THE USE OF MECHANICAL INSTRUMENTS
                     IN WORSHIP TODAY

     Thank you and once again I express my appreciation to each one who
has seen fit to be a part of this study. Our program is entitled, "What
Saith the Scriptures?" It is my desire and the desire of the
congregation of God's people who bring you this radio program, to do
all things according to the divine pattern of God's revealed Word--THE
BIBLE. Paul told Timothy to, "Preach the word; be urgent in season, out
of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and
teaching" (2 Timothy 4:2). You will note that in preaching the word, it
becomes necessary to "reprove and rebuke." This simply means that in
preaching truth it is sometimes necessary to point out error; to expose
those things which are not in harmony with God's Word. Christ Jesus,
our Savior, often rebuked the religious people of His day, because of
their traditions and rebellious attitude toward the Heavenly Father.
     In the Beaumont Enterprise, dated Saturday, November 1, 1997,
there appeared an article entitled, "Joyful Noise." The author pointed
out that there is a desire upon the part of some to use what she
called, "Newer music-- complete with its pounding drums, jangling
electric guitars and conversational lyrics."  One of those interviewed
stated, "What you're seeing now these days is a generation of young
people who need to be entertained. And contemporary music is very
entertaining. It has moving lyrics and a real strong beat that really
reaches out and gets their attention. And if that's what it takes
that's fine with me."
     In our allotted time this morning, I wish to examine this subject.
Does the Lord expect us to worship Him with pounding drums, jangling
electric guitars, or even a piano, and with music that is for the
purpose of entertainment?  Is that why believers in Christ Jesus come
together?  To do that which is fine with human approval?
     I am not sure that all in our listening audience knows or realizes
that not all religious people who serve Christ Jesus, use mechanical
instruments of music in their worship.  One of the more outstanding
differences between the Church of Christ (at least the congregation of
people who bring you this radio broadcast) and the vast majority of the
religious bodies around us is the absence or lack of mechanical
instrumental accompaniment in our worship unto the Father. We do not
use mechanical instruments in our worship. And there are reasons for
this absence. To those of you who use mechanical instruments in your
worship periods, I ask you the question: Have you ever looked into
God's Word to find authority for them?  Do you have book, chapter and
verse where there is authority for them? Can you find a New Testament
example where the early Christians used them?  Or, are you truly
interested in having authority for all things which you do in religion?
Jesus, our Lord and Savior, said, "Not every one that saith unto me,
Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth
the will of my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21) Can you find
mechanical instruments in the "will of our Father who is in heaven?"
Or, do you feel that our Father in heaven will accept just anything
that seems fine to us? Are we at liberty to do anything that pleases
us? Or, must we have authority for all that we do?  Authority is
necessary in every avenue of life. It is necessary in disputes of Civil
and Criminal matters. Authority is necessary in our homes, our schools.
Where would our nation be if it were not for the authority of the laws
under which we live. And authority is essential in matters pertaining
to religion. My good friends, the Lord did not leave it up to you and
to me to just do what we felt like would be acceptable.  Oh, No!!  The
Lord left His Word to guide us into all righteousness.  I cannot,
neither can you, add to that truth, nor take away from that truth, and
still be pleasing unto Jehovah.
     A question just here: DID THE EARLY CHURCH USE MECHANICAL
INSTRUMENTS OF MUSIC? I am talking about the church of the first
century.  Did those during the days of Paul, Peter, John, the church in
Corinth or Rome, the Christians in Philippi, or Athens --- did they use
mechanical instruments in their worship?  Either they did or they did
not!! If they did, where is the example?  Where do you read about it?
If they did not, then it must have been left out intentionally. Don't
you remember, Christ promised them the Holy Spirit to guide them into
all truth. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, where is the
instrument to be found??  Surely, someone in our listening audience can
point out an example where the mechanical instrument was used in the
worship of these early Christians.  I will be listening. If you know of
some passage, please let us know, and I will be the first to encourage
my brethren to do likewise.  This should be enough to settle the
question once and for all. Where is the passage, where is the
example? My friends, it isn't enough to say, "Well I like it."  Where
does the Lord authorize it?? That is what we should be looking for.
     Let me hasten to point out: NOT USING MECHANICAL INSTRUMENTS
CAUSES NO CONTROVERSY.  Who in our listening audience would say that it
is wrong to, "sing and make melody unto the Lord."  I have never heard
anyone say that it is wrong to SING.  Everyone will agree that it is
right or correct to sing praises unto the Father.  Why would all agree
upon this?  Because God's word teaches that we are to "SING." Such
passages as Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16, as well as others, tell
us to SING. Can I worship God without playing upon a mechanical
instrument?  Who would deny this??  No doubt we are right when we SING,
for we are following a direct command of the Holy Spirit--SING!!! The
doubt and question arises when the instrument is brought in. but then,
religious differences are almost ALWAYS over what the Bible does not
say, and not over what it does say. Perhaps in a future lesson we will
study this thought a little more. We MUST respect the silence of the
scriptures. When the Lord did not say something, there must be a reason
for it.
     The church of Christ does not stand alone on this question of
mechanical instruments in worship to Jehovah God. There have been many
religious leaders of the past to speak out against them. Listen to just
a few of them: Adam Clark, in his comment on Amos 6:5, said, " I
further believe that the use of such instruments of music, in the
Christian church, is without the sanction and against the will of God;
that they are subversive of the spirit of true devotion; and that they
are sinful. Music, as a science, I esteem and admire; but instruments
of music in the house of God I abominate and abhor. I am an old man and
an old minister, and I here declare that I never knew them productive
of any good in the worship of God, and have had reason to believe that
they were productive of much evil." Adam Clark was a preacher in the
Methodist church. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist church,
said this, "I have no objections to instruments of music in our
chapels, provided they are neither seen nor heard." John Calvin said,
"Musical instruments in celebrating the phrases of God would be no more
suitable than the burning of incense, the lighting up of lamps, and the
restoration of the other shadows of the law. Men who are fond of
outward pomp delight in that noise, but the simplicity which God
recommends to us by the apostles is far more pleasing to Him. What
shall we then say of chanting, which fills the ears with nothing but an
empty sound? What, therefore, was in use under the law is by no means
entitles to our practice under the gospel; and these being not only
superfluous, but useless, are to be abstained from, because pure and
simple modulation is sufficient for the praise of God, if it is sung
with the heart and with the mouth."  Charles Spurgeon, who preached for
the largest Baptist church London, England, never allowed instrumental
music to be brought in. He stated, "I'd as soon pray to God with
machinery as to sing to God with machinery."  Martin Luther, the
founder of Lutheranism, said, "An organ in the worship of God is an
ensign of Baal."  The fact that these religious leaders of days gone by
opposed the mechanical instrument does not make it wrong, but we quoted
these to show that the church of Christ is not alone on its stand
against mechanical music in worship to God today. These men opposed the
instruments on the same ground that we oppose them today. They simply
are not authorized in God's revealed Word.
     Do you know a passage?  Have you ever given it your serious
consideration?  Or, are you just going along with what has always been
done.  Now, that brings up another point. Mechanical instruments in
Christian worship is a rather modern day addition. Instruments were not
used by those who worshipped Christ for many centuries.  In fact, even
in the 1800's, very few churches used them. In our own area, less than
100 years ago, many churches opposed them.  I read about a church in
Houston that was built with extremely small doors into their building.
Why?  To keep the piano from being brought in.  Another church had a
piano to disappear one night. When the piano was located, it turned up
in Adams Bayou. And these were not churches of Christ.  So, once again,
the church of Christ does not stand alone on this position.
     I see that my time has slipped away for this morning. I hope and
pray that you in our listening audience will examine what I have said
today.  If you differ with me, please point out why. If we are wrong on
our position, you will be our friend to correct us. If you cannot show
where these statements are wrong, perhaps it is time for you to make a
change.  Stand for the Word of God.  Whatever you do, be sure that you
have book, chapter and verse for it.
     Next Sunday we will return to this subject once again. We shall
notice some of the reasons that are offered for the use of mechanical
instruments in worship to God today. At least, some of the reasons that
have been given to me. We shall study them in the light of God's Book.
Are you interested in what God says?  Tune in next week and let us
"reason together." What saith the Scriptures?
     The White Park church of Christ meets this morning at 9:00 a.m.
for our Bible study; at 10:00 a.m. for our morning worship; and again
at 7:00 p.m. for evening worship. Then on Wednesday evenings we meet at
7:00 p.m. for Bible study again. You have a cordial invitation to visit
with us. Bring your Bible, you pen and paper, your questions. And by
all means an attitude and desire to do that which is right in the sight
of our Lord.
     Please let us know if you would like a copy of this material,
either the manuscript or a cassette. Write to Route 1, Box 502,
Anahuac, TX 77514. We look forward to hearing from you.

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