With wonderful results. Janice gave NT passage to show what Christians are to do. To pick on her use of OT scripture that demonstrates a Bible wide principle, then use that as permissive to introduce OT scripture on musical instruments to justify NT practice, is both pedantic and twisted.
Interesting viewpoint. Did they substitute the offering of money for the offering of animals? I am sorry you had a bad experience.
All Churches of Christ are independent only local oversight. If you do what the new testament says you will be okay. The name of the church means nothing. Also if you follow the teachings of Christ it would not be a denomination it would be his original Church. Only members are to lay by in store for the first day of the week. I appreciate your perspective on this issue, but I have two questions. Do you believe God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow?
If so, if musical instruments were pleasing to God as a form of worship in the Old Testament church why would they not still be so in the New Testament church? But, 1 Samuel 15 teaches that God is pleased by obedience — not necessarily specific actions or efforts. Specifically see I Samuel Something that may have pleased God in another context, is only pleasing to God if offered in obedience. But instruments were used in the New Testament as well.
It seems very presumptuous rather than studious. Not to mention the numerous verses in Revelations to horns, harps, etc. There is not an expressive, explicit verse prohibiting instruments, so why should we add to scripture what is not there? Also the word Psalm in the greek as in Ephesians literally means to play a piece of accompaniment such as voice with instrument.
Just some thoughts. Revelation is highly symbolic, generally most passages in Revelation the have musical instruments in them are not literal. And none of them as far as I know are dealing with Christian worship on earth. Yes, there are instruments in the New Testament, but they are not being used in Christian worship.
That is literally to — pluck the strings of the heart. God has given a clear instruction on what He expects in worship. If we ask you where is the passage of scripture that gives you authority to use instruments in worship, you will never be able to provide one.
To do anything other than what God wants is to show disobedience to His will. One must remember at all times, our worship toward God is not about what we want. Jason, you say there is clear instruction to what God expects in worship. I completely disagree with that statement. There is no book of worship in the New testament. And, more importantly.
In the NT, the term worship is always used as what we do in every aspect of our life. In other words, Christian music we hear on the radio must also be considered evil. The reason for this is because the NT never says anything like, it is wrong to do this during this event, but not during this one. He clearly is talking about 3 different genres of music. A Psalm was specifically a song played with music.
The Bible in no way teaches any such concept. You will no where find any scripture that supports your concept of worship. The following scriptures are only a few of many that show worship is something that is done with intent. I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God. You have to remember that King David introduced instruments into the Jewish worship. Before King David, instruments were never used in the Jewish worship. Fleming, do you think that we need to be offering sacrifices as they did in the old testament also?
As someone commented earlier, the Old Testament is something for us to read and learn from but not to use as our guide. Could it be that the whole discussion on instrumental or non-instrumental music is an irrelevent issue.
Either way, we are saved only by the grace of God, not any form of music. Many people sing songs of praise to God out of habit not with their heart…. Not really. It is a matter of preference. No sin listed as to using instruments. Skip you may or may not be correct. I started in a C of C and my preference is A Cappela. It sounds and feels to me so much more than singing. Bass drums, electric guitars, organs, pianos, etc all drown out the voices, the harmony, the love.
I have nothing against instruments. My opinion. You can agree or not. Thank you for writing that. That through Christ and by Christ we are saved and will live with Him in eternity.
However we can cause henderances. Yes we read in decency and in order, but we cannot stop there. If we look into the scriptures without an argumentative agenda to see what God expects: it is loving him and loving one another and spreading the good news so that all people can be saved; it is spending time in fellowship, helping each brother and sister in the faith and being a good example to others; it is acknowledging our sins and short comings and when convicted to ask for forgivness-forgiveness from God and from people; it is holding each other accountable, in love, as we remind them and we also remember, Jesus will be the Judge as we are not capable of making the ultimate judgement call…no matter how well we think we know His word.
The way one congragation worships compared to another and compared to the scriptures is not what God said will cause a soul to be lost. Do we remember what Jesus said to the disciples when they returned from their assignment. They said to Jesus that they saw others working the same work but these people were not present with Jesus.
Jesus told the 12 not to worry about them. Why are we worrying over things that are drawing people closure to God, but are different than we feel is right. Let God deal with them through their reading of the Bible and their hearts and let God be the Judge as he is intended to be. Let us work on unity and strive to saving souls and teaching souls. But teachings souls through love and hope and the Bible and stop causing brothers and sisters in the faith to feel ashamed. Besides, are those that fuss and fight over small matters not concerned that their souls will be in jeopardy of judgment of a millstone being placed around their necks because of the unnecessary divisions caused.
Yes this is a small matter because salvation will not be lost on playing a musical instrument, nor will there be salvation to those that do not play one or more. We all who are believers are working to, praying for and have faith in reachng perfection, but true perfection will only be fulfilled when we meet our Lord.
I am impressed and inspired by reading the article you wrote on the use of musical instruments in our worship. God bless you for writing such a beautiful article. I have enjoyed reading your writing. God bless you. Behailu Abebe Endeshaw Evangelist Ethiopian. But dear sister, the oracles of God, mentioned by Peter here, were the Scriptures, the existing old testament. So then, psalm was part of the oracles of God! I agree except that the Bible says that Jesus came not to destroy the law but to fulfill it.
He fulfilled the old law and then established the new law, His law. Great article! Because, like myself, I disagree with the argument. You assume that what is said is absolutely correct. Let me ask you this. Do you do to the doctor when you are sick? According the this argument, the silence of scripture, you are in violation of the New Testament if you go to the doctor.
Because, after Jesus died we have only two references of what to do if you are sick. One, Paul told Timothy to take some wine for his stomach. And two, James said if you are sick to call the elders to pray over the sick. The only command is to call the elders to pray. Therefore going to the doctor is adding to gods word and in violation of this idea of the silence of the scriptures. We are told what to do if we are sick, and there is no mention of going to the doctors.
Interesting view point to state that the Church of Christ follows the New Testament however, I have never heard anyone speak in tongues in a Church of Christ? Clearly in the Book of Acts, we see where Peter stood up and preached the Gospel Good News and were saved accepted Christ and what appeared to be Tongues of Fire fell upon them.
The tongues they spoke on the day of Pentecost, were so all the people from the other countries could understand in their own Language. It would be like me speaking in German or Russian or Mexican.
All the people heard in their own language! Some Churches of Christ disagree with this article and use instruments when they worship. Do they get kicked out of the Church of Christ?
There are Churches of Christ, and then there are Churches of Christ. If taken in that aspect, then churches should not have electrical lighting, PA systems, recording media or projrection media as they were not available either. There would be no use of publoc broadcasting of services. Some would argue those are ok, but you cannot pick and choose which parts or pieces you want to justify use of particular itsm or not using another.
Great Article???? The early Christians were even command to sing Psalms… you know.. Why would God have us sing about doing something we were forbidden to practice? Ephesians says nothing about playing, so why would one of the folks that want music use it? Same thing in Colossians ?
A psalm was specifically a hindrance of music accompanied by an instrument. A psalm was specifically a hindrance of music accompanied by an instrument! This is a topic that I have spent much time studying. When I first joined the Church of Christ, I was under the impression that instruments were used all the way throughout Old Testament worship until Jesus came along and then — out of nowhere — they stopped using them. If this were the case, then one would logically assume that the change in Covenants led to a change in the mode of worship.
However, my initial impression had been false. I had not done enough research on Old Testament worship. It turns out that New Testament worship was modelled after the synagogue worship that developed during the Babylonian exile and carried forward into the first century. Unlike Temple worship, the purpose of synagogue worship was primarily to learn scripture; music was secondary.
In fact, for some period of time, it appears that music was not allowed to be sung due to the mourning that was taking place after exile. Why is this important? Because synagogue worship, as far as we know, was never commissioned by God. The mode of worship and the decision to omit instrumental music was a decision of man [also note that God seemingly never condemned these men for implementing a new way of worship in a time where they had no access to the Temple].
Thus, if New Testament worship was patterned after the synagogue, then the lack of instrumental music can only be seen as a cultural practice derived from synagogue worship. One may respond with Ephesians and Colossians However, I am sorry to say that the Church of Christ has grossly misrepresented these passages.
These passages are not explicit instructions as to the mode of worship, and it is unfair to represent them as such. I think it absolutely leaves instruments as a matter of preference. In addition to the fact that it was a cultural adaptation of synagogue worship, I think the other key point of importance is that the New Testament gives us no specific instructions as to the MODE of worship. The common arguments here are Eph and Col , which I addressed in my previous comment. As far as sources that I have to provide, I think the key is to search from a historical perspective and not a doctrinal one.
My primary sources that I used were simple Bible dictionaries. But the Bible was also translated and interpreted by man. And on that note, no pun intended I have researched the literal meaning of psalm.
In Hebrew the meaning of the word psalm mizmor is uncertain. But it is derived from the Greek which signifies playing on a stringed instrument, most likely a lyre or harp.
There are different interpretations but this seems to be the definition. And I still prefer A Cappela. Brandon, appreciate your comments. I grew up in churches of Christ and for a time was convicted instruments were wrong, mainly because what I was fed. When I got older and did a lot of my own study, I came to a different conclusion and find no fault with instruments. You mentioned how many believe that instruments abruptly halted when Jesus came.
This was a point that got to me in connection with revelation. I know that revelation is highly a book of metaphors and symbolism. But if instruments had all of a audden become evil in worship, then why would you even use the picture of instrumental worship in revelation.
It seems that would be quite confusing to these Jews and Gentiles who are now being told that instruments are an abomination to use before God. And it even says in revelation that the harps were given to the angels. The actual command in Ephesians is found in vs.
The latter part of the verse contrasts the former. The former being that which drives out the presence of the Spirit that was given to us, Acts How is one filled with the Spirit? The following 5 participles tell us how. So vs. Note the conjunctive in verse 19 between singing and making melody. We are to sing and make melody with our heart literally to pluck the strings of the heart while we sing.
Paul is giving instruction on how we can promote the presence of God in our lives. The first participle is to address one another. When we sing, we do so together, the whole congregation is involved. The image given by Paul is one of worship, an activity done together, toward God. In addressing each other in song we do so in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, in order to teach each other Colossians And we do so with a melody in our hearts.
What is the melody? Participle 4, giving thanks. When we sing, we do so with thankful hearts!!! When we sing to each other we are also to submit to each other. In addressing one another and submitting to one another we are placing ourselves in the role of servant. I agree that when we sing, we make melody in our heart.
Our voice makes melody as well, but the importance is that our heat is making melody to God. An instrument does not prohibit one from making melody in the heart. They can still sing from the heart and make Millatti to Go an instrument does not prohibit one from making melody in the heart. They can still sing from the heart and make melody to God.
Many People who used instruments say the instrument is simply an aid to their praising God. I completely agree with you that Paul is encouraging us to do that which will help us to lead Spirit-filled lives, and singing praises to God is certainly one thing that will promote such a life.
However, this in no way excludes the possibility of instrumental music because Paul is not giving an exhaustive list here. And, even more importantly, he is not talking specifically about the mode in which we are to conduct corporate worship. While verses do include acts of worship, one would have to assume that Paul diverted from the context of his writing.
The context for Ephesians actually begins in Ch. In its proper context, outside of the scope of the mere 3 verses at the end of chapter 5, these appear to be very general commands rather than specific instructions on how we should conduct corporate worship. God commanded through his servant Paul that we should sing. This is an explicit instruction to those reading on how to be filled with the Spirit. Note that according to this verse alone, we are not free to sing what we like, we have specific instruction on what we can sing.
Paul has given authority to Christians everywhere to sing and how to conduct their singing. Christians have no authority to sing any other way, because they have been told what is expected. No, this is not an exhaustive list on what activities Christians can or must do in order to promote the presence of God in our lives. However, when it comes to singing, yes, it is an exhaustive list and Christian are bound by it.
No where in the the New Testament are Christians ever instructed to worship or ever us instruments in a manner that would resemble worship. If we were, one would only have to reference that verse and the matter would be solved!!!
Instead, those who would promote their use in worship have to refer to the Old Testament, in which they completely ignore all the rules governing their use, or Revelation in which passages are symbolic and not even dealing with Christian worship on earth, or just plain take a single word psallo , out of context as authority. Arguing for authority from the absence of authority, is a completely illogical argument. I must commend you though, at least you are using scripture, so many others do not.
I appreciate your comments. However, your response seemed to largely overlook the point of my previous comment. As I laid out before, Eph. If you claim that the mode of worship must only include singing because Paul — in passing — mentions that the life of a Christian includes singing, then you find yourself in a difficult predicament.
Paul also commands us to greet one another with a holy kiss Romans and encourages the consumption of wine for stomach ailments 1 Timothy , but you do not presume that people must do these things — and especially not ONLY these things. This is what Christians were already doing in worship, and had been for quite some time even during the Old Testament.
This was no new revelation, and no instruction as to the mode of worship, but simply instruction on how to live as Christians. Now if this is true, then there is literally no form of instruction as to the mode of worship. Thus, instrumental music along with song books, pitch pipes, etc. As to authority, perhaps it would be worthwhile to point out that, in the Old Testament, only the Priests were allowed to use instruments in corporate worship.
In fact, God found favor in David for doing this very thing. In 2 Samuel , David decided that he was going to build a house for God, despite the fact that he had never been commanded to do so.
Yet these things pleased God. Greeting one another with a holy kiss is another study, but it is something we should be doing. The consumption of wine that you are using must be placed in its context. Also, wine is often a general term in the Bible and does not necessarily refer to alcohol.
Not correct, the church never existed in OT times. Between the end of the OT and the beginning of the NT is a period of approx. However, as you point out, the church sung in its worship and that is all they did when it came to the music of the church. Paul instructed the church in regard to its music, and the church likely had instruction that is not recorded in the Bible.
But we see that the church never used instruments in worship. Continuing to shift base is not an honest way to deal with this issue. Nowhere in the Bible do we find the kind of plates we need to use for laying the emblems, or which colour the table cloth should be, or how big or small the offering bag should be. In short, the Bible does not forbid nor command the use of musical instruments either.
I believe every local congregation has the right, freedom and authority to decide the pattern of worship they would like to follow. Jobin John Mathew serves as a deacon at his church in Bangalore. He enjoys talking about Jesus to all age groups, preaching through the book of James, and listening to gospel-centric sermons.
He is married to Ruby and dad to little Judah. The family shares their home with many pets, including three turtles. Humility seems hard to cultivate—especially in this day and age. But God humbles us not to cast us away but to draw us closer to Him. Whether we eat or drink—or die—we are called to it all for the glory of God.
Is it wrong to use musical instruments in church services? Is it wrong to use musical instruments like drums and guitars in church services? Let me make an attempt to answer the question by stressing on four important factors: 1.
Derive Biblical truths correctly. The absence of Scriptural reference is not a sole criteria for deciding any particular church practice or doctrine 2. We all have. When you trust in Jesus completely, you don't need anything else to help you make it to heaven.
The Jesus within the Bible is the only way. Acts Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? Get new content by email:. I am not going to go into these reasons, nor refute each of them individually which can be done. I do not believe for one minute that God cares if a person is worshipping Him by singing alone A cappella without instruments or with instruments.
I do not believe God cares if one is worshipping Him with hymns or contemporary music. I do not believe God cares if one raises their hands in worship or keeps them by their side.
A few even make it a salvation issue…. For this reason, I must defend a position of using instruments. Here are some examples of the abuses we have in this today:. He might even have been gay. Of course, one can make a Biblical case for why each of these is wrong i.
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