The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1955-04-14
Instruments In Worship
By BTIL HETNSELMAN

Many people are unconcerned
about whether or not it is right
to use mechanical instruments
of music in worship today. For,
they say it is not important, it
doesn't matter. But, when we
read what Jesus said about Wor-
ship, it causes US to wonder if
they are right in this conclusion.
Jesus said, God is a Spirit: and
they that worship Him MUST
worship Him in spirit and in
TRUTH" John 4:24. Friends,
since Jesus said that our wor-
ship to God MUST be according
to TRUTH, then it is very i'm
portant indeed that our worship
be according to the law of the
New Testament teaching, and, if
it is not, then our worship is not
pleasing to God.
It is a fact that mechanical in
struments of music are not auth
orized by the Bible to be used
in our worship today This fact
can be clearly seen by all who
are willing to give it honest con-
Slderatlon. Since we have al
ready proved that this is an i'm
portant subject, you should give
it your honest consideration.
Some try to use the Old Testa-
ment scriptures to justify the use
of organs and other mechanical
instruments in worship today.
But this will not work for the
OLD Testament does not author
ize anything in the NEW Testa-
ment Church, The reader will
agree, Tn sure, that many
things were used in the Old
Testament worship which would
not be right in the Church today.
Moses said that God would raise
up prophet whom we should
hear in all things, this prophet
of course was Christ. Acts 1922
%. Let us then confine our in
Vestigation TO the New Testa-
ment where we find the words Of
Jesus Christ and His inspired
Apostles.
The New Testament says: Let
the word Of Christ dwell in YOU
richly in all wisdom; teaching
and admonishing one another in
psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs, singing with grace in your
hearts to the Lord" This is found
in Col 3;l6 and it is one of the
many New Testament scriptures
which state that church music
should be vocal. The reader may
compare such other scriptures as
/ Cor. l4:l5, Eph. SIG, Heb. 2:12.
and Jas. 5:l3. But someone may
object and say, Does not the
word psalms in these verses
imply the use of mechanical in
struments?' The answer, of
is NO. For the word
psalms is never used to tell us
WHAT to do, but, it is used to
tell us WHAT KIND of songs to
sing! SINGING is the word used
in these verses to tell us WHAT
to DO
Now we are willing to test
these things in open honorable
discussion. We have been, we are
now, and we shall be in the
future, always willing to test our
belief and practice on the public
platform. If anyone should at
tack our practice we should be
willing to meet him in public
discussion to defend what we be-
lieVe is right We here and now,
launch public attack upon the
practice OF using mechanical in
struments of music in worship,
WILL ANY MAN IN THIS
COUNTY DEFEND IT'S USE?
Let no one say it is wrong to
have such a discussion, for we
have scriptural example of such.
See Acts 6:9, and Acts 1873. We
have no desire to stir up the
strife and anger of men. Our
only desire is that men and
women in this community may
be able to hear BOTH sides Of
this issue and weigh the evidence
and decide for themselves what
is right
We may be contacted through
the Main Street Church of Christ
in Caldwell. You are extended
a cordial invitation to attend any
of the services of this Church.
Pd. Adv.