MUSIC IN WORSHIP - LESSON 10

TAKE A QUIZ

Is it ok to have musical instruments in worship services? Yes No

One of the most frequently asked questions of Christians is, “Why do you not have a piano or organ in your worship?” These folks deserve a Bible answer. Most of the denominations use instrumental music and a member of a denominational church would naturally be interested in this particular subject.

While traveling this “route” we will examine every passage that has anything to do with the kind of music used in the Church by the first Christians.

JOHN 4:24

24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

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COMMENTARY

This text says nothing specifically about music in worship; however, it does address a principle that needs consideration whenever we study the worship of God––ACCEPTABILITY. Jesus states two essential characteristics which worship must possess in order to be acceptable: (1) spirit and (2) truth. To “worship in spirit” is to worship from the heart, the inner man (cf. Romans 1:9). To “worship in truth” is to do so in the way which truth marks out. This principle applies to everything we bring to God as worship. It takes both attitude and action in order for worship to be acceptable.

1/13

COLOSSIANS 3:16–17

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

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COMMENTARY

We introduce this text at this juncture because it is the only text that directly connects the music question to the need for Bible authority. Certainly, singing is right! It would be nice if the advocates of musical instruments in music could present as much authority. Singing is defined as “to render in tones with musical inflections of the voice, to utter a series of words in musical tones” (The American Heritage Dictionary). In order to accomplish what this verse commands does not require any musical instrument. As a matter of fact, what this verse enjoins CANNOT be accomplished by a musical instrument. What instrument ever “taught” (gave instruction to) anyone? How does one “admonish” (reprove or warn) by playing an instrument? This can only be done by SINGING the WORDS of the PSALMS, HYMNS and SPIRITUAL SONGS from a heart in which dwells the WORD OF CHRIST.

2/13

MATTHEW 26:30

30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

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COMMENTARY

This is the first time we have an indication of the kind of music the apostles of Christ used. What did they do before they departed? No instrument here. (If your student objects that this is not the Church, agree and make the point that these events and actions were associated with the coming kingdom and its worship [26:29]). The parallel is Mark 14:22-26.

3/13

ACTS 16:25

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,

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COMMENTARY

Paul and Silas were singing. Some might ask, “What does this have to do with music in the church?” While this may have not been an assembly of the saints, it is Christians worshipping God with music. Here in the midst of trouble they sang. There is no instrument here.

4/13

ROMANS 15:9

9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.”

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COMMENTARY

Paul quotes Psalm 18:49; Deuteronomy 32:43; Psalm 117:1 and Isaiah 11:10 in Romans 15:9-12. The passage talks about the joy of the Gentiles by their inclusion in the dispensation of God’s grace. The interesting thing is that it says the writer will SING among the Gentiles. There is no instrument here in describing any music associated with the Church.

5/13

1 CORINTHIANS 14:15–16

15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. 16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying?

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COMMENTARY

Paul says he will sing in the same manner that he prays–– “with the spirit and the understanding.” Instrumentation will not accomplish this objective in music worship. Notice Paul tells us that in order for the spirit to so worship, it must be edified (see: Acts 20:32) and those that are present must understand what is said (cf. 1 Corinthians 14:7–8). Here is no place for instrumental music in this text. The word says, “Sing.”

6/13

1 CORINTHIANS 14:26

26 What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.

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COMMENTARY

“Every one of you hath a psalm...” This word properly means a song of the class of those Old Testament songs in the book of Psalms. The word does not necessitate an instrument in order to give it. Remember Colossians 3:16 above, “Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs singing...” Furthermore, this text establishes clearly that this singing was done in the assemblies of the saints, “when ye come together...” Here is the congregational activity of the Church at Corinth.

7/13

EPHESIANS 5:19

19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,

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COMMENTARY

It is often observed that the Greek verb Psallo is found in this text. Literally it means to “twitch or twang” a line or a string. This may be anything from a carpenter’s line to the string of a lyre. However, in this text it is the “strings of the heart” (remember John 4:24). Obviously a figure parallel to “speaking to yourselves...” This text presents the same problems as Colossians 3:16 and 1 Corinthians 14:15. How can “speaking” (to talk, to utter words) be accomplished by an instrument? The action here is singing. If this passage authorizes instrumental music, it necessitates that all play while they all sing. This is absurd. Whereas, when singing is understood as the action involved, it is easily seen that congregational activity, congregational singing, accomplishes the desired result of edifying all that sing as in Colossians 3:16.

8/13

HEBREWS 2:12

12 saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”

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COMMENTARY

Here the writer quotes Psalms 22:22. This is the “fruit of the lips” which can only be singing (vocal). Isn’t it amazing that of all the verses that the writer could quote from the Old Testament Psalms, he never quotes one that would imply a mechanical instrument of music?

9/13

HEBREWS 13:15

15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

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COMMENTARY

This passage does not use the word sing, but clearly shows God cannot be worshipped with machinery. God is praised by the “fruit of the lips” from the human heart.

10/13

JAMES 5:13

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.

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COMMENTARY

This passage also indicates singing is to be done. The reason for this singing is a merry heart. A piano does not have a heart with which to be merry.

11/13

REVELATION 14:2–3

2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, 3 and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.

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COMMENTARY

Sometimes the advocates of instrumental music will go to the book of Revelation, especially this section, to justify instrumental music. Here the writer is describing a song. Note that “the voice from heaven” is “as the voice of many waters” and “as the voice of a great thunder” and “as the voice of harpers harping with their harps.” What is done is SINGING.

12/13

REVELATION 15:1-3

15 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished. 2 And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. 3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!

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COMMENTARY

15:1-3––These are all symbols of praise (cf. Revelation 5:8) and not to be taken literally. Furthermore, they are said to be the “harps of God.” What kind of “literal” harps are those? We don’t know what they are like. Let alone how to play them. Finally, all of these events took place in heaven, does that authorize anything for the Church? What about the censers, vials of odors, altars, temples, etc. that are mentioned? Should all of these be included in the worship because they have appeared in Heaven? There is much about Revelation and the activities of Heaven of which we are ignorant, but we understand what Paul said in Colossians 3:16 and Ephesians 5:19.

13/13

Completed!

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