Ask Pastor Jonathan: Should Musical Instruments Be Used in Worship?
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
This was another difficult question asked by my congregation. They have really brought some good ones for me throughout this summer!
I am sure that many of you can identify a certain group of people that would be most passionate about this question. The Churches of Christ have historically been opposed to allowing musical instruments in their services - although there has been much debate and even some splits within the greater Churches of Christ congregations over this particular issue. There are some other small groups of other denominations (such as the Primative Baptists, the Orthodox Hebrew Church, and Mission Covenant Methodists), however the Churches of Christ make up the largest group opposing instruments in worship.
For some of you, you may hear this question and have never been exposed to such teaching.
I hope that this short discussion is beneficial for helping you understand this interesting topic.
Let’s pray and jump into the question.
Prayer.
Unfortunately, this question has been quite a divisive question among some Protestants over the years. The arguments against musical instruments are extremely intense throughout much of the Church of Christ.
If you have friends or family who are from this denomination, you probably have had discussions about this particular issue.
As we begin, I want to provide some of the reasonings that the Church of Christ teaches for their doctrine against musical instruments in the church.
Why the Church of Christ Doesn’t Allow Instruments in Worship:
1- Jesus didn’t teach that instruments should be used.
2 - The Apostles didn’t teach that instruments should be used.
3 - Instruments in worship are not found in the New Testament.
4 - The most intense argument that they bring in these teachings is that they feel that having musical instruments in worship is adding to the counsel of God.
5 - They consider having musical instruments in worship an abomination such as what Nadab and Abihu did when they offered strange fire - unauthorized incense in Numbers 3:14.
6 - They also like to quote religious leaders of the past who were not fond of certain instruments. For example - John Wesley and Martin Luther who despised the organ.
Although they take a very strong view of this issue, their argument is one from what is not there instead of what is there. They argue from absence instead of from presence.
This argumentation style presents some logical issues. Even before getting into the Scripture specifically, we must take a step back and ask ourselves - is this an appropriate hermeneutic (or interpretative) approach to the Scriptures?
I do not mean for these examples to be flippant or offensive - but I want us to consider how important a correct hermeneutical approach to the Scriptures is.
With this same argumentation, one could argue against having pews in the church. There is no clear teaching about pews looking a certain way. There is no teaching about a seating system that has multiple people on the same piece of furniture.
Or one could argue for or against robes for preachers of the Word. There is no clear teaching about what the pastor of a church should wear regarding clothing. Thus maybe we should wear first century clothes to church to be sure to be as New Testament as we can be.
What about slides with the words of songs on them in the services? Would this be out of bounds for worship?
What about having a hymnal in the service. Although there are hymns, psalms, and spiritual songs mentioned in the Bible - there is no mention of someone holding a hymnal and singing from it.
Obviously, these arguments would be never-ending and could become more and more outlandish.
The Bible is sufficient for salvation and everything we need for a life of godliness. The Bible is inerrant and infallible.
However, the Bible also allows room for grace in certain situations.
Consider food sacrificed to idols found in 1 Corinthians 8. In this setting we saw that idols are nothing and eating food sacrificed to them was approvable for the one who could eat in faith. Yet, we are also told to maintain grace to those who cannot eat such food.
So as we enter this discussion with anyone who feels strongly about musical instruments, we should not seek to try to convert them. Romans 14:23 lets us know that whatever is not from faith is sin. But we should also not allow their conscience to dictate what is truth. We have Christian liberty in disputable matters such as this. We should be able to love one another despite this disagreement.
It appears that the strongest argument that is provided is one of tradition. Tradition is not inherently sinful - unless we raise it to the level of Biblical authority. In that case it becomes legalism and does become sin.
If a church wants to have a certain tradition that they follow that is not explicitly Biblical but is also not explicitly un-Biblical - they have the liberty to do so. However, to call those who do not follow in their tradition apostate or heretical is to become Pharisaical and to be in sin themselves.
What are some arguments in favor of having instruments in worship services?
1 - The Old Testament references at least 14 instruments over 200 times.
These instruments are stringed instruments, percussion instruments, and pipe instruments.
These instruments are even commanded in worship many times.
God is an unchanging God (Malachi 3:6, Numbers 23:19, James 1:17).
What He enjoyed in worship in the Old Testament would not change in the New Testament. There is no teaching about Christ fulfilling the command of God to bring praises along with musical instruments in the New Testament.
2 - The New Testament references instruments 29 times.
1 Corinthians 14:7-8 is one of the chapters speaking of orderly worship and says the following:
If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?
It would be interesting for the Lord to have these verses in the middle of orderly worship and not look with favor upon instruments in worship.
There are a whole host of other arguments that are commonly given for the benefit of musical instruments in worship such as aiding the congregation to be on pitch, providing a more enjoyable and expressive worship, allowing those given talents by God to use them for His glory, among others.
A couple of side notes to consider as well:
A - A lack of instruments in worship in the New Testament would be expected as the church was being persecuted. Instruments are loud and draw attention. House churches who were being persecuted would not wish to bring attention to themselves. Chinese underground house churches today likely do not play loud instruments in their homes. But this does not mean that God would not allow musical instruments in other contexts.
B - It is helpful to consider how we do music in church. We want to be sure that the music is not distracting or performance based. We want to be sure that the musical instruments magnify the words of the songs and do not compete with them. We want to be sure that we don’t use music as a mystical experientialism as well.
C - We must be aware of how our culture and even church culture shapes our worldview. We must always hold to Sola Scriptura - Scripture alone - as we consider such issues. Church history and tradition can be helpful. But it can also be misguided at times.
So as we close, this is an interesting and difficult conversation. May we show grace to one another and stand on the truth of Scripture - never adding or taking away from it. May we avoid legalism. May we avoid taking Scriptures out of context and misapplying them. May we respect matters of conscience even when we disagree. And may we be united around the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Thanks for listening and I pray that this has been helpful. Have a wonderful day.
