Musical Instruments

(For those who use the old testament for justification read the Old Law lesson)

Before we begin let us look at all the passages in the New Testament that refer to Christian musical worship to the Lord. (All passages used are from the KJV Bible)

1. Acts 16:25 - "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them."
2. 1 Corinthians 14:15 - "What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also."
3. Hebrews 13:15 - "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. "
4. Matthew 26:30 - "And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives."
5. Romans 15:9 - "And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name."
6. 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."
7. Hebrews 2:12 - "Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee."
8. James 5:13 - "Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms."
9. Ephesians 5: 19 - "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;"

One can see that not one passage uses the word "instrument", still, some may say that the passages imply instruments as a way of making a melody. Therefore let us look carefully over a few passages that tell us exactly how we are to make a melody to God.

Hebrews 13:15 informs us clearly how we are to praise God: "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." With that clear statement we can eliminate many of the musical instruments used in churches today like drums and guitars. However, some may try to argue that a flute or any other instrument used with the lips is okay. To further investigate how we are to praise God in worship let us look to Paul, for he tells us: "Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ." ~1 Corinthians 11:1

In 1 Corinthians 14:6-19 Paul tells us in his letter to the Corinthians in verse 15 how he conducts himself: "What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also." Why will he sing with the understanding? What will it do? Verse 19 "yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue." This is because when we sing in church we teach and admonish others. For example, look at Colossians 3:16 again "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." Therefore, what understanding does a musical instrument posses? How can it teach and admonish others?

We know as Christians that we must do what Christ has spoken because He has stated, "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." ~John 12:48. Also, Christ tells us "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." ~Matthew 7:21. (1 Corinthians 4:6-7) Thus, as Peter and the other apsotles said "We ought to obey God rather than men." ~Acts 5:29b

All passages come from the KJV Bible.