One of the papers which I get is The Restoration Herald, published by some of the more conservative members of the Christian Church out of Cincinnati, Ohio. In the November, 1971 issue the editor, James W. Greenwood, spoke concerning a softening toward the instrumental music issue among many members of the churches of Christ.

The editor said, "We seem to detect a mellowing of the hard stand that was taken on this issue for so long. While some remain adamant, there are others who are, finding that there is a close kinship between us that merits cultivation . . . restoration of fellowship may not be out of the question.... We would hope that, in due time, those who do not use it will come to acknowledge that there is no virtue in not using it."

This editor is correct in his appraisal of the situation within churches of Christ. Thousands of our brethren have so compromised themselves and their stance by their argumentation in defense of institutionalism and sponsoring-church-ism that they could not now make a single consistent argument against mechanical instrumental music in worship. Furthermore, they have so imbibed themselves with the ecumenical spirit of our age that they will not now be averse to fellowshipping with the Christian Church denomination. In fact, thousands of our brethren already are doing so, to varying degrees.

If brethren do not want another serious rupture to occur over mechanical instrumental music, they had better teach the Bible principles of interpretation and scriptural authority that preclude it.

TRUTH MAGAZINE, XVI: 8, p. 2
December 23, 1971