As we continue our response to the CNN misrepresentation of the churches of Christ, there was a statement made relative to the churches of Christ and their not using mechanical instruments of music in worship services. That was one of a very few things the denominational preacher got right. One of the first things that most visitors notice about our worship service is that we do not use mechanical instruments of music in worship. Our music is a cappella congregational singing. And the question is often asked, Why?”
“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24). Yet, in Matthew 15:9, to teach for doctrine the commandments of men results in vain worship. “And whatsoever ye do in word of deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17). As in all other matters, our question is, "Where is there authority in the New Testament for the use of mechanical instruments in worship"? Whether I like it or not; whether I think it sounds better or not is really not the issue. Where is authority for it in the New Testament?
Every verse in the New Testament concerning music in worship can be read in less than 5 minutes, and not one of the verses makes any reference to the use of a mechanical instrument. The first such use in any body of “Christians” (used in the denominational sense) was about 670 A.D. It was introduced and then removed to preserve unity. In 800 A.D, it was introduced into the Roman Catholic Church without opposition.
The command, without exception, is “sing” (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; I Cor.14:15; Hebrews 2:12; James 5:13). Some try to justify its use by the Old Testament, but if one is going to follow a part of the Old Testament as authority for New Testament church authority, that one must accept all of the rites and rituals of the Old Testament. We cannot just pick and choose what we want and leave the rest off. Others try to justify its use by the references to harps etc. in heaven. Physical harps in a spiritual place? The fact is, there is no authority for its use, and thus, we do not use it. Even the leaders within the reformation movement and those who started many of the present day denominations were opposed to the use of them – men like John Calvin, John Wesley, Martin Luther and Adam Clarke. Some try to justify its use by referring to the original language of Ephesians 5:19, saying that the original word involves the use of an instrument, and they are correct, but the instrument is the heart, not a piano, etc. But if it did involve a mechanical instrument, the command of Ephesians 5:19 is for everyone, not just one or two playing for everyone else. No one else can sing for you. You are commanded to do that. And no one else could “play” for you, if that were the command. But someone else says, “The Bible doesn’t say ‘not to’ use the mechanical instrument in worship. Neither does it say “thou shalt not use Pepsi and vanilla wafers on the Lord’s table”, but who would dare suggest such? Well, in our society, someone probably would, but without Biblical authority. Even the smallest of children know the difference in “sing a song” and “play a song”. God did not tell Noah, “Thou shalt not use pine lumber in building the ark”, but when he specified the kind of wood to be used, it excluded all other kinds. There are two kinds of music, vocal and instrumental, and God has specified which He wants. We must respect that.
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