Church of Christ - use of stringed instrument, okay?

Question

Members of Church of Christ do not use stringed instruments in their worship using Eph 5:19 as proof “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” . What they missed is that the original Greek word for psalms (psalmos) & melody (psallo) (both are accompanied by stringed instruments/voice) . And on Rev 15:2-3 all those who have gotten the victory over the beast (who are from the earth) have HARPS of God when singing the song of Moses and of the Lamb. So I think they are wrong to say that it is not okay to use stringed instruments in worshipping God. What do you think?

Answer 1

I don't know. How has this effected your personal life?

Have you lost a job over it? Did you lose your home or car because of it?

Go consult them. Who knows, they may change their doctrine because YOU think it's wrong.
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Answer 2

Even those who say that "psalms" and "make melody" CAN include instruments, none that I know of say these words MUST include them. (Not all scholars agree that at the time Ephesians was written that these words allowed the addition of instruments, but some debate this view.)

If you were to take the view that these words must include mechanical instruments, then it would be wrong to have the singing in worship without them, since it would be commanded in this verse. Again, I know of none that take this view.

If these words can mean singing with instruments, OR singing only, the question is WHICH does it mean in this verse?

In Ephesians 5: 19, the type of music specified is spoken. "Speaking to one another in psalms..."

The voice can speak. A mechanical instrument cannot.

It also says the melody is made in the heart. Jesus said, "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." (Matt 12:34) Nowhere does the Bible say that out of the abundance of the heart the hand plays an instrument.

According to Ephesians 5:19, one of the purposes of music in worship is to speak to one another. A voice can speak. An instrument can not.

Speaking is more difficult and not as easily understood where there is background noise, therefore, instruments may interfere with this scriptural purpose of worship. Our music is to be spoken. It is to teach and be understood. (Col 3:16-17, 1 Cor 14:15)

The Psalms in Ephesians 5:19 are specified as spoken. It is not specified as played.

The melody in this verse is made in the heart. It is not made (produced) in an instrument.

As for Revelation 14:2, and Revelation 15:2, this is talking about a vision John had in heaven. There are many things listed in heaven that are not in the church. Plus, these verses say what John saw was "like" harps.

Revelation 15:1 John said he saw a "sign". He is talking about symbols. Verse 2 says he saw "as it were..."

He saw and heard "voices" (Rev 14:2) "like" harps. These voices were in unison and beauty "like" a fine tuned instrument. But, even if he did say he saw a literal harp, that was in heaven and not an authorization for use on Earth in the church.

Col. 3:16 says we are to sing. Verse 17 says whatever we do must be "in the name of the Lord". "In the name of" means by his authority or according to the instructions. Nowhere does the New Testament authorize instruments in the church.

Answer 3

I agree with your conclusion, based on the context you have described.

While I disagree with the CoC's reading of these verses and think they're missing out, I can understand why they have removed instruments from their service, since the band can easily become the focus of worship and distract people from God.

While I'm a musician and on my church's worship team, I still think it's a hard line to walk between leading people in worship and "performing" -- it's very easy to do the latter, making people feel good in the process, but perform in a way that doesn't necessarily point back to God.

Part of me is afraid that the current 'worship music craze' in fact has been tainted by this attitude.

Contemporary worship music often seems to more a matter of people's enjoyment, and they will even select churches based on whether they "like the music" rather than "how can they most effectively worship God" and where they feel God can best use their gifts.

While music should be aesthetically pleasing and excellent in quality, and thus enjoyed, the worship service is not a concert.

Answer 4

Church of Christ is wrong in this respect. The Book of Psalms tell us to praise the Lord in the Sanctuary. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet,and woth the psaltery and the harp. Oh and with stringed instruments. Ps. 150:1-6.

Since the Church of Christ accept the book of Psalms to go along with the New Testament as a guide, then they should have no problem with this verse.

Answer 5

To a certain point I do agree with no use of stringed intruments. However, if you look closely, the pianos used for playing the hymns do have "strings". But I know what you are saying, as to whether or not guitars or bass guitars, drums, etc... NO I do not agree with any church using those types of intruments... it takes away from the real reason you are there... and that is to worship God....

Answer 6

David played the harp.

Answer 7

i think thats the dumbest thing Ive heard all day