In THE HIGHERS- BLAKELY DEBATE ON INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC (1988 in Neosho, MO.), Alan E. Highers accused Given 0. Blakely and his brethren of abandoning the restoration plea by accepting the use of instrumental music in the worship of the new Testament church. The following quote was given from the pen of J.W. McGarvey: "It is manifest that we cannot adopt the practice (of using instrumental music) without abandoning the obvious and only ground on which a restoration of Primitive Christianity can be accomplished, or on which the plea for it can be maintained. Such is my profound conviction, and consequently the question with me is not one concerning the choice or rejection of an expedient, but the maintenance or abandonment of a fundamental and necessary principle... I hold that the use of the instrument is sinful, and I must not be requested to keep my mouth shut in the presence of sin, whether committed by a church or an individual" (APOSTOLIC TIMES, 1881). Then Bro. Highers drove the point home by asking a series of questions: How can we plead with others to give up doctrines and practices unknown to the New Testament, if we ourselves adopt that for which there is no scriptural authority? If it is our plea for people to come back to the New Testament in doctrine and practice, how can we call them back to a practice which is not in the New Testament? How can we "restore" a practice which was not in the New Testament church? Is it possible to restore what never was there?

Indeed, Bro. Highers was right on target, wasn't he? I believe he hit the nail squarely on the head when he asked if it's possible to "restore" a practice which was not in the New Testament church! How can there be a "restoration" of what never was? It's time, or maybe I should say it's past time, for some to ask themselves if they have not abandoned the restoration plea altogether. There are those who like to refer to themselves as "heirs of the restoration movement" who have in reality repudiated the restoration principle and everything it stands for. To begin with, restoration is needed only if there is a divine order and if that order has been forsaken or deviated from. Yet, some insist that the New Testament provides no divine order or any scriptural pattern to govern the work and worship of the church. If this is true, there can be no apostasies in regard to the work, worship and organization of the New Testament church and consequently no restoration is needed.

Is there a divine order? Certainly, there is! By "divine order", I mean a way or pattern given by God in His word for us to follow and obey. In fact, even in the Old Testament God had a divine order (i.e. His way of doing things as opposed to other ways). God had given His people a prescribed way as to how they were to move the ark of the covenant. But in I Chron 15:13 we read of a time when God became angry because they "sought him not after the due order". In II Chron 29:35, we read of how the temple worship was restored, and the Bible says, "So the service of the house of the Lord was set in order". Here we see the restoration principle actually exemplified for us in the days of King Hezekiah! Furthermore, we can see this principle carried over into the New Testament. In dealing with some problems at Corinth which needed correcting, Paul wrote in l Cor. 11.34, "And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come". Obviously, some of their conduct was not according to God's prescribed way of doing things. Also, Paul wrote in Tit 1:5, "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting...". In the Scriptures we find the pattern for our service and worship to God--I Tim 3:16-17.

Have people apostatized from the divine order, the original pattern? Both history and observation tells us that some have! In fact, the Bible warns of such a departure-"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith..." (I Tim 4:1). Paul also wrote of a "falling away" in II Thess 2:3. When we hear some of the things people are preaching for doctrine today and investigate some of their religious practices, it's obvious that God's divine order has not been adhered to! Restoration is needed and possible, but it begins with a realization of Christ's authority and a desire to submit to His word alone.

Have some abandoned the restoration plea? Yes, the sad truth is that they have. As J.W. McGarvey said, one cannot accept the unscriptural practice of instrumental music without abandoning the only ground on which a restoration of Primitive Christianity can be accomplished. But this is true, not only of instrumental music, but of all unscriptural practices! Those who employ the use of individual communion cups in the Lord's supper have also abandoned the restoration plea. How can we plead with others, like the instrumental music man, to give up practices unknown to the Bible, if we ourselves have adopted such a practice? How can we restore the scriptural worship of the church when we introduce into it something that never was a part of its scriptural worship? Indeed, is it possible to restore the scriptural observance of the communion itself when we inject into it something that Christ never instituted, never authorized and never used? Can we restore what was never there?

The same can be said of Bible classes with woman teachers. This is a practice totally unknown to the New Testament church. In the New Testament, when we read of the church coming together for the purpose of teaching the word of God, it was always in one assembly, with the men doing the speaking one at a time, and the women remaining silent (Heb 10:25; I Cor 14:23,31, 34-35). Again, I ask: How can we restore a practice which was not in the New Testament church?

If we are going to seek a restoration in our day as Hezekiah did in his day, we must do what he did. We must remove from our midst all unscriptural practices and return to the divine order-this must include whatever parts or aspects of the divine order that has been disregarded. After all, truth and consistency can demand no less! A failure in this regard, even in one area, is in reality an abandonment of the restoration plea.--215 Forest Hills Dr. West Monroe, LA. 71291