J. W. McGarvey: Commentary on Acts and the Civil War

In the fall of 1863 the manuscript of the Commentary on Acts was completed. The composition had occupied all spare time for three years. Twice the work had been slightly interrupted by Military operations; once by the siege of Lexington, Mo. When a Federal brigade which had established a fortified camp there was besieged and forced to surrender by the army of Gen. Sterling Price. The cannonading was distinctly heard at my desk, and the excitement such that writing suspended till the struggle was over. Oldest half-brother was in the battle on Confederate side and was prostrated by a spent minnie ball that struck him on the head.

The second interruption was in Lexington, Ky. when, after the battle at Richmond, the first Confederate army was seen marching into the city under Gen. Kirby Smith. Was at my desk writing when the roll of drums announced the approach of the victorious army, and I went out to the sidewalk to see them march by. Had I been as much excited over the war as most men no such work as a sober commentary on a sacred book could have been prosecuted. Most men then read nothing but newspapers, and when, not thus engaged they were discussing the incidents and prospects of the great struggle.  When the manuscript was completed it was a serious question whether amid the absorption of all minds in the issues of the war, it would be wise to publish the book. On counseling with Franklin and Rice, then publishing the American Christian Review at Cincinnati, decided to publish the Introduction and call upon such brethren as were willing to encourage the publication of the book to make advance subscriptions for it. In a short time subscriptions were made for 1600 copies, and this more than justified the undertaking. It was published by the firm of Franklin and Rice, and met with a gratifying sale until it was superseded thirty years later by a new and enlarged edition of which we will speak farther on.

Autobiography of J. W. McGarvey, pp. 29-30.

The 1906 Division

The 1906 Division – Principles For Today by Alan E. Highers.

A Commentator’s Question’s On The Use of Mechanical Instrumental Music In Worship

“And with them Heman and Jeduthun, to sound aloud with trumpets and cymbals and the musical instruments of God. Now the sons of Jeduthun were gatekeepers” (1 Chronicles 16:42).

• Did God ever ordain instruments of music to be used in his worship?

• Can they be used in Christian assemblies according to the spirit of Christianity?

• Has Jesus Christ, or his apostles, ever commended or sanctioned the use of them?

• Were they ever used any where in the apostolic church?

• Does the use of them at present, in Christian congregations, ever increase the spirit of devotion?

• Does it ever appear that bands of musicians, either in their collective or individual capacity, are more spiritual, or as spiritual, as the other parts of the church of Christ?

• Is there less pride, self-will, stubbornness, insubordination, lightness, and frivolity among such persons than among the other professors of Christianity found in the same religious society?

• Is it ever remarked or known that musicians in the house of God have attained to any depth of piety, or superior soundness of understanding, in the things of God?

• Is it ever found that those churches and Christian societies which have and use instruments of music in divine worship are more holy, or as holy, as those societies which do not use them?

• And is it always found that the ministers which affect and recommend them to be used in the worship of Almighty God, are the most spiritual men, and the most spiritual and useful preachers?

• Can mere sounds, no matter how melodious, where no word nor sentiment is or can be uttered, be considered as giving praise to God?

• Is it possible that pipes or strings of any kind can give God praise?

• Can God be pleased with sounds which are emitted by no sentient being, and have in themselves no meaning?

• If these questions cannot be answered in the affirmative; then, query, Is not the introduction of such instruments into the worship of God antichristian, and calculated to debase and ultimately ruin the spirit and influence of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

• And should not all who wish well to the spread and establishment of pure and undefiled religion, lift up their hand, their influence and their voice against them? The argument from their use in the Jewish service is futile in the extreme when applied to Christianity.

–Clarke’s Commentary, Volume II, pp. 610-611

The following observation is certainly applicable today… (SM)

• “My brethren, we ought to be ashamed to allow a Methodist commentator to lift up his hand more strongly, and use his influence more determinedly,and lift up his voice more loudly than we do against the introduction of things foreign to the simple worship of God” (Fred E. Dennis, Fifty Short Sermons II, p. 75)

Free Bible Commentaries

College Press is offering the old green Bible commentaries series for free in PDF form.

Bible Study Textbook Series

Moses Lard on Restoration

“…The final end to which the restoration should look is a complete return to primitive Christianity, in doctrine, in practice and in spirit. All of which is concisely expressed in the following decision: To believe precisely what the scriptures teach, to practice only what they enjoin and to reject everything else” (Moses E. Lard, Lard’s Quarterly, Vol. 1, p. 11).

The Identity of the Primitive Apostolic Church

In the commendable efforts of various men of the early nineteenth century to restore the Bible order, there were two basic principles to observe: first, the difference between reformation and restoration; and second, the basis of scriptural unity.

The result of the Protestant reformation was orthodox denominationalism. Swinging away from the intolerable dogmas of Romanism, Luther, Calvin, Wesley, and others of the like spirit, built their protestant foundations on the sands of denominational creeds rather than on the rock of New Testament truth–and their foundations shifted with the crawling sands upon which they were built. Their reformations failed, falling far short of their original purpose.

A few generations later it fell to such intellects as Barton W. Stone, Thomas and Alexander Campbell, the Scotts and the Creaths, and a legion like them, to launch the mighty plea to abandon party names, party creeds, party organizations, and upon the right creed, the right name, the right doctrine, the right worship, such as taught in the New Testament itself, to restore the primitive apostolic church, the which couloved be neither Catholic nor Protestant, but scriptural, and therefore divine. There is no other basis of Christian unity—scriptural unity. And there is no other way to establish the identity of the primitive apostolic church. The wrong creed, the wrong doctrine, the wrong worship, the wrong organization and the wrong name could not possibly result in the right church. But the right creed, the right doctrine, the right worship, the right organization and the right name, for a like reason, cannot be the wrong church.

Foy E. Wallace Jr. Bulwarks Of The Faith, pp. 37-38

N.B. Hardeman’s Definition of a Denomination

What is a denomination? It is a religious organization larger than the local church, smaller than the redeemed in the aggregate. Therefore, it comes in between separate and distinct from the church of the Bible at both ends of the line. How is the church used? It is either a local congregation or it embraces all Christians. Now a denomination stands between these, and, therefore, it is a thing unheard of and unknown in the Bible; and, I say it cautiously, respectfully and yet firmly.”

Hardeman’s Tabernacle Sermons Volume 1, 1922, pp. 226-227.

New Testament Teaching on Music in Worship

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives (Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26) At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them (Acts 16:25) And that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name (Romans 15:9) What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding (1 Corinthians 14:15) Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord (Ephesians 5:19) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord (Colossians 3:16) saying: I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You (Hebrews 2:12) Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name (Hebrews 13:15) Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms (James 5:13)

The following is offered as evidence to prove that mechanical instrumental music in the worship of God is sinful.

THE LORD NEVER COMMANDED IT!

”And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17).

THE HOLY SPIRIT NEVER COMMANDED IT!

The Holy Spirit guided apostles into all truth. ”However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come (John 16:13). One cannot follow the Spirit and use mechanical instrumental music in worship to God (Galatians 5:16-17).

THE APOSTLES NEVER AUTHORIZED IT!

They told us to sing (Matthew 26:30; Acts 16:25; Romans 15:9; 1 Corinthians 14:15; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 2:12; 13:15; James 5:13).

IT IS NOT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT!

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). There is no command in the New Testament. There is no example of anyone using mechanical instruments of music in worship!

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC IS ADDING TO GOD’S WORD

Since the practice is unauthorized by the Bible, then it becomes an addition to the Word of God. ”Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds” (2 John 9-11).

CONCLUSION

From Acts 2 to Revelation 22, there is no mention of the early church using mechanical instrumental music in worship! There is no place in the teaching of the apostles, who were guided by the Holy Spirit, where there were ever mechanical instruments of music used in worship!

In conclusion, the question is: Shall Christians go by the authority of the Holy Scriptures in worship, or shall they presume to worship God in whatever way and by whatever means as they may personally be pleased to do so? The principle involved is deeper than the use of the instrument in the worship. The principle involves an attitude toward the Bible, itself. If involves the matter of whether or not the Bible is the inerrant word of God. It involves respect for God, himself. It is a question of whether or not man shall be governed by what God says, or shall every man do that which is right in his own eyes (Rex A. Turner. Sermons And Addresses on the Fundamentals of the Faith, p. 107).

Lethargy and the Church

Brother David Lipscomb used to say, “Brothers and sisters, we are playing at religion.” Unquestionably, lethargy is one of our greatest problems in the church of our generation. Thus, there is a need to arouse the church therefrom.

- Wendell Winkler Lecture in The Restoration: The Winds of Change.

Brother Winkler’s lecture needs to be read, meditated upon, preached, taught, and relayed to the people in our pews. He presents the definition, examples, areas, causes, the cure, the antithesis, and the tragedies of lethargy in the church today.

By clicking on the following link you can download it in PDF.

The Need Of The Present Day: To Arouse The Church From Its Lethargy.