Instruments in the Church of Christ.?

Question

Why doesn't the Church of Christ use instruments as a part of their worship?

Is it traditional?

What does the Church of Christ believe about the Trinity?

What are their evangelistic beliefs?

Real answers, please. Sources are appreciated.

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 5:12). 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, 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?

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Trinity: Yes the church of Christ believes in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are what makes up the Godhead. (The word "Trinity" is not in the Bible.)

Jesus referenced all three in Matthew 28:18-20. All three can are referenced at the baptism of Christ. (Matthew 3:16-17)

Notice 1 John 5:7: "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." ("The Word" refers to Jesus - See John, chapter 1.)

Answer 2

the church of Christ does not believe in music in the church, because when Christ came down to earth he taught his disciples ever thing they needed to know to preach the word of God. No where in the new testament can you found any thing about using music in worship.

The other reason they dint use it is because of the passage Esp5:19.

Must people think that is a crazy doctrine because of passage like psalms150, but in the new testament the bible tells us that we are not under the old law , but the new law Heb. 8:6-8

PS please read all the Scriptures people give you for yourself 2Tim2:15

Answer 3

I can only answer your first question. A very good friend of mine is a former minister in the Church of Christ (and he insists that no one call him a pastor). He simply said that the New Testament had no record of singing accompanied by instruments and they are following the New Testament pattern. He didn't have a specific reference to a manual or book of doctrines--in fact, I don't know if they do (I'm a Southern Baptist).

Answer 4

The Church of Christ are a strange breed of people. Often considered a cult. In my experience they teach fear instead of love, in other words, honor God because if you don't He will burn you forever They are literal in their view of the Bible and often take things to the extreme, i.e. no instrumental music because the Bible says to SING, it doesn't say to sing and PLAY.

You can use a microphone during services even though the Bible doesn't instruct you to. When I questioned this I was told that if you use a piano then you're singing and playing, but if you use a microphone you're not singing and microphoning. Get it?

Edit: the link supplied by ozzzoe is a link to a Baptist church.

Answer 5

Musick and dancing is used in the New Testament, in Luke 15:32. Jesus gave the parable of the prodigal son coming back home and they celebrated with musick and dancing. This parable is related to a sinner coming to Christ. If music is such a sin in church for worship, Jesus would have named it to be forsaken. The Church of Christ adds to the Bible the things they like and removes the things they dislike. I challenged my local Church of Christ to prove by the word of God that music in church is sin. They said you can listen to music outside the church but do not bring it in the church. HOW DOUBLEMINDED AND UNSTABLE IN ALL THEIR WAYS!!!!

Answer 6

You asked, What does the Church of Christ believe about the Trinity?

What are their evangelistic beliefs?

As to the trinity, there is no actual use of the word in the Bible. However, it does speak of three being one in heaven: "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word (Logos) and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. (1 John 5:7). We know each is God, because the Bible declares it to be so. "Christ states of himself, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is and which was and which is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8). "I and my Father are one." (John 10:30). In John 8:58, it reads, "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was I am." In these verses we can see that Jesus Christ is eternal, one with the Father. He is God. The Father is God. The Holy Spirit is God. While still with them, Jesus told the disciples, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14:26). Notice he said the Father would send the Holy Spirit in Christ's name to teach them all things and bring to remembrance everything Jesus had taught the apostles. He is one of the persons of the Godhead. He is eternal (Hebrews 9:14), all knowing (1 Corinthians 2:11), and was present and active in the creation (Genesis 1:2). God created the heavens and earth (Genesis 1:1). Christ created the world, as we read, "In the beginning was the Word (Logos) and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." (John 1:1-3). There are not three gods, but one God who is made up of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

As to evangelism, all Christians are commanded to preach and teach the gospel in its simplicity and purity. We do it by following the apostles' pattern and example - in doctrine, in faith, and in practice. We are to teach the gospel to all men, for "it is the power of God unto salvation..." (Romans 1:16). It is both a duty and honor to bring the truth of God's saving message to others.

Answer 7

I have no idea - the Bible is full of worship and praise of God using instruments and voices together.

Are you seriously telling me that Satan is in control of Third Day??

God gave us the creativity to make music and what better way to thank Him than to use it to praise His Name?

Answer 8

because Satan (devil) uses instruments. Satan is using music to control us. ]
i know it sounds ocward, but only a good church knows Satan is in all control of music.
hope this helped!

Answer 9

I think a speculum and a spatula are a must in any formal ceremony.

Answer 10

Our church plays gospel music with guitars ,drums,trumpets and bass guitars and we have many ma flock.