Could it be? Has it been 100 years already? If
one lives his fourscore years (Psalm 90:10), you could still say
it was only a little over a lifetime ago. The more perceptive
among us had seen it coming for some time. In fact, they realized
that it had already happened. It had begun much earlier. It started
when men began to have less respect for a "Thus saith the
Lord." When one begins to lose respect for that principle,
the floodgates of error swing open more and more. Finally, you
have a full-blown apostasy.
In 1906 - exactly one hundred years ago - the
U.S. Religious Census recognized, for the first time, what many
already knew existed. They recognized the fact that a chasm had
developed between the Disciples of Christ and churches of Christ.
The division had occurred over the use of mechanical instruments
of music in Christian worship. J. W. Shepherd was commissioned
to gather the statistics of those churches who did not use instruments
of music or endorse the missionary societies. The "progressives"
(Progress away from God is progress in the wrong direction.) claimed
a membership of 982,701, and our brethren had only 149,658. We
had 2,649 congregations to their 8,203. We were strongest in the
southern part of this nation. Since we were without much strength
and resources, we were the object of ridicule in religious circles,
and, finally, the division was officially recognized by the U.
S. government.
The discussion concerning music in worship was
not new in the restoration movement, or in religion in general.
It had been a matter of discussion since the early centuries of
the Christian era. To be sure, it has been only in recent years
that instrumental music has come to be a widespread practice in
church worship. Of course, the early disciples knew nothing of
such things, and there is no authority for them in the New Testament
if authority were sought. This comparatively new practice has
become so universal in some religious groups that many persons
would be surprised to know that there are religious people who
do not use musical instruments in their worship. John Girardeau,
a former professor in the Presbyterian Columbia Theological Seminary
in South Carolina says, "It has been thus proved, by an appeal
to historical facts, that the church, although lapsing more and
more into defection from the truth and into a corruption of apostolic
practice, had no instrumental music for twelve hundred years;
and that the Calvinistic Reformed Church ejected it from its services
as an element of Popery, even the Church of England having come
very nigh to its extrusion from her worship ... It is heresy in
the sphere of worship." (Instrumental Music in Public
Worship, p. 179)
Now, during this anniversary year, many of our
brethren are planning forums in which an apology will be made
to those who use the mechanical instrument. As I understand it,
this will be done in an attempt to reunite those who divided a
century ago. We must be wary of such efforts. If we are not careful,
we will find ourselves "united" outside the will of
God.
These are the 10 passages in the New Testament
pertaining to music in worship: Matthew 26:30, "And when
they had sung a hymn ..." Mark 14:26, "And when they
had sung a hymn ..." Acts 16:25, "... praying and singing
hymns to God ..." Romans 15:9, "... and sing to Your
name." 1 Corinthians 14:15, "... I will sing with the
spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding." Ephesians
5:19, "... singing and making melody in your heart to the
Lord" Colossians 3:16, "... singing with grace in your
hearts to the Lord." Hebrews 2:12, "... I will sing
praise to You." Hebrews 13:15, "... the fruit of our
lips, giving thanks to His name." James 5:13, "... Let
him sing praise."
This is the totality of Christ's law on this subject.
Is it not significant that vocal music is the kind of music God
specified in each of these passages? How could anything be any
plainer? As was the case 100 years ago, so it is now. We must
respect a "Thus saith the Lord." On that and only on
that can we have true unity.
Apostasy is knocking at our door. It is dressed
in the finest garb of religious compromise. Let's not invite it
in! -90 Waverly Court, Martinsburg, WV 25401.