Friday, June 8, 2018

On The Musical Instrument In Worship Debate

Kevin Pendergrass, who I have recently cited in the series on "Hardshells & The Adultery Question," was once a staunch opponent of the use of instruments of music in church. However, he has recently seen his error on the subject and has converted to the truth on the subject, seeing them as approved in Scripture. Here is what he recently wrote on the subject under his article titled "MUSIC IN THE CHURCH: WHY I CHANGED MY MIND" (see here - emphasis mine):

"I no longer believe that Christians should bind vocal music in worship as being the only kind of music acceptable to God in worship. In 2012, I had a public debate on the subject of music in Christian worship. In the debate, I affirmed that vocal music was the only type of music authorized in New Testament worship. I have since changed my position. I believe that it is only fair for me to explain why I changed my position. I have changed because of my study in the Word of God and I am thankful to be able to share those studies with you.

I have read dozens of books, articles and debates on the topic of instruments in worship (I have too - SG). I even had a debate on this topic myself when I opposed instruments. Some were actually converted to the belief of “vocal music only” because of my debate. However, I have now changed my mind because of my own study on this topic. I realized I didn’t know as much as I thought I did and I was very biased in my previous way of studying. Please do not allow anyone to do your thinking, including myself (Phil. 2:12). I do not want you to accept what I am saying just because I am saying it. (or because your mom or dad believed it - SG) I also do not want you to reject what I am saying just because I am saying it. I ask that you please do your own thinking. The idea of “proxy thinking” is when you allow someone to do your thinking for you. The Church of Christ is often times accused of this and sadly, I have been guilty of this as well. However, I realized that if I was going to study objectively, I must allow the Bible to dictate truth, no matter where it leads. I ask that you do the same."

Many of today's PBs do not do their own thinking but read and interpret scripture with a bias.

Under the heading "INCONSISTENCIES REGARDING WORSHIP MUSIC" Pendergrass wrote:

"There are some in the Churches of Christ who have no problem using instruments in worship songs as long as they are not used in “corporate worship.” Some will condemn their neighbor on Sunday morning for using mechanical instruments in worship, yet they themselves have no problem listening to worship songs with instruments on Sunday afternoon. There are some brethren who condemn worship choirs only to turn around and have a choir sing worship songs at a funeral or have a Church of Christ college choir sing at their church."

I mentioned this in my book on the Hardshells. I too saw the inconsistency of non instrumental PBs, who would praise God in private or non corporate worship with musical instruments. They also have small groups sing at funerals, but the same thing would be a no no in corporate worship.

Pendergrass wrote:

"I think that this belief stems from a lack of proper understanding of the context of Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16. These passages are by no means limited to the assembly or even in direct reference to the assembly (although I do believe they can have application to the assembly). God did not give different regulations and restrictions for worship songs when sung inside the assembly versus outside the assembly (see: Acts 16:25; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; 1 Cor. 14:15; Ja. 5:13; etc.). I say all of that to say that perhaps we have been blinded by our own plank (Mt. 7:1-5; Rom. 2:1-5)."

There is no way that you can limit the above two verses to corporate worship only. If such verses condemn musical instruments, they condemn them in both private and corporate worship.

Pendergrass wrote under the heading "WHAT LAW IS BEING VIOLATED?":

"In order to know if God sanctions a practice, we need to first see if there is a law against it. Paul writes in Romans 4:15: “Where there is no law, there is no sin.” Paul is stating a universal principle. 1 John 3:4 specifically teaches that sin is violation of law...those who believe that it is a sin to use instruments in worship are obligated to provide the New Testament law that they feel is being violated."

Agreed! Let the anti instrumental PBs show us the scripture that is being violated in the use of instruments.

Pendergrass wrote under the heading "GOD HAS GIVEN NO DIRECT LAW AGAINST THE USE OF INSTRUMENTS IN NEW TESTAMENT WORSHIP":

"One can read their New Testament as many times as they would like and they will never find any type of proclamation against instruments in worship. In fact, there is not even a hint of any kind of negative connotation to instruments in worship. John’s vision symbolically presents instrumental worship to God in a positive light (Rev. 5:8; 14:2; 15:2). Realizing that this is symbolic, I do not want to overstate this point nor do I use the passages of Revelation to authorize mechanical instrumental music in worship. However, I do find it interesting that the times that instrumental praise is seen in the New Testament in connection with worship, it is spoken of positively and never negatively."

Well, amen to all that! Can the anti instrument PBs show us where instrumental praise is condemned in scripture?

Pendergrass wrote:

"I have changed because I do not believe that God ever specified vocal music to the exclusion of instrumental music as I once did.

There is absolutely no evidence whatsoever that the Greek words used for sing in the New Testament (“psallo,” “ado” and “humneo”) ever excluded instruments. None of the words used in the New Testament for “sing” ever meant “sing only” or “sing to the exclusion of instruments.” These are not specific words that exclude instruments. Those believing that these words exclude instruments would be obligated to provide the evidence."

I changed my views also, and for the same reason. I studied the scriptures on the subject and approached them without bias and with an honest heart.

Pendergrass wrote:

"In fact, the Greek word “psallo” used in the New Testament is a word that permits instruments. There are five occurrences of the Greek word “psallo” in the New Testament (Eph, 5:19; 1 Cor. 14:15 twice; Ja. 5:13; Rom. 15:9). In the Greek Old Testament, the word “psallo” is a word which can include instruments (1 Sam. 16:16; 1 Sam. 16:17; 1 Sam. 16:18; 1 Sam. 16:23; 1 Sam. 18:10; 1 Sam. 19:9; 2 Kings 3:15; Psa. 33:3; etc.). It is important to note that while the word “psallo” can include instruments, it doesn’t necessitate them. This can be seen by the way it is translated in the Greek Old Testament (Judges 5:3; 1 Sam. 16:16; 1 Sam. 16:17; 1 Sam. 16:18; 1 Sam. 16:23; 1 Sam. 18:10; 1 Sam. 19:9; 2 Sam. 22:50; 2 Kings 3:15; Psa. 7:17; Psa. 9:2; Psa. 9:11; Psa. 18:49; Psa. 21:13; Psa. 27:6; Psa. 30:4; Psa. 30:12; Psa. 33:2; Psa. 33:3; Psa. 47:6; Psa. 47:6; Psa. 47:7; Psa. 57:7; Psa. 57:9; Psa. 59:17; Psa. 61:8; Psa. 66:2; Psa. 66:4; Psa. 68:25; Psa. 68:32; Psa. 69:12; Psa. 71:22; Psa. 71:23; Psa. 75:9; Psa. 92:1; Psa. 98:4; Psa. 98:5; Psa. 104:33; Psa. 105:2; Psa. 108:1; Psa. 108:3; Psa. 135:3; Psa. 138:1; Psa. 144:9; Psa. 146:2; Psa. 147:7; Psa. 149:3)."

Come on, my Hardshell brothers, answer these arguments if you can.

Pendergrass wrote:

"I studied every occurrence of the word “psallo” in the Greek Old Testament and above you will find an exhaustive list of every time the word “psallo” occurs. It is important to note that the word “psallo” itself never excluded instruments. Furthermore, examples of those living close to the time of Jesus such as Josephus and other Hellenistic Jews can be cited to show that they used the word “psallo” in such a way as to be able to include instruments (Corbitt, Danny. Missing More Than Music, p. 28)."

"Psallo" is a word that "never excluded instruments." If it does, show us the proof from scripture.

Pendergrass wrote:

"If Paul wanted to exclude and forbid instruments from worship, why would He have used a word that didn’t exclude its use and was in fact a word inclusive to instruments? Neither the Greeks nor the Hellenistic Jews would have understood the word “psallo” to exclude instruments. The Greek word “psallo” didn’t exclude instruments in the Greek Old Testament and the Greek word “psallo” didn’t exclude instruments in the first century. Therefore, there is absolutely no basis for anyone to objectively argue that the word “psallo” (which never excluded instruments) somehow excludes instruments the five times it is used in the New Testament. God certainly knows how to make something clear when He is being specific and exclusive. Since none of the words used for “sing” in the New Testament means “sing only,” God could have still excluded instruments with these words by adding the word “only” to “sing” if He wanted to."

From a debater who opposed instruments, he has become a powerful voice in debate on their behalf. All it takes to see the truth on this matter, or any scriptural matter, is to approach it honestly.

Pendergrass wrote under the heading "DOES THIS MEAN THAT ALL CHRISTIANS MUST PLAY A MECHANICAL INSTRUMENT?':

"Since Christians are supposed to “psallo” and the word “psallo” never excluded instruments, does that mean that Christians are commanded to play a mechanical instrument? I used to use this argument when I believed that instruments were unauthorized in worship. In other words, I used to argue that if the word “psallo” didn’t exclude instruments, then that means that all Christians have to use instruments since all Christians are to “psallo.” However, this argument assumes that the word “psallo” is a word that demands a mechanical instrument and that is just not the case as can be seen by multiple passages when the word “psallo” is used in the LXX (Psa. 7:17; Psa. 9:2; Psa. 9:11; Psa. 47:6; Psa. 47:6; Psa. 47:6; Psa. 47:6; Psa. 47:7; Psa. 57:7; Psa. 57:9; Psa. 59:17; Psa. 61:8; Psa. 66:2; Psa. 66:4; Psa. 66:4; Psa. 68:4; etc.)."

Let the anti instrumental PBs show us where "psallo" clearly "demands" that instruments be included or excluded.

Pendergrass wrote:

"In other words, my argument is not that “psallo” means to play an instrument; my argument is that the word “psallo” doesn’t exclude them. According to the Bible, you can “psallo” acceptably with or without a mechanical instrument. If God would have commanded Christians to play an instrument, we would expect to see words that necessitate playing (such as “kitharizo,” “auleo” or “kreko”). However, that is not what we find. Instead, we find that the word “psallo” is a generic praise word that authorizes instruments but doesn’t necessitate them."

Honest research into this will yield the same conclusion as reached by Pendergrass.

Pendergrass wrote:

"Furthermore, the Greek word combination that Paul uses in Ephesians 5:19 is “ado” and “psallo.” These two words are paired together multiple times in the Greek Old Testament and they never exclude instruments nor do they necessitate instruments. If God wanted to allow mechanical instruments without commanding them, then the word “psallo” would have been the perfect word, and that is the exact word that is used. The paring of “ado” and “psallo” can be praise without an instrument (Judges 5:3; Psa. 27:6; Psa. 68:4; etc.) or it can be praise with an instrument (Psa. 33:2-3; etc.). Therefore, one could acceptably “ado” and “psallo” to God with or without a mechanical instrument."

Well, what say ye to this my Hardshell brothers?

Under the heading "WHAT ABOUT MUSIC IN YOUR HEART?" Pendergrass wrote:

"In Ephesians 5:19, the Bible says that Christians are to sing and make melody in their heart (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). Some argue that if the melody is to be made in the heart, then that would somehow exclude melody being made on a piano, a guitar or any other instrument. Some claim that the instrument that we are to pluck or play is the instrument of our heart strings, thus, excluding any mechanical instruments. This alleged argument holds no weight and should be dismissed for the following reasons:

The phrase “in your heart” in Ephesians 5:19 is an adverbial prepositional phrase which describes the manner of the action, not the method (Gen. 17:17; Josh. 14:7; Psa. 15:2; Prov. 3:5; Psa. 119:2; Lk. 2:19; Mt. 5:28; etc.). “Things done from the heart i.e. cordially or sincerely, truly” (Thayer, Joseph. Greek-English Lexicon, p. 325). Paul is teaching Christians that they need to worship and praise God sincerely. What makes any action “dead” or “in vain” (whether it be an instrument or vocal music) is the heart from which it proceeds (Mk. 7:7-9). “Whether with instrument or with voice or with both it is all for naught if the adoration is not in the heart” (Robertson, A.T. Word Pictures in the New Testament, vol. 4, p. 405). The idea is that the praise needs to come from the heart in order to be acceptable (Mk. 12:30; Mt. 22:37-38).

Singing in the heart has never excluded mechanical instruments. The Bible teaches that it is possible to sing in your heart with the accompaniment of a mechanical instrument. Singing “in your heart” does not nor has it ever excluded a mechanical instrument."

Amen! Thanks to men like Pendergrass and Bob L. Ross for their writings on this subject.

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