by Bobby L. Graham
Is It Wrong to Use an Instrumental Tune in a Church Video?
Recently, I was asked, “Where is the passage which includes a command, example, or necessary inference for using a secular instrumental tune as background on a congregation’s introductory video on its website?” (I might add that I added the word “secular” after viewing the different videos mentioned in the note accompanying the question. In no case did I hear any spiritual song set to instrumental music, BLG.)
Since Christians wonder about such matters, because they understand there is no authority for using instrumental music in worship, it seems wise to give some attention to this question.
It is needful to remember that there are two types of Bible authority: generic and specific. When a passage includes a command, an approved example, or a necessary inference to the effect that we must obey the directive in that way and that way alone, because of no other passages telling us another way to perform the Lord’s will, then specific authority is involved. God’s instruction to Noah specified what he was to build and the kind of wood he should use (Gen. 6:14), Noah had no alternative in either matter, and he received divine commendation for obeying (Gen. 6:22). He could not build a rowboat, and he could use no other kind of wood than gopher wood. Likewise in the Lord’s supper, the only day specified is the first day of the week, and the kind of meal to be eaten is specified as a memorial meal (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:25).
The other type of authority, generic, simply involves a directive to do something without accompanying information about how we must do it. Jesus directed the preaching of the gospel by His disciples without any information about how they must do so in the rest of the New Testament (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16). They could travel by whatever means available to them, or write instructional messages as they did in the various books of the New Testament; and we can utilize radio, television, tracts, workbooks, or videos in our age.
It should be clear that such videos are right in themselves, being generically authorized because they are expedients in a local church’s work of teaching the lost. Our question focuses on the use of the instrumental background when someone is speaking concerning the congregation. There again, the Bible is not specific on what might be happening in the background while a preacher or an elder does some brief teaching; but there are some principles we should remember.
The background sound (something like elevator music) or picture (as in a baptistery scene, which used to be common in church houses) is not what is being taught or encouraged; but it might distract from what is being taught. I once preached in a meeting in an American Legion Hall, where dances were held on Saturday night, leaving the smell of alcohol in the large room where we met. There was also an American flag standing at the front of the room near the speaker’s stand and the Lord’s table. Was it wrong to leave the flag or the smell there? What if a video were made of the worship service for display on a website and the flag was showing in the video? You see that not only sounds but also visual images must be considered? I doubt that it was wrong to leave the flag in its place, and I am sure that little could be done to remove the smell in the little time available after Saturday night. If the flag became a distraction from worship, it could be removed; but no sin was committed in leaving it there. If a video of worship included the flag, was a sin thereby committed? Is the instrumental music playing wrong? I doubt it, but I would not include it because of another factor to be discussed later.
Please consider the following questions:
Items (1) and (2) include things wrong in themselves, whereas item (3) includes items right in themselves. It should be obvious which ought to be included and which omitted.
Some matters not sinful in themselves are unwise and should not be done for the sake of influence on others. In my judgment, the use of an instrumental tune is not wrong per se but unwise, because it might make teaching people truth about instrumental music in worship more difficult. On the other hand, some might conclude otherwise. Matters of judgment are matters on which Christians might disagree without wrong being involved. Let each one be fully convinced in his own mind, and let no one try to make a matter of judgment into a matter of divine law (Rom. 14:5, 23). When a congregational matter is involved (as with a website), brethren should attempt to resolve issues in a way that respects the conscience of all in the congregation (Rom. 14:13).
Judgment in a case of expediency is more important than many people think (1 Cor. 8:1, 7, 9; 10:23). Poor judgment can muddy the water by introducing unneeded matters so that clear thinking and proper conclusions are more difficult. Unwise actions can cause souls to be lost. As an example, some proponents of instrumental music in worship, who were discussing the issue with a brother in Christ, backed off because they learned of a Christian using a denominational building for a wedding to use their instruments. They thought the opponent of instruments, in this case, inconsistent and possibly even hypocritical. On the other hand, wise judgment will make sacrifices by foregoing one’s liberties for the sake of souls. Paul surely meant something like this in Romans 14:15-16, which says, “If your brother is made to stumble because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let your good be evil spoken of.”
Author Bio: Bobby actively participates in fill-in preaching, Belize trips, teaching an hour each day at Athens Bible School, and in gospel meeting work. He and his wife, Karen, have three children: Richard, Mary Katherine Winland (Darren), and Laura Paschall (Jeremy). He can be reached at bobbylgraham@pclnet.net.
