Orthodox acapella chant redux   One of the most popular posts on
this blog is Why do the Orthodox not use instruments. It was
posted nearly five years ago, and still keeps coming up. I have
had various comments on the subject, including the challenge
that instruments are mentioned in the Old Testament, therefore,
how can they be not used, or even forbidden, in the New
Testament. In passing, it is true that various Orthodox parishes
now allow the use of the organ to guide the choir. However, in
every case I have seen of the use of the organ, the volume is
kept deliberately low. But, let’s get back to the subject.  What
troubles me is the automatic assumption that those who do not
use instruments have to justify their failure to use
instruments. A weaker approach is that those who do not use
instruments have no right to speak to those who do to question
their use of instruments, or worship bands, etc. In an
absolutely worst case situation, the old freedom argument gets
pulled out. We are free in Christ, therefo