 IS INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC IN WORSHIP SERVICE REALLY ALL THAT SINFUL?
Dear Travis:
What people get from their Bible reading depends to a large degree on their presuppositions. For example, Martin Luther and Ulrich Zwingle met to see if they could work together in their attempts at Reformation. Luther declared that he felt he could do anything the Bible did not forbid. Zwingle affirmed that he could only do that which the Bible authorized.
Most of the denominations of Christendom have followed Luther's approach. A few of us feel that Zwingle was right.
We of the Church of Christ do not however base our faith upon the belief of Zwingle. We look at the teaching of God's Word and seek to understand just what He expects of us and then to do it.
- Noah was blessed and saved because he did "according to all that God commanded him" (Genesis 6:22).
God destroyed Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, for attempting to offer incense in worship to God in a way that He had not authorized (Leviticus 10:1-10). - When the ark of God was being moved from Kiriath-jearim to Jerusalem, one of the bearers was struck dead because the moving of the ark was not carried out according to God's divine instructions (I Chronicles. 13:6-10; 15:2).
These Old Testament events were recorded for our admonition and learning (Romans 15:4). They teach us that God expects us not only to worship and serve Him but also to do it in his appointed way. We must also recognize that as Christians we are under the authority of Jesus. He has "all authority in heaven and on earth" (Mathew 28:18). He is head over all things to the church (Ephesians 1:22) Therefore I must look to the New Testament of Christ for the authority for what I do as a Christian and what we do collectively as a church.
His words will judge us in the last day (John 12:48), and not those of Moses or David. In the New Testament he warns us, "Not to go beyond the thing that are written" (I Corinthians 4:6 ASV), not to go beyond “the doctrine of Christ ” (II John 9-10).
It is not enough to show that they used instruments in Old Testament worship. They did so because they had specific divine authorization to do so (II Chronicles. 29:25). We do not have such authority in the New Testament. Nor is it sufficient to speculate on what might be had in heaven. Remember in heaven there will be no marriage (Mathew 22:30), but that is not a rule for us to deny marriage. Here it would be a doctrine of demons to do so (I Timothy 4:1-3).
A more careful reading of the passages in Revelation reveals that the "golden bowls full of incense...are the prayers of the saints..." and the harps are symbols of the singing of the heavenly elders (Revelation 5:8-9).
We sing our praise unto God for that is clearly authorized (Ephesians 5:19). We do not play musical instruments for the same reason we do not burn incense, sacrifice animals or have a separate priesthood.
If we can do anything that is not forbidden then we can have hamburgers and soft drinks for the Lord's Supper. Surely the most broad-minded would not subscribe to that.
I am impressed that often those who declare that they can do anything connected with Christianity if it is not forbidden, do not respect Christ's prohibitions. Nothing is more clearly prohibited than homosexual activity (Romans 1:26-27; I Corinthians 6:9-10). Yet many so-called tolerant, broad-minded modern church folks ignore those prohibitions and give their approval to that forbidden practice.
Either we do or do not respect the authority of Christ and His Word. If we do, we will be Christians in the true sense of the word. If not, then we should not try to march under the banner of Christ. John Waddey |
