In 1 Samuel 8:5–7 we read that the people came to the prophet of God, “And
said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now
make us a king to judge us like all the nations. But the thing displeased
Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto
the LORD. And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the
people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but
they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.”
Even though the Lord designed the plan many men would like to change it or
at least parts of it. Today, some more “liberal” churches of Christ are
reaching out for more and more attractive things to please people and
increase the crowds. These men and women see what is utilized by “all
nations” around them—the modern denominations and are suddenly finding ways
to justify their use in the work and worship of the church.
The denominations are heavily involved in entertainment, that is, certain
individuals performing specifically for the enjoyment of other people. The
main source activity is singing with instrumental music. Several years ago
the “liberal congregations” had among them a very popular group which, at
first, performed their extraordinarily talented singing without mechanical
instruments at all. But even then that group of singers showed their
inordinate admiration for the instruments by mimicking their sounds as they
performed. Many were others carried away with this entertainment and it’s
sound so that they formed other groups and some began actually using
instruments.
At first this entertainment was confined to private gatherings, but,
following the example of denominations, they began moving such performances
into their worship. As these “liberal minded” congregations found their
crowds increasing and many of the worldly minded happy with this new
innovation the leadership worked feverishly to find justification for doing
this. There have been others who in their “scholarly wisdom” have for years
been privately advocating the use of instrumental music in worship. Many of
them in colleges have feared to teach this in the classroom, nevertheless
the bulk of their students have come away with the impression that the use
of instruments in worship was not a departure from the teachings of the New
Testament.
Foolishly, many well meaning parents have sent their young people to these
institutions hoping that they would gain the education they would need to
succeed, all being done in a “Christian” atmosphere. However, they found
out later that many of the very principles which they worked to ingrain in
the minds of the sons and daughters while they were growing had been
undermined and destroyed.
Because the professors were so much “more educated and intelligent than
their parents” these young people have come away believing that it is not
necessary to “speak when the Bible speaks, and be silent when the Bible is
silent;” “Call Bible things by Bible names;” and “Do Bible things in Bible
ways.” But instead they have come away thinking that “If it’s not
specifically condemned, it is not wrong.” They have been taught that “After
the command is performed, we are at liberty to do anything that we please.”
They have gained from their higher education that “When God specifies He is
not necessarily limiting;” and that there is really no such thing as “The
authoritative silence of God.”
Now many “liberals” are struggling to maintain such things as worship
without instrumental music, and men only leading the worship. Many have
found themselves in serious degrees of compromise due to their unscriptural
changes to the Lord’s supper, their employment of Sunday School with its
women teachers, some with their congregational supported of institutions—
colleges and orphanages, and some with their children’s church and their
missionary societies and on and on the list goes. All of these new
innovations, things not found in the New Testament and the early church.
Setting aside all the “good” that men think might be accomplished by their
use we must confine our authority for their employment on the word of God.
Examining each item we must conclude with the question, “Does the New
Testament provide for this?”
In this short study we will confine ourselves to the question of
instrumental music in New Testament worship. Our study does not embrace the
question of whether or not instrumental music is found in the Bible, because
it is. It is even found in worship of past generations and dispensations
recorded in the Bible. It may have been employed in worship of God under
the Mosaic dispensation, just as was the burning of incense, the sacrificing
of animals, the offering of blood, the wearing of special garments, and the
observance of the Sabbath, New Moon, and Pentecost celebrations.
We should be aware that celebrations like the Passover, Sabbath, and
Pentecost are gone, not to be observed by those following the teaching of
the New Testament. The apostle taught Christians in Colossians 2:16,17,
“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an
holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of
things to come; but the body is of Christ.” Why is that? Verse 14 says
that in his death on Calvary Jesus was, “Blotting out the handwriting of
ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of
the way, nailing it to his cross.” The Law of Moses with all it’s
commandments and ordinances served it’s time and it’s purpose, was completed
in the death of Christ.
Speaking of the purpose, and duration of the Law of Moses, Paul writes in
Galatians 3, “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should
not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set
forth, crucified among you?... (6) Even as Abraham believed God, and it was
accounted to him for righteousness... (16) Now to Abraham and his seed
were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of
one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.... (19) Wherefore then serveth the
law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to
whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a
mediator.... (24–29) Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us
unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is
come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of
God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into
Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither
bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in
Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs
according to the promise.”
That being said, were turn our attention to an act of worship, singing, as
found in the New Testament. Hebrews 2:11–13 speaks to the oneness of Jesus
Christ and his disciples stating that this great truth is declared in the
act of congregational singing. It says, “For both he that sanctifieth and
they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to
call them brethren, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in
the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. And again, I will put
my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given
me.” It is clear that simply singing is what is described here..
By inspiration the apostle Paul directs the early church, “Speaking to
yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making
melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph 5:19); “Teaching and admonishing one
another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your
hearts to the Lord.”(Col 3:16). First, he says here that the singing was to
be of spiritual significance as Hebrews 2 taught
B. W. Johnson comments, “‘When together you will sing psalms,’ such as those
of the psalmist. ‘And hymns’– Songs of praise. ‘Spiritual songs’ –Songs
which express spiritual emotions. We find Christian hymns in the church at
a very early period. ‘Singing and making melody.’ While the lips sing, the
heart must join in the melody by an uplifting to God. Too much singing in
the churches is only of the lips.” The voice of each worshiper sings the
songs of God’s truth, and each must “psallo”– “make melody in the heart”
unto the Lord.
(James 5:13 KJV) Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry?
let him sing psalms.
