You see, every abomination to the Lord has a mother, something or somebody gave birth to it. The bible speaks of “the mother of all abominations”. The reason why we have multitude of christian or gospel songs today that are very dishonoring to God not only in the type of music it bears but also in the doctrine that they convey, is because of man’s supposition that he can improve on what God has already made and provided. Note that God never commanded us to compose but to sing, which implies that whatever is to be sung is already there and was readily provided. The composing of new songs and the addition of instrumental accopaniment are two of the major things that man has thought of in trying to improve the ways of God. All these use of electric guitars and drums with all the gadgets that christians use today not only in worship but in recordings as well, did they not start with the use of the organ which is the mother? The same is true why we have these dishhonoring wordings in many hymns and gospel songs due doctrinal unsoundness.

I afraid, my inadequacy in trying to express my thoughts about this may be noticed but the very words of The Spalmist is very clear, “As for God His way is Perfect, The word of The Lord is tried.”

Thank you for your charitable response.

1. I believe that the phrase “the words of David, and of Asaph the seer” is a reference to “the Psalter,” as far as it was completed to that time. When the NT uses the term “scripture” or “scriptures,” it is usually a reference to the OT. However, such commands as “search the scriptures,” or promises as “all scripture is given by inspiration of God,” are rightly understood as today applying equally to the NT Scriptures, following the completion of the canon. Likewise, I believe that 2 Chron. 29:302 Chronicles 29:30
[30]And Hezekiah the king and the officials commanded
the Levites to sing praises to the LORD with the words of
David and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with
gladness, and they bowed down and worshiped. (ESV)

gives warrant to sing “the Psalter,” which had a completed canon following the exile.

2. I do not believe that the book of Revelation presents the forms we are to use in our corporate worship services. Their use of song constitute integral parts of that prophecy, and do not condone our use of such songs in our public worship; any more than the presence of a temple, an altar, incense, harps, etc. condone our use of such forms.

3. Understand, I believe the Psalms to speak fully and clearly of our Saviour in His person, offices, work, and states. My objection was aimed solely at the objection which I frequently hear, that “If we confine ourselves to the Psalms, we cannot sing the name ‘Jesus.’” Constructed as a syllogism, the argument would run thus:

Major premise: If we sing only Psalms in worship, we cannot sing the name of Jesus (because the name “Jesus” does not appear in the Psalms).
Minor premise: But we are commanded to sing the name of Jesus in worship.
Conclusion: Therefore, our songs in worship must not be limited to the Psalms.

I would contest the minor premise, as having no Scriptural warrant. But, again, I have never seen such a view presented as anything other than an emotional (not logical or Scriptural) appeal, or “sentimentalism,” as I said; an attachment to the name “Jesus” which insists on that name (and not “Yeshua,” “Joshua,” etc.), even when He is present in His person, offices, work, and states.

4. I do not understand any such passages as constituting “hymn fragments.” I find no warrant to conclude that they were pieces of poetry, or that they were songs, or that they were sung in public Christian assemblies, or that they were uninspired compositions. I recognize the *possibility* of new hymns having been given by inspiration of the Holy Ghost during the apostolic era, while the canon of the NT was still being completed. Such “charismatic hymns,” whether or not they actually existed, would give no warrant for men today to write uninspired compositions and presume to set them on the same level with the Psalms of Holy Scripture.

Thank you for so articulately describing not only your convictions, but also convictions that many people hold. I humbly ask the following questions to try to make sense of what you are saying in my own (very fallen!) mind.

(1) Do you believe that 2 Chronicles 29:302 Chronicles 29:30
[30]And Hezekiah the king and the officials commanded
the Levites to sing praises to the LORD with the words of
David and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with
gladness, and they bowed down and worshiped. (ESV)

is speaking about the 150 Psalms in our bibles today? Weren’t at least some of of the psalms written after the exile? And do you sing the psalms written after Hezekiah or is your cannon of psalms compiled after Hezekiah’s command?

(2) Do you believe the songs in Revelation (like Revelation 15Revelation 15
[15:1]Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and
amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the
last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.
[2]And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled
with fire--and also those who had conquered the beast and
its image and the number of its name, standing beside the
sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. [3]And they
sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of
the Lamb, saying,
"Great and amazing are your deeds,
O Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are your ways,
O King of the nations!
[4]Who will not fear, O Lord,
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed."
[5]After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of
witness in heaven was opened, [6]and out of the sanctuary
came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in
pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests.
[7]And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven
angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who
lives forever and ever, [8]and the sanctuary was filled
with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no
one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of
the seven angels were finished. (ESV)

) are inappropriate for people to sing before the consummation? It seems to be appropriate for us to sing this in heaven, but what is the reason to wait?

(3) Would you mind clarifying what you mean as “sheer sentimentalism” as the only motivation wishing to corporately sing songs which mention our Savior’s name and describes His perfect work for us on the cross? Sentimentalism for what, exactly?

(4) Many people consider passages such as Philippians 2:6-11Philippians 2:6-11
[6]who, though he was in the form of God, did not count
equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7]but made
himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born
in the likeness of men. [8]And being found in human form,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of
death, even death on a cross. [9]Therefore God has highly
exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above
every name, [10]so that at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
[11]and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to
the glory of God the Father. (ESV)

, Colossians 1:15-20Colossians 1:15-20
[15]He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn
of all creation. [16]For by him all things were created, in
heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones
or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were
created through him and for him. [17]And he is before all
things, and in him all things hold together. [18]And he is
the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the
firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be
preeminent. [19]For in him all the fullness of God was
pleased to dwell, [20]and through him to reconcile to
himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making
peace by the blood of his cross. (ESV)

and 1 Timothy 3:161 Timothy 3:16
[16]Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of
godliness:
He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.

, to be the apostles condoning of new hymns. How do you read such passages?

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Matthew Westerholm

1. The debate doesn’t begin with “only psalms or not?” but with the regulative principle. You either must believe that we are free to do in worship whatever is not prohibited, or you are only free to do that which is commanded by God. Those holding to EP obviously begin with the second view, the regulative principle. If one isn’t committed to the RP, this debate almost becomes moot.

2. If you begin with the RP, then the burden of proof is not on those holding to EP, but on those wishing to introduce uninspired songs into worship. We know that we are to sing psalms ( Col 3:16Colossians 3:16
[16]Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching
and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms
and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your
hearts to God. (ESV)

; Ps. 47:7Psalm 47:7
[7]For God is the King of all the earth;
sing praises with a psalm!

), so psalm-singing should be our basic assumption. Only when God explicitly commands the composing of new songs should we presume to do so.

3. Re: preaching and praying. For both preaching and praying we have command and example for new covenant believers. Paul instructs us to pray “with every kind of request” ( Eph. 6:18Ephesians 6:18
[18]praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer
and supplication. To that end keep alert with all
perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, (ESV)

) and we see the apostles proclaiming the word uniquely to unique contexts and individuals. But we simply do not see the apostles or early church composing and singing new praise to God. Is this simply Luke’s oversight? Or, more to the point, would God have left out something so important?

4. Though there may be some historical question, all signs point to the overwhelming use of psalms exclusively in worship in the apostolic and early church.

5. The psalms speak directly, clearly, distinctly about Jesus. Is some of the language shadowed? Yes, but we have the light of the face of Christ to shine upon the Psalter and thus can revel in their full depth.

6. Finally, and I can’t stress this enough, Jesus sang the psalms with his disciples! All commentators agree that he sang the great hallel with his disciples in Mt. 26:30. Hopefully, this doesn’t sound trite, but if the Savior didn’t feel a need to compose and sing new praise to the Father, if He relied on the fullness and depth of the Psalter, why shouldn’t we?

Truly, I hope these comments come across your screen graciously; I realize topics of worship are sensitive and close to the heart of all those who love Christ.

1. The fact that God has appointed the Psalter to serve as a hymnbook for His people demonstrates that His regulation of song in worship extends to which particular songs or songbook will be used.

2. None of the songs in Scripture appearing outside of the Psalter, whether in the Old or New Testament, have been appointed by God to be sung in worship, as the Psalter has been appointed (see 2 Chron. 29:302 Chronicles 29:30
[30]And Hezekiah the king and the officials commanded
the Levites to sing praises to the LORD with the words of
David and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with
gladness, and they bowed down and worshiped. (ESV)

).

3. Preaching and prayer are elements of worship distinct from singing God’s praise, and are regulated in ways different than this part of worship. Besides, “The reading of the Scriptures with godly fear” is another element of worship, as well as these others (WCF 21.5); but no one supposes that we may add our own words to Scripture. If we may not add books or chapters to the Bible, why would we be allowed to add songs to God’s perfect hymnbook, the Psalter?

4. The book, as a whole, is called “Sepher Tehillim” — “Book of Praises,” or “Book of Hymns.” Additionally, the statement in 2 Chronicles 29:302 Chronicles 29:30
[30]And Hezekiah the king and the officials commanded
the Levites to sing praises to the LORD with the words of
David and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with
gladness, and they bowed down and worshiped. (ESV)

, that they should “sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer,” is clearly a reference to the Psalter as a whole, not singling out particular Psalms as suitable or unsuitable. And if you will say the Psalms are not all suitable to be sung, why not say they are unsuitable to be read as well?

5. Christ and His apostles found the Psalter to be a sufficient manual of praise. If it were not sufficient, but had to be supplemented by later, new covenant hymns, then God Himself would supply the supposed defect, and add inspired songs to His inspired Psalter. The fact that He has not done so demonstrates that there is no such deficiency in the Psalter.

6. When we sing the Psalms “with understanding,” we sing of Christ our Saviour, from the Perfect Man of Psalm 1Psalm 1
[1:1]Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
[2]but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
[3]He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
[4]The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
[5]Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
[6]for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.

, to the final “Praise ye the LORD” of Psalm 150Psalm 150
[150:1]Praise the LORD!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens!
[2]Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his excellent greatness!
[3]Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp!
[4]Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!
[5]Praise him with sounding cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
[6]Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD!

. It is sheer sentimentalism, and nothing more, which adds uninspired hymns to God’s perfect Psalter, because none of them contain the bare word “Jesus,” though they are full of the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God gave us His Word; and with and in that word, God gave us a hymnbook. His Word is our only inspired rule of faith and life (Sola Scriptura); and His hymnbook is our only authorized collection of compositions from which to sing His praise (Solum Psalterium).

God bless!