Instrumental Music?

“I like it.” “It adds beauty and dignity to the worship.” “We are going to have to use it if we are going to get the people here.” These are some statements one hears sometimes with reference to instrumental music in worship.

We do not advocate that instrumental music is wrong in and of itself, but when one brings it into worship, he must ask himself, “Do I have any biblical authority to bring it into the worship services of the church?” Or, “Do I even need biblical authority for it?” Let’s see what the Bible says on this timely subject. Let’s do what Isaiah the prophet said long ago, “Seek ye out of the book of Jehovah, and read” (Isa.34:16). Singing and singing only is found in the New Testament. The New Testament tells us to sing and that is all. “Speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord” (Eph.5:19).

Where does this passage, or any other, authorize us to use the instrument in worship? Do we even need authority to bring it in, does God really care if we have Bible for it as long as we are sincere? The New Testament makes it loud and clear we are not to go beyond the things written (1 Cor. 4:6), nor is one to transgress the doctrine of Christ (2 Jn. 1:9). Also, we are instructed to hold to the pattern of sound words (2 Tim. 1:13). Jesus told us we must worship the Father in spirit and truth (Jn. 4:24). If we are to do things after the authority of Christ (Col. 3:17), how can one claim he is sincere if there is no written authority for the use of instrumental music in worship? Are we still not admonished to speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent? (1 Pet. 4:11). If one is going to be honest with himself, he will have to admit there is no authority for it in the New Testament.

Some see authority for the instrument of music in the Greek word psallo. This is the word that is translated “singing” in Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16. The advocates for music in worship pull out a few lexicons that make this type of argument. “The meaning of the noun corresponds with that of the verb and denotes a touching, a playing on a stringed instrument, with that of any song.” What some of these lexicons forget, is that there has been a change in the word over the years. One can read a complete history of the word in Instrumental Music in the Worship by M. C. Kurfees. If this word means to use an instrument, we have several problems. When we find brethren singing in the first century, they

were not using an instrument of music (Acts 16:25; Jas. 5:13). And if one is authorized to use it, every person must use one in the assembly for the commandment is to every person in Ephesians 5:19. Also, one can see in Ephesians 5:19 that the instrument mentioned there is the heart. That’s where the melody is made.

Others feel that if God allowed and authorized instrumental music under the Old Law, He will allow it today. For those who doubt authority for the instrument under the Old Law, note 2 Chronicles 29:25, “And he set the Levites in the house of Jehovah with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king’s seer, and Nathan the prophet; for the commandment was of Jehovah by his prophets.”

There were many things under the Old Law that were authorized (sacrifices, feast days, and the whole law itself). We do not live nor worship according to the Old Testament. The Old Law was done away at the cross (Ephesians 2:15; Col. 2:14). It was “done away” so that we might be joined to Christ (Rom. 7:4). We are under a better law having better promises (Heb. 8:6). If one is going to take part of the Old Law, he must take it all.

Friends and brethren, let’s just go back to doing things in Bible ways. If we are going to restore the New Testament church, our worship services must be void of the instrument.

George Reed
Salinas, Ca.