Most people who know anything about the church of Christ know this one thing—there are no mechanical instruments used in worship to God. That means there is: no piano, organ, or band, but simply singing: "lifting up the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips" (Heb. 13:15). The reason for the absence of mechanical instruments is simple—there is no Bible authority for their use in New Testament worship. The only kind of music the early Christians used was "singing" to teach and admonish one another (Col. 3:16) and the only kind of instrument was the "heart" (Eph. 5:19). Since we follow the apostle's doctrine today, this is our pattern for Scriptural worship (Acts 2:42). Unfortunately, that pattern has been abandoned by many today even in some churches of Christ and it all stems back to one small instrument found in Midway, KY.
During the mid 1800's the church of Christ was flourishing, especially in Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana. But, the controversy over instrumental music was growing. Denominations had already started using them in worship and many brethren thought that they were behind the denominations by not using them. So, in 1851 J.B. Henshall (editor of the Ecclesiastical Reformer) printed an article (among others) showing the drift toward using instruments in worship. When Alexander Campbell (who was interested in staying true to the Scriptures) heard about it, he replied with the following: "So to those who have no real devotion or spirituality in them, and whose animal nature flags under the oppression of church service, I think that instrumental music would be not only a desideratum, but an essential prerequisite to fire up their souls to even animal devotion. But I presume, to all spiritually-minded Christians such aids would be as a cow bell in a concert.” Campbell understood that God was not pleased with such and urged others to consider this fact.
So, how was this “cow bell in a concert” added into worship? In 1860, L.L. Pinkerton (preacher for the church in Midway, KY) stated that he was the only preacher in Kentucky who had publicly advocated the use of instruments in worship. Even though some were probably using instruments around 1851, the church at Midway has the distinction of being the first congregation on record to introduce mechanical instrumental music to their worship. The instrument was a melodeon which the members used to practice their singing on Saturday nights. Then, the melodeon was moved into the church building to get the right pitch before singing. Finally, it was decided that it should be used to accompany their singing in worship on the Lord's Day. Today, the use of instrumental music in worship is becoming more and more popular. However, we can never allow what God does not authorize (Col. 3:17). Unfortunately, many souls will be lost for following the wide path of the majority (Mat. 7:13,14). We must “hold fast the form of sound words” (2 Tim. 1:13).
~Derrick Coble
During the mid 1800's the church of Christ was flourishing, especially in Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana. But, the controversy over instrumental music was growing. Denominations had already started using them in worship and many brethren thought that they were behind the denominations by not using them. So, in 1851 J.B. Henshall (editor of the Ecclesiastical Reformer) printed an article (among others) showing the drift toward using instruments in worship. When Alexander Campbell (who was interested in staying true to the Scriptures) heard about it, he replied with the following: "So to those who have no real devotion or spirituality in them, and whose animal nature flags under the oppression of church service, I think that instrumental music would be not only a desideratum, but an essential prerequisite to fire up their souls to even animal devotion. But I presume, to all spiritually-minded Christians such aids would be as a cow bell in a concert.” Campbell understood that God was not pleased with such and urged others to consider this fact.
So, how was this “cow bell in a concert” added into worship? In 1860, L.L. Pinkerton (preacher for the church in Midway, KY) stated that he was the only preacher in Kentucky who had publicly advocated the use of instruments in worship. Even though some were probably using instruments around 1851, the church at Midway has the distinction of being the first congregation on record to introduce mechanical instrumental music to their worship. The instrument was a melodeon which the members used to practice their singing on Saturday nights. Then, the melodeon was moved into the church building to get the right pitch before singing. Finally, it was decided that it should be used to accompany their singing in worship on the Lord's Day. Today, the use of instrumental music in worship is becoming more and more popular. However, we can never allow what God does not authorize (Col. 3:17). Unfortunately, many souls will be lost for following the wide path of the majority (Mat. 7:13,14). We must “hold fast the form of sound words” (2 Tim. 1:13).
~Derrick Coble