Music in worship: Part 2

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In our last column we began a discussion of the kind of music that is acceptable to God in Christian worship. The Bible teaches that our worship must be “in spirit” and “in truth” (John 4:24). Our concern must be with pleasing God, not ourselves!

We noticed in our last column that the New Testament only authorizes singing in Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16-17. Please re-read the last column. In our study today, I would like to look at some arguments which are used in defense of instruments of music in worship.

“It was used in the Old Testament.” No student of the Bible will deny that instrumental music was used in worship under the old law (I Chronicles 23:5; 25:1-8; Psalms 149, 150). My friends, many things were done in worship under the old law that we are not authorized to do today! For example, we do not “observe” the Sabbath Day and keep it holy (Exodus 35:2-3); we do not burn incense, offer animal sacrifices, travel to Jerusalem to worship, observe the Passover feast, the feast of Pentecost, etc.

The apostle Paul says that if we try and bind one thing from the Old Testament, then we must observe all of the old law (Galatians 5:3). The Old Testament is important (Romans 15:3), but it is no longer binding on us today; it is not our rule of faith and practice.

“Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:9-10).

“For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law” (Hebrews 7:12).

We read in Colossians 2:14, “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.” Jesus Christ is our authority today (Matthew 28:18; Hebrews 1:1-2).

“The book of Revelation teaches that there are harps in heaven. . .(If there will be instruments in heaven, then it is alright to use them now).” There is no evidence that there will be literal harps in heaven (a spiritual place). Heaven is a spiritual place for spiritual beings. If this is literal language then there will also be: a red dragon in heaven (Rev. 12:3), a white horse (Rev. 19:3), streets made of gold, gates of pearl, etc. Much of the language of the book of Revelation is symbolic. But even if it could be proven that there will be instruments of music in heaven, and it cannot, that would not authorize them in Christian worship.

“The Bible doesn’t say not to.” When God specifies a certain thing, all else is excluded. God said “sing” (Eph. 5:19). That rules out all other kinds of music just as the command to have “unleavened bread” and the “fruit of the vine” on the Lord’s Table (Mark 14:22-25) rules out having country ham, eggs and orange juice. God doesn’t say not to have a belly-dancer or a trapeze walker in worship. Please read again the comments in last week’s column on the “law of exclusion.”

“I don’t see anything wrong with it.” This is a very common argument. My friends, what matters is what God thinks. The New Testament reveals the way that God wants us to worship Him. We have no right or authority to change anything. This argument might be used to justify any and everything. My friends, there is no example of any congregation of the church in the New Testament using an instrument in worship. Our Lord nor one of His apostles ever authorized it. Are we following “the traditions of men” or “the will of God?” Search the Scriptures!

 

Join us on Sundays at the Rockford Church of Christ located on U.S. Hwy. 231 near Dollar General. Bible study is at 9:00 and worship is at 10:00.