Drumming Up
Spirits In Our Service!
Eden Regained Ministries
Published By:
Douglasville, GA
Eden Regained Ministries
www.edenregained.com
Chapter 1
The Church Is God's Appointed Agency.
“For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye
sons of Jacob are not consumed. “ Malachi 3:6. We are living in solemn times
brethren. We may very well be the generation to see the close of probation and
witness our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ coming in the clouds of heaven. There
is not a moment to waste with worldly activities that will cause us to be
unprepared to meet our Saviour. The prophet of the Lord puts it this way:
“The church is God's appointed agency for the salvation
of men. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to
the world. From the beginning it has been God's plan that through His church
shall be reflected to the world His fullness and His sufficiency. The members
of the church, those whom He has called out of darkness into His marvelous
light, are to show forth His glory.” AA 9.1 (Acts of the Apostles)
We have a special commission to give the final warning
message to the world. Some have allowed the enemy of souls to distract them and
instead are inadvertently working to the advancement of Satan’s kingdom. Dear
brethren, if we understand our responsibilities and look unto Jesus for
guidance, we will not be deceived by this most dangerous enemy.
“The church
of God below is one with the church
of God above. Believers
on the earth and the beings in heaven who have never fallen
constitute one church. Every heavenly intelligence is
interested in the assemblies of the saints who on earth meet
to worship God. In the inner court of heaven they listen to
the testimony of the witnesses for Christ in the outer court on earth, and the praise and
thanksgiving from the worshipers below is taken up in the heavenly anthem, and
praise and rejoicing sound through the heavenly courts because Christ has not
died in vain for the fallen sons of Adam. While angels drink from the
fountainhead, the saints on earth drink of the pure streams
flowing from the throne, the streams that make glad the city of our God. Oh,
that we could all realize the nearness of heaven to earth!
. . . In every assembly of the saints below are angels of God, listening to the
testimonies, songs, and prayers. Let us remember that our praises are
supplemented by the choirs of the angelic host above.” {AG 75.4} God’s
Amazing Grace
The heavenly beings are
involved and interested in every assembly of the people of God here below and
are “listening to the testimonies, songs,
and prayers”. Can we truly imagine that? This shows the importance of our
gathering to worship God and that every activity either meets the approval of
God or is the inspiration of the enemy of souls. The enemy of souls has his
counterfeit to God’s Spirit and this is manifested in a fanaticism, false
excitement and noise.
"Fanaticism, false excitement, false talking in tongues, and noisy exercises have been considered
gifts which God has placed in the church. Some have been deceived here. The
fruits of all this have not been good. ‘Ye shall know them by their fruits.’
Fanaticism and noise have been considered special evidences of faith. Some
are not satisfied with a meeting unless they have a powerful and happy time.
They work for this and get up an excitement of feeling. But the
influence of such meetings is not beneficial. When the happy flight of feeling
is gone they sink lower than before the meeting because their happiness did not come from the right source."
Last Day
Events, 159, 160.
On another occasion, Sister
White testified concerning some events that God had shown her. The importance
of this quote should not be understated. It clearly brings to mind what we are
battling on this earth; the forces that are at work against us.
“But
last January the Lord showed me that erroneous theories and methods would be
brought into our camp meetings, and that the history of the past would be
repeated. I felt greatly distressed. I was instructed to say that at these
demonstrations demons in the form of men
are present, working with all the ingenuity that Satan can employ to make
the truth disgusting to sensible people; that the enemy was trying to arrange
matters so that the camp meetings, which have been the means of bringing the
truth of the third angel's message before multitudes, should lose their force
and influence.” 2SM 37.3
Please notice what Sister
White says: "demons in the form of men are present." Dear Adventist
friend, beware!
Chapter 2
Strange Sounds and Foreign Beats
There is something that has crept into the church that
is of a great concern to us. This is a most dangerous threat to our church and
can easily the underestimated. God’s prophet has warned us that this would
happen. This is what the prophet of the Lord says:
“The things you have
described . . . the Lord has shown me would take place just before the close of probation. Every uncouth thing will be
demonstrated. There will be shouting, with drums,
music, and dancing. The senses of rational beings will become so confused
that they cannot be trusted to make right decisions. And this is called the
moving of the Holy Spirit.
“ The Holy
Spirit never reveals itself in such
methods, in such a bedlam of noise. This is an invention of Satan to cover up
his ingenious methods for making of none effect the pure, sincere, elevating,
ennobling, sanctifying truth for this time. . . . A bedlam of noise shocks the senses and perverts that
which if conducted aright might be a blessing. The powers of Satanic agencies blend with the din and noise, to
have a carnival, and this is termed the Holy Spirit's working. . . . Those
participating in the supposed revival receive impressions which lead them
adrift. They cannot tell what they formerly knew regarding Bible principles.
No
encouragement should be given to this kind of worship. The same kind of
influence came in after the passing of the time in 1844. The same kind of
representations were made. Men became excited, and were worked by a power
thought to be the power of God. . . .
Men and women, supposed to be guided by the Holy
Spirit, held meetings in a state of nudity. They talked about holy flesh. They
said they were beyond the power of temptation, and they sang, and shouted, and
made all manner of noisy demonstrations. . . . Satan was moulding the work, and
sensuality was the result. The cause of God was dishonored. Truth, sacred
truth, was leveled in the dust by human agencies. . . .
I bore my
testimony, declaring that these fanatical movements, this din and noise, were
inspired by the spirit of Satan, who was working miracles to deceive if
possible the very elect.
We need to be on our guard, to maintain a close
connection with Christ, that we be not deceived by Satan's devices. The Lord
desires to have in His service order and discipline, not excitement and
confusion.”
Maranatha p.
234
The quote above should be sufficient for
the sincere follower of Christ to ask themselves; am I honoring God by the way
I conduct the church worship service? Or, are we inadvertently inviting satanic
influences into out service and believing that we are serving Jesus Christ? Every
member is responsible for sharing the truth concerning these issues with our
brethren that are willingly ignorant and those who were just not taught these
truths. We need to have a close relationship with our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ in order for us to stand in these last days. We cannot afford to risk
our salvation by engaging in activities than cannot be reconciled with the Word
of God. God has given us sufficient warning that the sincere follower of Christ
need not be deceived. These strange spirits have been invited into our services
and unless we totally recommit our lives to Jesus we will be swept away by this
current of satanic error.
“As the storm approaches, a large class
who have professed faith in the third angel's message, but have not been
sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position, and join the
ranks of the opposition. By uniting with
the world and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in
nearly the same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to
choose the easy, popular side. Men of talent and pleasing address, who once
rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls. They become the most bitter enemies of
their former brethren.
We are in the shaking time, the time when everything that can be shaken
will be shaken.” Faith I Live By - p 336
We should be careful not to unite with
the world. This unity may involve doctrines, activities and music. Often, this
uniting is never an instant change but almost always involve a gradual
compromise in order to please some worldly desire. We often believe that becoming a follower of Christ is just a
change in the external man and we seldom realize that it actually involves a
rebirth. We must put away the old man and live a new life in Jesus where we
make no provision for sin either through our family traditions, cultural values,
pagan religious traditions or any cherished characteristic of the old man. The
acceptance of Jesus as our personal saviour is just the beginning of the
sanctification process. Dear Adventist
friend, beware!
Chapter 3
Beating The Worldly Drums.
In order to have a better perspective of
the issues of music but drums in particular, let us see how the world views
their own gods. We are in a fallen world where sinful men are showing homage to
the masters they have chosen.
Ezek. 22:26 says:
“Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned
mine holy things: they have put no
difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and
the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among
them.”
God’s people are to separate themselves from all
appearance of evil and also considering our brethren lest we be a means of
stumbling to them. In God’s word there is sharp distinction between the holy
and the profane.
James 4:4 says:
“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the
friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a
friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
Now, let us see what worldly
sources say about drums. Things of God are not pleasing to the world nor are
worldly activities pleasing to God. We cannot use the methods of the world and
believe that righteousness will be the result. As the world testifies of it
methods, we can see more clearly what God has warned us about.
Drums and Demonic influence:
“When
the drum set finally appeared on the platform, I believe the church reached the
steepest and most dangerous part of the slope. More than any other instrument,
a drum set is the key instrument of contemporary music styles” (Dan Lucarini
Confessions of a Former Worship Leader, p. 121).
It is the drum more than any
other instrument that pounds out the back beat in a rock band. Not only is the
drum an instrument that is as the heart of pounding out a rock & roll back
beat in modern society, but it is also intimately associated with the demonic. Drums
are known to have the power to alter the state of conciousness of people and to
“carry people into spirit worlds”.
Mickey Hart, drummer for the
Grateful Dead, has traveled the world researching the power of drums. In his
book Drumming at the Edge of Magic he observes:
“Everywhere
you look on the planet people are using
drums to alter consciousness. … I’ve discovered, along with many others,
the extraordinary power of music, particularly percussion, to influence the
human mind and body. . . . There have been many times when i’ve felt as if the drum has carried me to an open door into another
world.” (http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/drumsand.htm)
“Mickey Hart is not a
professing Christian, but his observation that certain types of rhythm produced
by drums can alter consciousness and carry people into other worlds is a loud
warning to believers who understand the danger of the demonic. The Bible tells
us that there are two spirit worlds, that of God and that of the devil. These
worlds are not equal and their power is not equal, but the reality of the
demonic world is something that every Christian must learn to deal with. The
Bible calls the devil “the prince of the power of the air” and warns that this
fallen angel “now worketh in the children of disobedience” (Eph. 2:2). The
Bible speaks of “the rulers of the darkness of this world” and “spiritual
wickedness in high places” (Eph. 6:12).” (http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/drumsand.htm)
Pearl Primus, an expert on
voodoo, says:
“THE DRUMMERS KEEP UP A TERRIFIC THROB AND BEAT WHICH
VERY EASILY TAKES POSSESSION OF THE SENSIBILITIES OF THE WORSHIPPERS. Observers
say that THESE DRUMS THEMSELVES ARE ABLE TO BRING A PERSON TO A PLACE WHERE IT
IS EASY FOR THE DEITY (LOA) TO TAKE POSSESSION of their bodies--the defenseless
person is buffeted by each stroke as the drummer sets out to ‘beat the loa
(god) into his head: The person cringes with each large (accented) beat as if
the drum mallet descended upon his very skull; he ricochets about the place,
clutching blindly at the arms extended to support him” (Pearl
Primus, lecture, Mount Holyoke College, Holyoke, Massachusetts, Mary E. Wooley
Hall, 1953; cited from Leonard J. Seidel, Face the Music: Contemporary Church Music on Trial, 1988, pp.
43-42).
The connection between rock & roll and
voodoo has been stated by unsaved rock musicians. The British rock session
drummer, Rocki (Kwasi Dzidzornu), who has recorded with many famous groups such
as the Rolling Stones, Spooky Tooth, and Ginger Baker, understood that the
music of Jimi Hendrix was akin to voodoo. Note the following amazing statement
from Hendrix’s biography:
“He [Hendrix] had gotten a chance to see Rocki and
some other African musicians on the London
scene. He found it a pleasure to play rhythms against their polyrhythms. They
would totally get outside, into another kind of space that he had seldom been
in before. ... ROCKI’S FATHER WAS A VOODOO PRIEST AND THE CHIEF DRUMMER OF A
VILLAGE IN GHANA, West Africa. Rocki’s real
name was Kwasi Dzidzornu. ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS ROCKI ASKED JIMI WAS WHERE HE
GOT THAT VOODOO RHYTHM FROM. When Jimi demurred, Rocki went on to explain in
his halting English that MANY OF THE SIGNATURE RHYTHMS JIMI PLAYED ON GUITAR
WERE VERY OFTEN THE SAME RHYTHMS THAT HIS FATHER PLAYED IN VOODOO CEREMONIES.
The way Jimi danced to the rhythms of his playing reminded Rocki of the
ceremonial dances to the rhythms his father played to Oxun, the god of thunder
and lightning. The ceremony is called voodooshi. As a child in the village,
Rocki would carve wooden representatives of the gods. They also represented his
ancestors. These were the gods they worshiped. They would jam a lot in Jimi’s house.
One time they were jamming and Jimi stopped and asked Rocki point-blank, ‘You
communicate with God, do you?’ Rocki said, ‘Yes, I communicate with God’” (David
Henderson, ‘Scuse Me While I Kiss the
Sky, pp. 250,251).
“[Drums] represents the beat of the heart and is
played to summon up magic powers” (Miranda Bruce-Mitford, The Illustrated Book of Signs & Symbols,
DK Publishing, 1996 p. 80).
“The shaman was the original ‘long hair’, the first
rock star draped in leather, dancing possessed to a rhythm banged out on a
DRUM. . . To these people, COMMUNICATION WITH THE GODS WAS SYNONYMOUS WITH
DRUMS . . . the body can become the conduit for a deity, a deity not
necessarily the same sex as the worshiper, and DRUMS ARE THE CATALYST FOR THE
WHOLE PROCESS. The trance of the RHYTHM then begets the hysteria, which begets
what Westerners simplistically call ‘possession’” (Danny
Sugerman, Appetite for Destruction,
p. 208, 181).
In Siberia, in northern Asia,
drums are used in shamanic rituals to heal people. It is believed that THE
SHAMAN CAN COMMUNICATE WITH THE SPIRIT WORLD THROUGH DRUMMING (Louise
Tythacott, Musical Instruments, Thomas Learning, 1995, p. 37).
“Today’s
drummer differs but little from the Shaman in his incessant beating out of a
rhythm, and likewise often enters into a form of trance while performing”
(David Tame, The Secret Power of Music, p. 199).
Here’s what Robert Palmer, a secular
authority on rock music, says about rock and the drum:
“The
idea that certain RHYTHM patterns or sequences serve as conduits for spiritual
energies, linking individual human consciousness with the gods, is basic to
traditional African religions, and to African-derived religions throughout the Americas.
And whether we’re speaking historically or musicologically, the fundamental
riffs, licks, bass figures, and drum rhythms that make rock and roll can
ultimately be traced back to African music of a primarily spiritual or ritual
nature. In a sense, rock and roll is a kind of ‘voodoo’ . . . ” (Palmer, Rock & Roll, An Unruly History,
Harmony Books, New York, 1995, p. 53)
When
the first black slaves from Africa were converted to Christianity in America
they knew the evil power and influence of DRUMS because of their background.
And the converted blacks strictly forbid the use of drums! They referred to
them as “the Devil’s drum” (Martha
Bayles, Hole in Our Soul: The Loss of Beauty and Meaning in American Popular
Music, p. 138).
We have read what the secular
sources say about the meaning of drums to them and their purpose for using
them. Job 14:4 tells us: “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not
one”. Neither can we make an unclean thing acceptable to God. But we have made
compromises by allowing our worship services to gradually change to the worldly
standard. Years ago, we began by using sound tracks when special music was sung
in church. These sound tracks had all kinds of music and drums. Once this first
step was made, one could easily reason that we already had the drums in the
church through the sound tracks and therefore it could not be problem to use
drums, just as long as we played it in a “tasteful” manner. Many have been lead
to believe that after all, “no instrument is evil, it is just the manner it is
used”. This is false. The drum is unclean and unholy and false excitement type
music is dangerous. Dear Adventist brethren, please read what God has to say
very carefully!
Chapter 4
Sacred Purpose of Music
We have previously read that certain forms of
worship invite demonic spirits into our midst. How can we honor God’s Holy
Sabbath Day and at the same time invite evil spirits by the music we use during
our worship service? Indeed, this is impossible. We cannot serve God and Mammon
(Matt 6:24 ).
After 1844, we have been living in the
antitypical day of atonement. During this period we should be earnestly seeking
God with all our hearts that our sins may be blotted out of the Heavenly
Sanctuary and not our name from the Book of Life. The whole plan of salvation
revolves around God’s Sanctuary. In order to understand our duties and
responsibilities we need to have a clear understanding of our position in God’s
plan of salvation in reference to his Sanctuary. We need to understand the
sacred use of music in God’s earthly church services and how the teachings here
on earth are connected to the heavenly service. Music serves a very sacred
purpose. God made music for worship – that’s it! Music should draw us closer to
God and help us appreciate a wonderful creator. Music was never meant to uplift
man nor to the praise of any of God’s creation.
This is what God’s prophet has to say:
“Sacred Melody
for Students--The art of sacred melody was diligently cultivated. No frivolous
waltz was heard, nor flippant song that should extol man and divert the
attention from God; but sacred, solemn psalms of praise to the Creator,
exalting His name and recounting His wondrous works. Thus music was made to
serve a holy purpose, to lift the thoughts to that which was pure and noble and
elevating, and to awaken in the soul devotion and gratitude to God”.--FE 97,
98. {VSS 447.4}
Characteristics
of Good Singing—“Great improvement can be
made in singing. Some think that the louder they sing the more music they make;
but noise is not music. Good singing is like the music of the birds--subdued and
melodious.” {VSS 415.3}
Remember we mentioned in
chapter 1 that the heavenly angels take up the songs that we sing here on earth
in the heavenly courts in heaven. The church on earth with the church in heaven
constitute God’s church; “Believers on the
earth and the beings in heaven who have never fallen constitute one church.”AG
7.4. Now look at the next quote in context of the previous statement.
“In some of our churches I have heard solos that were
altogether unsuitable for the service in the Lord's house. The long-drawn-out
notes and the peculiar sounds common in operatic singing are not pleasing to
the angels. They delight to hear the simple songs of praise sung in a natural
tone. The songs in which every word is uttered clearly, in a musical tone, are
the songs that they join us in singing. They take up the refrain that is sung
from the heart with the spirit and the understanding.”--Ev 510.
{VSS 416.1}
God is very particular how we
worship him. He did not leave it to our creativity the methods of worship but
instead has given us His written word so we can search out the truths therein.
Solemnity
and Awe—“The melody of song, poured forth
from many hearts in clear, distinct utterance, is one of God's
instrumentalities in the work of saving souls. All the service should be
conducted with solemnity and awe, as if in the visible presence of the Master
of assemblies.”--5T 493. {VSS 416.2}
But many have refused to
search out these truths for themselves. They will read what God expects from them
and still reject the truth because they have not been “convinced” that they are
doing wrong. Our duty is to search out these truths for ourselves so we will
know how to be pleasing to God in our worship service. The church service is
just a reflection of the home. We cannot become holy at church, the
sanctification process must be a process that is very much part of the home
life. Many have chosen instead to be lead by a spirit which is opposed to the
revealed Word of God. The Word of God warns us that this would happen. The
apostle Paul tells us in 2Timothy 4:2-4:
“Preach
the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure
sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves
teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the
truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
How can we, with so much
light on this topic, still be so ignorant of our duties. Dear Adventist brethren,
beware!
Chapter 5
Instruments Used in the Bible.
First, we need to establish
who the musicians were.
2Ch 7:6 And the priests waited on their offices: the
Levites also with instruments of musick of the LORD, which David the king had
made to praise the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David
praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and
all Israel stood.
1Ch 15:16 And David spake to the chief of the Levites
to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick,
psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.
2Ch 34:12 And the men did the work faithfully: and the
overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari;
and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to set it forward;
and other of the Levites, all that could skill of instruments of musick.
1Ch 16:42 And with them Heman and Jeduthun with
trumpets and cymbals for those that should make a sound, and with musical
instruments of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were porters.
Neh 12:36 And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarael,
Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical
instruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe before them.
2Ch 29:25-28 And all the congregation worshipped, and the
singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the
burnt offering was finished.
These verses clearly indicate
that God had ordained a selected group to be in charge of the sanctuary music and these were the
priest and levites. There was never an occasion when the heathen would be
invited to sing at a religious event because that would be in violation of the
clear command of God. After Jesus died on the cross, the earthly sanctuary
service ended and therefore we do not have a sanctuary service here on earth
but Christ is ministering in the heavenly sanctuary. Are we then free to do
whatsoever we desire or is the earth a part of the sanctuary service? Lets see
what the Spirit of Prophecy has to say:
“The
church of God
below is one with the church
of God above. Believers
on the earth and the beings in heaven who have never fallen constitute one church. Every heavenly intelligence
is interested in the assemblies of the saints who on earth meet to worship God.
In the inner court of heaven they listen to the testimony of the witnesses for
Christ in the outer court on earth,
and the praise and thanksgiving from the worshipers below is taken up in the
heavenly anthem, and praise and rejoicing sound through the heavenly courts
because Christ has not died in vain for the fallen sons of Adam. While angels
drink from the fountainhead, the saints on earth drink of the pure streams
flowing from the throne, the streams that make glad the city of our God. Oh,
that we could all realize the nearness of heaven to earth! . . . In every
assembly of the saints below are angels of God, listening to the testimonies,
songs, and prayers. Let us remember that our praises are supplemented by the
choirs of the angelic host above.” {AG
75.4} God’s Amazing Grace
The church of God
here on earth, is the outer court of God’s sanctuary. We are one church with
the beings in heaven that have never fallen. That is great news for those who
constitute God’s church on earth. We have therefore a sacred duty to make sure
that nothing that defiles enters God’s outer court.
Mat 21:12-13 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and
cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables
of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto
them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have
made it a den of thieves.
Spirit of Prophecy tells us
that Jesus was in the outer court.
“As Jesus entered the outer court of the temple it was like entering a vast cattle-yard.
Mingled with the lowing of the oxen, the bleating of the sheep and the cooing
of the doves, were the sharp clinking of coin and the sound of angry
altercation between traffickers, some of whom were ministers of sacred rites.
The holy precincts of the temple
presented a most unsanctified and painful spectacle to those conscientious Jews
who, while deploring the desecration of God's holy place, were unable to
prevent it; for the dignitaries of the temple themselves engaged in buying and
selling, and the exchange of money.” {3SP 20.2}
We can hereby establish, that
the church of God on earth, which is the outer court
in the sanctuary service, is considered is holy and to be treated as such.
These teaching should thus apply to the music service in our church. God tells
us next what type of music is pleasing to Him.
Only Sweet, Simple Singing.--How can God be glorified
when you depend for your singing on a worldly choir that sings for money? My
brother, when you see these things in a right light, you will have in your
meetings only sweet, simple singing, and you will ask the whole congregation to
join in the song. What if among those present there are some whose voices are
not so musical as the voices of others. When the singing is such that angels
can unite with the singers, an impression is made on minds that singing from
unsanctified lips cannot make.--Letter 190, 1902.
{Ev 509.1}
Worldly
Musicians.--Do not hire worldly musicians
if this can possibly be avoided. Gather together singers who will sing with the
spirit and with the understanding also. The extra display which you sometimes
make entails unnecessary expense, which the brethren should not be asked to
meet; and you will find that after a time unbelievers will not be willing to
give money to meet these expenses.--Letter
51, 1902. {Ev 509.2}
Accepting
Musical Help Offered.--In the meetings
held the singing should not be neglected. God can be glorified by this part of
the service. And when singers offer their services, they should be accepted.
But money should not be used to hire singers. Often the singing of simple hymns
by the congregation has a charm that is not possessed by the singing of a
choir, however skilled it may be.--Letter
49, 1902.
The prophet of the Lord tells
us:
On each of the seven days of
the feast the priests went out with music and the choir of Levites to draw
water in a golden vessel from the spring of Siloam. They were followed by
multitudes of the worshipers, as many as could get near the stream drinking of
it, while the jubilant strains arose, "With joy shall ye draw water out of
the wells of salvation." Isaiah 12:3. Then the water drawn by the priests
was borne to the temple amid the sounding of trumpets and the solemn chant,
"Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem." Psalm 122:2. {PP 412.1}
There is zero mention of
drums in the entire bible even though we know from many secular historians that
almost all ancient civilizations used drums in their worship services. This
instrument is not a new invention and has existed throughout ancient times and
yet it was never used in old or new testament by God’s people.
But some say, what about the
tambourine, isn’t that a form of a drum? Let’s study this issue a little
further.
First, let look at some
instruments that are mentioned in the Holy Scriptures:
|
String Instruments
|
Wind instruments
|
Percussion instruments
|
|
Name
|
Count
|
Name
|
Count
|
Name
|
Count
|
|
Psaltery
|
27
|
Pipe
|
13
|
Cymbal
|
17
|
|
Harp
|
50
|
Trumpet
|
118
|
Tabret
|
9
|
|
Viol
|
4
|
Cornet
|
9
|
Timbrel
|
10
|
|
Dulcimer
|
3
|
Flute
|
4
|
Tambourine
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0
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Sackbut
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4
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Drum
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In the King James
Version and the Hebrew/Greek study Bible there are nine scriptures concerning
the timbrel and nine separate scriptures concerning the tabret. The root word
for timbrel is toph or tuppim.
This is how many modern dictionaries define Timbrel,
or Tabret:
“A hand held mini-drum
that resembled a tambourine. The tambourine consists of a wood or metal shell
ranging from two to three inches in depth and seven to twelve inches in
diameter. Tambourines usually have one or two rows of jingles, and sometimes
small bells, mounted in pairs in the shell. The primary sound from the
instrument comes from the jingles, not the head, although the technique of
drumming on the head can be used to great effect“.
But ask yourself the question
in the light of all the previous quotes from the Bible, Spirit of Prophecy and
secular sources; was it really a “mini-drum” or is this a modern interpretation
of ancient instrument that we have little information as to the appearance or
sound? Was it really a percussion instrument and thereby in the same category
as the drum?
“The drum and rattle combined seem to have formed the
stock-in-trade of savage medicine-men both in America and Africa in all ages;
and in its more civilized form of the timbrel was employed in Egypt and
Palestine in religious dances, as, for example, when Miriam and her damsels
sang praises for the destruction of the host of Pharaoh;…..The timbrel is described and figures as a circle of metal, with metal
rings attached, to form a rattle, and doubtless it was shaken in time to
the rhythmic measure of the dance. The
drum, on the contrary, was the instrument of the medicine-man and sorcerer,
used to invoke and to dive away spirits, especially those spirits supposed to
cause diseases,……. “
A
History of Music, 1886, By John Frederick Rowbotham, p628,
Anthropological
Studies, 1891, A. W. Buckland, Page 256
These worldly scholars are
creating a sharp distinction between a timbrel and a drum. This timbrel had no
overlaying of the body or frame of the object. The overlay of skin, especially
certain types of skins had a more sinister meaning.
“In almost every country the drum in some form is
employed in religious ceremonies, and it is not a little singular that in many
widely-separated countries, some of which may be considered as at least partly
civilized, the drum-head is still formed of snake-skin, evidently a survival
from a period of serpent worship, when both the serpent and the instruments used
in its worship were sacred.” Anthropological Studies, A. W. Buckland, p254
“Wherever human sacrifices have prevailed, the drum
has always played an important part in the bloody rites, having been used to
drown the cries of the victims, and to strike terror in the beholders. The drum
employed for this purpose in Mexico was a great cylindrical instrument made of
serpent-skins, which was kept in the temple of the God of War, and when struck
could be head for an immense distance.” Anthropological_Studies, A. W. Buckland,
p255
“The DRUM has always been associated
with paganism and the devil... When the first blacks from Africa
were converted to Christianity they knew the power and evil influence of DRUMS.
And the converted blacks strictly forbid the use of drums! They referred to the
drums as "the Devil's drum"”. Hole
in Our Soul: The Loss of Beauty and Meaning in American Popular Music
Moses' sister Miriam played
one to celebrate the crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 15:20), also Psa 81:2; 149:3; Jdg 11:34; 1Sa
18:6). It was not a large instrument and
certainly nothing like the huge modern band drums and its sound would have been
not ear deafening.
Little Richard, the
self-professed "architect of rock 'n
roll", readily admits Satan's control and influence in his life and
rock music: "My true belief about
Rock 'n' Roll - is this: "I believe this kind of music is demonic.... A
lot of the BEATS in music today are taken from voodoo, from the voodoo
DRUMS." (The Life and Times of
Little Richard)
"The shaman was the original 'long hair', the
first rock star draped in leather, dancing possessed to a rhythm banged out on
a DRUM... communication with the gods
was synonymous with DRUMS... the body can become the conduit for a deity...
DRUMS are the catalyst for the whole process... what Westerners simplistically
call 'possession'." (Appetite for Destruction)
"Today's DRUMMER differs but little from the
shaman in his incessant beating out of a rhythm, and likewise often enters into
a form of trance while performing." The
Secret Power of Music, David Tame
Dear
Adventist brethren you have been warned, beware of the snares of the devil!
Chapter 6
And the Beat Goes On!
One might still ask the
question, can drums be used in worship? The answer is: it depends who you are
worshipping.
What is it about percussion
that appeals to worshipers in so many cultures? Some “Christian” churches give
us insight as to what is behind this movement.
“We wanted to do a worship renewal project
that would be ecumenical, something
to unite the congregations in our community. We sat in prayer. We thought about
this question: If we put aside all the
theology, what unites us?
“It's
our heart beat. We all have that in common. And 90 percent of cultures have a
drum beat,” says John Meulendyk, who has degrees in divinity, pastoral
ministry, osteopathic medicine, public health administration, and dental
surgery. Pastoral lay assistant at Zion
Evangelical Lutheran
Church, Ferndale Michigan.
“Young
and old, black and white, richer and poorer, Baptist and Episcopal, people fell under the spell of recreating
rhythms from a Catholic liturgy in Ghana.” http://www.calvin.edu/worship/
When we put aside theology
for an emotional experience, then we are operating in the realms of Satan.
There can be no unity among the people of God apart from truth. Drums carry a tempo but not a tune.
Instruments in worship should carry a melody, the tune to what we are singing.
We sing hymns that have a melody with words that touches the soul by causing us
to deeply reflect upon our spiritual condition and should lead us closer to our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This may have an emotional effect upon us, but
emotions should not be the primary result of music. Music that is thoughtful
and understood is the higher kind of music that will attract worshippers to God
and will lead us to devalue worldly music more.
“Gorgeous
apparel, fine singing, and instrumental music in the church do not call forth
the songs of the angel choir. In the sight of God these things are like the
branches of the unfruitful fig tree which bore nothing but pretentious leaves.
Christ looks for fruit, for principles of goodness and sympathy and love. These
are the principles of heaven, and when they are revealed in the lives of human
beings, we may know that Christ is formed within, the hope and glory. A
congregation may be the poorest in the land, without music or outward show, but
if it possesses these principles, the members can sing, for the joy of Christ
is in their souls, and this they can offer as a sweet oblation to God.”--Manuscript 123, 1899.
{Ev 511.3}
“Music Acceptable to God.--The
superfluities which have been brought into the worship in _____ must be
strenuously avoided. . . . Music is acceptable to God only when the heart is
sanctified and made soft and holy by its facilities. But many who delight in
music know nothing of making melody in their hearts to the Lord. Their heart is
gone "after their idols." --Letter 198, 1899.” {Ev
512.1}
“A
Misuse of Music.--When professing Christians reach the high standard which it
is their privilege to reach, the simplicity of Christ will be maintained in all
their worship. Forms and ceremonies and musical accomplishments are not the
strength of the church. Yet these things have taken the place God should have,
even as they did in the worship of the Jews.”
{Ev 512.2}
“The
Lord has revealed to me that when the heart is cleansed and sanctified, and the
members of the church are partakers of the divine nature, a power will go forth
from the church, who believe the truth, that will cause melody in the heart.
Men and women will not then depend upon their instrumental music but on the
power and grace of God, which will give fullness of joy. There is a work to be
done in clearing away the rubbish which has been brought into the church. . . .
“ {Ev 512.3} Evangelism
So although words are
important, sacred words put to unconsecrated music does not make worship sacred
and therefore will not make our worship acceptable to God. As a church we need
to have a connection with our history. How is it that as we are approaching the
end of time that practices that were once pagan have become acceptable to God?
Many churches constantly emphasized being emotionally "happy" and
thereby they reduce the church's worship and spirituality to an emotional
experience. They want our church to be like the other churches, “we need have
cool factor to attract young people”. The gospel which Jesus preached and for
which many saints died, can never become popular. The opposite is true, if the
pure gospel is preached there will be fewer people who will be willing to leave
their self-righteous lives and make a full commitment to Jesus.
Dear Adventist brethren, God
loves you and wants you to be saved!
Chapter 7
What is Christian music?
There are a few guidelines that we
must follow in order to know that we are being lead by the Spirit of the Living
God.
First, the words must be true to the
Bible. We cannot sing songs that teach error as to the doctrines of our faith.
There are many well known hymns with lyrics like “When I die haleluyah, bye and
bye, I will fly away” (false teaching on the state of the dead), “With my face
to the rising sun” etc
Second, the music must not sound like or
remind people of the world. Music should be for worship of God. Bad examples
include Christian rock, R&B etc.
Third, the music must honor and glorify
our Lord Jesus Christ. This is our sole purpose for the joy that is within us!
Fourth, the concept of musicians should be
banished. We as individuals and collectively when we come together for worship
should be dedicated to the Lord and we must do everything possible, not to
attract attention to ourselves or the world but to magnify our Lord Jesus!
Fifth,
our music should not be turned into entertainment. This is the
case when we have hired “singers” and “musicians” in worship. This will most
certainly lead to a distorted view of worship as some form of entertainment,
and the “audience” passively listens or watches someone else performing or making
music for the Lord. We then take on a passive attitude when our congregation
should be actively praising our God. There is then a separation between the
musician and the audience whereby the audience takes on a more critical role of
evaluating the performance of the musician. If the performance is to our
satisfaction and we have a strong emotional response, then we display this
approval with a standing ovation or a round of applause. Then the brethren ask,
what is wrong with clapping of hands? The answer lies in the attitude that many
have that are in the church service. The entertainment factor is then at work.
We are then drumming up the spirits
which will most surely result in a development of a counterfeit system of
worship. We would not think of applauding a preacher who has delivered a
message from God that leads us to repent of our sins and recommit out lives to
God. We would not think of clapping our hands after someone delivers a
heartfelt prayer for someone in need. Yet, we allow sounds from Babylon to grace our
pulpits and possess our children, family, brethren and neighbor and we call it
the moving of the spirit. This must not be!
Sixth, pray:
Dear Jesus, please come into my life and teach me through prayer and the study
of your Word to follow you.
“It is our duty now to employ every possible means to
help in the proclamation of the truth. We are to work as we have never worked
before. The Lord is coming very soon, and we are entering into scenes of
calamity. Satanic agencies, though unseen, are working to destroy human life.
Now is our time to work with vigilance. Our books and papers are to be brought
to the notice of the people; the gospel of present truth is to be given to our
cities without delay. We need to arouse to our duties.” {YI, August 20, 1907 par. 2}
“Just now, when people are thinking seriously,
literature on the meaning of the signs of the times, wisely circulated, will
have a telling effect in behalf of the truth. God's judgments are abroad in the
land. Now is our opportunity to make known the truth to them.” {YI, August 20, 1907 par. 3}
Seven, the decision is yours. Drums in the church is just a
symptom of a disease than has infected our church. The cure lies in a
recommitment of our lives to God and to follow Jesus by faith into the Heavenly
sanctuary. This is the only way for us to be able to stand in this time and be
ready to face our life’s record when our names appear in judgment.
For the great day
of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
Rev 6:17
Will I stand?
Published By:
Douglasville, GA
Eden Regained Ministries
www.edenregained.com
Drumming Up
Spirits In Our
Service!
Jeremiah
6:15-19 “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were
not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among
them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith
the LORD. Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the
old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for
your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. Also I set watchmen over
you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not
hearken. Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among
them. Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit
of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my
law, but rejected it.”
It
is my earnest desire that the reader will prayerfully study the information in
this booklet and allow God’s Holy Spirit to lead them as they continue in this
life’s journey.
Brother
Edward; Eden
Regained Ministries
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