Instrumental Music in Worship

Praising God by Mechanical Instruments of Music

Introduction:

The purpose of this study is to examine whether mechanical instruments of music are acceptable to God in our worship of Him today.

Today the practice is accepted by most denominations, but historically it was often accepted only after much controversy. When the practice has been introduced, division has sometimes followed. Members of churches that use instruments are often surprised to find that there are still churches that do not use them.

Old issues do not fade away. Young people and new members need to learn the Bible principles involved, and all members need to be reminded so they can follow God's will and give an answer to those who ask (1 Peter 3:15).

Our goal is simply to determine God's will and to encourage everyone to follow it with conviction. We have no personal ill will toward others. But God's word must prevail. We must stand for truth and help others correct their lives where necessary.

I. A Summary of Scriptures about Musical Praise

A. Musical Praise in the Old Testament

Singing as a means of praising God

Each passage below describes singing in God's worship.

Deuteronomy 31:19 - Write down this song ... put it in their mouths.

2 Samuel 22:1 - David spoke to the Lord the words of this song...

2 Chronicles 29:30 - Sing praise to the Lord with the words of David...

Psalm 40:3 - He has put a new song in my mouth - Praise to our God.

Psalm 51:14,15 - My tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.

Psalm 71:23 - My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to you...

Psalm 89:1 - I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; with my mouth will I make known your faithfulness...

Psalm 126:2 - Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing...

Isaiah 52:8 - With their voices they shall sing together...

Words like "sing," "spoke," "lips," "mouth," etc. clearly refer to vocal music. Altogether over 125 Old Testament verses describe worshiping God by singing.

Instrumental music as a means of praising God

2 Samuel 6:5,21 - Israel played before the lord on instruments.

1 Chronicles 23:5 - They praised the lord with instruments which David made for giving praise (NKJV).

2 Chronicles 7:6 - The Levites had instruments of music, which David had made to praise the lord. David offered praise by their ministry.

2 Chronicles 29:25 - The Levites were arranged with cymbals, stringed instruments, and harps. This was commanded of the Lord.

Psalm 43:4 - On the harp I will praise you. Cf. 71:22; 33:2.

Psalm 68:25 - Singers went before, players followed after.

Psalm 150:3-5 - Praise Him with the trumpet, harp, etc.

Altogether over 60 Old Testament verses refer favorably to worshiping God by using instruments.

[Cf. Psa. 87:7; 1 Chron. 13:8; 2 Chron. 29:28.]

Dancing as a means of praising God

Dancing in the Bible was generally not a sexually suggestive act involving couples as is done today. It meant to leap, twirl, and gyrate as an expression of joy.

Exodus 15:20,21 - Miriam led the women with timbrels and dances, saying to sing to the Lord.

2 Samuel 6:14 - David danced before the Lord with all his might.

Psalm 149:3 - Let them praise his name with the dance.

Psalm 150:4 - Praise him with the timbrel and dance.

At least 6 Old Testament verses refer favorably to dancing in worship to God.

Observations on musical praise in the Old Testament

The Old Testament is clear and explicit.

(1) Singing, playing instruments, and dancing were all clearly stated to be acceptable acts of worship.

(2) Singing, playing, and dancing were three different types of musical praise. They were often done together, but each one constituted an additional, distinct act of praise to God.

(3) Playing instruments and dancing were each, in and of themselves, a means or avenue of praising God, just as singing was.

(4) When God was willing to accept instrumental praise, He very plainly said so.

These facts will be important in our study; however, they prove nothing about what God wants in His worship today. We will later show that we are no longer under the Old Testament, and the acts it authorizes do not apply to us (Gal. 5:1-4; Heb. 10:9,10; Rom. 7:1-6; Col. 2:14).

B. Musical Praise in the New Testament

Singing as praise to God for New Testament Christians

Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26 - After instituting the Lord's supper Jesus and His disciples sang a hymn.

Acts 16:25 - In prison, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God.

Romans 15:9 - Prophets had predicted that (in the gospel age) Gentiles would glorify God for His mercy and sing to His name.

1 Corinthians 14:15 - I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the understanding.

Ephesians 5:19 - Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.

Colossians 3:16 - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Hebrews 2:12 - In the midst of the congregation I will sing praise to You.

Hebrews 13:15 - Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

James 5:13 - Is any cheerful, let him sing psalms.

This is a complete list of all New Testament verses that mention musical praise to God by Christians on earth. As in Old Testament examples, words like "sing," "speak," "teach," "admonish," and "lips" all clearly refer to vocal music. Note that this is proved, not just by the word "sing," but also by other words.

Observations about instrumental music and dancing as New Testament praise to God

The Old Testament explicitly stated that singing, playing instruments, and dancing were three distinct forms of musical expression, and each was an acceptable act of praise to God. The New Testament continues to describe singing as acceptable praise, but not one time are instruments or dancing mentioned as accepted forms of praise to God. The New Testament mentions instruments (12 times) and dancing (5 times), but never as acts of praise to God.

Why does the New Testament contrast so powerfully to the Old Testament regarding instrumental music? If God still wants it today, why does He not clearly mention it in the New Testament, as He mentioned it in the Old Testament? He mentions instruments in the New Testament, but never for our praise to God. Why not?

The Old Testament expressly authorized many practices which are nowhere authorized in New Testament service to God: the seventh-day sabbath, animal sacrifices, Levitical priesthood, burning incense, infant membership, circumcision, tithing, holy days, roast lamb in memorial feasts, dancing, and instrumental music. Since this law does not apply today, people generally omit these from service to God, yet some people want to keep instrumental music. Why leave some but take others?

The very fact that God mentioned these practices repeatedly in the Old Testament, but does not mention them at all in the New Testament, proves that He does not want them now. If He wanted them, He would mention them now as He did then.

Consider some important principles in reaching the proper conclusions about this evidence.

II. Instruments Do Not Fit New Testament Truth.

John 4:24 tells us to worship God "in spirit and in truth." 1 Corinthians 14:15 says to sing "with the spirit and with the understanding." Hence, musical praise in the New Testament must meet three criteria: (1) truth, (2) understanding, and (3) spirit. Let us see how instrumental praise measures up.

First, consider worshiping God in truth.

People often defend a practice by saying "God nowhere said not to do this." But when a practice cannot be found in God's word, is that practice right or wrong? Does God's silence about a practice give us consent to do it, or does it prohibit us from doing it?

Consider the following teachings of God's word:

A. The Bible Completely Reveals ALL God's Will.

God reveals in the gospel everything which He approves.

John 16:13 (14:26) - The Holy Spirit revealed all truth to the apostles. What the Spirit revealed, they then wrote in the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 11:23; 14:37; 15:8; 1 John 1:1-4; Ephesians 3:3-5).

Acts 20:20,27 - Paul preached the whole counsel of God, keeping back nothing that was profitable.

2 Timothy 3:16,17 - All good works are recorded in the Scriptures. So the Scriptures are profitable to teach and instruct men in righteousness, etc.

2 Peter 1:3 - In Peter's lifetime, people received all things that pertained to life and godliness. Having received these things, Peter wrote them down so that, even after he died, we could be reminded of the words of Jesus' apostles and prophets (2 Peter 1:12-15; 3:1,2).

James 1:25 - This word of truth is the perfect law of liberty.

[See also Matt. 28:20; Col. 4:12; Jude 3; Hebrews. 13:20,31; John 20:30,31; 1 John 1:1-4; 2:1-6.]

Consider the consequence for practices not revealed in the New Testament. Since the Bible contains all truth, all good works, etc., does it not follow that any practice not found there is not true, not a good work, and does not pertain to life or godliness? How then can we practice these things and expect to please God?

Specifically, if God wants instrumental praise today, wouldn't the New Testament reveal this like the Old Testament did? Singing is part of the truth and a good work, etc., since it is revealed. But instruments are not revealed, so how can we use them and be abiding in the truth?

B. Practices Not Included in God's Word Are Unacceptable.

Consider the Bible teaching about worship.

John 4:23,24 - We must worship God in spirit and in truth. But God's word is truth (John 17:17), and all truth is revealed in the gospel (John 16:13). It follows that any practice is unacceptable if it is not included in the gospel.

Matthew 15:9,13,14 - Worship is vain (worthless) when based on precepts of human origin. But every religious practice is based either on God's authority, or else on man's authority (Matthew 21:23-27). Since the Bible reveals everything that God ordained, then any practice which is not revealed in the gospel must be human in origin and therefore displeasing to God.

The purpose of worship is to please and glorify God. We honor and respect Him when we do what He says. If we do what men say instead, then we are showing respect for men, not for God. So God is displeased.

Specifically, we know singing in worship pleases God, because the New Testament commands it. But instrumental music is different from what God said to do in worship. It is nowhere included. Therefore, it must be human in origin and shows disrespect for God.

Consider the Bible teaching about love for God.

Loving God is the most important command there is (Matt. 22:37).

John 14:15 - But love means that we keep God's commands [1 John 5:3; 2 John 6]. Love leads us to please the person we love, rather than pleasing ourselves.

Isaiah 55:8,9; Luke 16:15 - God's thoughts and ways are completely different from ours. What is highly esteemed by men is an abomination to God.

The fact that we like a thing means nothing regarding whether or not God will like it. Yet people often defend their religious practices by saying, "I think it's beautiful," "I like it," or "We're satisfied with it." Such statements reveal love for self, not love for God. When we love God, we do what pleases Him, regardless of what we want.

Where can we learn what God wants? Only in the Bible, which completely reveals everything He wants. If we love God, then, we will do only what His will says to do. [Revelation 22:18,19; Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; Proverbs 30:6]

Specifically, we show love for God when we sing in worship, because He says He wants this. But instrumental music is different from what God said to do in worship. It is nowhere included. So to use it is an act of love for ourselves, but not for God.

Consider the Bible teaching about faith.

Romans 10:17 - Faith comes by hearing God's word. We can practice a thing "by faith" only if it is in God's word.

Jeremiah 10:23; Proverbs 14:12; 2 Corinthians 10:18 - The way of man is not in himself. It is not in man who walks to direct his steps. There is a way that seems right to man, but the end is death. Not he who commends himself is approved, but he whom the Lord approves.

Since we do not think like God does, we cannot possibly know God's will unless He reveals it. And His will is completely revealed in the Bible. It is impossible, therefore, to practice anything by faith if it cannot be found in the Bible.

Proverbs 3:5,6 - Trust in the Lord and don't lean on your own understanding. True faith teaches us to do only what the Lord reveals. To do what is not revealed is to lean on human wisdom instead of trusting God.

Specifically, we can worship by singing, since God has revealed this. But instrumental music is different from what God said to do in worship. It is nowhere included. To use it is to act by faith in men, not in God.

Consider the Bible teaching about Jesus' authority.

Colossians 3:17 - All we do, in word or deed, should be done in Jesus' name (by His authority). But Jesus' authority for today is completely revealed in the gospel. Practices not included in Jesus' teaching cannot be done in Jesus' name. What about instrumental praise? Can you find it in Jesus' teaching?

Galatians 1:6-9 - Any man is accursed if he preaches a gospel different from what inspired men taught in the first century. That gospel completely reveals all good works that God wants us to do. If a practice is not included in the gospel, but we preach that it is a good work, then we are preaching a different gospel. Can you find instrumental music in the gospel?

2 John 9 - Whoever does not abide in Jesus' teaching, does not have God. To have God we must abide in Jesus' teaching. But all Jesus' teaching is revealed in the New Testament. So to practice things we cannot find in Jesus' teaching would be to separate ourselves from Him. Is instrumental praise a part of the teaching of Jesus for us today?

Although the Bible does expressly forbid some acts, God never intended for His word to specifically itemize all the things He does not want us to do. Instead, God tells us what He does want us to do. Then He tells us that other things are unacceptable.

When we study about a practice, we should not ask, "Where does God say not to do this?", but rather "Where does God's word show this act to be acceptable?" If the act is not included in God's will, then we should refuse to practice it. Since instruments are different from what God said, to use them is to act by human authority, not God's authority.

[See 1 Peter 4:11; 1 Corinthians 4:6; Romans 10:1-3; Colossians 2:8.]

C. Applications of These Principles

To please God, we must do only those things that are included, fit the definition, or fall within the meaning of God's instructions. Consider some examples (note the chart on the back cover).

Genesis 6:14 - Gopher wood in the ark

God told Noah to make an ark of gopher wood. Metal, pine, and walnut do not fit the definition of gopher wood. They constitute different kinds of materials. God did not expressly say not to use them, but when He said "gopher wood" and did not include metal, pine, etc., they would have been wrong.

Had God simply said to make an ark and specified no particular material, then Noah would have been free to choose any material, and he would still have been obeying God. But when God specified gopher wood, that left Noah with no other choice.

Romans 6:4; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38 - Baptism

God said people should be buried in baptism. Sprinkling and pouring do not constitute burial. They are different ways of applying water. Had God said simply, "Apply water to the people," or "Get them wet," then we could sprinkle, pour, or immerse. But when He said to bury them, and nowhere said to sprinkle or pour, then sprinkling and pouring must be wrong.

Likewise, Jesus said to baptize penitent believers. Babies and animals do not fit the terms, so they are different subjects from what God said to baptize. When God specified penitent believers and said nothing about babies or animals, then to baptize babies or animals would be wrong.

Matthew 26:26ff - Elements in the Lord's supper

In the Lord's supper, Jesus said to use unleavened bread and fruit of the vine. But milk and lamb are different kinds of foods from what Jesus said. Had God simply said to eat and drink, we could have chosen any kinds of food and drink. But when He named particular kinds of food, that limited us. To use other kinds of foods would displease Him.

Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; etc. - Musical praise

Every New Testament passage that mentions music in worship says to sing, speak, teach, etc. In the Old Testament God showed that singing, playing, and dancing are three distinct ways of praising Him musically, and all three were acceptable then. But in the New Testament, God simply says to sing. He never mentions praising him by dancing or by playing instruments.

If God had simply said to praise God with music, then singing, playing, and/or dancing would have been acceptable. But He named only singing, and He omitted dancing or playing instruments. So to dance or play would be to do that which falls outside the meaning of what God said, just like using pine in the ark or hamburger on the Lord's supper.

God does not have to expressly forbid instruments. The fact that He expressly said to sing, but nowhere says to praise with dance or instruments, shows they are displeasing.

Conclusions

When they consider the unauthorized practices we have listed above, some people object to some of the practices, but they accept others. Some want to use instruments but reject the dancing, infant baptism, or hamburger on the Lord's supper. On what basis do we differentiate them? They stand or fall together. The arguments that justify one would also justify the others; and the arguments that eliminate one would also eliminate the others.

If people practice instrumental praise, they cannot consistently oppose infant baptism, sprinkling, hamburger on the Lord's supper, weekday or annual communion, an earthly headquarters for the church, incense, a special priesthood, dancing as praise to God, or any of a hundred other things that the New Testament nowhere expressly forbids. All are eliminated on the grounds that they differ from what God says.

III. Instruments Do Not Fit New Testament Emphasis on Understanding.

Instrumental praise does not fit New Testament truth. That is enough reason not to use it. But there are other reasons too. Consider the New Testament teaching about understandable worship (1 Cor. 14:15).

A. Scriptures about the Importance of Understanding in Worship

Our assemblies should be arranged so that they edify people with an understandable message.

Acts 17:2,3 - The gospel is spread by reasoning - a rational message that can be understood.

Acts 11:26 - The church in Antioch conducted assemblies in which they taught many people.

Hebrews 10:24,25 - We should not forsake the assembling of ourselves but be present so we can exhort one another and provoke to love and good works. This is a mutual responsibility in which all should actively participate.

1 Corinthians 11:23-29 - If we conduct ourselves in our assemblies so that we do not understand the significance of what we do, we bring condemnation on ourselves.

1 Corinthians 14:19,26,31 - Everything we do in our assemblies should promote edification, which is promoted by understanding. Activities that fail to promote understanding should be eliminated!

1 Corinthians 14:15 - Specifically, our singing should be done with spirit and understanding. One reason we sing is that singing promotes understanding.

Ephesians 5:19 - Again, in singing we speak to one another. Note it: Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs are to be rendered by speaking. This is done by singing. Singing conveys words, and hence, an understandable message. When a person plays an instrument, does the instrument "speak"?

Colossians 3:16 - We render psalms, etc., in such a way as to teach and admonish one another. This requires an understandable message, which is accomplished by singing.

Note that these latter verses both show that the people being taught are also to teach. The same people both teach and are taught in singing. It is done for "one another."

B. Applications to Instruments in Worship

Do instruments promote understanding? teaching? speaking? admonishing?

How can they? They speak no words and carry no message! You can take the same instrumental music and put hundreds of different words (messages) to the tune. Instruments produce nothing but an undefined sound which is capable of many different interpretations and which actually gets in the way of understanding the words that are sung.

This is not true of singing. Singing has a tune, but it also necessarily requires spoken words which are designed to teach and admonish and promote understanding - exactly what the passages require. (Of course, it is possible to sing in a way that is confusing, and such should be avoided. But this is not inherently the case, as it is with an instrument.)

Further, instruments promote entertainment to please and honor people, rather than God.

Instruments detract from the message by emphasizing the skill of the players. The audience increasingly admires the talents of the performers instead of considering the message proclaimed.

Playing discourages group participation and promotes instead a performer/observer relationship - i.e., entertainment. This necessarily occurs because playing instruments requires skills which many people have not developed. So some perform and others watch. The inevitable tendency is to admire the skill of the performer.

Instruments in worship are wrong because they promote entertainment and emphasis on human ability. Singing is commanded because it promotes teaching and admonition by an understandable message.

IV. Instruments Do Not Fit New Testament Emphasis on the Spirit.

A. Instrumental Praise Suited the
Outward Emphasis of the Old Testament.

The Old Testament involved many rituals and ceremonies that emphasized physical, outward show.

* Heb. 9:10 describes these as "carnal (fleshly - NKJV) ordinances imposed until the time of reformation."

* The law had a physical nation, an earthly kingdom.

* People were born into this nation by a physical birth.

* The covenant relationship was physically symbolized by fleshly circumcision.

* Worship was offered in a physical temple with emphasis on the physical beauty of its furnishings.

* Worship was led by a physical priesthood (earthly descendants of Aaron).

* It consisted often of offering physical animal sacrifices.

All these had spiritual significance, but they greatly emphasized outward ritual and detailed physical requirements.

Praising God by instruments and dancing fit such a ritualistic, ceremonial service.

Instruments lend themselves to outward ceremony, emphasis on physical sound and beauty, and admiration of the technical skill of the musicians. All this is described in the Old Testament references to instruments.

People who use instruments today likewise emphasize the outward beauty of the sound. They invent great rituals involving them, they deliberately invite and honor talented players, they create theatrical productions to attract crowds, etc. The end result is an effort to please the carnal, fleshly desires of the people for physical beauty.

This is inherent in the nature of instruments, not just an abuse of them. Where they are used, this will eventually invariably happen, because instruments have no spirit! They are physical objects used simply for the outward effect of physical sounds. There is no other purpose for them. They take the emphasis off inner, spiritual qualities and put it on the outer quality of the physical sound. By their very nature, they always have and always will emphasize that which is outward and physical.

In short, instrumental praise was well suited to a period of "carnal ordinances." They do not suit the "time of reformation" now that it has come.

B. The New Testament Emphasizes Spiritual Worship.

The New Testament is a spiritual covenant with spiritual emphasis, especially in our worship.

In the Bible, spiritual is the opposite of physical. It is that which relates to God, eternal life, and salvation from sin. It is based on obedience to God's word.

And the gospel, especially regarding worship, repeatedly tells us to maintain spiritual emphasis and avoid bringing in physical emphasis. While the New Testament worship involves some outward activities, the emphasis is on the inner man. See Matthew 6:1-18,19-34; 16:23-27; Colossians 3:1,2; John 6:27; Romans 8:5-8; 2 Corinthians 10:3,4.

Specifically, the New Covenant involves:

* A spiritual law - John 6:63,27,68; Ephesians 6:17; Romans 2:28,29; 7:6.

* A spiritual (holy) nation - 1 Peter 2:9.

* A spiritual kingdom - John 18:36; Romans 14:17

* A spiritual new birth - John 3:3,5; 1 Peter 1:23.

* A spiritual circumcision - Romans 2:28,29

* A spiritual temple or house, the church - 1 Peter 2:5; Ephesians 2:21,22; 1 Corinthians 3:16.

* A spiritual (holy) priesthood - 1 Peter 2:5,9

* Spiritual worship (to a spiritual God) - John 4:23,24; Matthew 15:8,9; Philippians 3:3; Romans 1:9.

* This worship involves spiritual sacrifices, i.e., the fruit of the lips - 1 Peter 2:5; Hebrews 13:15; 1 Corinthians 14:15; Ephesians 6:18

* Specifically, it includes spiritual songs - 1 Corinthians 14:15; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16.

Notice how singing fits this spiritual emphasis.

We sing because God wants spiritual songs, speaking to one another and making melody in our hearts to the Lord (Eph. 5:19). We sing because God wants spiritual songs, teaching and admonishing one another, with grace in our hearts to the Lord (Col. 3:16). We sing because God wants spiritual sacrifices of praise offered by the fruit of the lips (1 Peter 2:5; Heb. 13:15).

Sometimes people think instruments are spiritual because of the emotions they produce: "It just makes me feel so spiritual." No, instruments do not make you feel spiritual. They may make you feel emotional, but that is not the same as spiritual. Emotions can be entirely physical, as when you receive a present, attend a ball game, or see a pretty girl. In worship God wants spirituality, not just emotions.

Spiritual-minded people, who offer spiritual sacrifices in the spiritual temple of God, will not allow the spiritual worship that God designed to be turned into carnal, fleshly entertainment. Yet that is what inevitably happens whenever mechanical instruments of music are added to the worship.

Consider 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 as an inspired illustration.

Corinth was firmly rebuked because they turned the Lord's supper into a banquet. This involved two errors: (1) they used unauthorized elements (different kinds of foods from what God specified), and (2) they emphasized satisfying physical appetites instead of spiritual edification and praise. This is exactly what happens when people put musical instruments in worship.

Using instruments is just like adding roast lamb to the Lord's supper. (1) Both were authorized in the Old Testament (lambs were eaten in the Passover), but neither is authorized in the N.T. (2) Neither one conveys an understandable message, and neither one is spiritual.

When we understand why Paul forbade Corinth to turn the Lord's supper into a common meal, we will understand exactly why the Lord does not want instruments of music added to our worship!

Summary and Conclusion to Part 1

The three required elements of New Testament worship are truth, understanding, and spirit (John 4:24; 1 Corinthians 14:15). Singing in worship fits all three, but instrumental music fits none of them.

(1) Singing is authorized in the truth of the New Testament. Instruments are not. (2) Singing promotes understanding, but playing hinders understanding. (3) Singing promotes spiritual mindedness, but playing hinders spirituality and promotes carnality and fleshly entertainment.

At this point you have read only the first part of this study. The second part responds to many of the efforts that have been made to defend instrumental music in worship. To continue this study, click here to see part 2.

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