Where are the Instruments
of Music in the church of Christ?
A response to a question regarding
mechanical instruments of music in the church of Christ
Lesson
Text: Hebrews 2:9-12
Questions
& Statements to be Addressed:
·
Q1)
“Who wrote the Law in the New Testament in regards to using musical instruments
in church worship after the death of Christ?”
·
Q2)
“If a Christian has the talent of playing the piano or another type of musical
instrument, then why cannot the Christian use their musical gift/talent in church
worship?”
·
Q3)
“How can it be said that that there are no musical instruments in the church of
Christ worship when [Psalms 81:2-4; 1 Chronicles 25:1-7] says musical
instruments are used in the church?”
·
S1)
“Playing an instrument for the church would edify the members of the church
just as much as singing, preaching, and praying.”
·
S2)
“God can use whatever you have to offer.”
In Psalms
81:2-4 the use of mechanical instruments in ceremonial worship to God is
evidenced as a statute and law for Israel. Ephesians
2:15 & Colossians 2:14
clearly states that the Old Testament Laws given to Israel were abolished in
the death of Christ. These Laws (including the use of mechanical instruments of
music) were only given to the Nation of Israel (Deuteronomy 5:1-3) and had to be abolished for the perfect law of
liberty to commence (James 1:25; 2:12). God
did not command Adam, Noah or Abraham to worship Him with mechanical
instruments. Neither has God commanded the church to praise and worship Him
with mechanical instruments of music.
The death of Christ was the setting of stage for
the fulfillment of Gods eternal purpose of saving all believers by Christ and
in one church (Ephesians 1:9-10). The
death of Christ paved the way for all nations (Jew & Gentile) to be saved
and rescued from a consuming law.
Q1) “Who wrote the Law in the New Testament in regards to using musical instruments in church worship after the death of Christ?”
No New Testament writer ever mentioned the use
of mechanical instruments in praise/worship to God. All of the New Testament
writers who spoke on the concept of music only spoke of singing:
·
Matthew 26:30
(Matthew)
·
Romans 15:9
(Paul)
·
1 Corinthians 14:15 (Paul)
·
Ephesians 5:19
(Paul)
·
Colossians 3:16
(Paul)
·
James 5:13
(James)
·
Hebrews 2:12
(The Hebrew writer)
Examples in the book of Revelation:
· Revelation 5:9; 14:3; 15:3
Mechanical instruments in heaven:
· Revelation 5:8; 14:2; 15:2
Based on Gods eternal pattern He is always
specific. In Old Testament times He allowed them to sing and play mechanical
instruments. This was the specific command. Under grace, mercy, and truth, God
has only said sing and all of our New Testament examples confirm the same.
Q2)
“If a Christian has the talent of playing the piano or another type of musical
instrument, then why cannot the Christian use their musical gift/talent in
church worship?”
The simple answer is that God did not command the church to play the piano or any other mechanical instrument in worship to Him. Simply having a talent, musical or otherwise, does not mean it is to be displayed in first day of the week worship to God.
Q3)
“How can it be said that that there are no musical instruments in the church
of Christ worship when [Psalms 81:2-4; 1 Chronicles 25:1-7] says musical
instruments are used in the church?”
The church was paid for by the blood and life of
Christ (Acts 20:28) and was established in Jerusalem on the first
Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ (Acts
2:40-41). The scriptures in Psalms 81:2-4
& 1 Chronicles 25:1-7 applied to the Nation of Israel and not the
church. Every member of the church of Christ has been baptized for the
remission of sins (Acts 2:37-38, 47). No one in the Old Testament was baptized for
the remission of sins.
S1)
“Playing an instrument for the church would edify the members of the church
just as much as singing, preaching, and praying.”
It is biblically impossible for the plucking or
playing of a mechanical instrument to edify a Christian on the level of
singing, preaching or praying. A mechanical instrument can appeal to the carnal
side of man/woman but does nil for the spirit of man, led by the Holy Spirit.
The Greek words for edify are Oikodomeo/Oikodome and they are defined
as the systematic building, constructing, and confirming of someone or something.
On a spiritual level, when a person is edified
they are built up by another person through the preached word, song, prayer, or
kind word of encouragement. When a person edifies another they build them up or
make them feel replenished internally.
Example:
·
1 Corinthians 14:4
·
1
Corinthians 14:26 (All things done to edifying).
A mechanical instrument cannot sing, preach, or
pray, therefore it cannot edify anyone on a spiritual level. Many men and women have been built up
(edified) through the preached Word, song, and prayer. We have no earthly New
Testament example of any Christian in the Bible being spiritually edified
through a mechanical instrument.
S2) “God can use whatever you have to offer.”
When a person moves into this type of mentality
they are imposing personal beliefs, desires, and wants over Gods commands. This
is biblically classified as will-worship (Colossians
2:2). It is not about what a person has to offer, it is about what God commands
us to offer.
Many biblical men offered God what they wanted
and paid a deadly price:
·
Leviticus 10:1-2
·
2 Samuel 6:6-7
·
1 Samuel 13:10-13
·
Acts 5:1-11
“Where are the Instruments of Music in the church of
Christ?”
"Neither
yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves
unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as
instruments of righteousness unto God" (Romans 6:13).
"By
him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is,
the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name" (Hebrews 13:15).
The physical members of the church are the spiritual
instruments that offer praise to God in worship. God seeks the sacrifice of
the quickened Christian’s body (Romans 12:1-2), opposed to manmade
things without life (1 Corinthians 14:7).