The Biblical Orthodoxy Of Exclusive Psalmody Versus The Heretical Influence Of Uninspired Hymns
Even though it is unlikely that uninspired songs, outside of those God provided for his people (and possibly still inspired outside of the Psalms), were ever sung in public ecclesiastical services; that they may have very sporadically appeared at times of declension and apostasy is no argument for their lawful use — much less an argument for writing and singing *uninspired* songs today.
Furthermore, a large proportion of modern uninspired hymns are unbalanced and contain (to one degree or another) statements that can be considered heretical.
Such a state of affairs is predictable considering that the writers of hymns frequently embraced an assortment of heresies. Isaac Watts denied the Trinity, Wesley was an Arminian, and some hymns were even written by Universalists, Roman Catholics, not to mention people of other heterodox views.
Isaac Watts’ stated purpose with his “Imitations of David’s Psalms” was to make David a Christian. Those hymns of his subverted Reformation exclusive Psalmody. This information about Watts is contained in a letter by Jim Dodson, which also says that Watts considered certain words in the Psalms to be basically unChristian.
While the Apostles and the Lord Himself (while He walked the earth) saw no need to add to God’s already existing hymnal (i.e. the Psalter), modern hymn-mongers fear not to compose their own ditties for public worship.
Isn’t it curious that heretics, such as Bardesanes (a Syrian Gnostic in the third century), Arius (d. 336 A.D.), the Donatists (of Augustine’s day), the Anabaptists (during the Reformation), Wesley, Watts, and the compromisers of today, always want to add to the Psalter, God’s completed song book?
Why is it that the Council of Laodicea (about 360 A.D.), the Council of Chalcedon (451 A.D.), the Calvinistic Reformers (and their creeds) all opposed the introduction of uninspired hymns?
Were the most orthodox defenders of the church *always* wrong on this question and the heretics and the compromised *always* right? (This article has been adapted from “Saul in the Cave of Adullam” by Reg Barrow.)
For more information about Biblical worship (following the Regulative Principle of Worship), ecclesiastical history and the Reformation, please visit PuritanDownloads.com. There are many Reformation theology resources at that site.
