Poimen
Puritan Board Post-Graduate
Question about the 'a cappella' position
In my reading about this position I have seen frequent citation of 1 Corinthians 14:19: "in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousands words in a tongue" (not only has this verse been used to support the 'a capella' position recently but also in the past).
However I don't see the connection between the two issues. The best I can do is to conclude that these authors believe that the organ (the preferred instrument of yesteryear) or the popular praise instruments of today are 'speaking' in an unknown tongue. It seems to me that this is not really the point of the text (which is obvious) but I assume I am also missing something (as is often my experience with arguments from scripture with which I am not acquainted). If someone can help me to see the bridge between this verse and the question of using instruments in worship, please do so.
In my reading about this position I have seen frequent citation of 1 Corinthians 14:19: "in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousands words in a tongue" (not only has this verse been used to support the 'a capella' position recently but also in the past).
However I don't see the connection between the two issues. The best I can do is to conclude that these authors believe that the organ (the preferred instrument of yesteryear) or the popular praise instruments of today are 'speaking' in an unknown tongue. It seems to me that this is not really the point of the text (which is obvious) but I assume I am also missing something (as is often my experience with arguments from scripture with which I am not acquainted). If someone can help me to see the bridge between this verse and the question of using instruments in worship, please do so.
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