Questions & Answers about Primitive Baptists
by Elder Tim McCool
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Why do Primitive Baptists prefer a cappella singing?
There is no biblical precedent for the usage of musical instruments in New Testament worship. The scriptures give repeated instructions to sing in the church, but never to play (Rom. 15:9; 1 Cor. 14:15; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; Heb. 2:12; James 5:13). Things that affect the setting of worship (i.e., electric lights, air conditioners, etc.) are not a part of the worship service and are allowable. A disctinction must also be made between an addition to the New Testament pattern and an aid to this pattern. Electric lights, songbooks, reference Bibles, etc., are aids to worship, but musical instruments are additions to worship. It is commonly objected that Psalm 150 offers instruction to praise the Lord with various kinds of musical instruments. However, these instructions are not referring to New Testament worship. Procedure used in Old Testament worship obviously cannot be used to amend the New Testament pattern; otherwise, animal sacrificees, priests, etc., could be legitimately introduced into the church. It should be observed that Psalm 150 also commands to praise the Lord with dance (Psalm 150:4), yet those who use the Psalm to defend musical instruments would generally condemn dancing in the church. Furthermore, the prophet Amos condemned the very musical instruments David invented (Amos 6:1-5).
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