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.

2 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.

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