Oh, How We Love Our Music! – But Does Instrumental Music in Worship Please God?

Most people love to hear and/or participate in making music, and virtually everyone has their favorite song, instrument, or type of music. Many have become masters at producing music and they are able to make large sums of money in the entertainment industry.

Below are definitions of some relevant terms that should help in understanding the message of this article:

Music (noun):
"Vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion."

Sing (verb):
"Make musical sounds with the voice, especially words with a set tune."

Instrumental Music:
"Music produced by playing a musical instrument."

Few understand that there are only two kinds of music: vocal (singing) and instrumental (playing). Even fewer understand that the only music the New Testament Christians participated in when they came together was singing. This was back when disciples had great interest in doing things the way God wants them done, rather than what might be pleasing to them personally (see links # 1 and # 2 below for historical comments from early church leaders). Unfortunately, things have changed.

Today, a piano or organ, drums, guitars, etc., will be the norm if you visit various churches. These instruments of music make pleasant sounds, depending on the talent of the person playing them. But why do we attend places where disciples meet? Is it to worship by studying the Bible, singing praises, and engaging in prayer, or is it to be entertained? Are we no longer like the first century Christians who were concerned only about what God likes?

The Psalmist wrote, "O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation" (Psalm 95:1). When Christians come together our music is intended to be a "joyful noise" directed to God. While playing and or listening to instruments may be joyful to us, our concern, when worshipping God, should not be what we enjoy but what pleases God.

How do we know what kind of music God wants to hear? Those who recognize that the Bible is His revelation to us know to look to it for such answers, and the answer to this particular question is found in the apostle Paul's writing to two churches in which he instructs them to sing (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16).

No one questions whether it is right to sing. There has never been a division in the church over whether to sing (see John 17:21; 1 Cor. 1:10). But some have either failed to learn the fundamentals of authority (how it works) or they don't care. They consequently argue that authority for playing instruments in worship is not needed, that God authorizes playing instruments, or that instrumental music is an aid and therefore is not an addition to God's command.

For those who do not understand the fundamentals of authority, follow link # 3 to open my book on Bible authority. For those who think God authorized instruments in public worship, I ask for book, chapter, and verse with assurance that it is not to be found.

Those who have been led to believe that instruments are an "aid," and therefore authorized, should dismiss that thinking upon considering how Noah understood God's commands and acted accordingly. God commanded him to build an ark (boat) out of gopher wood. Noah understood that this kind of wood was what God wanted, so he used no other. He also understood that God did not specify the tools to use in carrying out the command, thus allowing him to choose those tools needed to carry it out. Now, to the point of the comparison: We have seen that there are two kinds of music and that God specified singing. While using a pitch pipe could be considered an aid to singing (used to get the proper pitch before singing), playing instruments is another kind of music, which should be considered an unauthorized addition.

Some people, who do not consider the fact that the Greek language has changed, seek to justify instrumental music by manipulating the word “psallo” (see link # 4). Some ask, "Does it matter?" or assert that "God is not concerned about such things" (see link # 5). But that is simply not true, and we have scripture from both the Old Testament and the New Testament that disproves that thinking. Consider the following passages:

Romans 15:4 "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."

Leviticus 10:1; Numbers 26:61 – It is clear from these passages that God has been particularly strict when it comes to matters of worship when He has specified how something is to be done. He made an example out of Nadab and Abihu for adding or using "strange fire," which He had not commanded or authorized.

John 4:24 "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

Col. 3:17 "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."

That the Jews understood the need for authority is apparent from the following question asked of Jesus:

"And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?" (Matthew 21:23).

Authority was important then and it is just as important today.