Ellen Chat Conversation

Ellen White addressed the use of drums in worship in the context of fanatical religious practices she witnessed. She wrote that "There will be shouting, with drums, music, and dancing. The senses of rational beings will become so confused that they cannot be trusted to make right decisions. And this is called the moving of the Holy Spirit" (5MR 107.3). This statement was specifically about the "Holy Flesh" movement of 1900-1901 in Indiana, which she identified as representing practices that would appear just before the close of probation.Her concern was not simply about drums as instruments, but about the confusion and emotional manipulation that accompanied their use in these fanatical services. She warned that Every uncouth thing will be demonstratedin such settings, where the focus shifted from genuine spiritual worship to sensory stimulation that clouded rational judgment (NL 50.3). It's important to note that Ellen White did support the use of musical instruments in worship generally. She wrote, "Musical instruments were used in the religious services in ancient times. The worshippers praised God upon the harp and cymbal. Music should have its place in our services. It will add to the interest" (LLM 537.2). She also stated, Let there be singing and instrumental musicin religious services (MTC 91.4). The key distinction in her counsel appears to be between orderly, reverent worship that uplifts God versus chaotic, emotionally manipulative practices that confuse the senses and are mistakenly attributed to the Holy Spirit. Her warning about drums was in the specific context of fanatical worship practices, not a blanket prohibition on all percussion instruments in appropriate worship settings. --- 💡 **You might also want to explore:** • What did Ellen White say about the proper role of music in worship services? • How did Ellen White distinguish between genuine and counterfeit religious experiences? • What counsel did she give about maintaining reverence and order in church services? --- 📚 **thousands of passages found** containing these search terms — [Explore in Full-Text Search](/advanced-search?q=Ellen+white+about+drums+in+church)