WORSHIP – “Why Do We Sing in Worship?”
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2. John Calvin . . . Presbyterian . . . “Musical instruments in celebrating the
praises of God would be no more suitable than the burning of incense, the
lightning up of lamps, and the restoration of other shadows of the law.”
3. Joseph Bingham . . . Church of England . . . “Music in the church is as
ancient as the apostles; but instrumental music is not.”
4. Adam Clarke . . . Methodist . . . writing on page 686 in Vol. 4 of Clark’s
Commentary, said: I am an old man, and an old minister; and I here
declare that I never knew them (musical instruments) productive of any
good in the worship of God; and have had no reason to believe that they
were productive of much evil. Music as a science I esteem and admire, but
instruments of music in the house of God I abominate and abhor.”
5. Charles Spurgeon . . . Baptist . . . “I would as soon attempt to pray to God
with machinery as to sing to Him with machinery.”
5. Martin Luther . . . Lutheran . . . Called the organ an “ensign of Baal.”
G. The early church used only vocal music.
1. Dr. Curt Sachs, Columbia University, and one of the most eminent
musicologists of our time, said: “All ancient Christian music was vocal.”
2. Richard Wagner, quoted in the Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol 10, said:
“There is no doubt but that those qualities absolutely necessary to church
music, namely, modesty, dignity, and soulfulness, are most inherent in the
vocal style than in any other. Reserve and humble restraint befits the
house of God . . . That vocal music is in general more expressive than the
mechanically produced tones of instruments is undeniable. Religious
feeling finds its most natural expression in vocal utterance for the human
heart is the source of both devotion and song.”
3. Lyman Coleman, writing on pages 370 and 371 of the book, The Primitive
Church, said: “Both the Jews in their temple service and the Greeks in
their idol worship were accustomed to singing with the accompaniment of
instrumental music. The converts to Christianity must have been familiar
with this mode of singing, but it is generally admitted that the primitive
Christians employed no instrumental music in their religious worship.
Neither Ambrose or Basil, nor Chrysostom in their noble encomiums which
they severally pronounce upon music make any mention of instrumental
music. Basil condemns it as ministering only to the depraved passions of
men.”
4. J. N. Brown, on page 1702 of Vol. 2 of The Shaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of
Religious Knowledge, said: In the Greek church the organ never came into
use, but after the eighth century it became common in the Latin church,
not, however, without opposition from the side of the Monks . . . The
reformed church discarded it, and in other places admitted only sparingly
and after long hesitation.”