Should We Add Instruments To Our Worship?

Instruments of music were abundant under the Law of Moses (and in pagan religions). Their invention is first mentioned in Genesis 4:21. Many instruments were used in worship. There were specific commands to sing ad specific commands to play and one did not include the other. Our dictionaries also distinguish one from the other.

The Law of Moses was a covenant between God and the nation of Israel. It was not a covenant with Gentiles or with Christians. This law was done away at the death of Christ and those under it were discharged from it (Col. 2: 14-17; Rom. 7:4; Gal. 3:24,25; 5:1-5). Many things in the Law of Moses are not included under the new covenant, such as a distinction between clean and unclean animals; wearing of clothes of different fabrics, circumcision, keeping the Sabbath holy (seventh day of the week), animal sacrifices, tithing, burning incense, instrumental music in worship, etc. However, teaching against idolatry and immorality is repeated in the NT.

Numerous instruments were available in the first century, but when we come to the New Testament one runs into a WALL OF SILENCE concerning instruments which were specified under the Law of Moses. When God wanted instruments in the OT, He certainly knew how to say it! Singing is the only kind of music he authorized in the NT.

Matt. 26:30 “when they had sung a hymn….,” Mark 14:26 “when they had sung a hymn….,” Acts 16:25 “prayed, and sang praises unto God….,” 1 Cor. 14:15 “Sing with the spirit and understanding…,” Eph 5:19 “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,” Col. 3:16 “teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in in your hearts to the Lord.” Heb. 2:12 “in the midst of the church will I sing….” Jas. 5:13 “Is any merry? Let him sing psalms…”

The kind of music authorized involved 1. Speaking (Eph 5:19); 2. Teaching (Col 3:16); 3. Admonishing (Col 3:16). Instruments do non of these. Singing does all three.

The WALL OF SILENCE on instruments in the worship of Christians continued for many centuries after the close of the NT, with the rare exceptions. It is evident that, at least on this issue, early Christians were able to hold the line against cultural influences.

“Although Josephus tells of the wonderful effects produced in the Temple by the use of instruments of music, the first Christians were of too spiritual a fiber to substitute lifeless instruments for or to use them to accompany the human voice” (The Catholic Encyclopedia, New York: The Encyclopedia Press 1913, Vol X, Christians Church) “There is no record in the New Testament of the use of instruments in the musical worship of the Christian Church” (Wycliffe Bible Dictionary, Peabody, MA; Hendrickson, 1998, p. 11643). “Whatever evidence is forthcoming, is to the effect that the early Christians did not use musical instruments” (A Dictionary of Christian Antiquities, London: John Murray, 1880, II, p. 1365). “Throughout nearly ten centuries of its history, Christian worship was…..nearly always a cappella” (Voices And Instruments in Christian Worship, Joseph Gelineau and Clifford Howell, The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN, p. 142).

Similar quotes could be multiplied many times. In the last 500 years, protestant churches began to introduce the instrument and in many cases, not without controversy.

Many have viewed a cappella music as a relatively new practice. Actually and historically, it’s the other way around. A cappella comes from Latin, via Italian, “in the style of the chapel,” which means without instrumental music. One thing is certain: If we do not allow scripture to form our worship, culture will.

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