Instrumental Music to Worship of God

by Gary Colley

The following reasons, concerning why churches of Christ do not use mechanical instruments of music in worship to God, were given recently in our Denominational Doctrines class. It has been requested that they be in our bulletin for the help of all.

It can be stated without fear of successful contradiction that there is no command, approved example, or necessary inference in the New Testament (which is the way to establish Truth), for churches of Christ ever, with authority, to use instrumental music in worship. We are not desiring just to be different, nor are we financially unable to have mechanical instruments, nor is our reason for not using this in worship simply that we do not like musical instruments. The basic Scriptural reason for not placing an instrument in the Lord's church is simply that we have no authority from Heaven.
In the nine Scriptures which mention the kind of music to be used in New Testament worship, there is no mention of any kind of music except singing (Matthew 26:30; Acts 16:25; Romans 15:9; I Corinthians 14:15; 14:26; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 2:12; James 5:13).

Hence, we do not presumptuously place mechanical instruments in worship because:

1. Jesus never taught it (Acts 1:1).
2. The Disciples of Christ never practiced nor taught it (Matthew 28:18-20).
3. Peter and the other apostles, who had the keys of the kingdom, did not authorize it (Matthew 16:19; 18:18).
4. The Holy Spirit never instructed it (John 16:13).
5. One cannot speak as the oracles of God and teach their use in worship (I Peter 4:11).
6. Instrumental music is not “in truth” (John 4:24; 17:17).
7. It does not pertain to life in Christ and godliness (II Peter 1:3).
8. It is not a “good work” in God's eyes (II Timothy 3:16-17).
9. To preach its use is to teach another Gospel (Galatians 1:8-9).
10. By admission of most, such teaching is an effort to please the ears of men (Galatians 1:10).
11. It did not come by the revelation of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11-12).
12. It is no part of the counsel of God (Acts 20:27).
13. It is not according to sound words (II Timothy 1:13).
14. It is not in the better covenant (Hebrews 8:6).
15. It is not of faith (Romans 10:17; II Corinthians 5:7). Where there is no testimony, there can be no faith!
16. It is not a blood-sealed practice (Hebrews 10:28-29).
17. Instrumental music in worship is a doctrine of men (Matthew 15:9).
18. It is an addition to the worship prescribed in the Word of God (Revelation 22:18).
19. It is offering “strange fire” in worship unto God (Leviticus 10:1; I Timothy 3:14-15).
20. To use such is not to abide in the doctrine of Christ (II John 9-11).
21. It is will worship (Colossians 2:20-23).
22. It is a substitute for the God-given system of religion (Acts 2:42).
23. It cannot be done in the name of the Lord (Colossians 3:16-17).
24. Preaching the use of it is not preaching the word faithfully (II Timothy 4:2). It should not be contended for by the faithful (Jude 3).
25. One cannot walk in the light and support its use in worship (I John 1:7).
26. The practice of such departs from the simplicity that is in Christ (II Corinthians 11:3).
27. Introduction of it causes division (John 17:20-21; I Kings 18:18).
28. Its addition constitutes the sin of presumption (Deuteronomy 18:20; Psalms 19:13).