Ironside on Musical Instruments In Church Meetings
The following from the pen of Mr. H. A. Ironside, in his book: Lectures on
Daniel, pages 47-50,
“The special place given to the great orchestra is
very noticeable; as much so as in large worldly religious gatherings at
the present time. It excites the emotions, and thus, working upon the
feelings, gives people a sense of devotion and religiousness, which
after all may be very unreal. In the Old Testament dispensation musical
instruments were used in the ornate temple services; but there is
certainly no warrant for it in the New Testament. People may call it
worship to sit and listen to a trained, and possibly unconverted, choir
and orchestra rendering sweet and touching strains; but music simply
acts upon the sensuous part of our natures, and has nothing to do with
true adoration of the Father and the Son, which must be in spirit and
truth to be acceptable to God. Those who plead for its use, because of
the place it had in Old Testament times, should remember that that was a
typical dispensation. . . A minister once remarked to me that many
aesthetic persons attended his church to worship God in music; so he
sought to have the best performers and the finest music it was possible
to obtain, as otherwise the people would not attend. What a delusion is
all this!”
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| Babilonian musicians |
