I witness the following conversation between two brothers and it went like this:<\/p>\n
Brother A stated, “We are not to worship or praise God on this side of the cross with instrumental music.”\u00a0 Brother A went on to state “This applies to the first day of the week during corporate worship or praise and outside of the corporate worship or praise as well.”<\/p>\n
Brother B stated, “Men and women have the gifts and talents to play instruments that were given to them by God and you are stating that they can’t use these gifts and talents to worship or praise God, of course, not during corporate worship but any other time.”<\/p>\n
Brother A stated, “No, they can’t use these gifts and talents\u00a0to worship or praise God and please Him.”<\/p>\n
Now according to scripture is this true?\u00a0 Can you shed some light on this matter?<\/p>\n\t
Brother B’s argument is a fallacy. To illustrate this, I have a talent for creating computer programs, so does this mean I should use my programming skills as worship to God? What about a farmer who is really good at growing corn? Is his farm operation worship of God?<\/p>\n
Actually, some would claim that these illustrations are forms of worship. In fact, they would go so far as to say that all of life is a worship of God. But this, too, is false. Worship is something specifically done and directed to God. See “What is Worship?<\/a>” and “The Worship of God<\/a>.” Because worship is directed to God, then it is God who defines how He wishes to be worshiped.<\/p>\n Our use of God-given talents can lead to the glory of God, but this is not the same as worshiping God. “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him<\/em>” (Colossians 3:17). “In the name of the Lord Jesus<\/em>” means with Jesus’ authority or approval. When I give a cup of water to a thirsty individual, I do so because God commanded kindness. Thus, though the giving of water was my choice, it also gives glory to God because it follows His commands.<\/p>\n But worship is a purposeful action in directing praise to God. “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth<\/em>” (John 4:24). To worship in spirit is to do so from the heart, to give sincere worship. To worship in truth is to do as God directed, not as I wish to offer but as God commanded be offered.<\/p>\n That is the mistake Brother B makes. He assumes that rules for worship only apply when the church assembles. Individually he believes anything a person decides to offer is acceptable to God. Thus, he places the individual in the driver seat telling God what He will find acceptable. Isn’t that the same mistake Saul made? He was told to wipe out the Amalekites. When he came back with spoils from the Amalekites, he tried to excuse his disobedience by saying that it was being brought to worship God. Samuel’s reply was, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.<\/em>” (I Samuel 15:22-23).<\/p>\n God tells men how to properly worship Him. Man has no authority to change what God requests. “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<\/em>” (Galatians 1:10). Such is true both inside and outside the worship assembly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Question: I witness the following conversation between two brothers and it went like this: Brother A stated, “We are not to worship or praise God on this side of the cross with instrumental music.”\u00a0 Brother A went on to state “This applies to the first day of the week during corporate worship or praise and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[292,84],"class_list":["post-20816","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-instrumental-music","tag-worship"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":94676,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-must-you-use-instrumental-music\/","url_meta":{"origin":20816,"position":0},"title":"Why Must You Use Instrumental Music?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 19, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 Author Unknown Recently, a congregation in the city where I preach decided to start using instruments in their worship assembly. Apparently, even the community realizes that among churches of Christ, this is a big deal because the local news and newspaper have done stories on it. Obviously, I love\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":25417,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/if-you-dont-use-instrumental-music-then-should-you-not-use-hymns-composed-on-pianos\/","url_meta":{"origin":20816,"position":1},"title":"If you don’t use instrumental music, then should you not use hymns composed on pianos?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 6, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: In doing some research for a book, I came across your web site. I was really surprised by the bluntness of your home page. I grew up in several different churches of Christ, Christian, and restoration movement churches. The instrumental churches and non-instrumental churches have always puzzled me. I've\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":15081,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/did-god-command-the-use-of-instrumental-music-under-the-old-law\/","url_meta":{"origin":20816,"position":2},"title":"Did God command the use of instrumental music under the Old Law?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 13, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Do you think there was a time in the old law that God did command the use of instruments in worship to Him? Such as II Chronicles 29:25-28. Seems like there are split thoughts on this idea. Just wondering about your thoughts. There is no doubt that instruments were\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3829,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/clapping-in-worship\/","url_meta":{"origin":20816,"position":3},"title":"Clapping in Worship","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 3, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"by Gardner Hall Is it wrong? If so, why? The last few years have seen the introduction of handclapping in congregations of the Lord, including a few that have opposed institutionalism. Though motives are often praiseworthy, serious questions are raised by the practice. Is it presumptuous? 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He was the father of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":42222,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/since-jesus-is-going-to-return-with-the-blast-of-a-trumpet-cant-instruments-be-used-in-the-worship-of-him\/","url_meta":{"origin":20816,"position":5},"title":"Since Jesus is going to return with the blast of a trumpet, can’t instruments be used in the worship of him?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 23, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: If music is not authorized in New Testament worship, even to the point of sin if it is used, then when the Lord returns and that great trumpet sounds, will we then say that it isn't a time of worship and praise? 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