Instrumental Music in Worship

I spent five years in the Baptist and Methodist churches. That's right, I attended the services of a Southern Baptist church as well as the services of a United Methodist Church. Needless to say, I was exposed to instrumental music in worship during that five-year span. I remember the religious concerts, the solos, quartets and choirs. I remember the many prayers that were accompanied by softly played melodies on pianos and guitars, and I remember how I felt when I heard and experienced this kind of music in church. I felt really good. I felt spiritual and closer to God. I felt that God was certainly being praised, that He must have adored such music.

When I first attended the University Heights church of Christ in Lexington, Kentucky, I immediately noticed that they didn't use mechanical instruments of music in their worship. No pianos. No organs. No guitars. Nothing. They just sang, and while I remember thinking to myself, "This sure is strange," I also remember thinking, "But hey, it really is pretty. I like it."

It wasn't until later that I came to realize the truth of the matter: they didn't use instruments in worship because they felt it was sinful to do so. When I heard this, I was floored. I mean, how could ANYONE really believe that it was a sin to incorporate such beautiful music into worship? How could any reasonable person condemn the use of guitars and pianos in church? Every other church used instruments in their worship, so how could it be wrong. Were these Christians in Lexington really condemning every other church over something as trivial as the kind of music used in worship?

I dated a girl who was a member of the University Heights church of Christ, and I remember arguing with her, "If you'd only come with me to the Baptist church this Sunday, you'd see how beautiful instrumental music in worship really is, and you'd realize that it can't be wrong." Of course, she never did go with me to the Baptist church, and as I'm sure you've already guessed, I eventually changed my position.

Yes, I now believe that it is wrong to use instruments of music in worship. It is my firm conviction that if we want to worship God His way, then we MUST praise him in song without the accomaniment of guitars, pianos, organs, trumpets, harmonicas, etc. Before you call me some brainwashed (or brainwarshed, if you're from the south) lunatic, please hear me out.

First of all, it is important to establish that we must seek Bible authority for all that we do. If the doctrine of Christ authorizes the use of instrumental music in worship, then that is exactly what we should do, but if the doctrine of Christ does NOT authorize the use of instrumental music in worship, then we must abstain from it. Colossians 3:17 says, "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." When Paul says that we're to do all things in the name of Jesus, he is saying that we're to do all things according to His authority. The New Testament is the revealed will of Christ (Eph. 3:3-5), and as Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, the scriptures (the written word) are God-breathed. Peter adds in 1 Peter 4:11 that we're to speak "as the oracles (sayings) of God," and Paul again says in 1 Corinthians 4:6 that we're "not to think beyond what is written." So if the New Testament is the will of Christ, and if we're to do all things according to the authority of Christ, and if we're not to go beyond what is written, then we must conclude that in order for a thing to be justified, it must be authorized by the doctrine of Christ, the New Testament.

Furthermore, if we fail to follow the biblical pattern, there are consequences. Matthew 15:9 says, "And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." If, instead of worship God HIS WAY, we choose to worship God OUR WAY, the result is vain worship; worship that is unacceptable to God. Consider Leviticus 10 as an example...

"Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had no commanded them. So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord." (Lev. 10:1-2)

Nadab and Abihu were worshiping God, but they were not worshiping God according to the revealed pattern. Because they transgressed the law in this matter (which is sin, 1 Jn. 3:4), they were condemned. People today might argue, "But at least they were worshiping God," or "At least they were sincere," but none of that mattered to God. Yes, God wants us to worship Him, and yes, He demands sincerity and zeal, but He also demands that we worship Him HIS WAY!

So here is the question: is instrumental music (in worship) authorized by the doctrine of Christ? If so, then God will receive it. If not, then God will not receive it for it is unauthorized and thus unacceptable to Him. So what does the New Testament reveal about the matter? What kind of music does the New Testament authorize? Let's consider all the verses in the New Testament that address music in church worship:

"For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, and sing to Your name." (Rom. 15:9)

"Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." (Eph. 5:19)

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hyms and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." (Col. 3:16)

"I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to you." (Heb. 2:12)

"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." (Heb. 13:15)

"Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms." (Jas. 5:13)

As you can see, the New Testament doesn't say a whole lot about music in worship, but what it does say is rather telling. None of these verses say anything about instrumental music. Instead, they all consistently teach that we are to SING praises to God. That's it. Nothing more. Nothing less. We're authorized to sing, but we're not authorized to praise God with instruments of music.

What's more, instrumental music was introduced into church worship by the Catholics in the seventh century. At first, there was much opposition to this inclusion, but eventually, the organ was accepted. Later, the piano was added. Now, nearly every church has instrumental music in their worship services. It's so prevelent that we've come to think that it's really, really weird NOT to have it. But folks, we've got to get back to the unadulterated doctrine of Jesus Christ.

Either instrumental music is authorized by the doctrine of Christ and it is right, or it is not authorized and thus it leads to vain, unacceptable worship (Mt. 15:9). Are we going to learn from the story of Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10:1-2)?

I know it is beautiful. I know it sounds good. I know that nearly every church uses it. I know it's hard to imagine that it could be wrong...that all those sincere religious people could be wrong. Perhaps the whole debate seems trivial. I made all these arguments several years ago, but eventually, I had to acknowledge that my reasoning was rooted in the Bible, but in my own emotions and feelings (read Prov. 14:12 and Mt. 7:21-23). Please, consider these things, and if you disagree, please comment below.

Instead of writing a new article today (Friday, 9/11) and forcing this article on instrumental music further down the list, I'm going to leave this one at the top since it has gendered some interest. I'll add another article Monday.