INTRODUCTION:
First, this is not an easy question to answer because it is a little complicated. Don’t misunderstand, however, it is not the Word of God that makes things complicated, but the many and varied ideas about the subject, and the insistence of some to turn a deaf ear to those who would try to explain this question. So, if you will, bear with me and I will explain why the churches of Christ do not use mechanical instruments of music in worship unto God.
I. “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man”
The above quote is from Proverbs 14:12.
It is meant to show us that not everything man may think up is profitable
and acceptable to God.
We are to worship God by His dictates.
Jesus said, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship
him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). With this statement
to the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus implies three things: 1. There
is a right way to worship God, 2. There are ways that people can worship
which are wrong, and 3. It is the responsibility of the worshipper to make
sure the way he is worshipping is the correct way. [For a study of
ways people worship see How
Shall We Worship?] Therefore, it is imperative that we search
the scriptures to see how He would have us to worship Him.
Peter wrote, “If any man speak, let him
speak as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11). Therefore,
let’s go back and see what the Bible has to say on the subject before we
make up our minds or allow anyone to make it up for us.
II. God gave specific instructions for the worship He desires.
Paul, by inspiration, tells us to speak “to
yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making
melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19) and to “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” (Colossians 3:16). In these
passages we are told what kind of music the Lord desires -- singing.
He gave a specific command concerning our music in worship. Specific
commands are also restrictive. When God specifies a certain type
of something, this restricts us from going beyond what is written.
Example: You will remember the global
flood of the time of Noah. “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was
great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart
was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). Because of this,
God purposed to destroy the creation with a flood. “But Noah found grace
in the eyes of the LORD” (v.8). The Lord then instructed
Noah to build an ark out of gopher wood. The dimensions were to be
300 by 50 by 30 cubits. It was to have one window, one door and three
stories. With these specific instructions, God restricted Noah from
using any other dimensions or from using any other wood than “gopher
wood.” “Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded
him, so did he” (v.22). This wasn’t said of Noah because
he took half of what God said and then made some changes. This was
said because he did exactly what God told him to do.
It is the same today. God has instructed
us through the inspired apostle Paul to “sing” in our worship services.
This is the kind of music God desires and who are we to change what He
has ordered?
III. Basic Arguments Refuted
Do the angels in Heaven really worship God
with mechanical instruments such as harps? Many have their been who
have quoted, “And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many
waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers
harping with their harps” (Revelation 14:2) to prove this very
point. However, John does not say he heard them harping on mechanical
instruments such as harps. He said he heard the “voice
of harpers harping with their harps.” This implies they were
singing, and the singing was referred to as harping with their harps.
Does the definition of the Greek word Psalo
give us permission to use the mechanical instrument in worship? Many
have their been who have quoted J. H. Thayer’s definition which says, “a.
to pluck off, pull out......b. to cause to vibrate by touching,
to twang... to touch or strike the chord, to twang the stings of a
musical instrument so that they gently vibrate...to play on a stringed
instrument, to play the harp.” This is a very convincing argument
to many because J.H. Thayer’s works are so well respected. However,
the people who quote this portion of Thayer’s definition would have you
to believe this is all he has to say on the subject. The next time
you have access to a copy of Thayer’s lexicon look and see if what I am
about to write is the truth. He continues with his definition, “in
the N.T. to sing a hymn, to celebrate the praises of God in song.”
Thayer recognized that there is a distinct way this word is used in the
New Testament; i.e. in reference to singing specifically.
No, the definition of the Greek word Psalo does not give us permission
to use the mechanical instrument in worship to God.
Does the use of mechanical instruments in
the worship of the Old Testament give us permission to use them today?
Many have their been who have quoted Psalm 150 in their defense of this
proposition. In verse three is it written, “Praise him with the sound
of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.” However,
we do not live under the authority of the Old Testament today. [For
a more thorough study of this see Is
The Old Testament Still Binding?] Therefore, whatever they did
in that time in worship to God cannot serve as a binding example of how
we are to worship Him. Also, there is every indication that God was
not pleased with the mechanical instrument in worship in the Old Testament.
Listen to the rebuke of Amos the prophet of God. "Woe to them that are
at ease in Zion,..... Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the
seat of violence to come near; That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch
themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and
the calves out of the midst of the stall; That chant to the sound of the
viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David” (Amos
6:1, 4-5). David is the one who brought the instruments of music
into temple worship and this indicates that God was not pleased with his
actions nor the actions of others who tried to copy David. Therefore,
the use of mechanical instruments of music in the Old Testament does not
authorize us to use them today.
IV. Why Tamper With God’s Creation?
“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7). God is the one who created man. God is the one who gave us the ability to think and reason. God is the one who gave us the ability to sing. Why do people think they can improve on God’s creation by adding mechanical instruments to worship? When God finished his creation He “saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). Let’s all recognize that God’s creation is very good and we don’t need to add anything to it to please Him.
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