In the Song of Solomon 2:15 the “little foxes” are mentioned. I am told that these little pests could soon destroy an entire vineyard and were vigorously guarded against at certain times of the year. An experienced watchman on the wall could detect the first movements and prevent the damage. But an inexperienced youth might let three foxes slip in before he should see number four trying to sneak in. While he is running after number four, the other three are destroying the vineyard. Paul’s warning of Acts 20:29-31 certainly came to pass, “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears”, but so slowly that few became alarmed until it was too late.
There are many, including elders and preachers, who are no longer concerned about the instrumental music question. To them it should not be a test of fellowship. They may attend assemblies of worship where an instrument is used and participate with no apparent pricking of their conscience. There are two reasons some give for their attitude. First, they say in effect “churches of Christ have mostly come across the tracks since World War II concerning buildings, educated preachers and general affluence. Now we need to come all the way across and drop our opposition to instrumental music to avoid being ridiculed by the religious scholarship of the world.” This is false pride! Such brethren are unwilling or unable to teach the truth on this subject and would prevent others from doing so if they could.
Second, others say there are more important questions and issues regarding fellowship than whether the instrument should be used. The list includes grace, redemption, lordship, the four “ones” in Ephesians 4. In other words, their motivation appears to be spiritual rather than false pride. However, anything which divides God’s people and keeps people from having fellowship is serious enough to keep one out of heaven. Therefore, the issue must be resolved lest more souls are lost. When I say “fellowship” according to (Thayer) is “to come into communion or fellowship, to become a sharer, to be made a partner.” It means to become a joint participant, to be in community. All who are in fellowship with God should be in fellowship with each other (1 John 1:3). A common fear is that we might exclude one whom God has not excluded. It is good to have that fear, but at the same time to be as much in dread of accepting one whom God would rejectFor anything to be scriptural it must be sanctioned in the form of a divine command, by approved apostolic example or by necessary inference. Following these three, yet another method was introduced as that of an “expediency” to determine scriptural procedure. In more recent times a fifth point of justification for the scripturalness of a matter has been brought forth and it is that of “general principles.” If we are not careful, what may happen is that in our anxiety to establish certain practices as scriptural we could open the gates to all the little destructive foxes who are waiting to do their destructiveness. That is not to disparage expediency and general principle, but is to warn that nothing is acceptable just because it seems like a good idea or that “it works.”
Brother Jack Lewis pointed out several years ago in this thought, “Just a few years of silence on the need of vocal music allows all of those of conviction to die off. Very shortly a group has grown up who really prefer to use the instrument.” In other words, a lot of havoc may be wrought in a short time when the gates are opened.
Mechanical instruments of music in Christian worship must remain a test of fellowship because they are not authorized in any sense in the New Testament. They were used in the Old Testament, especially in the Psalms. Believing as I do that the writers of the Psalms were inspired, I believe that the instruments were authorized and thus acceptable (2 Pet. 1:21). But the very silence of the New Testament writers indicates that they have no divine sanction in the New Testament church.
The instrument as an aid comes up again and must be answered again lest a generation arise who know not how to catch the “little foxes” before they get a foothold. Instrumental music is not an aid because it is in competition with the music God authorized. It is logically concluded that the use of the instrument in worship is not sanctioned by God, therefore it is obviously nothing more than a personal preference. In light of what the scriptures teach, and they are our only perfect standard, the test has not been passed, and fellowship cannot be extended to those who use the instrument.
It is not my intent to offend anyone knowing that when someone is defending the truth they may do so with an ungodly attitude and actually blind some to the truth. That would be a tragedy. Let’s “speak the truth in love” and “let our speech be always with grace.”
Onward Rejoicing,
John B. Daniels, Associate Minister
