The church today is confronted by many issues: the role of women, instrumental music, fellowship and the necessity of baptism, etc. One issue being debated with greater frequency is that of clapping during the singing of religious songs. This problem is easily resolved using the simplest of logic, common sense, and respect for the authority of the Bible.

Much of our religious singing is being polluted by the clapping of hands to the beat of particular songs, especially in songs used at youth rallies and retreats, church camps, and in youth devotionals. Our young people are taught (whether verbally or by example) that this is not a violation of scripture, since mechanical instruments of music are not in use. Many brethren have already embraced groups that imitate mechanical instruments of music. The rhythmic clapping we now see in worship is a direct result of that done during their concerts. My friends, clapping during the singing of religious songs is a violation of scripture! Examine the following examples from which our title is taken.

On Sunday, June 5, 1994, my (then) three-year-old daughter Shelby was playing at home and called out to me, "Daddy, come listen while I play music on my belly!" She then proceeded to play on her stomach as one would play a bongo drum. Where did she ever learn that such constituted playing music? You guessed it, that "lovable", purple dinosaur Barney (by the way, I really do like Barney!).

During the week of April 11-15, 1994, two incidents occurred on television that taught Shelby that such sounds are music. On Barney and Friends, after Barney and the children had sung a song without musical accompaniment, Barney suggested that they sing the song again, but this time "to music." Upon seeing the children's puzzled faces, Barney told them that they carried instruments with them everywhere they went- their hands! They then proceeded to sing the song again while clapping to the beat. (On a later episode of Barney and Friends, the enlightened children share their new knowledge of music with Baby Bop, another character on the show. As the children prepare to make music, Baby Bop expresses dismay: "I don't know how to make music, Michael." Michael responds: "I know a great way for you to make music, Baby Bop!" "How? How?" she asks. Michael tells her: "You can already clap your hands, that's a great way to make music." This exchange is followed by "The Clapping Song.") In the same week on Cappelli and Company (a show for kids on Nickelodeon), Mr. Cappelli had a professional percussionist on his program who explained that one's hands may be used as musical instruments.

Acts 17:25 clearly says that God is not worshipped with men's hands. Our singing is restricted to accompaniment by only one instrument- our hearts (Eph. 5:19). Why do our mature, open-minded, progressive brethren argue a point my 3-year-old daughter can understand, a point taught to her by secular television programs with no interest in the religious ramifications of this issue? The "progressive" brethren among us have taken a lesson from the secular media- "Get them while they're young." Sound familiar? It should. This lesson is biblical in principle- "Train up a child..." (Prov. 22:6). We need to apply this principle in training our young people so that they may recognize error whenever they encounter it. Todd Clippard