Instrumental Music in Worship

1906. Almost anyone within the churches of Christ who has picked up a magazine or newspaper produced by members of the church this year knows the significance of that year. It was 1906 when the United States census officially recognized two separate religious bodies within what is commonly called the restoration movement – the churches of Christ and the Christian Church. One of the major barriers to fellowship that led to this official division was the use of instrumental music in worship, the churches of Christ denying there was Scriptural authority for such a practice. Conversely, members of the Christian Church argued that since there was no prohibition in the Scriptures, they were free to practice what they saw fit.

Now a century later, controversy still surrounds the issue of the use of instruments in worship. The issue has never gone away, but this year, the one-hundred year anniversary, it seems to be everywhere. Over the years, a number of debates have been held between members of the churches of Christ and the Christian Church, both privately and publicly, about the question of instrumental music. The most recent major discussion occurred in last month (October 14) at Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, Tennessee, between Ralph Gilmore, a staff member at FHU, and David Faust, president of Cincinnati Christian University. Milton Sewell, president of FHU, said, "I would love to see us all back together again, but we're not going to worship with the instrument, and we're not going to promote it here." (source)

It is a sentiment that has been echoed by many members of the Lord's church: we want unity, but we refuse to compromise truth. Alan Highers stated, "Everyone would like to see unity between those who are estranged, but unity based on false premises is no unity at all. Some are seeking unity without any discussion of the rightness or wrongness of instrumental music in worship. They want to sweep the issue under the rug and ignore the real cause of division. I do not believe this can be done." (source)

Take for instance the president of Abilene Christian University, Royce Money, who called the use of instrument "a potentially divisive issue." (source) He has deceived himself into thinking that the division is not real, but only "potential." If division is merely "potential," why are there so many so-called "unity movements" taking place now across the United States?

Mike Cope, a preacher in Abilene, wrote on his blog earlier this year: "Maybe we need to quit talking about those areas where we disagree. We don't have to agree on everything to be brothers and sisters. 'You don't have to be twins to be siblings.' Bob pointed out that most Christian Churches aren't going to become a cappella, and most Churches of Christ aren't going to become instrumental. So why keep talking about it? Does it really matter?" (source)

The answer, of course, is that it does matter. As Alan Highers said in an interview with The Christian Chronicle, "There are thousands in the brotherhood who cannot conscientiously worship with an instrument. What kind of unity would it be if people who claimed to be united could not even worship together?" (source)

What is really the issue?

With all this in mind, allow me to make a bold statement: instrumental music in worship is not really the issue. Yes, that is the topic of discussion 99% of the time when discussing the difference between churches of Christ and the Christian Church. But the truth of the matter is that the real issue is the authority of the Scriptures. How does the Bible authorize? What role does silence play in understanding what God desires of us?

Romans 10:17, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Our faith must be built upon the Word, or else it is not Biblical, God-pleasing faith. The Scriptures instruct us in a number of areas, including worship. Colossians 3:17, "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." We must have authority for what we practice. Where in the New Testament are we told about music as worship?

After the institution of the Lord's Supper, Jesus and His apostles "sung an hymn" (Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26). Paul and Silas "sang praises unto God" while in prison (Acts 16:25). The apostle Paul also spoke of singing with the spirit and understanding in his discussion of tongues (I Corinthians 14:15).

Ephesians 5:19 also addresses the issue of music in worship: "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." Also observe Colossians 3:16: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

In both instances, the type of music God desires is made clear: singing. There is no mention of using a mechanical instrument of music for worship in either passage, or in any other passage found in the New Testament. The Bible is silent on the instrument, but clearly authorizes singing in worship. No other form of music is authorized.

A number of arguments are raised in favor of the instrument, but none of them are Bible-based. One might say, "If God gave me the talent to play a piano, I ought to be able to use it to praise Him." But where is the Scripture? Another might say, "But it sounds so much better with the piano." But where is the Scripture?

A look through history

History is not authoritative when it comes to what we do as Christians. Only God's Word has the authority to tell us what to do. But we can learn a number of lessons from learned men of history, and see things from their perspective at times. How has instrumental music been viewed historically in the religious world?

"The general introduction of instrumental music can certainly not be assigned to a date earlier than the fifth or sixth centuries; yea, even Gregory the Great, who towards the end of the sixth century added greatly to the existing Church music, absolutely prohibited the use of instruments. Several centuries later the introduction of the organ in sacred service gave place to instruments as accompaniments for Christian song, and from that time to this they have been freely used with few exceptions. The first organ is believed to have been used in Church service in the 13th century. Organs were, however, in use before this in the theatre. They were never regarded with favor in the Eastern Church, and were vehemently opposed in some of the Western churches." (source)

Phil Sanders noted the opinion of the so-called "Church Fathers" concerning instrumental music was that they were "worldly," "denounced," that "their only use was the arousement of the sensuousness." (source)

He further quoted a number of reformers and denominational leaders:

Martin Luther: "The organ in the worship to God is an ensign of Baal."

John Calvin: "It is no more suitable than the burning of incense, the lighting of tapers, or the revival of other shadows of the law. The Roman Catholics borrowed it from the Jews."

John Wesley: "I have no objection to the organ in our chapels provided it is neither seen nor heard."

Adam Clarke: "I am an old man and an old minister, and I here declare that I have never known instrumental music to be productive of any good in the worship to God, and have reason to believe that it has been productive of much evil. Music as a science I esteem and admire, but instruments of music in the house of God I abominate and abhor. This is the abuse of music and I here register my protest against all such corruptions in the worship of that infinite Spirit who requires his followers to worship Him in Spirit and truth."

Charles Spurgeon: "I would as soon pray to God with machinery as to sing to God with machinery." (source)

Again, statements such as these are not authoritative, but they show that opposition to instrumental music in worship is neither new nor strange. Controversy has always surrounded the addition of the instrument to worship.

What is the conclusion?

The answer is simple, and it's found in the Bible: "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (I Cor. 1:10). The instrument must be abandoned for true Biblical unity to result.

For further study...

For a very good study on Biblical unity, check out the book entitled Seeking True Unity and the website, http://www.seektrueunity.org.