The elders want to provide you with a statement about a question that may have been raised.  That question has to do with the use of musical instruments in our worship.¹   After many months of careful study and consideration, the elders unanimously concluded that there is no Biblical prohibition of the use of mechanical instruments in worship.²
     We recognize the issue as a matter of diverse opinion³  and feel that any discussion in the future should be conducted in a manner that avoids division.⁴   We merely want to state that consensus⁵  to you today without any prediction of what that might mean to our worship services.  Our worship style may or may not change, but we are in no hurry to change.⁶  We are highly sensitive to your feelings,⁷  and we want to hear your thoughts and wishes.  Talk to your elders about it.  Your feedback will help us as we intend to offer teaching on this matter. We are insistent on allowing God, through our prayers, to lead us in all aspects of our church family.⁸  – The Elders.”
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 ¹ They had already used them in their Wednesday night “praise services.”  It’s just a small step to Sunday.
  ² Correct!  Many things are not prohibited that have no place in the worship of the church.  The apostles did not have to tell the first century     church everything that they could not do in order to teach them to do all that Jesus commanded (Mt. 28:20).
  ³ Digressives typically cast the issue of instrumental music in worship into the realm of mere opinion.  If it is an opinion this abandons the argument that it is taught in the New Testament.  Often, those who say it is an opinion will argue for it on other grounds, ie., as an “aid,” or, it’s presence in Revelation 5:8-9; 14:1-4, et al. It was not a matter of opinion with the Jews under the old covenant (Psa. 150:3-5).
  ⁴ Would opposition to the instrument in worship constitute division?  Presumably!  Yet, how is one divisive who opposes an unscriptural innovation?  As J. D. Bales wrote, “Divisions come because of a lack of love, because some have accepted wrong principles, because some have misapplied principles and because some have accepted authorities other than the Bible.”  These elders are divisive on each count.
  ⁵ It is well to remember others who had a consensus against divine authority like Korah and his company (Num. 16:1-40); Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10:1-3).  There is no group of elders anywhere who have the right to push a consensus against God’s will in worship.  Any consensus against divine authority is rebellion!
  ⁶ In reality, “change” is the name of the game for many doctrinally liberal brethren today.  There is no limit to the digression that the change movement will pursue.
  ⁷ One could only wish that these elders were more sensitive to God’s feelings about worship as revealed in the New Testament.  If they were we would not be reading about such strides of apostasy as this.
  ⁸ They have repudiated Bible authority for their actions.  God does not lead us through prayer.  We are led by Holy Spirit inspired gospel as the authority in all that we do (Rom. 8:14; Col. 3:17).  In this statement these elders show that the Bible is not their guide in this decision.

-Dennis Gulledge