Exclusive Psalmody?

[Iosias]

So how many of us fundies have come across exclusive psalmody?

A Brief Examination of Exclusive Psalmody (http://www.reformed.com/pub/psalms.htm)
Exclusive Psalmody FAQ (http://www.fpcr.org/blue_banner_articles/exclusive_psalmody_faq.htm)
Exclusive Psalmody Homepage (http://www.covenanter.org/Worship/Psalmody/psalmody.htm)
The Songs of Zion: What shall the Church Sing? (http://www.britishreformedfellowship.org.uk/articles/songs%20of%20zion.pdf)
The Contoversy over Exclusive Psalmody (http://www.britishreformedfellowship.org.uk/articles/debate%20over%20exclusive%20psalmody.pdf)
A Special Exegesis of Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 (http://www.cprf.co.uk/articles/specialexegesismcnaugher.htm)
Scriptural Praise: the Case For Exclusive Psalmody (http://www.cprf.co.uk/articles/scripturalpraise.htm)
Singing the Psalms in Public Worship (http://www.cprf.co.uk/articles/singingthepsalms.htm)
Psalm Singing, a Reformed Heritage (http://www.cprf.co.uk/pamphlets/psalmsingingreformedheritage.htm)

You may be interested in A Review of Iain H. Murray’s The Psalter—The Only Hymnal? found here (http://www.wpcus.org/wgm/062007.pdf) on page 9

[desmalia]

This is a new one to me.

I'm all for sticking to theologically sound songs in the worship service. But honestly (and maybe it's just me?), I think music gets entirely too much emphasis in the church today. True worship is obedience, not singing. Singing is our expression to God. Personally I prefer the songs I sing in church to be doctrinally sound and theologically rich, which is why I prefer so many of the beautiful Psalms and hymns of old. However, that's not to say that there are no decent contemporary songs. There are some. Do they have any authority or compare to Scripture? Of course not, and I don't think anyone would suggest they do. But that doesn't make them "bad" either, so long as they are in agreement with Scripture in content.
Not to mention, I've seen the Psalms abused in music services and turned into mindless chants. I'll take a solid contemporary song over that any day, thank you.

Legalism simply is not the answer to liberal/pagan abuses in the church.

[Iosias]

This is a new one to me.

Well enjoy the articles :)

I'm all for sticking to theologically sound songs in the worship service.

The problem is that God alone determines how he is to be worshipped and not us. This means that unless God has commanded something then it is forbidden hence you would need to demonstrate where God commanded the singing of things other than the psalms :thumbsup:

There is an excellent article on worship here (http://www.freekirkcontinuing.co.uk/FCC/Witness%20and%20Explorer_files/weeWitness%20dec.pdf) (part 1), here (http://www.freekirkcontinuing.co.uk/FCC/Witness%20and%20Explorer_files/07%20Witness.pdf) (part 2) and here (http://www.freekirkcontinuing.co.uk/FCC/Witness%20and%20Explorer_files/02%3A07%20Witness.pdf) (part 3).

[desmalia]

The problem is that God alone determines how he is to be worshipped and not us.Agreed. But true worship is not specifically singing. It is obedience to God. Can you see the difference? It's not really very accurate to call it the "worship service" at all.

This means that unless God has commanded something then it is forbidden hence you would need to demonstrate where God commanded the singing of things other than the psalms By that line of thinking I suppose we can cut a whole lot of things out of our lives and condemn them as sinful. No instruments in church other than the ones mentioned in the Bible, no plastic cups for communion (because there was no plastic back then), no overhead projector because that sort of technology is not specifically commanded for us to use, etc. etc. No, I'm sorry, this line of reasoning is not Biblical whatsoever. In fact it's the exact same argument I hear from those who condemn all forms of birth control and who believe that marriage is only for the purpose of procreation. Again, it borders on legalism.

[Iosias]

Agreed. But true worship is not specifically singing. It is obedience to God. Can you see the difference? It's not really very accurate to call it the "worship service" at all.

This is a very popular teaching now but stems from a false set of presumptions.

All service is worship but not all worship is service. Some Bible versions have falsely translated service as worship which is wrong.

http://www.monergism.com/directory/link_category/Worship/

By that line of thinking I suppose we can cut a whole lot of things out of our lives and condemn them as sinful.

The RPW determines what we do in worship. Pews etc are circumstances of worship and so are not regulated by the RPW.

[cubanito]

Oh lordee be, the Regulative Principle comes to Fundiville....

I owe kobuk a well reasoned response as to why i do believe the Bible points to higher levels of authority than the local Church. I have been avoiding doing "my homework" for that post and now, lordee be, the Regulative Principle rears up...

OK, fine, AV1995, I have penciled you in right after kobuk on my "to do' list.

Now back to my favorite worship tune of all time, by the Byrds: "Turn, turn, turn.... there is a time for every purpose under Heaven. A time to respond and a time to procrastinate responding for as long as humanly possible..."

JR

[IamRedeemed]

While I can agree that some music may not be appropriate because either I am getting old, or it truly isn't a "joyful noise" lol.... (seriously though, I would overcome my opinion, if I saw fruits of the spirit arising out of some of it, rather than a mere appeal to the flesh as it is in some cases.) the Bible does tell us to make a joyful noise unto the Lord, to sing a NEW SONG unto the Lord and to worship Him with all kinds of music and instruments. Psalm is just another word for Poem/Song.
So, when the Bible says to take a psalm and bring hither the timbrel. (Psalm 81) for instance, it does not necessarily mean one of the pre-written psalms, but rather a song in your heart unto God. Because if it was rigid there, then how could we offer the Lord a NEW SONG as the Word says for us to do? The Bible also indicates how powerful our music praise is in Spiritual warfare as well. Here are just a few Scriptures to consider:

Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Psalm 33:2

After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy: 1 Samuel 10:5

Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Psalm 150:3

O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Psalm 95:1

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King. Psalm 98:4 and 6

Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
Psalm 33:3

And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. Psalm 40:3

O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. Psalm 98:1

And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.
2 Samuel 6:5

And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy. 1 Chronicles 15:16

It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord; 2 Chronicles 5:13


So, which instruments, or songs or holy praise has God not commanded?