{"id":50161,"date":"2017-03-11T20:25:00","date_gmt":"2017-03-12T03:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/?p=50161"},"modified":"2022-07-18T20:29:29","modified_gmt":"2022-07-19T01:29:29","slug":"pitch-pipes-and-powerpoint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/pitch-pipes-and-powerpoint\/","title":{"rendered":"Pitch-Pipes and PowerPoint"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t

by\u00a0Bryan Hodge<\/p>\n

Members of the church of Christ have historically emphasized that the Bible teaches that we should have Biblical authority for what we do.\u00a0 God has required such.\u00a0 He did under the Old Covenant (e.g. Leviticus 10:1-2; I Samuel 13:9-14; II Chronicles 26:16-21).\u00a0 He does under the New Covenant (e.g. Acts 15:22-24; Colossians 3:17 – Thayer indicates that to do a thing “in the name of” is used of “by one’s command and authority”; Vine’s indicates that it can mean “in recognition of the authority of”).<\/p>\n

Some ask “What about pitch pipes?” and “What about PowerPoint?”\u00a0 I believe that there are two types of people who ask such questions.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Some are people who do not believe in this hermeneutical approach to the Bible.\u00a0 They reject the need to limit worship (and other matters) to what is authorized by explicit statements, accounts of action (examples), and implications in the Bible.\u00a0 Therefore, they ask such questions to ridicule the need for authority (reduction ad absurdum) or to expose what they believe is an inconsistency in our practice (note: showing an inconsistency in us does not prove their position).<\/li>\n
  2. Others are people who believe that we must have Biblical authority for what we do.\u00a0 However, they do not understand how such things are authorized.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    People may ask these questions for different reasons.\u00a0 Whatever the reason, let us provide an answer.<\/p>\n

    Generic Command versus Specific Command<\/h2>\n

    A generic command is a command to do something, but certain specifics are not mentioned.\u00a0 A few examples:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Christians are to assemble on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7).\u00a0 The hour has not been specified.\u00a0 God has left it to man to decide.\u00a0 The place has not been specified.\u00a0 Israelite males were required to worship in Jerusalem, three times per year (Deuteronomy 16:16 cf. II Chronicles 7:12; I Kings 12:27; Luke 2:41-42).\u00a0 No such requirement exists for Christians.\u00a0 The church met in various locations (Acts 8:1; 13:1; 18:22; Romans 16:1; 16:3-5; I Corinthians 1:2; 16:19; II Corinthians 1:1; Colossians 4:15; Philemon 1:2; I Peter 5:13; Revelation 1:11; 2:1; 2:8; 2:12; 2:18; 3:1; 3:7; 3:14).<\/li>\n
    2. Christians are to give on the first day of the week (I Corinthians 16:1-2).\u00a0 How this giving is to be collected is not specified.\u00a0 Should it be dropped into a box?\u00a0 Should we pass a hat?\u00a0 God has left such details to man.<\/li>\n
    3. Christians are to sing (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16).\u00a0 The type of songs are specified: psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.\u00a0 However, the specific songs and how to start these songs are not specified.\u00a0 Therefore, God has left such to man (e.g. song books, song leader, the pitch and speed of the song).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      A specific command is a command to do something with certain things specified.\u00a0 A few examples:<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. God did not just tell Noah to build the ark; He told Noah to build the ark out of gopher wood, with certain features, and dimensions (Genesis 6:13-16).\u00a0 Where God has specified, man is not at liberty.<\/li>\n
      2. God did not tell Christians to make music (any music).\u00a0 He specified the type of music (singing) and the type of songs to be used (psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs).<\/li>\n
      3. Jesus did not tell His disciples to eat and drink something remembering Him.\u00a0 He specified the elements (Matthew 26:26-28).\u00a0 Unleavened bread (cf. Exodus 12) and the fruit of the vine (grape juice) are to be used.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Expedient versus Addition<\/h2>\n

        I am using the word ‘expedient’ to refer to aids to carry out God’s command.\u00a0 A few examples:<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Saws and hammers may have been expedients to Noah’s building of the ark.<\/li>\n
        2. A collection plate may be expedient for gathering the collection.<\/li>\n
        3. A podium may be expedient for preaching and teaching.<\/li>\n
        4. Songbooks may be expedient to singing.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          So also may be the use of an overhead projector or PowerPoint to display the words and musical notes of the song.\u00a0 An expedient does not add to what is being done.<\/p>\n

          I am using the word ‘addition’ to refer to an unauthorized addition to what God commanded.\u00a0 A few examples:<\/p>\n

            \n
          1. The use of another kind of wood in the ark (e.g. oak, pine, etc.) would have been an addition.<\/li>\n
          2. The use of chicken and iced tea, along with unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine, would be an addition.<\/li>\n
          3. The use of purely patriotic songs, along with psalms and hymns, and spiritual songs, would be an addition.<\/li>\n
          4. The use of instrumental music in our worship is an addition to the command to sing.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Pitch-Pipe<\/h2>\n

            It is possible for one to use the pitch-pipe as a musical instrument, like a harmonica, to play a tune.\u00a0 Moreover, it could be used this way with the intent of worshipping God.\u00a0 Such would be an addition.<\/p>\n

            However, it is expedient to use a pitch pipe to get a pitch in preparation for leading a song.\u00a0 There is no intent to worship with such.\u00a0 The pitch pipe ceases to be blown before the intended song of worship begins.<\/p>\n

            Consider this comparison:\u00a0 A song leader may clear his throat before leading a song.\u00a0 He does so preparing to worship in song.\u00a0 He does not do so as a part of worship\u00a0 N.B. Hardeman said in one of his tabernacle sermons of 1923, “I have been told …that there is just as much scripture for the organ or piano or flute or violin as there is the tuning fork…\u00a0\u00a0they are not parallel…You watch what a tuning fork does… I strike it here, and it gives the pitch of the music to be sung…When does worship begin? In the singing of the song. There was an old gentleman in my town who in answer to this, once made this remark\u00a0 ‘the difference between a tuning fork and the organ is this: that the tuning fork has enough respect for God to quit before worship begins, while an organ continues all the way through.’ Let me say to my friends who use the organ that if you would use it as a tuning fork, let it stop before we commence to worship God, I would not open my mouth against it.” (Hardeman’s Tabernacle Sermons Vol. 2, p. 278). \u00a0G.K. Wallace said, in the Wallace-Hunt debate of 1951, “All right, now what are we doing with the tuning fork?\u00a0 We do not produce music with it.\u00a0 The singing is a result.\u00a0 The singing is a result of getting the pitch.\u00a0 You get the pitch”(Wallace-Hunt Debate, p. 37).\u00a0 Guy N. Woods said, “The tuning fork gives the leader the pitch of the first note and is silent when the worship begins.\u00a0 This is one great difference between a tuning fork and organ or piano – the tuning fork knows when to quit!” (Woods, Questions and Answers, Vol. 2, p. 34).<\/p>\n

            PowerPoint<\/h2>\n

            It is expedient to use PowerPoint.\u00a0 In singing, its function may be likened to the songbook (It displays the words and notes of the song).\u00a0 In preaching and teaching it may function as a Bible (displaying the text being studied) or as a visual aid (much like whiteboards, chalkboards, overhead projectors, hand-out notes, flannel boards, and sheet sermons – preachers of an earlier generation often presented their points on white sheets which were suspended before the audience).<\/p>\n

            The use of visual aids is authorized.\u00a0 They were used in the Old Covenant (e.g. Jeremiah 18:1-ff; 19:1-ff; Ezekiel 4:1-3; 12:1-7; 24:1-14).\u00a0 They may be used under the New Covenant (e.g. Acts 21:10-11).<\/p>\n

            Let us be careful Bible students.\u00a0 Let us discern between good and evil.\u00a0 Let us discern between what is expedient and what is an addition.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            by\u00a0Bryan Hodge Members of the church of Christ have historically emphasized that the Bible teaches that we should have Biblical authority for what we do.\u00a0 God has required such.\u00a0 He did under the Old Covenant (e.g. Leviticus 10:1-2; I Samuel 13:9-14; II Chronicles 26:16-21).\u00a0 He does under the New Covenant (e.g. Acts 15:22-24; Colossians 3:17…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[78,529],"class_list":["post-50161","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-authority","tag-hermeneutics"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":57315,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/improper-sources-of-authority\/","url_meta":{"origin":50161,"position":0},"title":"Improper Sources of Authority","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 26, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"by Heath Rogers \"Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, \u02dcBy what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?'\" (Matthew 21:23). In \"The Proper Source of Authority\" we\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":7253,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wouldnt-it-be-reasonable-for-jesus-to-appoint-a-prime-minister-thus-establishing-the-papacy\/","url_meta":{"origin":50161,"position":1},"title":"Wouldn’t it be reasonable for Jesus to appoint a prime minister, thus establishing the papacy?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 3, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: If Jesus came as the son of David to reign upon the throne of David (St. Peter says as much in his pentecostal sermon in Acts of the Apostles with regard to the resurrection of Jesus), and if one of the key institutions of the Davidic Covenant Kingdom was\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":90803,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-issue-of-authority\/","url_meta":{"origin":50161,"position":2},"title":"The Issue of Authority","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 26, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Randy Robinson John Mellencamp lamented in song over twenty years ago, \"I fight authority; authority always wins.\" Indeed, authority is a powerful force with which to be reckoned. In the case of this songster, his perspective is easily noted as one who is rebellious against authority, as indicated by\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":58215,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/expediency\/","url_meta":{"origin":50161,"position":3},"title":"Expediency","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 21, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"by Heath Rogers In the previous article, we discussed the difference between general and specific authority. When God specifies something, everything else is automatically excluded. However, when God gives us a general command, we are free to choose how to fulfill that command. This is where the study of expediency\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":48174,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/by-what-authority\/","url_meta":{"origin":50161,"position":4},"title":"By What Authority? (Tant)","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 5, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jefferson David Tant \"When He entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to Him while He was teaching, and said, \"By what authority\u00a0are You doing these things, and\u00a0who gave You this authority?\" Jesus said to them, \"I will also ask you one thing,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":29039,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-it-appropriate-to-have-powerpoint-presentations-during-sermons\/","url_meta":{"origin":50161,"position":5},"title":"Is it appropriate to have PowerPoint presentations during sermons?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 20, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Is it appropriate to have PowerPoint presentations during services? Personally, I find it very helpful in keeping up with Bible verses during the sermons, but I wonder if God approves it. I don't know how the brethren feel. This is something I have been wondering about since I began\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50161","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50161"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50161\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50161"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50161"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50161"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}