ON INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

     There are those in the body of Christ who tell us that the use of instrumental music in worship is a "non-issue." If worship truly is a matter of being "in spirit and truth," as Jesus said it should be (John 4:24), then one would expect to find something in Scripture about what constitutes acceptable worship, the truth of God in how He desires to be worshiped. Of course we do, but it's just that instrumental music isn't mentioned in the worship of the church in Scripture, only singing. This absence in Scripture is interpreted by some as being permissive, allowing instrumental music to be used, based primarily on human desires, not from what Scripture says about music in worship.                                                                                                                                       

     However, Scripture is clear that, once something is specified, silence becomes prohibitive, not permissive. For example, God specifically telling Noah to use gopher wood in building the ark (Gen. 6:14) eliminated the use of other types of wood. The Hebrew writer understood this principle as well, in speaking of Jesus as being our high priest under the new covenant, something He could not be under the Law of Moses. "For it is evident that our Lord hath sprung out of Judah; as to which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priests  (Heb. 7:14, ASV). The old covenant is silent regarding any tribe other than Levi serving as priests. But silence here is obviously prohibitive, as for Jesus to be our high priest, a new covenant had to be inaugurated. "For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law" (Heb. 7:12). Since only vocal music is mentioned in worshiping God in the new covenant (attested by hundreds of years of church history, as well as Scripture), silence on instrumental music is prohibitive.

      This is a principle that is not difficult to understand. If I told someone to go buy a loaf of bread, they would be free to buy any type of bread they want. But if I asked them to purchase a loaf of white bread, buying wheat bread instead is not doing what I asked. Why should it be different when it comes to doing what God said in worship? Are there those who want to please themselves instead of God? When it comes to what belongs to God, whether worship, or salvation, or Christian living, we must please Him, not ourselves. Putting human desires before the will of God has never been acceptable to God, whether by Cain (Gen. 4:5), King Saul of Israel (1 Samuel 15:9-11), some in the Churches in Galatia (Gal. 4:5), or others today.   

      How hard Satan has worked to convince so many that, what one wants will pleasing God, no matter what those desires may be. Many are trying to mold God into their own image, rather than being molded in the image of God (Rom. 12:2). There is a day of Judgement, and those things we feel may be "non-issues" may be very important to God and our salvation then. Jesus winnowed out those who would follow Him as the popular thing to do, rather than the committed thing to do (Luke 14:24-35). What about us today? What does the Lord say to us in His word? Do we accept His authority? Are we listening? It will matter. "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 7:21).

Robert Johnson, Longview, TX