Why No Instrument (3)
Answering the Apologists for the Instrument
In our last article we learned that the New Testament pattern for music in worship only includes vocal music. While the New Testament does mention instrumental music in other contexts, every verse that deals with music in worship only mentions vocal music. In spite of this clear revelation of the will of God, many are still advocating the use of mechanical instruments in worship today. In this article, we will examine some of their common arguments.
“Silence Gives Permission”
This is, perhaps, the oldest argument for the use of the instrument in worship as well as many other human innovations in the work of the Lord. People will argue that, since God did not forbid the instrument, then it is permissible to use them. But silence does not give permission. What God has not authorized in some manner, he has prohibited. The Hebrew writer argues that priests could only come from the tribe of Levi, not because God specifically forbade priests from any other tribe, but because the Lord specified which tribe was to provide the priests for Israel (Heb. 7:13, 14). In the Old Testament, when Nadab and Abihu presumed to act upon the silence of God, they lost their lives (Lev. 10:1, 2). If we also act presumptuously in worshiping God, we could lose our immortal souls (Matt. 7:21-23).
“The Instrument Is Only An Aid”
Some say that the instrument simply helps them to sing better. They liken the instrument to a song book or a pitch pipe. However, in so arguing, they fail to see the difference between an aid and an addition or substitute for what God has authorized.
When God commanded Noah to “build an ark of gopher wood” (Gen. 6:14), he authorized Noah to use tools and fasteners in assembly the boat. These would have truly been aids in the building process. However, if Noah had chosen to use oak instead of gopher wood, he would have been substituting for what God specified. If he had proceeded to built a canoe or a rowboat instead of an ark, Noah would have been adding to what God authorized. Today, when we use a song book to provide the songs we sing, or we use a pitch pipe to get the pitch, we are still only doing what God commanded. We are singing. But if we introduce a piano or an organ into our worship we have added another type of music to the vocal music God has authorized. And when we add to what God commands, we bring the curse of God upon ourselves (Rev. 22:18).
“David Used Them And David Was A Man
After God’s Own Heart”
With this, apologists for the instrument appeal to the Old Testament. And it is true that the Old Testament does frequently mention instrumental music in worship. However, this argument ignores the fact that God authorized the use of the instrument in Old Testament worship (2 Chron. 29:25-29) while we have seen that the New Testament provides no such authority for us today. Remember that earlier in our study, we established that the Old Testament is not our authority today. We are no longer under the Law (Gal. 3:24-26). We may glean much valuable instruction from the Old Testament (Rom. 15:4) but it does not reveal the authority of God for us today. Some may quibble at this point that the Psalms were not a part of the Law. However Jesus quoted from the Psalms and referred to it as the “law” of the Jews (Ps. 82:6; John 10:34).
“The Phrase ‘Making Melody’ Includes
the Instrument”
Advocates of the instrument who have studied the original languages of the Bible sometimes argue that the Greek word for “making melody” (Eph. 5:19) inherently includes the idea of playing an instrument. Without making this article too technical, let us briefly notice a few of the problems with this defense of the instrument. First, those who have studied the history of words (not all of them friends of the “no instrument” position) express serious doubts that this word still carried this meaning in the first century. Numerous translators, numbering among them some of the best Greek scholars in the world, have consistently rendered the word sing or make melody. I am only aware of one translation that includes an instrument in their translation of Ephesians 5:19 (The Amplified Bible). Even in that translation, this is in the nature of a study note, rather than a part of the translation. Even if we could clearly establish that the word included the idea of an instrument in the first century, we would still have no solid reason to conclude that the instrument must be mechanical. The phrase “making melody in your hearts” (KJV) could also be translated “with your hearts” (NASV). This would give us a divinely authorized instrument (your hearts) with which to make melody.
Conclusion
God, in his final revelation to humanity, authorized only singing in worship. If we truly respect the will of God, we will not try to change his pattern for worship today.
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Truth
Magazine Vol. XLV: 10 p19
May 17,
2001