I ran across an article describing the introduction of an organ into the worship service of the Broadway Christian Church in Lexington, Kentucky. The instrument was “voted in” in November of 1902. This came despite the objection of a famous and beloved preacher and elder in the congregation named J.W. McGarvey. This incident brings up a few points that I thought I would share.
Members Must Know Their Bible
J.W. McGarvey was a well-known preacher, writer, and teacher who served as head of the College of the Bible at Transylvania University in Lexington. He had been a preacher or elder with the Broadway congregation for 50-years. Yet he was unable to stop the divisive introduction of an organ into worship. Why?
An individual leader is not enough. Individual members within a congregation must know their Bibles and be able to defend the truth. Knowledgeable leaders are not enough. We must individually be able to, “make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you;”-I Peter 3:15. If not, what happens when those few who know the Bible leave or pass away?
In McGarvey’s case, it happened while he was still there. The congregation ignored what he had to say. According to an article by Henry S. Ficklin, “It was largely on account of his (McGarvey’s-JS) influence that the use of mechanical instruments had not begun before this time1.” But McGarvey saw the writing on the wall and began worshipping with the Chestnut Street congregation across town that did not use instrumental music. Within months of his departure, the organ was introduced at Broadway.
What happened? The congregation had no individuals with a strong background in biblical authority. They were more interested in modern innovation and being like the religious bodies around them than following the word of God. Like Israel, they wanted to be, “like all the nations.”-I Samuel 8:5. And even though they had a righteous preacher in their midst (Samuel, McGarvey), the people had rejected the Lord as their king and had followed man-made things. It doesn’t matter what the preacher, judge, or elders know. If the members of a church are weak in their faith and Bible knowledge, sin is crouching at a congregation’s door.
The Instrument and The Society
In studying about the great split that occurred between Christian Churches and Churches of Christ in the late 1800’s, there are two issues that always go together. People, preachers, and congregations that are in favor of mechanical instruments of music also favor what are known as “societies.” As early as the 1840’s, churches began participating in missionary societies which took funds from local churches and placed them under a separate society to oversee sending preachers out on missions. From the beginning this was opposed as unscriptural. The same groups that supported outside societies eventually accepted mechanical instruments of music.
The pattern reversed to some extent 50-years later with the organ leading the way for societies. Then 50-years later again the idea of taking money from local churches and giving it to societies split the church. This time support for colleges, orphans homes, and so-called sponsoring churches came first. From 1950-1970, this led to a division into what we know as institutional or non-institutional churches. The North Second Street church does not support outside institutions or use mechanical instruments of music in worship.
At this point, you may say, “Preacher you have it wrong. My institutional congregation supports the society but rejects the instrument!” First of all, a little leaven. Secondly, what has begun to creep into institutional churches of Christ in the past 10-years? You guessed it, the instrument. In 2009, a national directory of churches reported 21 congregations using instrumental music and that number has more than doubled in the past four years (This bulletin article is at least seven-years old and this number has increased exponentially-JS).
So, what’s the point? Know the Scriptures for yourself! Don’t rely on church leaders or somebody else to uphold the faith. Do you know why we worship only with congregational singing? Secondly, don’t think that one little change won’t be that big of a deal. One change follows another until a congregation no longer looks like a church from the New Testament. Do you know why this congregation operates the way it does? Do you know how churches in the Bible used the funds taken up for the work of the church?
Know your Bible. Seek to follow, “the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.”-II Thessalonians 2:15. Make sure we have a thus sayeth the Lord for the things we do and know where to find it in your Bible.
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