Answering Doctrinal Questions (Part 8)

Stan Crowley

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; (1 Pet 3:15 NKJV)

Yes!The conclusion that the use of

mechanical instruments of music in/as worship is sinful involves a fundamental principle.

This principle separates the Lord’s church from the denominations in many ways.

That principle is how God’s instructions must be followed.

23. Is it sinful to use mechanical instruments of music in worship?

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Are God’s instructions just information? We may ignore them. We may add other acts.Are they requirements but do not set limits on what we can do?

We must do them. We may add other acts.

Are they a pattern to follow? We must do them. We must NOT add other acts.

23. Is it sinful to use mechanical instruments of music in worship?

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God’s instructions must be followed according to the principle:If God has not called for it,

man must not add it.

23. Is it sinful to use mechanical instruments of music in worship?

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After God said to offer incense on the Altar of Incense, He said:(Exo 30:9 KJV) Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon.Do not offer other types of offerings (burnt, meat, drink).Do not offer other forms of the same type of offering.If God has not called for it,

man must not add it.

23. Is it sinful to use mechanical instruments of music in worship?

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It is applied under the Law of Moses:(Lev 10:1 KJV) And Nadab and Abihu, … offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not {which he had not commanded them, ASV}.

(Lev 10:2 KJV) And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

They offered something God had not called for.

They were not punished for what they did not do, but for what they did do (sin of commission).

23. Is it sinful to use mechanical instruments of music in worship?

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It is applied before the Law of Moses:

(Heb 11:4 KJV) By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, …

(1 John 3:12 KJV) … Cain, … works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

By faith in God’s word, Abel offered what God had called for.

Cain offered something different.

Cain was not punished for what he did not do, but for “his works.”

23. Is it sinful to use mechanical instruments of music in worship?

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It is found under the Law of Christ:

(2 John 1:9 KJV) Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

This is not a warning not to disobey Christ, but a warning not to go beyond what Christ has called for.

Those who go beyond have added things God has not called for.

23. Is it sinful to use mechanical instruments of music in worship?

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The principle is explained (Ex. 30):

The principle is applied: Under the Law of Moses—Nadab

and Abihu (Lev. 10:1-2, ASV) Before the Law of Moses—Cain

and Abel (Heb. 11:4, I John 3:12) Under the Law of Christ(2 John 1:9 KJV) …abideth not

in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. …

If God has not called for it, man must not add it.

23. Is it sinful to use mechanical instruments of music in worship?

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Are God’s instructions just information? We may ignore them. We may add other acts.Are they requirements but do not set limits on what we can do?

We must do them. We may add other acts.Are they a pattern to follow? We must do them. We must NOT add other acts.

THIS IS GOD’S HERMENEUTIC.

23. Is it sinful to use mechanical instruments of music in worship?

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No! What we find in the N.T. is Christians assembling on Sunday to sings words of praise to God and sing words of instruction and admonition to one another (Eph. 5:19, Col. 3:16, I Cor. 11-16).

Those in the pews offer worship, they are not the audience.

God’s instructions must be followed according to the principle:If God has not called for it, man

must not add it.

24. Do we have authority to use choral groups in worship? Praise teams? Vocal groups?

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The only example in the N.T. of a day to observe the Lord’s Supper is Sunday.

(Acts 20:7 KJV) And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, …

The Lord’s Supper was the purpose for the assembly (“to break bread”).

A meal was eaten later (Acts 20:11).Adding another day of observance

violates the principle:IF GOD HAS NOT CALLED FOR IT,

MAN MUST NOT ADD IT.

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30. May we observe the Lord’s Supper any other day but Sunday?

Adding another day to the one day (Sunday) that we find in the Scriptures is sinful (see answer to question 23).

We must stay within the “doctrine of Christ” (II John 1:9-11).

If we cannot find something in the New Testament of Jesus Christ (His doctrine book), how can it rightly be called the “doctrine of Christ”?

30. May we observe the Lord’s Supper any other day but Sunday?

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Justin Martyr (140 A.D.): “On the day which is called Sunday …

all … gather together to one place ….” Prayer, the Lord’s Supper, collection Iranaeus (155-202 A. D.): “… may not be celebrated on any

other day than the Lord’s Day ….”Early Christians Speak: “… constant feature of the Sunday

service.” “… no second-century evidence for the

celebration of a daily eucharist.” 14

30. May we observe the Lord’s Supper any other day but Sunday?