The simple answer for “Why do churches of Christ not use musical instruments in worship?” is that the Bible instructs churches to sing as a congregation to praise God and edify one another (Eph 5:19; Col 3:16). When a congregation sings together, musical instruments become irrelevant as the New Testament makes no mention of Christians worshiping with musical instruments in assembly. The instrument cannot speak, teach, or thank God and so cannot praise God with meaningful words.
The churches in the New Testament never used musical instruments when they worshiped in song for good reason. Christ, His apostles, and His prophets only commanded singing for worship in the New Testament.[1] As New Testament Christians, the churches of Christ see the blessings of praising God by their lips, and they plead with all who rely on Christ’s words to consider congregational singing as essential to true worship by speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
Here are 4 reasons why churches do not use musical instruments:
1. The NT (New Testament) commands congregation singing and does not mention the playing of instruments for spiritual teaching, praise, and thanksgiving (Eph 5:19; Col 3:16).
2. The Bible forbids anyone adding or annulling God’s commands (1 Cor 11:2; Gal 3:15; Rev 22:18–19). Furthermore, Jesus is sinless and His words are without error, so no one should change His words (John 6:63; Heb 4:15; 1 Pet 2:22).
3. The NT teaches that words are essential to worshiping in song and that unknown languages and nonverbal sounds are excluded (1 Cor 14:9–19).
4. Jesus established worship in spirit and truth changing the OT physical worship including musical instruments to NT spiritual worship with singing meaningful words for teaching, praise, and thanksgiving (John 4:21–24; Heb 13:15–16; 1 Pet 2:9).
Worship with Words
The Bible contains commands from God for the order of the assembly in 1 Corinthians 14 (cf. 11:17–34). In the Bible, words are essential to making melody to worship God. In 1 Corinthians 14, the apostle Paul emphasized understandable words as he explained that words build up worshipers gathered in the assembly. Because words are essential to edification and the assembly of Christians, the New Testament Scriptures describe musical instruments as “lifeless” meaning “without soul” (1 Cor 14:7). Paul noted this description of lifeless instruments as greater than speaking in unknown languages in assembly.
In 1 Corinthians 14:15, the apostle Paul used the Greek word psallo meaning “to make melody” to describe how words are essential to singing and praying to God with the spirit and mind. These scriptures explain that meaningful music in worship consists of understandable words (1 Cor 14:7–19). Furthermore, Paul also instructed Christians to complete the act of psallo by making melody in the heart (Eph 5:18–19). Musical instruments are an irrelevant addition to the purpose and heart of singing praises to God. Lifeless instruments cannot produce words for meaningful worship and making melody in the heart.
No Changing Jesus’s Words
Believers find that Christ is perfect and complete, and so are His words (John 6:63; Heb 4:15; 1 Pet 2:22). The Bible reveals that adding to the words of Christ and His Spirit is wrong (1 Cor 4:6; Gal 1:6–9; 3:15; 2 John 9; Rev 22:18–19). Do Christians have liberty to express worship in any way other than true worship in the New Testament? Christians can neither change Christ nor alter the gospel. Christ is infallible and so are His words (2 Cor 5:21; Heb 4:14–15; 1 John 3:5; 1 Pet 2:22). Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb 13:8). Therefore, Jesus’s words are constant and unchanging and that is true for His teaching about true worship.
When believers consider the complete perfection of Christ’s words, then Christ’s institutions of the Lord’s Supper, baptism, prayer, music, and the like are complete in presenting His ideal conduct for the Christian faith. Few people would consider adding lamb’s meat to the Lord’s Supper even for the purpose of presenting Jesus as the Passover Lamb. Some may consider adding incense to prayers and ashes to the waters of baptism because of passages in the Old Testament. However, such additions are contrary to Jesus’s infallibility. A true worshiper must not add to true worship.
Churches can no more change the fruit of the vine in the Lord’s Supper than change the fruit of the lips in praise to God (Heb 13:15; cf. Matt 26:29; Mark 14:25). The Letter to the Hebrews declares, “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” (Heb 13:15). God specified the true worship that is best for believers. Christians can no more change the music that Christ commanded than change the elements of the Lord’s Supper (Matt 26:26–29; 1 Cor 11:17–34). God created humanity with the ability to use their voices to sing praises to Him. Singing in worship is the most beautiful, pure, and sublime form of music.
Jesus Established True Worship
As most Christians realize, worship has changed from physical to spiritual. Jesus revealed that worship is now in spirit and truth, and no longer “in Jerusalem will you worship the Father” (John 4:21–24). David brought the temple worship to Jerusalem and enhanced this worship with musical instruments. Jesus professed, “believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. […] But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him” (John 4:21–24). The churches of Christ see that Jesus set true worship apart from the worship that David established in Jerusalem.[2] True worship is with the right spirit and by the truth of God’s Word (cf. John 1:17; 17:17).
Jesus taught that God seeks true worshipers who worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:23–24). For that reason, Jesus distinguished true worship apart from temple worship in Jerusalem (John 4:21–24). The temple of God changed from that physical building to the spiritual church (1 Cor 3:16; Eph 2:21), and worship also changed from the physical symbolism of the Old Testament to the spiritual reality of the New Testament (1 Pet 2:5). According to Scripture, Christ became the atoning sacrifice for sin (Heb 9:22–26). All Christians are now the priests of God’s spiritual temple, the church. Christians are the ones for whom God blessed to make melody in the heart and upon the lips. Thereby, true worshipers offer spiritual offerings of praise unto God (Heb 13:15; 1 Pet 2:5). The Scriptures reveal that the priesthood of the Levites and their physical worship with David’s instruments have ceased (Heb 7:12).
No More Shadows of Worship
Old Testament worship foreshadowed and symbolized true worship, but the substance has always been Christ (Col 2:16–17; Heb 8:5; 10:1). Christ fulfilled the Law, so that Christ has led believers to true worship (Heb 9:9–10; 1 Pet 2:5). Revelation’s symbolic references to worship on an altar with sacrifices, use of incense, and the holding of harps are all Old Testament symbols. These physical symbols foreshadowed true worship in the New Testament. Scripture says that incense symbolizes prayers and the harps symbolize praise (Rev 5:8–14). John described the praises of the faithful sounding like thunders, many waters, and harps (Rev 14:1–3; 15:1–3). While holding harps, no one played these harps in Revelation, but they did praise God with singing.
The New Testament describes the ordinances of Old Testament worship as obsolete, carnal, and fleshly (Rom 7:1–7; Gal 3–5; 2 Cor 3:7–18; Eph 2:14–22; Heb 8:13). This is why the churches of Christ believe in observing all of Christ’s commands — unaltered, because Christ’s words are perfect and greater than the Law of Moses. The churches of Christ refrain from musical instruments in worship because these are contrary to the Spirit of the New Covenant (cf. 2 Cor 3:1–6). If God wanted Christians to worship with instruments as the music of the church, God would have commanded instruments for Christians to worship God. However, the New Testament specifies that Christians praise God in song with their hearts and lips (Eph 5:19; Heb 13:15).
Worship throughout History
The word acapella refers to non-instrumental singing and means “of the chapel” in Latin. The word comes from the ancient form of Christian praise when early churches worshiped by singing without instrumental music. For fourteen centuries following Christ, most churches sang and opposed the use of musical instruments in worship and assembly. During the Reformation, the reformers led believers in France and England to remove the additions of musical instruments that the Roman church added in the fourteenth century.[3] This effort to reform Christian worship according to “the regulative principle” continued among many churches through the nineteenth century. Through the Reformation until today, “nonconformist” churches find that true worship is free of innovations and amusements. In the Restoration Movement, the restorers made the same stand for true worship and still do among churches of Christ.
God Judges Hearts
True worshipers will not add or annul from true worship. As far as true worship being a matter of salvation, God judges the hearts of those who worship for whether they love God and keep His commands (John 14:21–24). Some Christians in ancient Corinth received condemnation for not discerning the Lord’s Supper. Some also misused the gifts of languages in the assembly while corrected they were not overtly condemned (1 Cor 11:17–34; 14). Christians must defer to God who judges on these matters, so the faithful urge that all follow Christ to worship as God has revealed in the Scriptures.
Conclusion
The churches of Christ do not use musical instruments to worship God, because Christ commanded congregations to sing in the New Testament. Churches in the New Testament sang together with one voice and never used instruments. The New Testament writers affirm that singing is the most edifying, meaningful, and spiritual form of music. Because the New Testament Scriptures command music consisting of words for praise and spiritual teaching, the church of Christ will not add musical instruments to the singing of a congregation in worship to God (1 Cor 14:9–19).
The words of Jesus compel churches of Christ to maintain the purity of true worship. Neither Christ, his apostles, nor his prophets used or commanded musical instruments for worshiping God. Therefore, many Christians conclude that no one should add to Christ’s perfect words or change true worship as Jesus established. Because God specified singing in the New Testament Scriptures, alterations are contrary to the heart of meaningful worship. By the Holy Spirit, the apostle taught that every Scripture is God’s breath to make the person of God complete and fully equipped unto every good work (2 Tim 3:16–17). Christians are not lacking any teaching or any good work in the Scriptures. The faithful listen to Christ’s Spirit and His words in the Scriptures, and by loving Christ, they see the holiness of singing meaningful words over all other musical forms. This is why the churches of Christ do not use musical instruments.
Encouragement
May God bless all to consider sincerely the music that God desires for believers to worship in spirit and truth. To understand true worship, a believer must think spiritually (1 Cor 2:14). A person must also have an honest and good heart who does not dismiss Christ’s teachings (Luke 8:15). Furthermore, churches of Christ urge repentant believers to receive salvation by the gospel — the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (1 Cor 15:1–5). Jesus rose bodily from the dead so that His followers will rise bodily from the dead on the last day (Rom 6:5; 8:11; 1 Cor 6:14). God saves believers by raising them from burial with Christ in baptism (Rom 6:4; Col 2:12–13). The believer must die with Christ to one’s sins to rise with Christ from baptism (Rom 6:1–7; Col 2:12–13). In this way, the Scriptures teach that God saves believers by grace raising them to new life in Jesus Christ (Eph 2:4–7).
- Matt 26:30; Mark 14:26; Acts 4:24; 16:25; Rom 15:6; 1 Cor 14:15; Eph 5:19; Col 3:16; Heb 2:12, 13:15; Jas 5:13; Rev 15:3–4.
- Scott J. Shifferd, “Do David’s Instruments Have a Place in True Worship?,” <https://Godsbreath.net/2014/03/04/davids-instruments-for-worship/> (2014).
- John Price, Old Light on New Worship: Musical Instruments and the Worship of God, a Theological, Historical, and Psychological Study, (Avinger, TX: Simpson Publishing, 2005).
The Breath of God 
2/2/18
From Elton:
It is a pleasure to read your concerns on this subject. Thank you for your interest in Scripture and for your opinions.
This reply reviews: 1. What Scripture specifically STATES. 2. How does language USAGE, Koine Greek, the language of the NT, tell God’s view regarding this subject? Respectfully, neither goal is difficult to discover from pages of Scripture. And, please recall, in Paul’s letter to Timothy, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the person of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work,” 2 Tim 3:16. At the time of Paul’s Letter, only OT Scripture is available for Timothy to read. Therefore, in this verse, ALL SCRIPTURE refers to OT Scripture, ONLY.
Who first orders instruments that intone various pitches in holy ceremonies?
GOD. When the Tabernacle is completed, God orders two SILVER TRUMPETS to be created, and HOW to construct each. Typically, trumpets call Israelites to assembly, Numbers 10:1-9, “Make two trumpets of hammered silver, and use them for calling the community together and … to assemble before you….
But, NO: God also orders the trumpets be played OVER OFFERINGS, … you are to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, and they will be a memorial for you before your God. I am the LORD your God! Nu. 10:10.
Therefore, God is first to order instruments to be played in sacred ceremony.
Who orders instrumental praise in Temple?
GOD. If King David declares this or that regarding Temple praise, never mind, because King David is dead for many years when Scripture states that God orders musical instruments in Temple worship, 2 Chron. 29:25. In this verse, Nathan, the Prophet, orders musical instruments into the Temple, and, as Scripture states: Prophets speak for God. God orders instruments into Temple.
What are musical instruments called in Scripture? “…musical instruments of God…” I Chron. 16:42 (KJV)
Does God DESIRE musical instruments in OT? The LORD said to Moses, Say to the Israelites: On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of Sabbath rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts. Do no regular work, but present a food offering to the LORD, Leviticus 23:23-25.
1 Chronicles 13:8, David and all the Israelites were celebrating with all their might before God, with songs and with harps, lyres, timbrels, cymbals and trumpets.
1 Chronicles 16:42, Heman and Jeduthun were responsible for the sounding of the trumpets and cymbals and for the playing of the other instruments for sacred song.
1 Samuel 10:5, … you will meet a procession of prophets coming down from the high place with lyres, timbrels, pipes and harps being played before them, and they will be prophesying.
Does God DESIRE musical instruments in Heaven?
Rev. 14:2-5, A God-chosen choir sings a new song; Harps accompany them.
Rev. 15:2-3, (The Over-comers) …held harps given to them by God and sang the song of Moses…and the song of the Lamb.
Conclusion: God desires musical instruments in OT praise to Him. God desires musical instruments in Heavenly praise to Him. But does God NOT want instrumental praise to Him in NT church Assembly, but He doesn’t tell anyone?
A Messianic Psalm states, “Stringed instruments make you (Jesus) GLAD.” Ps. 45:9, (NIV). Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever, Heb. 13:8. (Does Scripture ever STATE that musical instruments make Jesus SAD?)
Jesus prays that ALL things on earth be done as they are in heaven, Mt. 6:10. In heavenly Assembly, harpers are harping and harps are given to Elders by God, Rev. 5:8, 14:2, 15:2-3. Is Jesus praying for instrumental praise in Assembly on earth?
If these verses describe His Father’s House as the church, then Jesus approves of an orchestra in His Father’s House (the church.) Lk. l5:l l-32.
At the beginning of the church, early Christians meet in Temple as the orchestra plays. Instrumental praise is not a problem for them, Acts 2:46,
At the hour of prayer, Apostles go to Temple. Instrumental praise is not a problem for Apostles, Acts 3:l.
An angel frees Apostles from jail and tells them to go to Temple. Instrumental praise is not a problem for an angel or for Apostles, Acts 5: 17-20.
Apostle Paul participates in ceremonial worship for seven days with full orchestra, Acts 20:6. (ref. II Chron. 30:2l)
Paul gives Instructions for Assembly Worship, to the Corinthian church, I Cor. 14:6-9. In Chapter 14, Paul’s theme is: make Assembly UNDERS-TANDABLE. Paul uses musical instruments to illustrate what is understandable in Assembly. Paul writes that a flute communicates when it is properly intoned: and THIS is Instruction for Assembly! Does Paul mean that if a flute properly intones, ON A HILL FAR AWAY, and if the assembly knows this song, then the assembly understands and worships as a flute plays?
Again: Instructions for Assembly, I Cor. l4:26, Paul writes: WHEN YOU COME TOGETHER each of you has a psalm…” (The words in English, COME TOGETHER, are the Greek word, ASSEMBLE.) Paul does not object to cultural ways of HAVING Psalms. How are psalms HAD as Paul writes this Letter? Psalms are clapped, shouted, sung, played on instruments, and danced. And Paul does NOT disapprove ANY of these ways of HAVING Psalms in Assembly. Paul does NOT edit out any of the ways psalms are HAD in this culture.
If Paul means each of you SINGS a Psalm, then why does Paul write: each of you HAS as Psalm? If Paul means: Sing a’ cappella ONLY in Assembly FOREVER, Paul misses his chance to command what he means. The word HAS is INCLUSIVE, and, therefore, includes contemporary musical styles of the day. Conversely, the word, SING, is EXCLUSIVE. Sing means SING!
Nevertheless, Paul DOES edit out when Paul INTENDS to edit out, that is, when it is God’s will to do so. In Eph. 5:19, Paul writes, Psalms, Hymns, and SPIRITUAL songs… Paul edits out SECULAR songs. When Scripture intends to edit out, Scripture does so.
Again: Instructions for Assembly, I Cor. 14:26. Paul tells HOW the Corinthian church worships, When you Assemble, each of you has a psalm… In Greek, YOU is singular; HAS is singular; and PSALM is singular. This sentence is grammatically correct for solo presentation of a psalm. Be careful NOT to make rules where God has made none. Paul writes to Roman believers, Where there is no law, there is no transgression, Ro. 4:15.
James orders: sing psalms Ja. 5:13, but, again, Psalms that order instrumental praise in the Sanctuary are not edited out of his orders: Ps. 150, for example. (Does James mean: SING Psalms, but don’t DO what Psalms order?
There are three Greek words that are translated in English, SING (or a cognate of SING). The three Greek words are: ADO, PSALLO, and, HUMNEO. Each of these Greek words is instrument-inclusive.
ADO, a noun, in Greek, means ODE/SONG in English. SONG does NOT mean singing a’ cappella ONLY. When Greek writers of NT, such as Paul, want to use the word ODE as a verbal, spelling of ado becomes adontes: in Greek, odeing.
PSALLO, a noun in Greek means psalm in English. PSALM does NOT mean vocal singing ONLY. In Greek, psalontes means psalming. Psalming in Greek and in English does NOT mean singing a’ cappella ONLY.
HUMNEO, in English means hymn. HYMN does NOT mean vocal singing ONLY. Hymning does NOT mean a’ cappella ONLY in Greek or in English.
Each of these Greek words appears in both OT and in NT. But, PLAY (as in play a musical instrument) is missing in both OT and in NT usage of the three Greek words. The reason is because the word PLAY is included in usage of each of the Greek words. (The OT was translated into Greek about 200 years BC, and is called, Septuagint.) Since English does not use the word, song-ing (adontes) translators substitute the English word: singing. Nevertheless, the Greek word ado, is instrument-inclusive even if the word is translated in English, SING.
Ado is the verb choice by the Holy Spirit in Revelation 15:2-3, “…those … held harps given to them by God and SANG (ado) the song of Moses … AND the song of the Lamb. (A reader might think that, in this verse, harps are “props” and not played because play is not in this sentence.)
Exodus 15:20-21, “And Miriam, the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them, Sing (ado) ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously …. In the Septuagint, the word play is not written because ado (in English, ODE/SONG) is instrument-inclusive.
Ps. 144:9, I will sing (ado) a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery will I sing (psallo) praises unto thee. (A psaltery is a ten-string musical instrument.)
Ps. 150, the Hebrew verb, halal, is the command verb of this psalm. Halal includes musical instruments galore. In the Septuagint, the Greek word psallo translates the Hebrew word, halal. Greek translators choose psallo, as equivalent to halal. Psalontes, (psalming), translates the English words, making music in your heart, of Eph. 5:19.
In Scripture, there are many examples of usage of the three Greek words that are translated sing/singing. These few samples are included here to show usage of these words as they are STATED in Scripture.
In the entire church age, Acts to Jude, there is not one command verb that orders/commands sing in Assembly. But if an English version writes Sing and make music in your heart, in Eph:5:18-19, this is not what the Greek states. The KJV translates the correct Greek syntax: Do not be drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord…. There are two commands: (1) Do not be drunk and (2) Be filled with the Spirit. Singing and speaking are what happens when a person is filled with the Spirit. Singing and speaking are not command verbs. In fact, grammatically, neither is verbal. Both words are ing NOUNS. These two words NAME what a person does when moved by the Holy Spirit. Grammatically, they are called, gerunds. Here is comparison between Gerund and Verbal: See the girl swinging. Swinging is gerund, a noun. This ing word NAMES the action in the sentence. See, the girl is swinging. IS SWINGING is verbal, present participle. The helper verb IS shows that swinging is action, and therefore, verbal and not gerund. Neither singing nor speaking in Eph. 5:18-19 is an order from God.
In Col. 3:16, the command is: Let the word of Christ DWELL in you richly…. But, Teaching and admonishing are not command verbs. Teaching and admonishing name action. They do not order anyone to do this action in Assembly. Singing and admonishing in Assembly are not orders from God. Rather, Paul describes how to live daily in Christ. For example: as a group of ladies walk to a nearby creek to do laundry, they sing a psalm to each other. Some psalms ask questions and give answers not unlike the modern song: What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus, etc. It can be sung in antiphonal singing style much like psalms were sung in First Century.
Neither Eph. 5: 18-19, nor Col. 3:16 order/command to sing a’ capella ONLY in Assembly worship. Paul is closing his Letters as usual with orders/suggestions on how to live. Read what precedes each of these verses and what follows each of these two verses: read these two verses in CONTEXT. For example: Eph. 5:21, Wives, submit yourselves unto you own husbands… only in ASSEMBLY?
In Chapter 14 of Paul’s Letter to Roman Christians he states his personal hermeneutic in solving differences among believers. Paul states that if a person believes that he/she is guided by God to be a vegetarian, he/she does not sin. If another person believes that eating meat (even if the meat has been previously offered to an idol, but is now being sold in a market), eating this meat is NOT a sin. Each of these factions believes that ONLY IT has God’s approval. But Paul states that neither faction is disobedient to God. However, Paul adds: DON’T FUSS ABOUT IT! Probably Paul would dismiss this issue of Assembly praise in the same way: both factions honor God in what they do.
Respectfully, Elton
Posted 2/2/18 on:
House to House
And
Heart to Heart
http://www.housetohouse.com/why-do-churches-of-christ-not-use-instrumental-music/#comment-5415
Hi Elton,
Second Timothy 3:16–17 does refer to the New Testament with the Old Testament. Paul quoted Luke 10:7 in 1 Timothy 5:18 calling Luke’s Gospel “Scripture” along with a citation of Deuteronomy 25:4.
Please, read the article and you will find that it addresses your concerns. Farewell friend. My God bless your studies in His Word.
Excellent article. I think the most important verse concerning this topic is in Ephesians. Since my knowledge on the subject is limited to what others have studied, I’ll simply share a quotation from their work.
“Ephesians 5:19 declares, “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord.” The phrase “making melody” comes from the Greek word “psallontes” which means “to rub or touch,” “to twitch or twang.” It was commonly used in Greek to refer to playing a stringed musical instrument.” https://www.google.%5Bcom%5D/amp/s/www.gotquestions.org/amp/musical-instruments-church.html
In any case, I believe this is truly a matter of preference and secondary in importance. God is more concerned with the heart in our worship and not the form.
God bless you and your ministry Scott,
Matthew
Psallo is also used in 1 Cor 14:15 where making melody must only consist of intelligible words. We cannot preach, pray, or praise with an instrument but only with words. This is the Christian psallo. Psallo once meant to twang an psalter for the Greeks but now means “make melody” and intelligible meaningful worship in words for Christians. See: https://Godsbreath.net/2011/12/12/psallo-church-music/
Thank you for your kind response. Farewell.
If we say that instruments is not part of worship because Jesus and Paul said that we should worship with our heart and spirit, we would be affirming that David did not worship God appropriately. However, God never judged David because of his worship. Jesus did not come to change the way of worship. :) In my opinion, it depends on each one of us, how much we love God, as the king David, both his heart and spirit motivated him to worship God in a creative way. Blessings.
Flaminio,
I appreciate your response. Your perspective is very common, but I have thought about it. However, there is too much to demonstrate that Jesus did bring in true worship apart from the carnal OT worship. I find that we missing out on what God gave us when we prefer OT worship over NT worship.
I have recently taken the scriptures from this article and formed a list for the purpose of seeing that I could see another way of inclusion. I hope you will consider the scriptures and do the same if only for the sake of studying God’s Word.
Here is another article about David’s instruments and today’s worship:
God bless your studies.
Making the blanket statement that silence does not exclude would make a lot of things not specifically mentioned in the Scriptures acceptable unto God. Compare Acts 15:24 as an example. Peter said “no commandment” was given (silence) concerning the binding of physical circumcision under the law of Christ for spiritual purposes. Was Peter in error for teaching this truth, or was he reinforcing teaching in the Bible that was positively taught elsewhere?
Perhaps the area on the east coast where Cyndi now lives has a problem with instrumental music, so the church puts more emphasis on that topic. I suggest studying what the Scriptures do teach regarding any particular topic, rather that what’s allegedly not there. What the scriptures do say will give the reader positive instruction on what is not specifically mentioned, or “silent” about (necessary inference). Regarding music, God taught that singing is acceptable form of praise unto Him, so to add what He said about it is sinful unless authority can be found elsewhere (2 John 9-11).
While I understand that some choose to find disharmony in more things related to Christianity than agreement, I have always wondered what it is about Christians that drive them to always want to be the “right” ones and all others to be wrong?
The truth of the matter is that in the New Testament, we don’t find a “Church building” or what we refer to as Gods House anywhere in the New Testament at all. What we do see are that the believers are called the “church” the word ekklēsia meaning “called out” so to me if we choose to say we should not praise God with instruments inside the Santuary of a building we call the church, we are in fact doing the same thing we are accusing others of doing when using instruments in their worship services. Is it not a fact that CoC allow musical instruments on their campus as long as it is not in the sanctuary?
I also find it interesting that we state the harpists in Revelation are of many voices sounding like a harp, when in actuality, that’s not what the verse says at all. If we are to remain true to the scriptures, we should say what the scriptures say, not how our latest versions more fitting our language says. The word for voices is phōnē, which simply means “sounds” not “voices” the KJV actually affirms this at the end of the text.
“and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:” if read with the meaning of the word phōnē, it reads “and I heard the sound of harpers harping with their harps”
Actually the entire verse makes more sense when the proper definition of the word is used.
And I heard a voice from heaven, ( a sound from heaven)
as the voice of many waters? Water has no voice, it can speak. So why would John use this terminology?
Nore does thunder! Again, that’s because voice is not the word John penned. John said I heard the sound!
I say all this not to change the minds of an entire church denomination but instead for the edification of those who are wrestling with the issue. Personally I don’t care how people choose to worship their creator and King. Their worship is not for man’s benefit but for their offering to their Lord and Savior.
No matter how you choose to worship Him who is worthy, may you worship Him always!
Blessings,
Php 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
Hello,
Imagine the assembly in the first century. Christians gathered encouraging one another, devoted to the apostles’ doctrine, praying together, and praising Godwin the fruit of their lips.
I hope you read the article carefully. Many today worship with instruments contrary to most Christians in they 20 centuries. The disagreement is not with everyone else, but agreement with the Scriptures for principles and precedents of true worship. No historian thinks that the early Christians worshiped with instruments. The early Christian writers opposed the use of instruments.
If the first Christians did not assemble the whole congregation in homes, then where did they meet (1 Cor 11:22)? Many people have come to think that the first Christians only and strictly meet in homes. Did the NT church met in synagogues aa “church buildings” (Jas 2:2)? The Greek definition of “synagogue” is a building as a place of gathering. There are passages that also note Christians meeting not in homes but upper rooms and synagogues. I have posted an article on this. The churches of Christ do not keep instruments “on campus.”
There are numerous passages of phonie referring to voices throughout the NT. Revelation 14:2 clearly notes in Greek that the voices or sounds were “as” harpists harping.
God does not need us to worship Him (Acts 17:24–25). Humanity needs to worship God. This is why everyone needs to understand Jesus’s point in that, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). What Jesus had instructed about true worship is for man’s own good.
christel! what an amazing view i never expected that there could be a person like you “..according to my knowledgy..” we do not argue you how you know but what the scriptures have said and the worst thing you said “these are just words of paul” then do you realy read holy scriptures? what 2peter 1:21 says? almost it says that all what prophets said came from GOD how dare do you come and give out your evil motives?
If you rely on what Jesus said about music in worship, you would not have ANY music in worship services, because Jesus did not address this issue at all to my knowledge. All of your references on this topic are from the writings of Paul, not statements that Jesus made. If you do not add nor subtract from Jesus’ teachings, you would not allow singing in your worship services, either.
I think we should willing consider either side and willingly accept the truth. You bring up an interesting and important point.
In the article, Jesus is the primary source from John 4. Furthermore, Jesus did sing with His disciples after instituting the communion meal (Matt 26:26–30). Lastly, Jesus sang praises to God in the midst of the congregation (Heb 2:12). This is a quote from a prophecy of Jesus. My conclusion is that Jesus does set a precedent by singing. The apostles’ words come from Christ’s Spirit and always teach singing (John 16:12–13; 1 Cor 2:13).
I’ve never been so confused in my life. I am 58, raised in the Church and never heard this topic preached so much until we moved to the east coast. We found a small NI congregation to worship with. I am sad to say I have heard more sermons on wha we don’t believe instead of what we do, especially why we don’t worship with instruments. They are obsessed with it. We have had people come through the door only to get a 20 minute introduction on why we don’t have a piano. What a lost opportunity to teach someone about salvation. BTW, they don’t come back. It definitely got me studying like never before. I just went to the Bible and continue to ask God for wisdom. One thing that has constantly come to mind is how, in so many things we do, we seem to be trying to be good enough to get solvation to work hard enough to earn it. I have so many questions: Are there any examples in the NT of people that use sign language to sing praise to God? If not, is it acceptable to him? Are there any examples of men leading singing from the pulpit? Are there examples of borrowing money to purchase buildings to worship in? Please know that I am not trying to be hateful. God knows my heart and I am truggling with this issue. My step-father was a Church of Christ minister ( my mother was a widow at 36 and he was a young widower) and my husband grew up in a missionary family that served in the Philippines. I’m saying that to let you know that I have never know anything but NI worship. Like I said I only started looking into this topic after we moved here and worship with a group that seems to make the nonuse of instruments in service their main focus. I think we need to focus more on preaching the Gospel. Also, is worshipping with instruments unforgivable? Will it send someone to hellcin, when the Bible states the only unforgivable sin is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? I personally find it more edifying to worship without instruments but struggling with making it a salvation issue for those who choose otherwise. Please know I appreciate and respect you and am only searching for answers. Please pray that God can give me wisdom. Thanks so much and God Bless.
Amen, Cyndi! This is the last thing that I teach. However, this article is very popular. I will reply to your questions asap. Thank you, sister.
Hi Cyndi:
Are there any examples in the NT of people that use sign language to sing praise to God? No.
If not, is it acceptable to him? Yes, if that is one’s primary language, then this is certainly good. However, the God-given tongues in 1 Corinthians 12–14 were not understood.
Are there any examples of men leading singing from the pulpit? No, but silence does not exclude. God’s specific commands for the assembly do. We cannot change the Lord’s Supper or anything that God established. We certainly cannot change baptism from immersion to sprinkling. There are examples in 1 Corinthians 14 and 1 Timothy 2 of men leading prayer, and 1 Corinthians 14 links praying and singing (14:15). Instead of song-leaders, we need song starters who may sit among the congregation. That is how we sang when I was in college.
Are there examples of borrowing money to purchase buildings to worship in? The early churches did own buildings. We may assume that they maintained them and built them. James 2:2 uses the words “syngagogue” in Greek for the place of their assembly. Furthermore, Paul converted most of those in the synagogue in Corinth where they had a synagogue (Acts 18). First Corinthians 11:17–34 indicates that the Christians in Corinth did not meet in anyone’s house.
Also, is worshiping with instruments unforgivable? Will it send someone to hell in, when the Bible states the only unforgivable sin is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? I find your answer lies with how those who lost their souls by changing the Lord’s Supper in 1 Corinthians 11 differ from those who made a show of God-given gifts like tongues in chapter 14. Both are wrong. God forgives those who repent. Will people go to Hell for instruments? I hope not. If 1 Corinthians 14 is the example, then these were misusing their God-given abilities, but I do not perceive that they were condemning themselves to Hell. This is really a matter of the heart. If we love Christ, we will keep His commands (John 14:21–24).
In the article above, I think I make points that many overlook. Thank you for your comment.
God bless you, Cyndi. Let us preach the Gospel first and then we can speak to them about true worship.
I am interested in the comment about borrowing money to build churches. Can you please say if it is okay to borrow money to build churches? I understand that we are assuming that the church members owned the synagogues where they worshipped, but how do we know they borrowed money to buy it? How do we know the believers didn’t put their own money together to buy their synagogues? Especially since the Bible talks about how the believers freely gave what they had to help each other. We are struggling with this at our church and I am hoping for some clear guidance. Thank you!
If even a few of the members believe that it is wrong to go into debt, then I would certainly wait and rent a building for the weekends until the money is saved.
However, what case can one make for borrowing? The main passage is Romans 13:8 that many refer to for not owing anyone anything. Does that mean that one simply does not owe due payments for debt or that no one has debt? In the first century, if one’s animal were to destroy someone’s property, that person would go into debt and owe them. This debt cannot be avoided. My point is that Romans 13:8 does not exclude loans and mortgages. There are not many other passages on this matter. Owing debt is a two way street. If a Christian is not to owe anyone anything in the sense of having a mortgage, then contracting mortgages is wrong for Christians. However, Jesus depicted the position of the debt-holder to God in certain parables (Matt 18:23–35; Luke 7:41–43). In Law of Moses, one was to lend to those in need (Deut 15:7). My conclusion is that loans are not condemned or excluded.
On the other side, Jesus commanded to lend without asking for return (Luke 6:34–35). Solomon warned of taking debt (Prov 22:7). My people became bond-servants because of debt.
My perspective is that Christians need to be careful to whom they are in debt. We must avoid such debt. However, if we are in a car accident, we may have unavoidable debt.
For the sake of unity in the church, I would make my case for a loan, but in the second place, I would wait on them and begin saving.
This is a fascinating subject. Let me know what you find. God bless.
Unfortunately Scott you are unaware of what we know the New Testament worship to be – maybe you not versed in music and are unaware of say the difference between a major 7th and a dominant 7th- this could possibly be the reason for you not to really understand what a beautiful worship is – this is in reference to using music-( singing and instrumental)-
You seem to be following in the tradition of division-legalism-you must also be unaware of what some churches have found-communication does help increase the numbers of souls being saved today-instruments have helped- have hou not heard of Texas?
To me there is enough division – while it is fine if non music instruments is your comfort zone-it’s not okay that you telling people God wants only the voice- no instruments –
Singing and playing instruments – both are not that important-
Last thought – most congregations use an instrument – and if you make some visits- you will find
People in beautiful worship praising in a pure – Biblical approach
Buy a banjo or a organ or a drum – make friends with your fear
Prayers you open your ears and mind to true worship
Blessings
Tell them to read Psalms 150
Gentlemen,
What is the spirit of true worship? God is Spirit and He seeks true worshipers. The whole plea of this article is a worship according to spirit and not the letter of the Old Testament. Biblically speaking, legalism is following after the law and the letter rather than the Spirit (2 Cor 3:3–7).
Jesus revealed that worship is no longer in Jerusalem where David brought the worship of the Old Testament with its new inclusion of David’s instruments. Jesus revealed that now Christians worship in spirit and truth (John 4:21–24).
OK!!! Amen Žalm 150 Yes!!! Na co potom dává Bůh hřivny těm, kdo mají hrát na hudební nástroje, když by nechtěl, aby zpěváky doprovázely na hudební nástroje.