This is sort of a spin-off from the "authorization" thread, with one slight twist. Just as an experiment, Please agree to limit your post to ONE OR TWO sentences (normal length too!) I may even delete anything you write past two sentences. Also, stay on track with whatever follows your post, and do not post a second time until someone else has responded.

I am not suggesting that "sound bites" are the best way to truth: but it might aid in following a train of thought. Readers, see if it helps. And now, let me start it off:

What passage in the New Testament forbids the use of musical instruments in worship? And is this alleged prohibition explicit or one of inference?

-- Anonymous, November 11, 2001

Answers

There are NONE!

Barry

-- Anonymous, November 11, 2001

I haven't found any!

-- Anonymous, November 11, 2001

You mean you cannot even find a verse that INFERS a prohibition?

-- Anonymous, November 12, 2001

Nope! Can you?

-- Anonymous, November 12, 2001

Quite honestly, I cannot find one single verse that either explicitly commands or infers that instruments are to be forbidden, nor can I find any that specifically command or infer they are to be used, but I can find several that do infer that they may be used.

-- Anonymous, November 12, 2001

I edited that last post, because it was too long. But now that I have inserted another post, here is some more of it!

-- Anonymous, November 12, 2001

I also see the ultra-conservative view that we cannot do anything God hasn't specifically authorized because we might be following the "commandments of men" to be moot, for two reasons:

One, it butts right up against Paul's teachings that we have liberty in Christ (not by inference however that we are to be libertines!), that if one person regards something as holy and another does not, it is between those people and God.

-- Anonymous, November 12, 2001

Will they get part two after you post again? :P

-- Anonymous, November 12, 2001

Inference to use instruments in worship: Ephesians 5:19 & Colossians 3:16. My translation uses the word "psalms" from the word psalmos. Not being a greek scholar, I consulted Vines:

PSALMOS primarily denoted a striking or twitching with the fingers (on musical strings); then, a sacred song, sung to musical accompaniment, a psalm.

Quite a bit of inference here, I would guess. I have heard some say these two verses denote COMMANDS to use instruments??????

-- Anonymous, November 12, 2001

John,

I lost part two! Go ahead!

-- Anonymous, November 12, 2001

My second point:

Two: Jesus words, in my opinion anyway, rather condemn the non- instrumentalists, for Jesus was coming down on them for their nitpicky following of the Torah, even to the point of adding prohibitions which were not specifically mentioned in the Torah to avoid accidentally breaking one of God's laws. Isn't that what the non-instrumentalists do? Instrumental worshippers certainly do not command anyone that they must use instruments - but non- instrumental worshippers do see this as a command and sometimes even a test of fellowship. Isn't a specific command not to use instruments, since such a command is not found in the Scripture, a commandment of men? It seems to me to be exactly the same thing the Pharisees were guilty of doing.

-- Anonymous, November 12, 2001

Ok, after re-examining the initial post, I realize the last one was six sentences, so here's a partial sentence to hopefully offset ...

-- Anonymous, November 12, 2001

Brethren:

We find it quite interesting that even you are unable to discuss this matter with yourselves in two sentences or less! But, amazingly, you wonder why we refuse to attempt it!

Your Brother in Christ,

E. Lee Saffold

-- Anonymous, November 17, 2001

What do you mean "we" white man?

-- Anonymous, November 17, 2001

Perhaps because there is no such verse; the discussion is limited for lack of evidence.

-- Anonymous, November 17, 2001

Yes there is a verse, Brother Duane,in fact more than one. But even those verses are more than two sentences long.

E. Lee Saffold

-- Anonymous, November 17, 2001

but you still have not explained why you have not kept everyone to two sentense as you promised? Those who use instruments in worship cannot even debate the issue with themselves in two sentences or less!

Your Brother in Christ,

E. Lee Saffold

-- Anonymous, November 17, 2001

Sorry I haven't been following this thread... The "two-sentence" guidline was not in any way limiting... I meant "2 at a time" in order to facilitate more of a directed dialogue...One can say "John 3:16" and not have to paste the whole passage. But hey, I'm no party pooper. Let's say scripture quotations don't count...

-- Anonymous, November 24, 2001

Original question: What passage in the New Testament forbids the use of musical instruments in worship? And is this alleged prohibition explicit or one of inference?

Answer so far:

None, but who says that there has to be a verse forbidding it?

-- Anonymous, November 24, 2001

Duane ... there ain't none .. but then, that's the issue, isn't it.

-- Anonymous, November 24, 2001