praise.

However, if you want to see a pastor squirm and crawfish, challenge him on why he ignores this clear teaching in the Word of God.

If you don’t believe Baptist are cowards, in this matter, observe how they are chained to the piano and the organ. They actually fear to introduce any of the following instruments.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Cowardly Baptist chain themselves to the piano and the organ only.[/perfectpullquote]

  1. And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. Genesis 4:21
  2. “… with psalteries…with cymbals…with trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.” 1 Chronicles 16:5-6.
  3. “With… cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.” Psalms 98:6.
  4. “And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.” 1 Kings 1:40.
  5. “And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe…” Isaiah 5:12.
  6. “And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.” Exodus 15:20.
  7. “…the king stood by a pillar …and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets…” 2 Kings 11:14
  8. “…And when the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel.” 2 Chronicles 29:27
  9. “…the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David.” Amos 6:5
  10. “And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.” 1 Chronicles 13:8.
  11. “ Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.

Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.” Psalms 150:3-5.

All of the above were used by Israel to serve and praise God. You will find all kinds of stringed, wind and percussion instruments in the above list. Really, don’t you shun them because you fear the brethren? “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.” Proverbs 29:25.

THE SONG AND THE SERMON

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THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SONG SERVICE

confused business manBy Ken Blue

Perhaps the best example of “the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing,” is in the lack of coordination between the Pastor’s sermon and the music director’s selection of songs. Seldom do these two connect the music with the message. I have watched song leaders pick songs for the service five minutes before a service begins.

Pastor, if you perform a wedding, the party selects wedding songs and music to match the occasion. If you serve at a funeral, the songs match the event. At a birthday party, they sing “Happy Birthday.” So, why is it that most song services in church have no connection to the sermon? The reason, no doubt, is ignorance of its importance or a lack of planning by the pastor. Many pastors have no idea what their sermon subject will be a week from Sunday. That may be the real cause of the problem.

Everything that happens in the service should reinforce and support the purpose of the sermon. This includes all the services. That means that the Pastor must plan all sermons or subjects weeks before they are preached. He must then meet with the music director and see that the songs support the sermon.

How is it at your church? Do the songs have any real purpose or are they just filler? Are the songs selected because they are familiar and old favorites, or do they promote the theme of your message? Think about it, and see how next Sunday’s selection matches the goal of your message.

One way to correct this problem is for the pastor to fill out the order of service and see that all involved in the music ministry receive it. Include in it the song selection. If you are doing a theme for a month, ensure that everyone, who needs to know, is informed of what you expect. The more people you have supporting your objective, the more likely you are to achieve it, and the more you communicate, the more they will be able to help you.

AMORAL: MUSIC OR INSTRUMENTS

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USE OF MUSIC OR INSTRUMENTS IN THE CHURCH

musicBy Ken Blue

The “switch and bate” by some of the brethren is to associate musical instruments with certain groups or individuals, and then make you think the instrument itself is carnal and evil. Music and musical instruments are not the same. Music instruments are amoral, regardless of your dislike for certain ones, and all the ranting and raving in the world will not change that fact.

Most fundamentalist believe you have “stepped over the line” if you have guitars, bases guitars, electric pianos, or drums in your church. They cannot help it; that was the way they were trained and conditioned to respond. If they go to the Old Testament for their examples of worship, they should also go there for their choice of instruments.

If we were true to old paths and followed our forefathers, there would be no instruments in any of our services. The use of instruments in church came some four hundred years after the founding of the Christian church. Prior to this, instruments were associated with the devil, dancing and the Catholic Church. The only instrument permitted for centuries was the organ. Later the piano was introduced, but was not allowed to be played during the “worship” service. It was a bar room instrument. Evangelist, John R. Rice said the reasons churches do not win souls is because of the use of the organ. (See his book; Why Our Churches Do Not Win Souls).

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Music and instruments are completely different issues.[/perfectpullquote]

Only until recent times have churches allowed what we call “Specials”. Choirs and congregational singing was all that was allowed. It was deemed worldly and sinful for one person to sing a solo.

grenadeMusic can be wicked, worldly, blasphemous, and vile, but musical instruments are amoral. They are like a hand grenade; they can be used to commit suicide or to defeat an enemy.
Their use is determined by the person holding them. So, don’t let some slick preachers and evangelist “switch and bate” you, by pretending the two are the same. Music and instruments are completely different issues.

Yes, we too can draw a line, and we will draw it for ourselves. Why allow some other church or pastor to draw it for your church? He doesn’t know where the biblical line is. He simply draws it where he thinks it should be, and then wants you to believe you dishonor God if you don’t stop at his line. I assure you, there is music that I dislike, but that is a different matter.

If you can’t find anything to criticize a church about; criticize its music. It matters not that they believe the fundamentals of the faith, have souls saved each week, send out pastors and missionaries and believe the King James Bible. You see, music is that gray battlefield where you can fight until you are blue in the face, but you can’t defend your position from Scripture. All you can do is discredit those who don’t follow your lead.