Many people ask the question, “Why doesn’t the Church of Christ have instrumental music in their Worship?” This has been very confusing to our denominational friends. The answer is very simple, but difficult for some people to accept.
The Church of Christ follows the apostolic teachings of the Bible (2 Tim. 3:16-17). We do not use any Creed books, Catechisms, Prayer books or man made confessions of faith dogmas. We give book, chapter, and verse for all of our beliefs. We do not adapt God’s holy word to accept man’s wants, desires or special interest. We accept God’s word as the absolute truth. His word can not be altered in any way, shape, or form (Rev. 22:18-19). Therefore we must follow his word to the very last letter of the law.Worship is designed to please God, not man.
What does the Bible teach in the Old and New Testament about instrumental music in worship? It is a fact that instrumental music was used in the Old Testament. “And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of the LORD by his prophets. (2 Chron. 29:25). Who introduced instrumental music in the Old Testament times? King David took that authority upon himself. This was not the Law of Moses.
So if David brought instrumental music to worship, why should we not continue that tradition? In that time David offered animal sacrifices for worship, should we not do the same today? In that time they burnt incense in worship, should we also do the same today? David was a polygamist (had many wives), should we be polygamist today? Did God accept those things back then, “Yes.” Then why can’t we do all those things today?
They did many things in the Old Testament, but we live in the New Testament age. We do not live under the 613 laws of the Old Testament. We live under the gospel of Jesus Christ (New Testament). What did Paul say about those that tried to live under the Old Testament today? “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. (Gal. 5:4). To live by the Old Testament would be to fall from grace today.
God did not approve of David’ instrumental music. “Woe unto them that invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David” (Amos 6:1-5). “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent (Acts 17:30). God tolerated certain things under the Old Test. law, but now command-eth all men to repent.
The truth of the matter is; from Matthew vs. 1 to the end of the book of Revelations. There is not one hint of the use of instrumental music. Jesus never mentioned it; the apostles never sanctioned it; no New Testament church ever practiced it; no New Testament writer ever commanded it. There is no authorization for it in the word of God. “ Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; (Eph 5:19). God tells us that we are to sing and make melody in our heart (mind). No instrument is mentioned here.
Here are some historical facts. It was 670 A.D. when instrumental music was added to the church in Rome. The Catholics were disturbed by it so they removed it. And 130 years latter it was added again. Denominational men like John Calvin, Martin Luther, John Wesley, Charles Spurgeon, Adam Clark all renounced instrumental music. The very foundation of denominationalism did not use instrumental music in the beginning. It was not in the Church that Jesus built. It was never authorized by God. Man added this to the church as a tradition of men not God.
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