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Ephesians 5:19 – Our Bodies As Instrumental Music #1
Nearly all religious backgrounds from which early Christians came – Jewish, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and more – had instrumental practices. For centuries churches claiming allegiance to Christ did not use instruments in musical praise. All this explains the term acapella literally meaning in the manner of the church. Even the famed Baptist Charles Spurgeon, “the Prince of Preachers” was acapella.
This historical argument is the clearest to see; and yet the weakest since not inspired. However it does prompt the question “What did all these early believers think that is no longer believed by most today?”
Some early reasons were negative such as instruments’ association with paganized religious sexual exploitations. A more positive reason contrasted the “childish” materialistic physical Jewish worship being fulfilled; resulting in a matured, spiritualized new covenant worship.
Another positive explanation includes a higher, holier, and spiritual view of the human body (which explains the reactionary position of the gnostics). The physical body became the spiritual temple (1 Corinthians 6:19). Consequently early apologists argued the body became the instrument used in sacrifice including musical praise (Rom.12:1-2; Heb.13:9-16).
This higher view of the physical body is contrary to pagan, gnostic, and Jewish temple worship (synagogues did not use instruments). Such a view of the body and worship continues to be contrary to our pagan and religious cultures.
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