Instrumental Music In Worship Today

Do the Scriptures declare that the use of instrumental music in worship is unauthorized and a sinful practice?

In order to know whether the use of instrumental music in worship is acceptable in the sight of God or not, one must inquire with the proper authority on the subject. The proper authority is the New Testament, the new covenant which man is answerable to today. It is not a matter of what I like or you like, or what I think or you think, but what does the New Testament teach. If we can agree on this one point, i.e., that the New Testament is the final authority, then we can be united concerning the music question in worship.  Now let us consider:  

                                 "Commands that include as well as exclude"
                           "Commands of a general nature and a specific nature"

To begin with, understanding the nature of a biblical command will solve the question of what is authorized or not authorized by the New Testament. A command from God can include as well as exclude some things. This can be observed by looking at the Lord's Supper, Matt. 26:27. When Christ instituted the Lord's Supper, he named the things to be used: unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine. This command by way of an example includes the things mentioned and excludes all things not mentioned. If someone substituted "orange juice" for the fruit of the vine, they would do so without the authority of the New Testament and it would be a sinful practice. It is easy to see the law of exclusion here as well as in Eph. 5:19 where Paul says, "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord".  The specific command here is "singing", not a general command such as making music. The specific command to "sing", excludes the playing of instruments in worship just as the use of unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine excludes using any other thing during the observance of the Lord's Supper.

Another scripture reference to take notice of  general and specific commands and what they refer to is found in Mark 16:15. Here Jesus said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature". Notice here that "go" is a general or generic term. God has given us the option to choose which would be the best way to "go".  Now take note of the word "gospel". This is a specific term, so we understand that no matter how we choose to "go", the "gospel" is what is to be preached. Eph. 5:19 and Col. 3:16 both use the specific term or command to "sing" which gives the church the authority to make music by singing, not by playing musical instruments. There is no command given and therefore, no authority in the New Testament for playing instruments of music in worship.

A Way of Truth

A "way of truth" is spoken of in II Peter 2:2 and that truth is the "gospel" according to Eph.1:13.  Jesus promised the apostles in John 16:13 "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth". The inspired apostles who were guided into all truth, never preached nor taught nor commanded the use of instrumental music to be used in worship. Therefore, using instruments of music in worship is not  "the way of truth" but is a way of error. Using instruments of music in worship is another way of walking "not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel" Gal. 2:14.  Remember Jesus said in John 8:32 "the truth shall make you free".

Things that Pertain to Life and Godliness

II Peter 1:3 says "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue". This "knowledge of him" comes to us through the New Testament in which we find "all things that pertain to life and godliness". Therefore, things not found in the New Testament do not pertain to life and godliness; one of which is the use of musical instruments in worship. Since this is the case, playing of such must pertain to death and ungodliness. This can be further understood by considering II John 9 "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God". Those who add instrumental music to the worship do not abide in the teachings of Christ and therefore do not have God.

Instruments of Music in Worship Not of Faith

Romans 14:23 says "for whatsoever is not of faith is sin". Rom. 10:17 says faith comes by "hearing by the word of God". If the word of God does not teach a thing, it cannot be of faith, it must, therefore, be a sin. This puts instrumental music when used in worship, in the class of things sinful, for the New Testament teaches no one to use it. When we sing, we do so by faith, for the Lord commands it. But no one can play an instrument of music in the worship assembly by faith, for it is not commanded. It is, therefore, a sinful practice.

Do All by the Authority of Christ

In Col. 3:17 the scripture says "do all in the name of the Lord Jesus" which means by Christ's authority. A man cannot do a thing in the name of the Lord which the Lord has not authorized him to do. The Lord has given no commandment in the New Testament authorizing the church to use musical instruments in worship, therefore, it cannot be done in His name. It is sinful, therefore, not submitting to the authority of the Lord.  In closing, remember the words of our Lord Jesus when he said "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" Matt. 7:21.  The playing of musical instruments in worship is not included in the "will of the Father".   -----Butch Ellis