Many religious scholars believe that mechanical instruments of music were first introduced into public worship in 510 A.D. Others contend that Pope Vitalian introduced them in 660. Still others considered expert in the field point to 951, 1250, or even 1290 as possible dates.
But what does it matter when instruments were first introduced? If they were brought in after the days of the New Testament, and thus without sanction, authority, or even consideration from inspired penmen, they came too late and with no justification.
The early church was taught and encouraged to sing (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16); not a word of New Testament Scripture authorizes any other form of music in Christian worship.
We should have little interest in what worshipers were or were not doing in the sixth, seventh, tenth, or thirteenth centuries. But we should care, and we can be certain, what faithful brethren were doing in worship during the days of the apostles.
New Testament Christians were heeding the words of heaven, words which still read today as they have read for centuries: “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19).
The early Christians simply sang as should we.
Dalton Key
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