Alexander Campbell:
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
(From: MILLENNIAL HARBINGER, September
1851, 581-2)
Instrumental Music seems to be approved by
Alexander Campbell on a web site. However, taking the first sentence
out of context teaches error. Campbell responded to a letter which
reads:
"INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
is entirely in harmony with the most grateful, solemn and happy
feelings of which the human heart is susceptible. Indeed, sacred music upon an
instrument, tends, in a very considerable degree, to excite solemn and holy emotions; and we cannot forbear to
say, that could the music of our churches be improved--could it be
accompanied with an instrument,
it would
soothe and
calm the feelings of
the auditors; it would improve the order of the house; it would call into lively action the
latent religious emotions of the heart, and add very much to the
enjoyment on such occasions.
"Music exerts a mysterious charm upon man--it takes captive the citadel of life--carries him out of himself, and leads him where it will. The
shrill fife and the rattling drum, inspire the soldier just about to enter into
battle, with a zeal and
daring which no hardship can overcome, and no danger intimidate, and
causes him to rush headlong into the thickest of the combat,
regardless of consequences.
If martial music thus inspires the worshippers of Mars, will sacred music do less for the
humble followers of the meek and lowly Jesus--the worshippers of the
true and living God?
No! It will not. It will
inspire them, too, with zeal and courage, and impel them on to
resist--not flesh and blood with instruments of death, but
principalities and powers--spiritual wickedness in high places, with
the armor of God and the sword of the Spirit. G."
See
Tom Burgess for the negative answer!
Mars or other "starry host" or "Wandering
Stars" or planets defiles all of the musical worship among the nation
of Israel. Therefore, to promote the music of Mars is to promote the
worship which will fill the end-time religions of the Babylon
Prostitute.
Chemosh
was the god of the Moabites. God says Israel had forgotten Him and was
worshipping Chemosh (I Kings 11:33). Who was Chemosh? He is
identified with Baal-peor -- the pagan "Christ child" -- and with
Baal-zebub, Mars,
and Saturn
(Number in Chaldee 666)
(Peloubet's Bible Dictionary, p. 115).
We have shown that
Saturn was one name of Nimrod, and Mars,
another name as the god of war of the Greeks. Chemosh, then, was the Moabite name for Nimrod.
While Solomon was a WISE MAN
this had nothing to do with being spiritual. As a king of Israel his
job was to help lead the nation into Assyrian and Babylonian
captivity.
And the
high
places that were before
Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had
builded for
Ashtoreth the
abomination of the Zidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites,
and for Milcom
the abomination of the children of Ammon,
did the king defile. 2 Kings 23:13
Har
(h2022) har; a short. form of 2042; a mountain or range of hills
(sometimes used fig.): - hill (country), mount (-ain), * promotion.
Jerusalem is:
Yeruwshalaim (h3389) yer-oo-shaw-lah'-im; rarely
y˙ruwshalayim yer-oo- shaw-lah'-yim; a duel (in allusion to its
two main
hills....
And he brake in pieces the
images, and cut down the groves, and filled their places with the
bones of men. 2 Kings 23:14
When Paul visited Athens in his
day, "he saw the city wholly given to idolatry" (Acts 17:16). The
Greeks did not know the true God (verses 23-28). Paul stood on Mar's
Hill to talk (verse 22). Mars
was Nimrod
as the Roman god of war (Hislop, p. 153). He was a well-known god.
Diana, who was Semiramis as the "Bruiser of
the Serpent's Head" (Hislop, p. 76) was worshipped by "all Asia and
the world" in Paul's time (Acts 19:27). The Devil, the hidden head of
this Mystery system, is not an evil-looking person with a pitchfork
and a tail, as we have been led to believe. The New Testament shows
us he "is transformed into an angel of light" (2 Cor. 11:14).
However, Alexander Campbell responds to the
letter from Mr. G: The argument drawn
from the Psalms in favor of instrumental music,
is exceedingly apposite to the
Roman Catholic, English Protestant, and
Scotch Presbyterian churches, and even to the Methodist communities.
Their churches having all the world in
them--that is, all the fleshly progeny of all the communicants, and
being founded on the Jewish
pattern of things--baptism being given to all
born into the world of these politico-ecclesiastic
communities--
I wonder not, then, that an organ, a fiddle, or a
Jews-harp,
should be requisite to stir up their
carnal hearts, and work into
ecstasy
their animal souls,
else "hosannahs languish on their tongues, and their
devotions die."
And that all persons who have no spiritual
discernment, taste, or relish for their spiritual meditations,
consolations and sympathies of renewed hears, should call for such
aid, is but natural.
Pure water from the flinty rock has no
attractions for the mere toper or wine-bibber. A little
alcohol,
or genuine Cognac brandy, or good old Madeira, is essential to the
beverage to make it truly refreshing.
So to those who have no real devotion or spirituality in
them, and whose animal nature flags
under the oppression of church service, I think with Mr. G., that
instrumental music would be not only a desideratum, but an
essential prerequisite to fire up their souls to even animal devotion.
But I presume, to all
spiritually-minded Christians, such aids would be as a cow bell in a
concert.
A.C.
Musical Worship
Index
Home
Page
Counter added 12.01.04 2272
