Brian M. Schwertley
144 pages
"The word of God is the only authority and infallible standard for determining the doctrine, government and worship of the church. If one strictly adheres to the regulative principle of worship, the biblical case against the use of musical instruments in public worship is irrefutable (no warrant, no practice). Although the study of church history obviously does not carry the same weight as Scripture, it can be helpful nevertheless. The testimony from church history in support of the biblical evidence against the use of musical instruments in new covenant worship is incredibly strong. The great theologians and apologists (of both the eastern and western branches of Christendom) for at least five centuries regarded the use of musical instruments in public worship as things that belonged solely to the old covenant dispensation. If the apostolic churches had used musical instruments in their worship, the attitude toward instrumental music in public worship by the church fathers would be extremely difficult to explain. For those who read this book who come from a Reformed or Presbyterian perspective, note carefully that the non-use of musical instruments in public worship was the position of all the great reformers and theologians from the Calvinist wing of the Reformation. Most Presbyterians did not abandon the non-use position until the latter half of the 19th century. Sadly, there is only a small remnant of Presbyterians today that still follows the biblical practice. The one instrument of peace, the Word alone by which we honour God, is what we employ. We no longer employ the ancient psaltery, and trumpet, and timbrel, and flute." from the Introduction