Instruments of Praise: When Silence Speaks Louder

Psalm 33:2 commands us to praise the Lord with harp, psaltery, and the ten-stringed instrument. Yet here lies a remarkable paradox that J. M. Neale observed: the early Church fathers almost unanimously protested against musical instruments in worship, and to this day the Eastern Orthodox Church forbids them entirely. One would expect such austerity to diminish their praise. Instead, the contrary proves true—their congregational singing remains infinitely superior to anything heard in Western churches, despite our elaborate orchestras and choirs.…