Does God Want Musical Instruments In The Worship Of The Church?

1/15/2019

Most denominations that profess Christianity have used and continue to use musical instruments in their worship. Today, more and more churches of Christ are joining them in that practice. Many don’t think it matters to God and others think it’s what God wants. So, here are a couple of thoughts that I have found in the Scriptures for us to consider.

First, I could just leave the rest of this page blank because God doesn’t say anything about the church worshipping God with musical instruments. They were used to worship God in the Old Testament, especially after King David introduced them into the worship at the Temple. The Revelation compares the worship of God in heaven to the beautiful sound of musical instruments. But there is no mention of musical instruments ever being used in the church of Christ you read about in the Bible, even though they were taught to observe all things Christ commanded (Mat. 28:19).

Some argue that Paul’s command concerning “psalms” and “making melody” in Ephesians 5:19, includes the use of musical instruments in our worship to God. If so, then would we not all be required to play an instrument just as we are all required to sing? But how did Paul command us to use psalms? He did not say to play them on an instrument but “speak to one another”, “singing”. And how did Paul command us to make melody? He did not say to use the harp or some other musical instrument but “the heart”. It is the heart that Paul commanded to accompany our worship in song.

Second, we do not respect God’s holiness, nor do we glorify Him when we act presumptuously; that is, on our own without authority from Him. This is the lesson of Leviticus 10:1-3, in the event of Nadab and Abihu. They approached God with “profane fire…which He had not commanded them”. As a result, they were killed by fire from God. If God was not pleased with Nadab and Abihu, how must He feel when we offer profane music which He has not commanded us?

God seeks true worshippers who will worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). May we be those worshippers.

7 Comments

Thomas Walker

1/25/2020 11:38:57 am

I wonder if Christians are to limit their corporate worship and musical teaching to acapella Psalms Hymns and Spiritual songs with a melody from/on the strings of the heart.

Would it be biblical for whatever reason to broadly restrict all expressions of PRAISE to only voice expressions without use of any accompanying instrumentation ever?

What rationale could be put forth to restrict this wholesale prohibition?

Would it be wrong to ever play any music glorifying God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit or Biblical truth even in one's home outside the "official assembly" of the saints?

If Jesus could command inanimate stones to give praise would this be a violation of the church age prohibition for only vocal praise?
Does God still enable inanimate physical bodies of our present cosmos to give acceptable praise as in the Psalms? HOW is this acceptable yet a believer bringing into submission the "voicing" of a physical instrument to give PRAISE is not?
Or is the restriction that it is accompanying the vocal the problem?
Or is it the content to be restricted to only Psalms, Hymns and spiritual songs for the end of teaching and consulting with wisdom?
This was the, what seemed to me, hypocritical engagement of my fellow believers in many kinds of secular music but prohibition of any with spiritual or religious words.
I had real problems with this dichotomy for Christian choice in music.

How do you reason this out in your mind, experience and doctrine?

Robert Dodson link

2/3/2020 02:17:00 pm

Our worship to God, as all we do in doctrine and practice, must be done by His authority. This authority is derived from the new covenant of Christ. The only kind of music authorized is the singing of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. To go beyond this is to act presumptuously without a word from God. If God wants to enable inanimate physical bodies to praise Him that is His business, but we must follow His commandments. It is not hypocritical to use musical instruments for good entertainment, but we have no authority to use them to worship God any more than we have authority to worship God with the pots and pans we use to cook. Just because we use common things at home in many common ways does not mean they are authorized to be used in worship to God at home or in church. For more information concerning this, please go to my article “Why Does The Church Of Christ Not Use Mechanical Instruments Of Music In Worship?” at https://www.northwestcofc.org/why-does-the-church-of-christ-not-use-mechanical-instruments-of-music-in-worship.html.

John

9/10/2021 11:20:13 am

Revelations tells us that in Heaven, SOME of the angels are playing stringed instruments, and there is no clear prohibition of instruments in the New Testament that I've found (please point it out if I'm wrong). The prayer that Jesus taught His disciples (The Lord's Prayer) expressly says "Your will be done ON EARTH, as it is in Heaven." Can we not take this to mean that we are authorized to worship and glorify God with instruments, just as they do in Heaven?

G. Wright

1/26/2022 01:13:44 am

To say musical instruments in worship to praise God is wrong. God the Creator, Jesus the Savior, and the Holy Spirit is one and to me the Word is made flesh proves that they are "One"! This means that musical worship isn't wrong or presumptuous in worship! It is praise to the Almighty God as it was in the Old Testament. God's word doesn't change, it is man who twist the word of God for man's purpose!

1/26/2022 01:26:28 am

Church of Christ is an occult with made up worship to fit their own lies, greed, selfishness, and untruth!
We are the Church, Jesus was speaking of the congregation! The church Jesus established was not to be separate, but be together! Church of Christ is not a true church, but one that teach and preach untruths, it separates Lord God Almighty from Jesus and the Holy Spirit through their vicious lies and made up stuff they preach, which is hate! Hate for the true word of God! All through the Bible the Word is teaching Believers how to praise God!

Robert Dodson

5/24/2022 05:12:33 pm

Christ promised to build His church and the Lord adds all the saved to it. The saved are not perfect, but far from it, as you can see from the churches of Christ you read about in the New Testament. They are however forgiven as they strive to follow Christ, trusting Him for their salvation. I cannot speak for every Christian, nor every congregation of God's people, only myself. I do not hate anyone. I am only striving to preach the truth as it is revealed in the Bible to the best of my knowledge and ability with love for God and every soul. And, I encourage everyone to check out all things for themselves from the Bible because God will be their judge, not me. May God bless us all with His love and grace!

5/25/2022 12:26:41 pm

I regret that it seems this sincere discussion of the use of instruments in worship assemblies has devolved into a castigation of churches of Christ. Perhaps that can change or end.
Perhaps one of the sources of the inflexibility of the use of music in various ways has to do with rigidity of what is defined as worship. It don't know but it seems the restriction most of our church of Christ brethren have is limited to the assembly times. I wonder if they would have a problem if one of their children taking piano lessons at home would open a hymnal and begin to play a song. Would it be OK if they just played the song? What if they started humming it? What if they then sang along? Would that be a valid expression of worship in the heart of that child? Would it be wrong if the parent started singing along or the rest of the family or some visiting members of the church? As long as it's not an authorized "assembly of the church" could it be allowed as worship or prohibited or just not valid or what?
If certain actions or behavior are not specifically authorized by command, example or necessary inference are they prohibited or banned in all settings, a "church building after it is announced that worship has begun." Then after "worship" has ended the building, house, etc can have meals, instrumental music, drinking fountains, exercise classes, clothes exchanges, etc.
You're probably seeing the problem.
Narrowly defining worship and constricting activities and sounds allowed in designated places and for designated times seems to fragment the believers life into divisive periods of holy and profane.
We're supposed to be holy in all we do. So if using an instrument ever to play a song which might edify or worship God would be profane and unholy.
I just wonder if people can really believe this way and be consistent and love their fellow manm

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