Why no music?

Question

Church of Christ (and perhaps others, I dont know) does not allow any type of instrumental music in their services.
I truly believe the ability to play music is a God Given talent, there must be something scriptural that they believe forbids music in their services, what and where is it?

Answer 1

Christ says he has "all authority" and the disciples were to teach the things He had commanded. (Matthew 28:18-20) Nowhere in the New Testament did the apostles teach or show an example of the use of instrumental music in worship of the church. ALL of the verses in the New Testament that talk about music in the church have SINGING as the type of music.

To use another type of music cannot be done from authority found in the New Testament because the New Testament nowhere authorizes its use. The authority to use instruments in the Christian church therefore does not come from God. If used, instruments must be authorized by men. If we follow a man's authority (teaching), does Christ still have "all authority" in our religious lives? Most is not the same as “all”!

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 (doctrine) of men rather than God. "Teaching as doctrine the commandments of men" makes worship “vain”, or useless in God’s eyes! (Matt. 15:9) Why not be satisfied to worship in the way God's word has authorized? “We ought to obey God rather than men”! (Acts 5:29)

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 Luther. 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 all of the other Old Testament commands. 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)

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. The verses in the New Testament 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.

We should not add to or take away from God’s word. We should worship as he instructs! The New Testament does not instruct the use of a mechanical instrument in worship, so the church of Christ has no authority from the Bible to add it.

Yes it would seem that at times, the God at least tolerated instruments in the Old Testament, but we now have a new covenant, the New Testament.

Also by the end of the Old Testament, God’s word says, “Woe to you… Who sing idly to the sound of stringed instruments, and invent for yourselves musical instruments like David” (Amos 6:3-5)

Does this sound like God now wants instruments?

Every verse in the New Testament that speaks of music in the church is listed below. Why not read what the Bible says, and do what the New Testament says in the way it says to do it?

Answer 2

Rango,
Not all Churches of Christ have stayed with this belief. Those who do are following as closely as they can to what is taught in the scriptures. The Christians were told to "SING". Nowhere in the New Testament are Christians given any instruction to "play music" at all. There are several Old Testament scriptures that tell the Israelites it is approved but NOT in the New Testament. Until 200 years ago NO Churches used instrumental music in their services. Have a wonderful weekend.
Thanks,
Eds


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Answer 3

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Answer 4

I think Eds has answered your question appropriately. Although I don't agree with the practice, that is the guiding principle.

I would like to add that the assertion that Christian churches started including instrumental music two-hundred years ago is absurd. Virtually all of the music of Baroque period was sacred in nature.

Answer 5

When asked, they say the bible says to make melody from the heart to the Lord. And to not add or take away from the bible.Supposedly melody comes from within and not from an instrument
I disagree with the prior because the bible speaks of musical instruments in heaven.
Why would God not want something so pleasing as instruments to accompany our praise of HIM?

Answer 6

They will say that it is not mentioned in the New Testament. But that's alright because David had a 4000 man band!

Everyone chooses to worship differently but they are missing out on a whole different level of worship without instruments!

Answer 7

God gave us the ability to make music; man manipulates God's message all the time ; they profess it is in this name but in essence are putting themselves on the same level as God in contradiction and in sin; you have to beware of men professing to know everything; put your trust in Jesus' message of his father ; everyone has a personal relationship with God ; you don't need another man other than his son to get there.

Answer 8

There is nothing I remember in the Bible that states you can't play instrumental music to praise Him. I found verses that states that you can play musical instruments to praise Him

2nd Samuel 6 verse 5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.

2nd Chronicles 20 verse 28 And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the LORD

Answer 9

I have no idea every church I have been to has music. islam is ment to ban music but the old testiment certainly says to use it to praise God.

Answer 10

like others that forbid women wearing pants and women cant be pastors or preachers and other with similar beliefs;it's not biblically supported just people that want to do things and run things the way they want to.