The church started meeting in the Temple and the Temple had instrumental music

Question:

Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 are used out of context. Neither verse is dealing with worship services. The context of Ephesians 5:19 goes back to Ephesians 4:1. It's about your life as a believer. The same with Colossians 3.

When the Israelites were baptized in Acts 2, they went to the Temple daily. The Temple still had those instruments that Nehemiah put back in there after the construction of the Temple after the Babylonian captivity. There is no mention of the instruments being removed prior and no record of the apostles telling them to rid of the instruments or that using them was a sin.

Also, in the church, pitch pipes are used; yet, they are not found in the Scriptures. Song leaders are used; yet, not found in the New Testament. Some churches have choruses but do not use them during worship, using the reasoning that "as long as it's not during worship then it's fine." The problem is that the Bible never makes a delineation between corporate and non-corporate worship. The same goes for those who listen to gospel music.

Answer:

Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 do deal with worship. See How do we know Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 are speaking about congregational worship?

"Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved" (Acts 2:46-47).

The Temple area was where the early disciples gathered to meet and learn. But it does not mean that these early Christians were participating in Jewish worship. The temple complex was quite large. The western wall alone was 1590 feet long. It was designed to allow large gatherings of people, not just for worship but also as a place to gather for learning. Thus, the early Christians gathered in this area for daily study.

Jewish worship occurred primarily on the Sabbaths (Saturday). Christian worship occurs on the first day of the week (Sunday). There are zero reasons to assume that Christians would have kicked the Jews out of the temple or borrowed the items used for their worship to be used in Christian worship. The assumptions of this argument have no foundation in reality.

The reason the early church didn't use instruments is that God didn't authorize their use as He did in the Old Testament.

In regards to pitch pipes, see Should pitch pipes be used before a song?

Song leaders are mentioned in the New Testament. "What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification" (I Corinthians 14:26).

Regarding the distinction made between personal worship and the worship conducted as a church, see:

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