Is it OK to play hymns at home without singing?

Question:

My question is regarding instrumental music. Is it okay to play hymns on the piano at home, without singing, for fun?

Also, how do I answer someone who says that instrumental music predates the Mosaic law and, therefore, is okay in worship today?

Thank you so much for your time!

Answer:

God commanded Christians to worship Him with singing.

"Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:19).

"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" (Colossians 3:16).

The emphasis is on the words, not the melody. Since you are not singing, just playing melodies, it is not worship to God and there is nothing wrong with playing tunes for your own entertainment.

The argument isn't reasonable. Yes, instrumental music goes back to near the beginning. "His brother's name was Jubal. He was the father of all those who play the harp and flute" (Genesis 4:21). How old something is doesn't mean it is acceptable to God for His worship. For example, murder is older than instrumental music (Cain killed Abel), does that mean murder is acceptable in worship?

People keep forgetting that it is God, who is being worshiped, who defines what He finds acceptable in the worship presented to Him. Man doesn't have a say in the matter. "For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ" (Galatians 1:10).

Response:

Thank you! I really appreciate the clarification.

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