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Mike, I try not to react too personally when my position is characterized as stubborn or an unreasoned product of the way I was raised, but you are quite wrong about both. I don't think you're trying to be insulting, but there is a suggestion that you simply dismiss what is being said because you have made assumptions about the source. I believe as I do because I have investigated to the best of my ability and considered a myriad of ideas and possibilities. I try to pay attention to thoughts and interpretations of all sorts, from many sources, and determine what is true and what is not. I can never "prove" that to you, but I believe God wants to to "test everything and hold on to what is good." My conclusions about music, and baptism, and evolution, and scores of other issues are based on studying pros and cons, consideration of various positions, wondering what the fallacies are, wrestling with issues and trying to understand how things really are. Faith has not been a given for me, but a struggle and a conclusion based on weighing many alternatives. You, and anyone else, are free and welcome to assume that I or anyone have simply accepted a party line, but do try to consider the evidence lest you, yourself, be that person who is unwilling to change his mind. It is certainly true that the same approach to scripture that leads me to conclude instruments are completely inappropriate for the music of the church also leads to other conclusions. God was specific in what he wanted, singing. He was specific about who should sing, and when and why, and what should be sung. By what he endorsed, and the way he endorsed it, I do believe that he excluded substituting something else, including playing instruments. That doesn't mean a pianist can't glorify God in their work, anymore than it means a surveyor can't glorify God in his work, just that the church meeting isn't the place for it. With this approach, letting God tell us what He wants, I would no more add "play" to "sing" (or substitute it) than I would add a manicure to baptism or substitute "sprinkle" or "pour" for "immerse" in baptism. I would approach adding a guitar to the music of the church the same way I would approach adding a side salad to the Lord's Table. God was specific about what to do, what to include, and what it means. He gave reasons why to do it as He prescribed, not as people desire. The history of religious failure, both ancient and modern, is as much the presumption of embellishing what God has asked for as the failure to do it. 1 Cor 4:6 Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. (NIV)
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