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SINGING

Lesson 9

Music "is an act of expressing ideas or truths by music or sound." It may be good or bad. The scriptures reveal that God authorizes only vocal. In the Old Testament, instrumental music was commanded (2 Chron. 5:13-14; Psalms 150). The instrument was also used in pagan forms of worship. The silence of the apostles and prophets concerning the instrument is a strong evidence against the use of it. The apostles and prophets wrote from a Jewish background, which had used the instrument, yet made no mention of it in the early church.

l. WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS
Matt. 26:30; Mk 14:26; Acts 16:25; Rom. 15:9; 1 Cor. 14:15; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; Heb. 2:12; James 5:13; Heb. 13:15-"fruit of lips."

A. Sing by faith, for it is commanded (Rom. 10: 17).

B. To sing is "to utter words or sounds in succession with musical modulations of the voice." (New Century Dictionary). In singing, we use our lips, our tongues, our hearts, our spirits, our understanding; we praise God, and teach and admonish one another. An instrument made by man cannot do these things.

C. The Christian walks by faith (Heb. 10:38; Heb. 11:6; 1 Cor. 4:6;Rom. 10:17). An instrument is not of faith.

Il. THE PURPOSE OF SINGING

A. Teach (Col. 3:16).
B. Admonish (Col. 3:16).
C. Praise (Jas. 5:13).

Ill. BY SINGING, THE CHRISTIAN:

A. Makes melody with the heart to the Lord (Eph. 5:18-19).
B. Sings with grace in the heart of God (Col. 3:16).
C. Sings with the spirit (1 Cor. 14:15).
D. Sings with the understanding (I Cor. 14: 1 5).

IV. POSITIVE COMMANDS

A. Truthful songs (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). Neither tell nor sing a lie.
B. What to sing:

	1.	Psalms-written by David or others
	2.	Hymns-written by men.
	3.	Spiritual songs-songs of spiritual nature.

V. THE MANNER IN WHICH WE SING

A. In spirit and truth (John 4:24).
B. "in heart" (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:17). C. To God (Col. 3:16 and 17).
D. To one another. Try to influence others.

VI. ADDING THE INSTRUMENT CONSTITUTES WI LL WORSHIP

A. It is "strange fire" (Lev. 10: 1-2).
B. It violates these principles:

	1.	Acting by faith (2 Cor. 5:7; Rom. 10: 17).
	2.	Makes void God's word (Matt. 15.6).
	3.	God's command to sing-Music is generic but God specifies "sing" which eliminates all other music.

 Vll. IS INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC REALLY WRONG?

A. Not taught by Christ

	1.	Acts 1: 1-2-The New Testament contains the record of "all that Jesus began to do and teach."
	2.	He did not teach the use of instrumental music.
	3.	Therefore, it is not the doctrine of Christ (2 John 9).

B. Not taught by apostles

	1	. Matt. 28:18-20-"All things." Instrumental music was never taught! Therefore, it is no part of "apostles' doctrine" in which we should steadfastly continue (Acts 2:42).
	2.	1 Tim. 1:3-"Teach no other doctrine." Luke 10: 16-Hear Christ if we hear apostles. 1 John 4:6-We are of God: He that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth us not.
	3.	John 17:8, 14; 2 Cor. 3:6-The word came from God to Christ, to the apostles, then to us in the New Testament. If we hear not the apostles concerning the kind of music in worship, we have a "spirit of error" (I John 4:6).

C. Not taught by the Spirit

	1.	John 16:13-"Guide into all truth." John 14:26-" Teach all things, bring to remembrance."
	2.	The Spirit did not guide them to use instrumental music in  worship, did not teach it, nor bring it to remembrance.
	3.	Therefore, no one is led by the Spirit to use it in worship.

D. Not found in truth

	1.	John 1: 17-The truth by which we are guided came not by Moses-but by Christ.
	2.	The Spirit was to guide apostles into "all truth.
	3.	Does not contain instrumental music in worship. Therefore,
	4.	"True" worship (John 4:24) must be confined to items of worship contained in truth (John 17:17).

Vlll. MUSIC IN HEAVEN (Rev. 14:1-3)

	1	John heard one thing. That was singing-This singing was as:
		a. Many waters-rhythm b. Great thunder-volume c. Harpers-melody
	2.	This was not in the church but in heaven. IF he has said there are literal harps in heaven, it would not be right to use them until we get there.

CONCLUSION:God's people-since deliverance from Egypt's bondage-have expressed their gratitude to and admiration of God in song. God has selected it as a means of worship for His church. Christians should make a joyous noise to the Lord and produce melodious sounds together with the lips-expressing the desire of the heart.

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