The Bible teaches: mechanical instruments of music are approved by God in the New Testament church

I would also like to begin this discussion by giving thanks to my opponent and to the readers of this debate. Knowing that, what is to be posted here will be forever spoken by the debaters, forever read on the world wide web and forever in the mind of all involved. Also, I want to assure all the readers, of the ability of the young man in the affirmative position. I have done a brief study of some of my opponent's prior debates and I find him very capable of defending the pro-side of this and any argument. On the contrary notwithstanding the position my opponent has taken cannot be upheld to be the truth found in the Bible. This being said I will undertake to disprove my opponent's affirmative arguments using the standard of faith and religious practices, that standard being the Bible. My opponent and I have agreed that this truth is to be found only in God's written word. To this, then, let us begin the debate, listen well and judge amongst yourself, what is God's truth, written in the Bible. Again thanks to my opponent and all who read this debate. I concur with the definitions my opponent provided. So, let us began with my opponent's first argument. He says that: "a1. Instruments were encouraged and used throughout the Old Testament with approval by God" I agree on this line of reasoning and have no argument up to this point in his reasoning. He goes on to state "a2. The New Testament church establishes the Old Testament as God's Word" God's word found in the Old Testament was given to different people that practiced a different worship service to God. I don't deny "the Old Testament as God's Word" But, if we are going to take into our worship service the use of mechanical instruments music and say this is God's desire, because "The New Testament church establishes the Old Testament as God's Word" We will also have to take into our worship burnt offerings and incense, these are also part of that Old Testament law. Psalms 66:13, reads: I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows, 14 Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble. 15 I will offer unto thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah. (KJV) Are we willing to obey this scripture? No! This same book, Psalms, were my opponent took mechanical instruments of music to be used by New Testament church! So if we are to include mechanical instruments, we will have to burn incense and offer up animals. Is this what my opponent is saying? I say, if we take part of the old law, we will have to take all of it. What we need to do is leave the Old Law to the Jews of the Old Covenant and listen to the words in the New Covenant. The male Jews went to Jerusalem three times a year under the Old Testament worship. Exodus 23:17 Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord GOD. (KJV) Do we want the men in the New Testament church today, go to Jerusalem three times a year? No! The Old Testament has been abrogated, blotted out. As we read in the New Testament we will see the following. (1)Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; (KJV) The laws in the Old Testament were nailed to the cross, alone with mechanical instruments. (2)Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; (KJV) (3)Rom 7:1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? 2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. 4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. (KJV) We are free from the law of the Old Testament and mechanical instruments! So my opponent's argument has been greatly damaged by the fact we do not use all of the Old Testament worship in the New Testament church. We find in the New Testament God's Word for Christians today, not His will for the Jews of the Old Testament. When Jesus took Peter, John and James to the mountain of transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36) we read about two men that were manifest there with Jesus, Moses and Elias. Moses the law giver, Elias the Old Testament prophet. But notice in verse 35, we read: This is my beloved Son: hear Him. The Bible said: "hear Him" hear who? Hear Jesus! We do not get our instructions from the Law of Moses or the prophets of the Old Testament. We receive our commands from Jesus and His inspired Apostles. My friend, states "Paul clearly explains in 2 Timothy 3:16, that "All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;" This in itself should be enough to confirm my contention. If my opponent needs more, Christ quotes the Old Testament numerous times." Me, con, your opponent does need more, for me to confirm your contention! You say, "Christ quotes the Old Testament numerous times." This is true and of the hundreds of times He speaks of the Old Testament and Psalms, He never refers to mechanical instruments of music. Doesn't this seem strange? Out of all the passages Jesus could have referred to, He never said a word about mechanical instruments of music! What does the proposition say? "The Bible teaches: mechanical instruments of music are approved by God in the New Testament church" This is what my opponent affirmed when he signed up for this debate. Not mechanical instruments in the Old Testament church, not in heaven to come. Speaking of heaven to come and to answer my opponent's argument. Notice the following. A. If there will be any instruments of music in heaven, it will be because God has willed it. The reason we do not have them in the worship of the New Testament church is because God has not willed it. He never told us to play an instrument. B. Note the A.S.V on Rev 14:2 "And the voice which I heard was the voice of harpers with their harps". C. Rev 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. (KJV) Speaks of incense being in heaven; we also read of a white horse being there. We don't ride horses in worship! Well most of us don't :) Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. (KJV) We recognize that these are figures of speech. Such is also the case with the harps in Rev 14:2. We find many symbols in the book of Revelation. But none of which gives us the authority to use Mechanical instruments of music in the New Testament church. I look forward to my opponent's next argument. I hope that he will begin to argue the proposition as stated. And let the Jews in the Old Testament and the Angels in heaven worship as direct by God. And show us, his hearers where we are to use mechanical instruments of music in the New Testament church.