Music in the Church

I'm not sure how using instruments in a church service could ever be a bad thing or 'against' the will of God. In fact there are verses in Psalms regarding harps (David played one) and drums and other instruments, (sorry I don't have the verses on hand).

There are many things in life that the Bible doesn't mention. Not to be sarcastic, really - but if it doesn't mention asparagus does that mean it's a bad thing to engage in eating asparagus? Based upon the logic of your argument, I guess we might reconsider quite a lot in life.

I suppose you could say I'm biased since I have a degree in music. However - I've always viewed a worship service as an opportunity to bring the best of our God-given gifts to use as worship back to Him. If I am skilled at playing an instrument in an orchestra, that can be a beautiful way to add to a worship service because music touches so many people in different ways. Look at the music of Bach - he wrote hundreds of pieces for the church and most of his choral pieces have purely liturgical text, i.e. straight out of the Bible. Does adding instruments to accompany a choir suddenly take away from the worshipful nature of such music?

What about a violinist who stands up to perform a solo piece of the hymn "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" during a church service as a moment of reflection for the congregation? I have found those times to be some of the most moving and inspiring worship experiences.

I haven't read your other post - it sounds like you may have been attacked for your views. I'm not attacking at all, just asking questions to better understand your argument. My grandmother attended a church where instruments were not allowed (Church of Christ) and I've always wondered why, when there is so much beauty in instrumental music that can be glorifying to God.

I guess I am a little biased as well (my best friends are the music pastors daughters and are in the choir etc.) but anyways I have always felt at least with me personally that worship is the closest way feeling we have towards the presence of the Lord. Our church has AWESOME worship I mean you can just feel his presence, and we have a band and a choir etc. I mean the band just seems to make it whole...And during the Easter plays etc....we have an orchestra that helps the production. They have touched tons of people.

The origin of music was to glorify and worship God so I don't see anything wrong with it and if you look at most classical music....it was written for God or with a biblical background or purpose.

I personally don't feel fed at churches that have boring worship or none at all. I think it kind of ushers you into his presence before the sermon.

And to expand on Norahs biblical stories where they used instruments.....In the Jewish culture they have always used instruments...I mean look at the battle of jericho and many others with the trumpets or shofars (ram horns).

onetruechurch said:

I have been away for awhile b/c I had to work. (work 12 hour shifts) anyway, some people had challenged me on the fact that there is no authorization in the New Testament for musical instruments in the church. I have not been able to find the post, maybe b/c I was called lots of names, I don't know!!!
anyway, Taylorc and Godboy809 here is the answer to your question.

Not a single verse in the New Testament authorizes musical instruments, but it does authorize singing.
Ephesians 5:19
Romans 15:9
1 Corinthians 14:15
Colossians 3:16
Hebrews 13:15
James 5:13

Even when Jesus got finished with the Lord's Supper, the Bible says "And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives" There is never an event recorded of the first church using musical instruments. I know yall say "well the Bible doesn't say NOT to use them" well no it doesn't. I'll agree on that point. However, Revelation 22:18-19 says not to ADD to or take away from the Bible. if you are adding musical instruments which are Not authorized, then you are going against the Word.

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The verse in Revelation refers to the book of Revelation, there was no set Bible for nearly 300 years. Instruments were used often in the OT, and the NT never tells us not to.

Let me just tell you, that the reason why instruments might be prohibited in church is because they fear the people might sing empty notes and stray from the true heart of worship.

Instruments or not... the same thing can happen even if there are no instruments. Having no instruments is not some safeguard against people singing for the wrong motivations.

The only thing that taking out instruments does is deprive the congregation of instrumental melodic complementing.

And there are several instances in Scripture where hymns were sung with instruments. I believe when they were exiting the Red Sea, Miriam led the women in worship.

And note Psalm 149-151. That's something on the front of my memory. I praise you with the blast of trumpets, with the lyre and with the harp...

The tambourine was used by Miriam crossing the Red Sea if I remember correctly.


TTYL Jesus loves you!

Let me tell you though, if you do not prefer using instruments that is ALL RIGHT. Absolutley nothing wrong with singing a capella. Of course, I do say there's something wrong with blasting other Christians that DO use organs and other instruments in worship. If you choose not to, that is your preferment, and I have no problem with it. I only have a problem with it- you having a problem with me. I do not mind the Church of Christ singing without instruments, but when it gets so far as to slamming those who do, I must say that is unacceptable.

It is not prohibited, but it is not commanded. Do what you're comfortable doing, but if our preferment, within the boundary of Scripture, differs from yours, please respect that. TTYL Jesus loves you!

Instruments sing.

I believe that in the Bible, if there is no prohibition against something, and that something is not harmful, it is permissible for Christians.

There is no mention of hugging your children in the NT, but that silence should not be read as a prohibition against hugging your kids, should it?

Yep, and to take this logic to it's complete failure point: cars are not mentioned in the NT, yet we have marked parking places at our churches, clearly they are for cars! Yet cars are not in the bible! The fender stratocaster is just the same, if I can't play a fender in church because it's not mentioned, then I should not drive to church either.

I think, I'll drive and also bring my fender.

onetruechurch said:

Psalms is in the old Testament. We are to go by the NT.

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No, we are to go by both.

onetruechurch said:

Psalms is in the old Testament. We are to go by the NT.

In Worship, not outside of worship, i mean I listen to country, which uses instruments, but NOT when I worship God. Would you add asparagus to the Lord"s supper????

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Sounds legalistic to me.

Why would God say that you can use instruments to amuse yourself, but not to worship Him? You can use an ice cream cone to worship him, if you acknowledge that it comes from him and he made it good. So what's the real deal with instruments? Don't play so well, so you want to keep everyone from worshipping God with theirs?

Why does matter so much to you?

You've only posted 21 times in your history here, and thus far you've gotten upset over the relatively minor issues.

And did I not quote David praising God with instruments?

Isn't that what God WANTS? To be worshiped as our heart leads us to? What if we feel led to worship Him while strumming to a guitar?

I don't think you do understand. All the examples I used WERE of worship.


And like I said, it does not really matter to me that y'all do not use instruments. It's when you get aggressive and offensive when it comes to worshipping God. As long as we do it "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24), what does it matter to you?

Jesus on rare occasions sung hymns. In the upper room discourse, I doubt anyone brought an instrument since they were traveling, and since it was none of their houses- it was a strangers.

TTYL Jesus loves you!

You know, that's the problem with replacement theology.

I used to go to a church that taught that (though I don't know if I ever beleived it), and I never even understood what the point was of reading the Old Testament. If the Old Testament is void, why do you even read it?

The Old Testament is just as applicable today as it was several thousand years ago. No, we're not saved by the Law, people back then weren't either. I don't get why nobody understands that.

With the exception of those Laws given to God at that appropriately titled dispensation, nothing in the Old Testament became void. God does not change. Read your Old Testament as you would your New with- an understanding of the New Covenant in relation to the Old. It's 3/4 of your Bible.

God doesn't change. What, God thought instruments were OK in the Old Testament, in fact LED people to worship with instruments in the OLD TESTAMENT, but NOW He'll punish you if you do? Does that sound right to you? TTYL Jesus loves you!

I took this from the posted website. " The Bible commands that we "make melody in our hearts" (Eph. 5:19). The voice can obey this command, the instrument cannot".

The voice can obey this command? That's not what that passage says, that is "made up", "designed", "adding to scripture";, as pure a case of it as I have ever seen.

Read that a few times and pray about it. Does that passage say that only the human voice can obey it? Does it say that? No, it dosn't. The bible tells us bible believing folk something very important: Don't add your own personal scripture.