Instrumental Music

W. Carl Ketcherside

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     This is the third, and for the present, the concluding article of a series on this subject. In it we will state briefly a few of our several reasons for opposing instrumental music in the public worship of God. We do so without rancor towards those who employ it, and with a sincere prayer that this vexing problem may be resolved by an application of the law of love.

1. Instrumental music in the corporate worship stands athwart our path in the attempt to promote the unity of all believers in the Christ. The most memorable address I ever heard on the topic was delivered at the graduation exercises of the Presbyterian College in Belfast, Ireland, in 1951. The reverend doctor spoke on "Instrumental Music in Public Worship Is a Sin." I have read more than a score of books on the subject by scholarly men not connected with the movement which grew out of the restoration effort launched by Thomas and Alexander Campbell. These were all vehement in their opposition. Our plea will be nullified in many areas if some persist in use of the instrument. Dare we love that which is not essential more than we do the souls of men?
2. The introduction of the instrument created division. Whether those who introduced it, those who opposed it, or both, were to blame for the division which resulted is not now the question. Before it was brought in, brethren worshiped and did so acceptably as all admit, and such worship was unified; after it was introduced division came as a result. Regardless of whether worship was thus polluted or corrupted as some charge, we can return to our original status and be acceptable and be together if there are no other barriers. It is hardly conceivable that a division can be healed unless we return to the source and remove the original cause.
3. A genuine restoration, complete in details, of the primitive pattern of public worship will find the instrument excluded from use. It is our conviction that no one can show that it was employed in the congregations planted by the apostles, and this conviction has been reached after careful examination of all available material on the subject.
4. The employment of instrumental music in the public worship of God introduces an element unauthorized by our King, and therefore, constitutes will worship, which is condemned by the Holy Spirit.
5. The use of instrumental music in public praise service is actually ritualism, and to that extent, is a departure from the simplicity which should characterize those who profess to be followers of the meek and lowly one.

     How shall I regard those who disagree with me? They are my brethren if they have been immersed into the Christ. We love them all because He loves them all. We think they are in error in the practice under consideration, but this does not lessen our regard for them. We only yearn to help them and in turn to be helped by them to correct our many errors and mistakes. They are in our fellowship. Such fellowship in the Spirit is not contingent upon perfect agreement but mutual parenthood. We cannot participate in the public praise service where the

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instrument is used in conjunction. We love to sing but we must answer to God for a violation of honest conviction and sincere conscience. If brethren wish to inject into the service that which will exclude us on the basis of conscience and make it impossible for us to join with them in praise the responsibility will rest with them. We will not malign them, hate them, nor speak evil of them. If they are content to answer to God for their action which forces some of us to stand on the sidelines in certain aspects of public praise, the matter will be left in His hands, and if they can explain their attitude satisfactorily to Him, so they may enter in through the gates into the City we will rejoice to be with them forever where all of us may sing together in an unbroken chorus unhindered and unaffected by human failing or schisms.