What Does The Bible Say About Worship?

Instrumental Music
Whenever a person comes to visit with us during our periods of worship—they often
comment about something that is very noticeable.

When they look around as we begin our worship to God, they quickly notice that we do
not have a piano, an organ, or any other musical instrument to accompany our singing.

Some of these same people comment that they have never been to a church which
does not use an instrument, and are curious about how we can even worship without
one. As always, we need to look to the Scriptures for an explanation.

Can We Use Instrumental Music In Worship?
Someone will say, “The Bible doesn’t specifically condemn them anywhere.” Neither
does it specifically condemn gambling, abortion, or streaking down the road naked. But
just because something is not specifically condemned does not mean it is condoned!

Worship In The Old Testament
Some people will argue that the authority to use instruments is found in the Old
Testament. Actually, not only were instruments allowed in the Old Testament worship
but they were commanded.

David made provisions for singers and players in the temple worship (1 Chronicles 25:
1,6). He wrote numerous psalms which were to be sung with musical accompaniment
(as you see in the heading of many in the book of Psalms). The Psalms even
encourage the use of musical instruments in praise to God (Psalm 150).

Someone will say “Well that settles it then!” Not so fast. Remember that all of the
worship offered under the Old Testament Law was part of a system of types and
shadows that was going to be done away with in Christ, “For the law, having a shadow
of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things…” (Hebrews 10:1-4).

All aspects of the Law of Moses were done away with in Christ unless they carried over
into New Testament teaching, “having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that
was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having
nailed it to the cross… Therefore let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a
festival or a new moon or Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the
substance is of Christ.” (Colossians 2:14-17).

Instrumental music did not carry over because we do not read about it being used
anywhere in the New Testament. Therefore, we are not authorized to use it.

Worship In The New Testament
Musical instruments were used under the Old Testament Law of Moses, but Jesus
taught that the outward, physical trappings of the law were going to be done away with
and replaced with the spiritual nature of New Testament worship, “But the hour is
coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth;
for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him
must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23-24).

The difference that Jesus was emphasizing was not that worship would now be done
with the right attitude and in the right, divinely prescribed way—that was necessary with
Old Testament worship too. The difference Jesus was emphasizing was that the true,
spiritual worship that emanates from the spirit of man to the Spirit of God would be the
kind of worship God would seek in the New Testament age.

You cannot play a musical instrument and reach that spiritual point. That melody can
only come from the heart, “singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:
16).

The instrument that is played is the human heart, “speaking to one another in psalms
and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord”
(Ephesians 5:19). That is the instrument that God created with His own hands—not a
piano, organ, guitar or any other thing fashioned by the hands of man!

Actually, to go back to using man-made instruments is to digress negatively, not to go
forward positively. Singing is the method of worship by which we express our sacrifice of
“praise to God.” It is the “fruit of our lips” and that which is suitable for us to give as
worship to God (Hebrews 13:15).

God has chosen singing exclusively as the musical praise that we are to offer Him.
Why? What is God’s purpose in choosing singing?

Singing is something that every Christian can do. “Speaking to one another in psalms
and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”
(Ephesians 5:19). It is not something that another person has to do for us. No matter
what our voices sound like, we can sing because God is listening to our hearts and not
our voices anyway.

Singing is an effective outlet for thanksgiving. “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him
pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.” (James 5:13). A full heart needs some
way to spill out its thanks and appreciation for God’s blessings.

Singing is a wonderful teaching medium. “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). At times,         
words alone are empty, whereas the words of a song may strike the right chord in our
hearts and teach us valuable lessons of faith, hope, and love.

Singing encourages others. “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). When we may not know
the right thing to say to pick up, build up, or give hope, our songs do!

Conclusion
Singing is a vital part of our worship to God and we have seen how important it is. But
the musical accompaniment of an instrument does not enhance the spiritual purpose of
singing in any way.

If the New Testament authorized the use of instrumental music, I would preach loud and
long to justify it according to the Scriptures. But it does not authorize it. Neither does it
justify it. Adding it to our worship today is going beyond the things that are written (2
John 9).

We may feel that our worship is heartfelt and sincere, but what does the Lord think?
That is all that really matters. “And in vain they worship me, teaching as doctrines the
commandments of men.” (Matthew 15:9)?

--Rob Harbison