Why No Instrument? (2)
Music in the New Testament
In our last article, we began answering the question “Why No Instrument?”. We studied the fact that the New Testament furnishes a complete pattern for worshiping and serving God today. We cannot change this pattern without incurring the wrath of God (Gal. 1:8, 9). In this article, I again invite you to open your New Testaments and we will briefly notice the passages that speak about music. I believe we can easily see that these passages fall into one of three categories and only one of these addresses the subject of music in worship.
Music In Everyday Life
In the first century, as today, people found expression for their sorrows and their joys in music. Much of this music had little or no connection with the worship of God. The New Testament reflects this use of music in the day-to-day lives of people. In Matthew 11:16, 17, Jesus speaks of the children playing in the marketplace and alludes to the playing of the flute and the singing of a dirge. In Luke 15:25, the Savior refers to the fact that when the prodigal son’s older brother approached the house “he heard music.” There is no indication if this music was vocal, instrumental, or both. In 1 Corinthians 14:7-9, Paul uses the notes played by various instruments to illustrate the need for clarity in speech. And in Revelation 18:22, John describes the utter desolation of the fallen city by, among other things, noticing the complete absence of any type of musical sound. Those who would like to defend the use of instrumental music in worship today will sometimes appeal to these passages to argue their case. However, they misuse Scripture when they do so. Our concern is not about the type of music that we might use in everyday life but about the music we would use to God in worship. These passages do not deal with that subject.
Music In Heaven
At least three times in Revelation, John makes mention of hearing the sound of musical instruments in the heavenly regions (Rev. 5:8, 9; 14:2, 3; 15:2, 3). Again, these figure prominently in the arsenal of those who seek to promote the instrument in worship today. See, they tell us, if God allows instruments in Heaven, there must not be anything wrong with them in the church! Just a few thoughts will show the fallacy of this reasoning. First, this again does not compare apples with oranges. If God will, in fact, choose to allow the use of instruments in Heaven, that does not change what he has authorized us to use in worship today. Second, this line of reasoning ignores the highly symbolic nature of the Revelation. John states that Jesus signified the message of Revelation to him (Rev. 1:1). This means that the Lord conveyed the prophecy by means of signs and symbols. John also mentions seeing horses in Heaven (Rev. 6:2). Does this mean that Heaven will contain literal horses? Does this mean that we should use horses in the worship of the church today?
Music In Worship
Finally, we come to a number of passages that describe the music that Christ and his disciples and apostles used and commanded in worship. These passages provide God’s approved, authoritative pattern for music in worship today. After his last meal with his disciples before his crucifixion, Christ joined them in singing a hymn (Matt. 26:30; Mark 14:26). When Paul and Silas suffered wrongful imprisonment in Phillipi, they did not murmur or complain but raised their voices and praised God in song (Acts 16:25). At least twice, the New Testament writers refer to Christ singing praise to God (Rom. 15:9; Heb. 2:12). Paul told the Corinthians that his desire in worship was to sing with the Spirit and with the understanding (1 Cor. 14:15). The same apostle commanded both the Ephesian and Colossian Christians to sing (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). Finally, James advises those who are merry to sing psalms (Jas. 5:13). I believe God has made the pattern for music in worship today very clear: Over and over he says sing. Not even once does he say sing and play nor use the general term make music. Thus, churches that are truly “of Christ” continue to employ only vocal music in their worship.
Next time, a look at some of the common arguments for using instruments in worship.
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Truth
Magazine Vol. XLV: 9 p14
May 3,
2001