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Strings Against the Wind!Part 3Larry West

WindprintsWindprints3

Strings Against the Wind!

Strings Against the Wind!

What about church history? (shouts a brother.) The first-century church didnt use the instrument. So, God must have been telling them not to do it! How can you say God WASNT telling the apostles what to do and what not to do? Good question, your Honor! We will address church history, says Curly.See Strings Against the Wind, chapter 15.

4 Strings Against the Wind!

But first, drawls Curly, he just asked, How do we know God wasnt tellin them Apostles other things in the first century? Well, my friends, may I remind us of our paradigm! Its to speak where God is speakin, right? And where He aint aspeakin, we say we aint gonna do it neither!CORRECT?See Strings Against the Wind, chapter 15.

5 All right! So, here are some whys the early church did not use the instrument: ____________________ (1) Early tradition of the synagogue (?) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) Strings Against the Wind!

Says Curly:See Strings Against the Wind, chapter 15.6

Strings Against the Wind!

Your Honor, says Curly, there are some who say the first-century church actually followed the tradition of the synagogue rather than the temple worship. I present to the court the Presbyterian Board of Publications that says, and I quote: It was not allowed in the Synagogues, the parish churches of the Jews, but was confined to the Temple service . Did you hear that? to the Temple service!

See Strings Against the Wind, chapter 15.

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Yet, in contrast, Mr. James Kinnon in Wineskins magazine says, Modern scholars say there is no evidence of the early church adopting its worship from the synagogue.He says theres NO evidence thats true!

Strings Against the Wind!

See Strings Against the Wind, chapter 15.

8 Strings Against the Wind!

So, unlike the rest we have on our list, this is merely a possible reason why the first-century church did not use the instrument.

We find conflicting sources. Thats why we put a question mark on it.

See Strings Against the Wind, chapter 15.

9 Strings Against the Wind! But, these reasons are like merely filling prescription bottles. That is, just look up some historians quote, his own researched reason, and just put it in the bottle.

See Strings Against the Wind, chapter 15.

10 Heres a second reason why the early church did not use the instrument: ____________________ (1) Early tradition of the synagogue (?) (2) Saints persecutions (3) (4) (5) (6) Strings Against the Wind!

Says Curly:

See Strings Against the Wind, chapter 15.

11 Strings Against the Wind! For a thousand years nearly one-fourth of the worlds population was under Roman rule, an iron kingdom. Emperor Nero was viciously attacking Christians. He was brutal and violent! Christians were already under his persecution when Paul wrote his letters to the Romans, Colossians and Ephesians, but especially after Rome burned in 64 A.D. Nero, under political heat himself for the disaster, turned and blamed it on the Christians. After the fire burned out he cleared off some real estate in downtown Rome to build his Coliseum, only to intensify his persecution of the Christians. And was it ruthless and relentless!

See Strings Against the Wind, chapter 15.

12 Strings Against the Wind! So Chambers Encyclopedia says, If the Christian cult had immediately received official recognition it is probable that the Christians would have made use of at least some of the instrumental resources of the time, but being driven underground into the catacombs they were compelled to avoid drawing attention to their activities. Chambers Encyclopedia, Vol. 7, p. 112.

Says Curly:See Strings Against the Wind, chapter 15.

13 Strings Against the Wind!That, then, fills prescription bottle number two!

Says Curly:

See Strings Against the Wind, chapter 15.

14 Number three, whythe early church did not use the instrument: ____________________ (1) Early tradition of the synagogue (?) (2) Saints persecutions! (3) Association with their pagan past! (4)(5)(6) Strings Against the Wind!

Says Curly:

See Strings Against the Wind, chapter 15.

15 Strings Against the Wind! Dr. Donald Jay Grout, Professor of Musicology, Cornell University says, ...The forms and types of music connected with the great public spectacles such as festivals, competitions, and dramatic performances, as also the music of more intimate convivial occasions, were regarded by many as unsuitable for the Church, not so much from any dislike of music itself as from the need to wean the increasing numbers of converts away from everything associated with their pagan past. This attitude involved at first even a distrust of all instrumental music. A History of Western Music, W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., New York, a university textbook, pp. 19-20.

And many more authorities fit here too, says Curly.

Says Curly:

See Strings Against the Wind, chapter 15.

16 Strings Against the Wind! Now, I could bring to the stand dozens more the prosecution can introduce in evidence for its case, but you will notice, please, such fall into this, the third prescription bottle.

lifeless demons, unnecessary, and used in heathen entertainment. Chrysostom licentious and mischievous Clement

Says Curly:See Strings Against the Wind, chapter 15.

17 Number four was: ____________________ (1) Early tradition of the synagogue (?) (2) Saints persecutions! (3) Association with their pagan past! (4) Evolving tradition! (5)(6) Strings Against the Wind!

Says Curly:

See Strings Against the Wind, chapter 15.

18 Strings Against the Wind! How long had the non use made a habit, making tradition? asks Curly, raising his index finger in the air, only to give answer. History gives many dates. Here are some historians who simply set the date as best they can, and, your honor, not all are necessarily arguing against the instrument, as the prosecution wants to use them as saying. And submitting the following as exhibit evidence, he says, Notice these:

Says Curly:See Strings Against the Wind, chapter 15.

19 Strings Against the Wind!Pope Vitalian is related to have first introduced organs into some of the churches of Western Europe about 670 but the earliest trustworthy account is that of one sent as a present by the Greek emperor Constantine Copronymus to Pepin, king of Franks in 755.670 A.D.Joseph Bingham, says, In the Western parts, the instrument, as not so much as known till the eighth century; for the first organ that was ever seen in France was one sent as a present to King Pepin by Constantinus Copronymus, the Greek emperor. . . . But, now, it was only used in princes courts, and not yet brought into churches; nor was it ever received into the Greek churches, there being no mention of an organ in all their liturgies ancient or modern.8th CenturyJohn Giradeau, Presbyterian professor in Columbia Theological Seminary, says, The church had not instrumental music for 1200 years (that is, it was not in general use before this time); The Calvinistic Reform Church ejected it from its service as an element of popery, even the church of England having come very nigh its extrusion from her worship.13th Century

Says Curly:

By the way, isnt it amazing how historians (authorities) often do not agree even among themselves?See Strings Against the Wind, chapter 15. 20 Strings Against the Wind! So, says Curly, it seems the general consensus is that it was introduced anywhere from the sixth to the eighth century, even to the 13th, certainly long enough to become an evolving tradition.

And tradition is okay! That is, as long as it doesnt become law and breaking it then becomes criminal!See Strings Against the Wind, chapter 15.

21 Strings Against the Wind!Oh-Kay, says Curly, now were gettin personal!

Whats on YOUR plate?

See Strings Against the Wind, chapter 15.

22 Reason Number five! ____________________ (1) Early tradition of the synagogue (?) (2) Saints persecutions! (3) Association with their pagan past! (4) Evolving tradition! (5) Personal Preference! (6) Strings Against the Wind!

Says Curly:

See Strings Against the Wind, chapter 15.

23 Strings Against the Wind! Instrumental music in the house of God I abominate and abhor. This is the abuse of music, and I here register my protest against all such corruption of the worship of the author of Christianity. The late and venerable and most eminent divine, the Rev. John Wesley, who was a lover of music, and an elegant poet, when asked his opinion of instruments of music being introduced into the chapels of the Methodists, said in his terse and powerful manner, 'I have no objections to instruments of music in our chapels, provided they are neither heard nor seen.' I say the same. -Adam Clark, Methodist

Says Curly:See Strings Against the Wind, chapter 15.

24 Strings Against the Wind! And when you put on your own brand aboots, then boots are made for walkin . And theyll walk all over you!

Says Curly:See Strings Against the Wind, chapter 15.

25 And that brings us to reason number 6:____________________ (1) Early tradition of the synagogue (?) (2) Saints persecutions! (3) Association with their pagan past! (4) Evolving tradition! (5) Personal Preference! (6) Then, comes the wind! Strings Against the Wind!

Says Curly:

It digresses from the intellect to the EMOTIONAL!See Strings Against the Wind, chapter 15.

26Its just not the way I was raised!I just dont think its right!Naw! That question was settled a hundred years ago!I still think God said, Just sing! Strings Against the Wind!

Says Curly:Personal Preference often digresses to the Blowing Wind!(What I like or think becomes your law!)

Ive known brother Jones for years. Hes a Bible professor (elder, preacher, Dad). I trust him to tell me the truth.I read brother Kurfees (Wallaces, other) book. I believe him!I believe psallo did change!And more!

We DONT have scriptural authority!!See Strings Against the Wind, chapter 15

27 Strings Against the Wind! Watch it happen with even beloved men. Like Ben Franklin, editor of American Christian Review, when he shamed himself in the body of Christ when he said in 1860, Instrumental music is permissible for a church under the following conditions: 1. When a church never had or has lost the Spirit of Christ. 2. If a church has a preacher who never had or has lost the Spirit of Christ, who has become a dry, prosing and lifeless preacher. 3. If a church only intends being a fashionable society, a mere place of amusements and secular entertainment and abandoning the idea of religion and worship. 4. If a church has within it a large number of dishonest and corrupt men. 5. If a church has given up all idea of trying to convert the world.

Says Curly:

See Strings Against the Wind, chapter 15.

28 So, here are the whys the early church did not use the instrument adequately explaining our history: ____________________ (1) Early tradition of the synagogue (?) (2) Saints persecutions! (3) Association with their pagan past! (4) Evolving tradition! (5) Personal Preference! (6) Then, comes the wind! Strings Against the Wind!

Says Curly:

See Strings Against the Wind, chapter 15.

29 Strings Against the Wind!

And NONE OF THESE in our historical prescription bottles are REVELATIONS FROM GOD!30 Strings Against the Wind!

Cant you hear God say, Why are you putting words in My Mouth? I know how to speak for Myself! (2 Timothy 3:16-17)See the book, Strings Against the Wind!31 Strings Against the Wind!

Ladies and gentlemen, can you, can the good Mr. Nevermore, can his honor the judge, can anyone sitting in this courtroom point to any authority ( be he linguist, etymologist, lexicographer), who says zamar is defined as ANYTHING BUT

No, he cannot! For there is none!

Surely, Curlys last line in his final argument to the jury in this trial could be this: literal singing permitting the literal instrument? See the book, Strings Against the Wind!32 Strings Against the Wind!

And the Holy Spirit Himself used psallo to define zamar a good quarter century after the beginning of New Testament days?

Who among us will say to the Holy Spirit of God, You used the wrong word to translate zamar! You used psallo! Didnt You know psallo changed definitions three decades ago! You needed to pick another word! Who would dare?

Then, couldnt Curly ask these rhetorical questions to exclaim the bottom line:You made a mistake, O God! See the book, Strings Against the Wind!33 Strings Against the Wind!

Then couldnt Mr. Curly pause for thought, then utter,

Ladies and gentlemen, I rest my case!See the book, Strings Against the Wind!34

Where God speaks, may we speak!But, where He doesnt speak, may we cease talking, demanding, judging, dividing, and condemning!

Please ESPECIALLY when it comes to salvation!See Strings Against the Wind! 35And may we pray for peaceful winds!

We pray for peaceful winds!

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Thank you warmly for your kindness!

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