Let The Music Begin!

While some churches have had their debates as to whether they should provide a non-traditional service with a variety of instruments and music, churches that belong to the Church of Christ denomination have debated whether to use instruments at all. This denomination separated from the Disciples of Christ a century ago mainly in opposition to the use of instruments in the worship service. Since then there have been two groups within the Church of Christ: one which uses instruments and the other which doesn’t. The latter’s reason for opposing instrumental music is because instruments are not mentioned in the New Testament. This position, of course, ignores the testimony of the Old Testament, where musical instruments receive definite mention in regard to worship. The Psalms especially indicate this. A “break through” has now occurred with the non-instrumental group when its largest church, located in Ft. Worth, Texas, decided to try the use of instruments in a third service. The senior minister said this would permit the congregation “to reach more people who need Christ.”

It is about time that this group recognizes there is a place for instrumental music in the church, and an important place at that. The Lutheran Church has recognized this from its very inception, when Luther took out his lute and strummed on its strings in accompaniment to hymns. And soon those humble sounds were to be amplified by the use of the pipe organ and other instruments. The Word alone has always held preeminence in Lutheran theology as that which alone converts and saves, but music has served as its handmaiden, “an outstanding gift of God and next to theology” (Luther). It is rather ironic that a church which bears the name “Church of Christ” would deprive itself of the instruments of praise, for it is the very Christ who evokes the praise of the Holy Christian Church. “Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; praise Him with the lute and harp… with stringed instruments and flutes… with high sounding cymbals!” (Psalm 150:3–5). So to the denomination here considered, we say: “It’s about time. Let the music begin!”

Let The “Music” Cease!

The Church of England is in trouble. Steadily declining church attendance has left its clergy scratching their heads, though it really should not be a mystery when the church has little to offer by way of soul nurture. So how do they hope to remedy the situation? Do they turn to their Bibles and preach the true Gospel? No, they are turning to the world of entertainment in the hope of solving their dilemma: more specifically, to Bono, star of the Irish rock group U2. Holy Communion services featuring this group are being called “U2-charists” in place of the term “Eucharist.” A live band belts out U2 classics, accompanied with a sophisticated lighting system to pulse with the beat. The service is said to focus on social issues such as reducing world poverty.

We know that there indeed is world poverty, a physical poverty to which world governments must give their attention. But the poverty to which the Church is obligated to give its attention first of all is that far greater world crisis—its spiritual poverty. No amount of rock concerts under the sponsorship of the Church will answer that crisis. It may for a time give a boost to the attendance figures in the English churches, but even if that be so, there will be no real spiritual growth without the faithful use of the Means of Grace. One Bishop defended the innovation of a rock band by saying, “We need to try new expressions. If we don’t … we will die.” We submit that without the Gospel they will die. Proclaiming Christ’s Gospel in its truth and purity would be a “new expression” for the Church of England. It takes more than a rock band to heal the church’s woes. The Church of England would best be served by returning to the Rock Himself in their teaching and in their worship. And whereas in the previous article we said “Let the music begin,” in the case of the “U2-charist” it would best be said, “Let the music cease.”