by Rev. Walter Scott, Grafton
The use of instrumental music in the Old Testament was a ceremonial rite. It was no casual thing. It formed the principal part of Old Testament worship (Numbers 10: 1-10). It was a constant attendant of sacrifice, intimately connected with it from the days of David, and the blowing of trumpets from the days of Moses (II Chron. 29: 24, 27, 28). All these ceremonial observances are no longer in force. Dr Begg, in his Treatise on Organs, remarks that as the sacrifices under the law terminated in the death and sacrifice of Christ, it is most reasonable to conclude that all the concomitants of the typical service was also abolished with them. Accordingly in the whole of the New Testament no mention is made of instrumental music being used in the worship of God. On the other hand, it is clearly stated what the worship of God is to be. Paul, writing to the Hebrews about the doing away of their priests, sacrifices, and all that pertains to the “wordly sanctuary”, says most emphatically, “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually”, and lest there should be any misunderstanding, or any should think this praise was to include instrumental music, he adds a particular definition of what he means, “That is,” says he, “the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” (Heb. 13: 15.)
We search in vain for any direction or example in favour of musical instruments in the New Testament.
There was no instrumental music in the Primitive Church.
Clement of Alexandria who was born about the year 150, contrasts the worship of the Christians with the instruments used by the heathen at their idolatrous worship, and says, “We Christians make use of only one organ or instrument, even the peaceful Word with which we honour God: no longer with the old psaltery, trumpet, drum or cymbal and pipe, and commence the blessing and praising of God by thanksgiving and singing of Psalms.”
Chrysostom who flourished about the year 400, remarks on Psalm 150: “As therefore the Jews did praise the Lord with all instruments, so we are, in like manner, commanded to glorify God with our members. Let no man deceive you: these (musical instruments) are alien to the Catholic Church, all these things do the nations of the world seek after.”
Having seen that instrumental music in the worship of God was not authorised by Christ or by His apostles, nor used by the Primitive Church, we have now to show that its introduction belonged to a corrupt era, when darkness was again “covering the earth and gross darkness the people.” Like human hymns and other corruptions in the worship of God, instrumental music owes its origin to Popery.
Bellarmino, the Romish author, states that the organ began to be used in the service of the Church about the year 660, and that when Pope Vitalian reformed the singing of the Roman Church, he added to it organs in order to support and embellish it.
The Reformation and Abolition of Organs
After the long night of popish idolatry and superstition, the dawn of the Reformation was the signal of light and purity. Accordingly at the Reformation from Popery in Scotland, the worship of God was purged from all those corrupt practices by which it had been polluted, and restored to its original simplicity and purity.
Scotland was not alone in abolishing the use of the organs at the Reformation: the same is recorded of the Reformed Churches of Germany, France, Piedmont, Helvetia, Transylvania, and most of the Reformed Churches of Poland, Sweden, Denmark, the United Provinces of Holland, England, and to a great extent Ireland. Luther, according to Eckhart, a German doctor of Theology, considered musical instruments in the worship of God among the badges of Baal (organa musica inter Baalis insignia refert).
Calvin in his commentary on Exodus 15: 20 says, “Instrumental music is not fitted to be adopted into the public worship of the Christian Church any more than incense, the candlestick, and the shadows of the Mosaic Law . . . We know that our Lord Jesus Christ has appeared and, by His advent, has abolished these legal shadows. For instruments of music in gospel times, we must not have recourse to these, unless we wish to destroy the evangelical perfection and to obscure the meridian light which we enjoy in Christ our Lord.”
Is Instrumental Music Not Forbidden in Scripture?
We are told that the use of instrumental music is not forbidden in Scripture. This is a dangerous principle to go upon. In the case of Nadab and Abihu, it was for offering “strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not“, and “fire went out from the Lord and devoured them”. The example of Artaxerxes, a heathen monarch is a reproof to those who use this argument. In his royal decree he orders whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, to be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven” and he adds as the reason “for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?” (Ezra 7: 23). But is the use of instrumental music not forbidden? Does not Christ Himself lay down the opposite principle as our rule? “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matt. 28: 20), intimating that a divine command is necessary as our warrant for every observance in the Church, and that therefore, “In vain do they worship me teaching for doctrines commandments of men.” Of the tribe of Judah, Moses “saith nothing” concerning priesthood. Hence Paul inferred that there was nothing; and so nothing is said of instrumental music in the New Testament.
The Claim of Majesty and Reverence
It is said that the use of organs lends a majesty and inspires a reverence and veneration in the worshippers. In answer we say that the thrill of music and the divine joys of the soul are very different things. But the argument supposes that we may accommodate the worship of God to our own tastes and feelings, and papists plead the same things for their images, tapers, etc. But God says of such, “who hath required this at your hand?” There never was a corruption in the Church which was not introduced under plausible pretence. The will-worship and carnal inventions of primitive times had a show of wisdom and humility (Col. 2: 23). “Beware,” says the apostle, “lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ” (Col. 2: 8). Charnock observes that “when God has by His sovereign order formed a religion for the heart, men are ready to usurp authority to frame one for the sense; to dress the ordinances of God in new and gaudy habits to take the eye or the ear with a vain pomp”. (Purity of Worship.)
Dr Kennedy’s View
To the above may be added what the late eminent Dr Kennedy of Dingwall says on instrumental music in the worship of God. “Let no one venture to say that the use of a musical instrument is a matter of no moment. It was introduced for a temporary purpose by a special revelation from God, and ought not therefore to be regarded as a matter of indifference: and the more certain we are of its having been divinely appointed as a symbol, and ’till the time of reformation’, the more guilty they appear who, after that time has passed, and God has laid it aside, attempt to find for it a place in the worship of the New Testament Church.”