Bad Music is Destroying the Church

The Catholic Herald ^ | October 2006 | James MacMillan

[Dumb_Ox]

MacMillan is a Scottish classical composer. His justified polemics were in the news a few weeks back, and this is the article from which they were taken.

[Mad Dawg]

I would counsel taking it easy on the hysterics. The Gates of Hell ain't gonna prevail against us, much less banal music and meretricious lyrics.

[TommyDale]

Bad music is not limited to one church, but is universally accepted these days.

[jkl1122]

All music created by mechanical instruments is without authority in Christian worship.

[TommyDale]

Really? Has "joyful noise" been identified specifically in that manner?

[jkl1122]

I was just making a statement that is supported by the Word of God.

[TommyDale]

Citation? Specifics? Book, chapter, verse?

[Oberon]

"Bad Music is Destroying the Church."

Sorry...it'll take more than that.

Actually I'm not sorry at all.

[jkl1122]

Ephesians 5:19
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord

Colossians 3:16
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.

[dirtboy]

Bad Music is Destroying the Church

Yeah, they haven't had a decent album since Starfish.

[Oberon]

All music created by mechanical instruments is without authority in Christian worship.

...when in fact it is permitted and even encouraged under the Old Covenant, and David himself was a notable practitioner thereof.

Why the change, do you suppose?

And where is it commanded?

[DungeonMaster]

Psalm 149 and Psalm 150.

[MineralMan]

"All music created by mechanical instruments is without authority in Christian worship."

---

Wellll....I don't know about that. I don't think there's much scriptural basis for that statement. While it is the practice in a very few denominations, it's not anything like general in Christian churches, most of which use all manner of instruments.

[jkl1122]

What is the purpose of the Old Testament for New Testament Christians? Romans 15:4 says "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope". The Old Testament is to be used "for our learning" but it does not serve as our authority.

[jkl1122]

Please read post #9.

[DungeonMaster]

What is the purpose of the Old Testament for New Testament Christians? Romans 15:4 says "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope". The Old Testament is to be used "for our learning" but it does not serve as our authority.

So the NT has authority for the Church but there is no authority in anything in the OT?

[FreedomProtector]

"All music created by mechanical instruments is without authority in Christian worship."

While the regulatory principle is often cited in what should be included in worship discussions....some Christians believe worship should only include what is directly commanded, other Christians believe they are free to include other items....

Playing instruments as an act of worship is directly commanded and clearly does not fall under the regulatory principle...


Psalm 150

Praise the LORD!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty expanse.
Praise Him for His mighty deeds;
Praise Him according to His excellentgreatness.
Praise Him with trumpet sound;
Praise Him with harp and lyre.
Praise Him with timbrel and dancing;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.
Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD!

[MineralMan]

Please read post #17.

I had already read post #9 from you. There is nothing prohibatory in either of those verses regarding musical instruments.

As you will see in Psalms 150, musical instruments have been part of worship for a very, very long time. Since your verses prohibit nothing, then Psalms 150 is still in force, I'd say, based on my own studies.

Your point of view is much in the minority amongst Christians.

[jkl1122]

As far as Christians are concerned, the OT is not our authority. The OT is important, as I have already shown, for us to learn about God's plan for mankind. There are many great lessons in the OT, but we are now under a new covenant. Nothing in the OT is binding upon a Christian.

[TommyDale]

One is not LIMITED to that. I wouldn't attend a church that didn't allow music, nor would millions of others. This is a case of context.