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Does the Bible Authorize the Use of Mechanical Instruments of Music in Worship Today?
Does the Bible Authorize the Use of Mechanical Instruments of Music in Worship Today?
By Derek Long
The use of mechanical instruments of music in worship to God is practiced by many in the world today. However, just because a practice is popular does not necessarily mean it is pleasing to God. Jesus taught many people are traveling along the broad way that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14). Everything we do needs to be done in the name of or by the authority of Jesus (Colossians 3:17; Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:22-23). Therefore, we need to examine whether Jesus has authorized us to use instrumental music in worship to God today.
In answering our question, we need to recognize we are not asking whether God ever wanted instrumental music to be offered in worship to Him. Under the Old Testament system of worship we clearly find instrumental music being offered in worship to God with His approval. 2 Chronicles 29:25 discusses some of the reforms made by Hezekiah and says, “He stationed the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, with stringed instruments, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet; for thus was the commandment of the Lord by His prophets.” God through prophets in the Old Testament commanded them to offer instrumental music in worship to Him. Throughout the Psalms we will find references to instruments of music being used in worship to God (Psalm 150:3-5). However, the manner in which God is worshipped today is different than under the Old Covenant. Under the Old Covenant animal sacrifices were offered, worship took place in Jerusalem, and many other differences could be noted. We are no longer under the Law of Moses but instead under the New Covenant and must worship according to its teachings (Galatians 3:23-25). One who attempts to go back and keep part of the Old Law is required to keep it all to be pleasing to God (Galatians 5:1-4).
The passages contained in the New Testament regarding the type of music to be used by Christians in worship to God always speak of singing and not playing an instrument. In Acts 16:25, we read of Paul and Silas “praying and singing hymns to God.” Paul and Silas were singing but nothing is said of them playing an instrument. In 1 Corinthians 14:15 we read, “What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.” Christians who assembled worshipped God by singing songs with the understanding but nothing is mentioned of them playing an instrument. Ephesians 5:19 says, “Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16 reads, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Both Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 speak of singing and nothing is said about playing. When God specifies singing as the form of music to be used in worship, He excludes the use of
any other kind of music like instrumental music. The melody we make needs to be made with the heart (Ephesians 5:19) not made with some mechanical instrument of music. James 5:13 instructs the one who is cheerful to “sing psalms.” The New Testament is silent about Christians worshipping God with instrumental music and God’s silence does not authorize but prohibits our acting.
We need to remember our worship must be offered in accordance with truth or the word of God to be pleasing to Him (John 4:24; 17:17). We cannot reason that we don’t see anything wrong with instrumental music and thus it must be acceptable to God (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25). We also must not think God is obligated to receive whatever type of worship we offer Him. Cain offered God a sacrifice which He rejected (Genesis 4:2-5). We need to make sure our worship is pleasing to God and not simply whatever we want to do.
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