Topic(s): Bible Authority, Worship

Todd Clippard

I believe the first principle that must be examined in answering this particular question is that of authority. Where do we go for authority in religious matters today? God's plan for saving man and instructing the church today is found in the New Testament. Jesus came to do the will of God, and in so doing took away the first covenant that He might establish the second (Hebrews 10:9). The new covenant is better than the first, being established upon better promises (Hebrews 8:6).

When Jesus died on the cross, he took away the old law of Moses, making it of none effect (Ephesians 2:13-16; Colossians 2:14). He replaced a faulty will
(Hebrews 8:7-9) with a new one (Hebrews 8:10-13). Though the Old Testament is given for our learning (Romans 15:4), we cannot appeal to it for justification for anything we do in the worship or work of the church (Galations 5:1-4).

In Romans 7:1-4, Paul described the Mosaic Law as a dead husband. What he meant in his illustration is this -- one must be married to Christ to be a part of the bride of Christ, the church. The Israelites had formerly been bound (as a bride) to the Mosaic Law. But Paul said they had become dead to the law by the body of Christ (the church - Colossians 1:18), that they might be married (bound) to another, even to him who is raised from the dead (Jesus).

So, while Psalm 150 (and other Psalms as well) do indeed command the use of instrumental music in praise, the question remains, are the Psalms an authoritative body of work to guide the church today. In this respect, we must answer in the negative.

A point of interest, there are a host of other commandments in the Old Testament that men have no intent on following today, for example the issue of capital punishment. God's people were commanded to put to death a wide variety of law-breakers, including: adulterers (Leviticus 20:10), homosexuals (Leviticus 20:13), blatant disobedience to parents (Leviticus 20:9), sabbath breakers
(Numbers 15:32-36), failure to observe the passover (Numbers 9:13), etc. Why is there no appeal to observe these parts of the law?

Incidentally, unlike the examples provided above, instrumental music was not a part of the Law of Moses. The introduction of instruments came hundreds of years later at the hand of David. In fact, the instruments are attributed directly to David in several passages (1 Chronicles 23:5; 2 Chronicles 7:6; 2 Chronicles 29:26).

Finally, in Amos 6, the Lord pronounces a curse upon those of Israel and Judah who are "at ease in Zion" (v 1), and in connection with this condemns those who "invent for yourselves musical instruments like David" (v 5). This leads one to believe the Lord was not altogether pleased with David's addition, for why would God use a proper course of action to illustrate a bad example?

Today, all authority is given to Jesus (Matthew 28:18); the church belongs to Him (Matthew 16:16), and everything Christians do must be done in His name, that is, by His authority (Colosians 3:17). There is no authority for instrumental music in the worship of the New Testament church. All examples of music are singing. There is no command for the use of the instrument in worship. There is no example of anyone in the church ever using the instrument in worship. There is not the slightest hint that instrumental music was ever used in the worship of the church in the New Testament. It is conspicuous by its absence.

Secular history also records the absence of the instrument for hundreds of years after the close of the first century and the writings of the apostles. Instrumental music was eventually introduced into worship by the Catholic church more than 500 years after the conclusion of the inspired writings. This change led to many problems and eventual division within that body. Almost without exception, all denominational founders rejected the use of instrumental music in worship, including: Martin Luther (Lutherans), John Wesley (Methodists), and John Calvin (Presbyterians).

The Primitive Baptists, Greek Orthodox, and Reformed Presbyterians all reject the use of instrumental music in worship to this day, and for the same reasons cited by churches of Christ = no authority in the New Testament. These founders and other religious bodies are not cited as authority, but simply to show that churches of Christ are not alone in their opposition to instrumental music in worship.