Why don't the Churches of Christ use instrumental music in worship?

Many ask why the Churches of Christ do not use instrumental music in their worship services. The answer is not difficult, and can be seen from scripture with a bit of study.

In order to understand the reasons for not using instrumental music in worship, it is neccessary to understand authority. A brief discussion of authority is found near the end of this lesson. It should be enough to understand the reason for not using instruments.

Most of the scriptures on music in worship found in the New Testament can be dealt with as simply as reading them and noting what kind of music is referred to. Below is a list of scriptures on the subject in table format. It addresses the question, "What kind of music does the scripture refer to?"

Besides these passages, there are a few other passages in the New Testament that do not fall into the same format as these, and so must be dealt with individually. Three such passages are found in Revelation. The first is Revelation 5:8&9. It has reference to song, but it is not as the other passages as it is a part of the vision of John. The other passages have to do with us, who would worship God here on the earth. This passage in Revelation does not.

The second and third are Revelation 14:2&3 and Revelation 15:2&3. These both reference to harps or the playing of harps. Even though they do mention instruments, they mention singing as well. Many beleive that these passages have reference to beautiful song that reminded John of harpists playing, but even if you do not understand the passages in that light, there are still several reasons that this may not be taken as authority to use instruments in worship. First, these are, again, part of John's vision. In this they are figurative and not literal. Even if they were literal, they are not speaking of how men are to worship God. These passages deal with a specific set of circumstances that do not apply to us as we worship. Those that do apply can be found in the table above.

Besides those passages in Revelation, there is Luke 15:25. This is the parable of the prodigal son. In this passage we find that as the elder son returns to the house he hears music and dancing. What kind of music, though? We are not told. It may have been simply singing-that would certainly constitute music. It may also have included instruments of music, but this still would not apply to worship. This was a secular celebration for the return of a relative who was away. In no way should this be taken as authority to use instruments in worship. As a secular celebration they would not have been prohibited from using instruments. They were not offering this music in worship to God. We also would not be prohibited in secular celebrations. Besides these points, there is also the fact that the telling of this parable took place before the establishment of the Church, and so those involved would have been under the Old Law!

Finally, a few words on why we follow the commands, examples, and inferences in the New Testament and not of the Old. We are not under the Old Law. Colossians 2:13&14 says, "And you, being dead in your tresspasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all tresspasses, 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."

The "handwriting of requirements" referred to here is the Law of Moses with all it's requirements of works. We are no longer under it as it was nailed to the cross. We still may look to the Old law for an example, however, according to Romans 15:4 which says, "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." This does not mean that we are bound to those Old Laws, as that would contradict Colossians 2, but it does mean that we can see certain precepts and ideas that will benefit us in the Old Law. One of those precepts is that when God commands something, he excludes that which he did not command. In our study here, singing is commanded, so musical instruments are excluded. This can be seen in the story of Nadab and Abihu who offered profane or strange fire before the Lord (Leviticus 10:1-3). We are not told why the fire was strange, except that God had not commanded it. We do know that God had given commands concerning this from other passages such as Exodus 30:1-9. When Nadab and Abihu went beyond what God commanded, they were devoured with fire sent from God! Is this not enough to indicate that we should do only what is commanded, and not go beyond?

So, we use no instruments as they are not commanded. We Love Christ Jesus, and so keep what he did command (John 14:15, "If you love me, keep my commandments"). Lastly, consider the words of the second epistle (letter) of John at verse 9, "Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son."

Until next time, let me encourage you to search the scriptures daily, whether these things are so. Acts 17:11

May God bless you in your study of his Word.

Adapted by Mance J. Davis Jr. by permission from class material prepared by Danny Allen. October 1, 1998.