INSTRUMENTS IN WORSHIP?

One of the most debated issues in today’s church is instruments in worship. There have been many arguments for the use of instruments, but none of which are accurate. The one debating for instruments must ignore biblical silence and add on to what God has ordained. The two most widely used arguments for instruments are: there is no condemnation of the use of instruments and that instruments are used in the same manner as a visual aid is in preaching.

One can argue that there is no condemnation of worshipping with instruments. This is true. There is no text in the bible that says, “thou shalt not use instruments.” This argument is obviously faulty because of the parallels of this in the bible. Moses was told by God to speak to the rock and water would come out. God did not say for Moses not to strike the rock. Moses struck it and he was not allowed to see the promise land but was to die in the wilderness (Numbers 20:8-11).

“While they were eating, He took some bread and after He broke it, and gave it to them, and said, ’Take it; this is my body.’ And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And He said to them, ’This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many’” (Mark 14: 22-24). We are commanded to use the fruit of the vine and unleavened bread for the Lord’s supper. We aren’t told not to use Pork and water, but that would not be the Lord’s supper. Mark 16:16 says, “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he who does not believe is already condemned.” It doesn’t say that he who is not baptized is unsaved, but it is deducted from the statement that the one who is not baptized is unsaved.

It is not hard to see that this is a very week argument. “Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19). If we are told to sing and not told to use instruments, then we are not allowed to use instruments. Biblical parallels prove this.

Another argument, and perhaps the best argument, states that using instruments is simply to assist one’s worship. The use of instruments is not worshiping, but simply an aid to worship just as a visual aid is used in preaching. This, without close study, could appear to be an inconsistency on the church’s part.

The one arguing for instruments in the above manner is correct in pointing out that it is not commanded to use any type of visual aid in preaching. The question has to be ask, though: What is preaching? Preaching is simply a way of communicating God’s word to the people. Does one preach only by words? The answer is no. In the bible, there are no guidelines for preaching. It is not commanded to speak while preaching. If preaching is simply communicating God’s word to the people, then one must ask how it is to be communicated. If it can be communicated vocally and visually then visual aids are not condemned, but instead fall under the command of preaching.

Next one must ask: What is singing? Singing is defined in Funk & Wagnalls Dictionary as “using the voice in the manner for musical rendition or performance.” Notice that only the voice is used for singing. Instruments are not part of singing.
The next question asked is: Are the use of instruments commanded in worship? The answer is no. Only singing is commanded. Therefore, the use of instruments in worship is not God’s ideal, but it is man’s. Judging by the parallels drawn from the bible earlier, it is not safe for man to add to God’s ideal.

In conclusion, there are no conclusive arguments for the use of instruments in worship. In fact, all arguments for instruments can be defeated deductively. Therefore, it would be wisest to do only what God has said to do.