"Instrumental Music In Worship" by B. Dean Beard
An old issue needs to be addressed again!

Much attention has been directed to a movement among some of "us" to compromise with the INDEPENDENT CHRISTIAN CHURCHES on the use of instrumental music in worship (CHRISTIAN CHRONICLE, January 2007).  Some preachers and professors among churches of Christ have issued "apologies" for the obstinance of our brethren 100 years ago who disagreed with the insertion of mechanical instruments in the worship service and refused to worship with them as a matter of faith.

Guy N. Woods used to tell preachers that we need to preach about instrumental music because 50% of our brethren could not tell why we do not use it and 35% of those had no objection to it.  It now appears those numbers apply to preachers!

Bibles have been exchanged between the two groups as a statement of good will. I certainly have no objection to exchanging Bibles and would suggest that, if done, all the passages that refer to singing in worship in the New Testament church be marked by those who sing, and all the passages that refer to playing an instrument be marked in the Bibles given by those who use them.

A listing of singing in worship would include. . .

Acts 16:25 — "But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns unto God, and the prisoners were listening to them."

Colossians 3:16—"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God."

Ephesians 5:19— "Speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord." [Note that emphasis is made on singing from the heart, as governed by John 4:23-24). James 5:13 says, "Is any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful?  Let him sing praise."

1 Corinthians 14:15 — "What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also." [Those who use instruments to "accompany" singing sometimes use them to "accompany" prayers —why?]

Romans 15:9—"And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written,
Therefore will I give praise unto thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name."

All those Bibles with the passages marked which include an instrument of music in Christian worship will be offered unmarked.

It is a matter of historical record that the early church did not use instruments of music as a matter of faith. Hugo Leichtentritt, MUSIC, HISTORY AND IDEAS, "Only singing, however, and no playing of instruments, was permitted in the early Christian Church." Emil Nauman, THE HISTORY Of MUSIC, "There can be no doubt that originally the music of the divine service was everywhere entirely of a vocal nature." Lyman Coleman, THE APOSTOLIC AND PRIMITIVE CHURCH, "Both the Jews in their temple service and the Greeks in their idol worship, were
accustomed to sing with the accompaniment of instrumental music. The converts to Christianity accordingly must have been familiar with this mode of singing... But it is generally admitted, that the primitive Christians employed no instrumental music in their worship."

The reason instrumental music is used today is the same as it ever has been. Not that it is commanded of God or wanted by God, but because it is wanted by men. To allow people to worship as they please makes good civil law, but it is poor theology. God makes the rules of how we worship Him!  Christians are to observe all things commanded them.

Matthew 28:20—"...teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you; and
lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." They were not commanded of God but added by men.

John 16:13a—"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the
truth..." The Holy Spirit never guided the apostles to include instrumental music in their commands.  It is not a part of all the truth.

2 Timothy 3:16-17— "Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. That the man of God may be
complete, furnished completely unto every good work."

Romans 10:17 — "So belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." Instrumental music does not come from hearing the word of Christ and therefore is not of faith.

Romans 14:23 — "But he that doubteth is condemned if he eat, because he eateth not of
faith; and whatsoever is not of faith is sin." Those who added instrumental music into worship did so over the objections of many who could not conscientiously use them. They either had to leave the worship, or they had to sin by compromising their faith. In unity meetings today, some songs are sung with instrument and some without, in honor of the non-instrumental brethren. Why does this need to be done, if the "non-instrumental" brethren sing with the instrument without violating their conscience?  And if they violate their conscience they sin.

Colossians 3:17—"And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Since instruments of music are not
authorized by Jesus, they cannot be used in his name.

Matthew 15:7-9—"Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, This people honoreth me with their lips; But their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men." Instruments are given by the precepts of men, and they are thus vain worship.

Brethren, don't violate the authority of God and your good conscience by yielding to compromise.