 Instrumental Music and Webster's Dictionary
Dear Mr. Waddey:
I don't know how you can claim to have the whole truth and omit the instrument, when Webster even says that those psalms you mention in Eph. 5:19 in the Greek were to be accompanied.
A Friend
Dear Friend:
Webster is neither our standard nor authority in Christ. If the word psalmos demands that an instrument be used, why did not the early Christians understand it that way? Why did it take 670 years before the first instrument was introduced in Christian worship...and that in a Catholic Church. Why did it cause such an uproar that another 400 years passed before it became a matter of common usage.
Your Bible has the Book of Psalms in it, but you do not need an instrument to read and profit by them. In most hymnals in use today there are psalms set to music. We sing them without accompaniment in Churches of Christ. We do so without any difficulty. If you have to have an instrument to sing a psalm how is that possible?
If the word psalmos demands that all who sing play an instrument do you follow that practice? Do you provide each worshiper a harp as you do a hymnal? Why not?
The answer to the problem is found in carefully looking at the text. Paul says "speaking one to another" (that does not require an instrument) in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing....(that does not require an instrument) and making melody with your heart (rather than making melody with a harp, he says do so with your heart). (Eph. 5:19).
I hope these thoughts help.
John Waddey |
