Instrumental Music
Robert Meredith
Why does the church of Christ not use instrumental music in worship? This is perhaps one of the most frequently asked questions that members of the church of Christ (Romans 16:16) receive. Church history shows us that instrumental music in worship was not introduced until around the sixth century. This alone is a great argument against its use, because if it had been authorized, the early church surely would have used it in their worship, just as Judaism used it. The fact that the early church did not use instrumental music in worship shows us that there is no authority for it. Religiously, there is one of two approaches that people can take. Either they say, “What is wrong with it?”, or they ask, “What has God authorized?” Christianity and the word of God demand authority for what one does in worship to God. The Apostle Paul wrote, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17). This statement tells us that one must have authority from God for what he does or teaches religiously. Let us turn to the New Testament Scriptures.
Jesus said, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). To worship God in spirit means with the proper attitude and being mentally involved. To worship God in truth means as guided by the word of God (John 17:17). One must do what God says and only what God says to do. In Colossians 3:16, one reads, “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.” The command as given by the Holy Spirit is to sing with grace in your heart. The instrument to be used is one’s heart; and the command is to sing. This command also requires congregational singing because if I am not singing, then I am not teaching and admonishing as the Lord wants.
Some will say, “But God did not say not to.” However, God did say what to do and He only said sing. One must respect the silences of the scriptures. For example, in Hebrews 7:14, one reads, “For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah: of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.” In the Old Testament, Moses said that the Levites were the priestly tribe. When he said they were, that eliminated all the other tribes from being the priests. Moses did not have to tell each one that they were not priests, because he said the Levites were. Likewise, God does not have to tell us everything we are not to do because He has instructed us what to do.
In spiritual matters, God demands that we follow Him (Colossians 3:17). The Bible is our only source of authority (Psalm 119:105; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Bible commands us to sing, not play. There are no New Testament examples of the use of instrumental music in worship, nor is there any necessary inference of its use. Therefore, the church of Christ only worship as God has directed. Read Leviticus 10:1-2 for an example (Romans 15:4) of some who went beyond what is written.