Why do they not have instruments in church of christ?

Answer 1

Basically, it is, as others have said, that there is simply no authority for the use of instrumental music IN WORSHIP in the New Testament. Here are some links to articles on the use of instrumental music including scriptural references, such as: “I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also” (1 Corinthians 14:15).

History of Instrumental Music Part 1 - http://www.housetohouse.com/hth/gladtidings/2006/07-13-06/gladtidings07-13-06p2.htm
History of Instrumental Music Part 2 - http://www.housetohouse.com/hth/gladtidings/2006/07-20-06/gladtidings07-20-06p2.htm
The Meaning of “Psallo” in the New Testament - http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/1774
The Scriptures regarding the use of instrumental music in worship - http://www.housetohouse.com/hth/biblequestions/archive/question0002.htm
Regarding Rom. 15:9 - http://www.housetohouse.com/hth/biblequestions/archive/question0291.htm
Addresses intruments in Revelation - http://www.housetohouse.com/hth/biblequestions/archive/question0431.htm
Importantance of manner of worship - http://www.housetohouse.com/hth/biblequestions/archive/question0190.htm
http://www.housetohouse.com/hth/archives/v10/v10n2/v10n2p5.htm
http://www.housetohouse.com/hth/biblequestions/archive/question0159.htm
Why not OK since used in Old Testmament - http://www.housetohouse.com/hth/biblequestions/archive/question0497.htm
http://www.housetohouse.com/hth/biblequestions/archive/question0436.htm
Other info:
http://www.housetohouse.com/hth/biblequestions/archive/question0059.htm

Answer 2

I've been in churches of Christ for almost 30 years.

It's like this. Back when Alexander Campbell was preaching (about 1800), he was really distressed and disturbed that there were so many denominations all calling themselves Christians and all teaching somewhat different doctrines.

He believed that the reason for all this was that people had added on human creeds and traditions to the word of God, and therefore the way to achieve unity in the Body of Christ was to discard all creeds and traditions from the church except what was specifically described as practices in the first-century church. This really got moving as a result of the Cane Ridge Revival in 1801.

He and several others who agreed with this concept CLOSED their churches, and began meeting instead as an effort to restore the church of the New Testament (hence, now called the Restoration Movement). There is a document actually called "The Last Will and Testament of the Springfield Presbytery".

So... why no instrumental music? Simple: because there is no reference for it being used in worship in the first-century church. It's not that they think there's something evil about it, it's just that there's no authority for in the New Testament. They used three methods to determine what practices should be used in worship:
1) Command -- was it commanded by Jesus or the apostles?
2) Example -- do we see any instance of this practice being mentioned as used in the church of the 1st century?
3) Necessary Inference -- if it's not mentioned specifically, can one deduce from context that it was done?

If a practice (i.e., something which one might do in worship services) does not fit any of those three categories, then they taught that it shouldn't be used in worship.

That's why not. For instance, we had a harpist and flautist duet (they're friends of ours), and a bagpiper at our wedding -- fine, wow, terrific. But that was a wedding, not the morning service. It's NOT that they think it's evil, or you can't have musical instruments in the church building or anything silly like that. It's just that the basic premise is "To speak where the Bible speaks, and silent where the Bible is silent".

Wikipedia is pretty lame on a lot of topics, but its entry on churches of Christ and the Restoration Movement is bang on. (in fact, that's what sold me on Wikipedia, this article is so correct). To get all the lengthy details, check it out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restoration_Movement

Answer 3

This is going back to the 1st century when Christians worshiped praising God and instruments were not used.

Answer 4

my husband and I belong to the church of christ and the reason they don't use instruments in the church is because they say it isn't scriptural. I think it would be okay but we go along with them.

Answer 5

Christ says he has "all authority" and the disciples were to teach the things He had commanded.(Matthew 28:18-20) No where in the New Testament did the apostles teach or show an example of the use of instrumental music in worship of the church.

In ALL of the verses in the New Testament that talk about music in the church, the music is singing. To use another type of music can not be done from authority found in the New Testament because the New Testament no where authorizes its use. The authority to use instruments in the Christian church therefore does not come from God. If used it must be authorized and added by men. If we follow a man's authority (teaching), does Christ have "all authority"?

One of the verses that teaches about music is Col. 3:16. This verse specifically tells us to sing. The very next verse (verse 17) says, "Whatever you do in word or deed, DO ALL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS." "In the name of" means by the authority of, or according to the instructions.

Jesus and the apostles did not authorize the use of mechanical instruments in the New Testament church. You cannot play an instrument by the authority, according to the instructions of, or in the name of Christ because he did not instruct it. The New Testament did specify "singing" as the type of music we are to use in worship.

To do anything else is to follow the commandments of men rather than God. Such makes worship vain. (Matt. 15:9)

Why not be satisfied to worship in the way God's word has authorized?

When God told Noah to use "gopher wood", other types of wood were excluded. When Naaman was told to dip in the Jordan River, he knew other rivers were excluded (2 Kings 5). God has been specific about the music in the church, singing. Why add to his word?

Interesting, many of the founding fathers of denominations that now use instruments were opposed to their introduction. Among those against instrumental music were John Wesley, Adam Clark, John Calvin, and Martin Luthur.

So one should not question why we don't use them, the question should be "By what authority do you add them to your worship"? Why not be satisfied to simply worship as God's word instructs?

Some point out that David used instruments. As for David’s harp, He lived under the Law of Moses (Old Testament). We are now under the Law of Christ (New Testament).

If you bind one part of the Old Law today, you are subject to keep the whole law. In Galatians 5:3, some were trying to bind circumcision, an Old Testament commandment. Paul said if they bound this one item, they were “debtor to keep the whole law”. In James 2:10, if you keep the whole law, but miss one point, you are guilty of all.

If you try to bring over authority for David’s harp from the Old Testament, you must with the same authority bring over all of the animal sacrifices, feasts, Passover, the Sabbath day observance, yearly trips to Jerusalem, and the allowance of polygamy. We must keep the whole law if we keep any part.

If we try to justify ourselves by the Law of Moses, we have “fallen from grace!” (Galatians 5:4)

Also there is evidence that God tolerated David's instruments, but it is not what he desired. Notice Amos 6:4-5; "Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall, who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David invent for themselves instruments of music." These verses say "Woe to them..."!

In the New Testament, God is not worshiped with men's hands (Acts 17:25) but with the heart. This verse talks about God not living in a temple made with hands, but it also applies this to hand-made worship, yet many say they worship on an instrument that was made with hands and played with the hands. The instrument God wants is our heart. Ephesians 5:19 instructs us to make melody in the heart.

These verses also say the purpose of music in worship is to speak and teach. An instrument cannot do this. In fact, it is more difficult to speak where there is background noise, therefore an instrument may interfere with these scriptural purposes of music in worship.

Singing is the type of music that is authorized. This music is spoken and verbal.

In Leviticus 10:1-2, there is an example of God's reaction to unauthorized worship. God had specified what type of fire was to be used. "Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD..."

They were worshiping God, but they were not worshiping as God had commanded! God punished them with their life.

Why not be satisfied to use the type of music in worship that God has authorized in the New Testament?

"I could not go beyond the word of the Lord my God to do less or more!" (Numbers 22:18)

Every verse in the New Testament that talks about the music of the church is listed below. In all of these verses, the music authorized and commanded is "singing".