What is Wrong with Instrumental Music

in Worship?

Does Jesus authorize the use of instrumental music in worship?

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” (Matt. 28:18)

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son… (Heb 1:1-2)

Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. (Rom. 3:4)

Test all things; hold fast what is good. (1 Thess. 5:21)

Violates the Law of Faith

For we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Cor. 5:7)

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Heb. 11:6)

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom. 10:17)

There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night… (Jn. 3:1-2)

FaithOpinion--Why?

We Sing By Faith

I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. (1 Cor. 14:15)

Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord (Eph. 5:19)

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. (Col. 3:16)

Corrupts the Worship

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus… (Col. 3:17)

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. (Jn. 4:24)

Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. (Jn. 17:17)

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (Jn. 8:32)

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth… (Jn. 16:13)

We Worship According to the Truth

• Sing (Eph. 5:19)

• Pray (1 Cor. 14:15)

• Preach (Acts 2:42)

• Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7)

• Give (1 Cor. 16:1-2)

And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. (Matt. 15:9)

The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men? (Matt. 21:25)

Instrumental Music

Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. (Lev. 10:1-2)

Disrupts UnityNow I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. (1 Cor. 1:10)

He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. (Jn. 12:48)

I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. (Jn. 17:20-21)

Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Eph. 4:3)

Two Kinds of Music:

(1) Vocal (2) Instrumental

Where is Division Created?

Over what God says or over what He does NOT say?

Justification of Instruments in Worship: Doesn’t Say “Not to use them.”• Elevates the Silence of God to the same level as

the Scriptures.• What God Does NOT Say = What God HAS Said!• If Valid Argument:

– Pray through Mary (1 Tim. 2:5)– Chocolate Cake on Lord’s Table (Matt. 26:26-28)– Baptize Infants (Mk. 16:15-16)

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. (2 Jn. 9)

And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written… (1 Cor. 4:6)

Justification of Instruments in Worship: “They were used in the Old Testament”• Elevates the Law of Moses to the same level

as the Law of Christ. (Mk. 9:7)• If Valid Argument:

– Burn incense, animal sacrifices (Jas. 2:10)– Infant church membership (Mk. 16:15-16)– Polygamy acceptable (Matt. 19:3-9)

• Used in OT By Faith! (Num. 10:1-10)Also in the day of your gladness, in your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be a memorial for you before your God: I am the LORD your God. (Num. 10:10)

And he stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with stringed instruments, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet; for thus was the commandment of the LORD by His prophets. (2 Chron. 29:25)

Justification of Instruments in Worship: “Its only an Aid in the Worship.”• Not an Aid, but an Addition of another kind of

music.

PassageCommand

AdditionSpecific General

Gen. 6:14 Gopher Wood Tools, Place Oak, Elm…

Exodus 12:5Lamb: No Blemish

Knife, Wood for Fire

Horse, Pig…

Eph. 5:19 SingSong Books,

LeaderPiano, Organ, Humming…

Justification of Instruments in Worship: “They are used in the Home.”• Many things morally right, but

religiously wrong:– Washing hands (Mk. 7:3-7)

– Washing feet (1 Tim. 5:10)

– Calling dad, “father” (Matt. 23:9)

Justification of Instruments in Worship: “Some have talent to play instruments”

• Some have talent to:– Build fine furniture

– Cook

– Stand on their hands

– Yodel

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. (Eph. 4:11-12)

pianists,

Justification of Instruments in Worship: “They’re found the Book of Revelation.”

• Many things in heaven that are not in the church:– Angels (Rev. 5:2)

– Altar (Rev. 6:9)

– Babies (Matt. 18:3)

Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. (Rev. 5:8)

And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. (Rev. 14:2)

What is Wrong with Instrumental Music

in Worship?

There is No Authority in the

New Testament for its use!