Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: September 6, 2009
GUY N. WOODS ON PSALLO
[CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK]
The effort some have made to avoid these obvious conclusions is even more absurd. These contend that the word
psallo “permits,” (not, authorizes) such use. The action involved is couched in a command; we are instructed to sing
and to make melody. To “sing,” is a definite, specific act which can be discharged only by doing that which the word
means; in like manner, one may make melody “in the heart” in keeping with the command given only by psallooing.
What ever is in the word must be done in order to obey the command which its action discharges. One cannot sing
by sleeping; neither can one psallo (pluck the strings of the heart), by playing a mechanical instrument. The word
either demands the instrument, or its use is without authority in the passage.
The word psallo, as Thayer and all reliable Greek scholars agree, in New Testament usage, signifies only to sing —
an action which involves the figurative plucking of the strings of the heart, and there is neither command nor
permission for the use of literal, mechanical instruments of music in Christian worship. Our Lord never authorized
their use; no apostle ever sanctioned them; no New Testament writer ever commanded them; no apostolic church
ever practiced them. It is a well-established historic fact which may be confirmed by consulting any reliable
encyclopedia that instrumental music in so-called Christian worship, was first used, in this dispensation, in A.D.
670, when introduced into what was soon to become the Catholic church; and, on the occasion of its first
introduction into that apostate church such a furor was created that it was speedily removed in order to avert split,
and it was not until one hundred thirty years later, about A.D. 800, that it became common in such churches.
Instrumental music, in the worship to God, in the Christian age, is an act born in the bosom of the Great Apostasy,
and its use has no greater sanction than the sprinkling of babies, the worship of images, and the counting of
beads. All of these acts, including instrumental music, began in the same church.
If to this the objection is raised that instrumental music was used in worship in the Old Testament period, it must
be remembered that so were animal sacrifices, the burning of incense, and the observance of the Sabbath.
Tolerated also were polygamy, concubinage and slavery. We do not hence conclude that these practices justify or
even allow such today. But, why not, if we may support the use of mechanical instruments of music in worship in
this fashion? We have elsewhere dealt with a question about the introduction of instrumental music by David, and
whether divine sanction attended such introduction. The burning of incense in Jewish devotions does not justify
an incense burner in worship today. Advocates of the doctrine of infant church membership attempt to sustain
their practice in precisely the same fashion as do instrumental devotees. Were not infants a part of the Jewish
economy? Ought they not therefore to be in the church today? Those who thus contend make out a case for infant
church membership as successfully as do those who seek to justify instrumental music in Christian worship in
such fashion. The truth is, God has ordained neither infant church membership nor instrumental music in the
church in this age, and those who practice either are guilty of officious intermeddling with the will of God and of
presumptuous additions to his will and way (Deut. 4:2; Prov. 30:6; Rev. 22:18-19).
“We walk by faith and not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7), and faith comes by hearing God’s word (Rom. 10:17). We are at
liberty to do, in Christian worship, only those things specifically commanded; and, inasmuch as the New Testament
is silent regarding the use of instrumental music in worship, we dare not use it if we wish to be certain of pleasing
God. We are commanded, however, to sing and to make melody in our hearts (not on an instrument!), and we are
fully assured that such is acceptable to him who commanded it.
QUOTES
“Preachers should preach, not only to be understood, but to not be misunderstood.”
“The church is not a forum wherein the various opinions of men are to be given audience; it is the ‘pillar and ground
of the truth’.”
(1 Tim. 3:15)
“Most people like good, strong gospel preaching until they are on the receiving end of it.”
THE WRONG CHURCH
A minister was approached by a man who expressed a desire to become a member of the church. The man said,
however, that he was rather bushed. “I don’t want to be called on for any service, such as visitation or teaching
Bible School. I want to be spared from anything that would take my time. Don’t expect me to worship often. And
when I do attend, my giving will be very small, as I have other payments to make each month.”
The minister thought and replied, “I believe you are at the wrong church. The one you want is three blocks down
the street.”
The man followed the preacher’s directions and came to an old abandoned, boarded-up church building. It was a
dead church, out of business, as a result of too many members like this man wanted to be.
The church without active members is a dead church, and the kind of religion that doesn’t cost anything in time and
money is a dead religion. — Selected
IF THE LORD WERE PASSING THROUGH
If the Lord were passing thru,
And he stopped to worship here,
Would his spirit be cast new
Could he feel your love so dear?
If the Lord were passing thru,
And he came to Sunday morn,
If he chose your normal pew,
Would he hear your praises born?
If the Lord were passing thru,
And he was present in class,
Would his comments strengthen you,
Or have you chosen to pass?
If the Lord were passing thru,
And evening brought this blessing,
Would you be among the few,
Would you be among the missing?
If the Lord were passing thru,
It happened to be mid-week,
Could he fellowship with you,
Or has your love proven weak?
If the Lord were passing thru,
As an “angel entertained”
Would the faithful include you,
Or have you his love disdained.
— Selected