Should we use musical instruments in worship?
One of the distinctive characteristics of churches of Christ is that the music of worship is singing without the accompaniment of mechanical instruments.
One objection we often hear to excluding mechanical instruments in worship is this one:
"The Bible doesn't say not to use instruments in worship!"
Those who advocate the use of mechanical instruments argue that the Bible does not suggest that we limit our specific behaviors to only those things it enumerates, but rather it gives us principles to apply to our daily lives. Adding mechanical instruments to worship they claim does not violate Biblical principles.
It is true that many specific behaviors are not regulated in Scripture (or even mentioned) and we are therefore under no specific command. In these cases we are to apply principles set forth in the Bible, the foremost of which is, as Jesus explained: “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
However, in the New Testament there are specific commands to do and not to do specific actions, both in worship and in daily living.
For example, in Romans 12:10-19 Paul provides us with a string of dos and don'ts, some as general principles some as specific behaviors:
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God...
When God commands a certain, specific action does He have to specifically exclude all other possible actions? When He commands that we are to be "singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord," does He have to specifically exclude all other likely, possible, or imagined behaviors or accompaniments so that we may understand His will and faithfully obey the command?
Now imagine how long Genesis 6 would be if God listed for Noah all the wood he shouldn't use to build the ark, and/or all the sizes that would be too small or too large, or all the shapes that would be unstable at sea. God didn't have to list all the other possible building material choices Noah may have made, He simply said make an "ark of cypress ("gopher" in many versions) wood" (Genesis 6:14). Nor did God have to list prohibited dimensions to the ark: "Do not make it 10 cubits wide," etc. God gave specific dimensions for the need.
Are His instructions for our music in worship any different?
And what about Naaman when God told him through the prophet Elisha to dip in the Jordan river seven times to cleanse his leprosy? That Naaman understood God's command to exclude other rivers and other actions is shown by his complaining (2 Kings 5:11-12), and eventual complying (v. 14). By the way, Naaman had expected a flashy, exciting (entertaining?), experience (2 Kings 5:11) rather than humble, devout obedience on his own part.
Should our attitudes about His instructions for pleasing worship be any different?
We know, for example, that the bread and the fruit of the vine are the elements of the Lord's Supper. Would it be according to God's will to use other elements in place of, or in addition to those that are approved in the Bible? Would it be right, as long as "we are trying to please God," to use mutton with milk and honey for the Lord's Supper? God didn't say not to use them! These are Bible food and drink, but is it okay to use them in the Lord's Supper? No, we have the approved examples and commands given. There is no specific command given (or needed) not to use mutton and honey because the specific elements are given, as are the actions that we are to take in relation to the proper elements: "eat of the bread" and "drink of the cup" (1 Corinthians 11:28, et al.) It would be silly for God to have to list all the things we couldn't do with all the other elements we might choose to use to "observe" the Lord's Supper.
It should be no different when God gives us specific instructions for the music of worship in Ephesians and Colossians:
"...speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father..." (Eph. 5:19-20)
"...teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father." (Col. 3:16-17)
He tells us:
what kind of music to make--sing,
on what instrument to make melody--the heart,
what kind of songs to sing--psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
and what attitude to have--thankfulness.
Is there any room in those instructions for another kind of music, another instrument, another kind of song? Was there another kind of wood for Noah? Another river for Naaman? Is there room for another element in the Lord's Supper?
Another objection frequently offered is:
"Not much is known about the use of musical instruments in worship in the early church. The Church of Christ is creating doctrine based on something they don't find in the New Testament."
It is correct that we don't find information in the New Testament about the use of the instrumental music in the early church because it was not used, commanded, authorized, and so was not in any way described.
However, much is know from history in regard to the use of instrumental music in the early church.
Much can be gleaned simply from the words we use to describe certain practices:
"Orthodox" means "conforming to the usual beliefs or established doctrines." The Greek Orthodox Church does not now use, nor has it ever used musical instruments in its worship. The use of instruments in worship does not appear in any of their liturgies either ancient or modern. This shows that the early church doctrine was to sing without instruments, otherwise it seems likely that the Orthodox Church would have been using them at the time of the division from the Roman church, and would have used them all along. (By the way, this also shows that the Greek words psallo and psalmos are understood by these Greek-fluent Bible scholars not to require the use of an instrument in worship).
The execution of Byzantine church music by instruments, or even the accompaniment of sacred chanting by instruments, was ruled out by the Eastern Fathers as being incompatible with the pure, solemn, spiritual character of the religion of Christ. The Fathers of the church, in accordance with the example of psalmodizing of our Savior and the holy Apostles, established that only vocal music be used in the churches and severely forbade instrumental music as being secular and hedonic, and in general as evoking pleasure without spiritual value (G. I. Papadopoulos, A Historical Survey of Byzantine Ecclesiastical Music (in Greek), Athens, 1904, pp. 10, II).
The Orthodox Jews do not use musical instruments in their synagogues to worship because they understand that the instrumental music authorized in the Old Covenant was applicable only to the Levitical worship at the Temple. Only specific classes of Levites used instruments. In fact, the organ was not introduced into synagogues of liberal traditions until the late 19th century.
"Ordinary" refers to the customary, allowed practices associated with celebrating the mass in catholicism. The Roman Catholic Church did not officially authorize the use of instruments in worship until 1939. Until then, musical instruments were not considered ordinary. The use of the instrument was tolerated, though permission was required to use any instrument in celebrating the mass.
From the Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 10:
Although Josephus tells of the wonderful effects produced in the Temple by the use of instruments, the first Christians were of too spiritual a fibre to substitute lifeless instruments for or to use them to accompany the human voice. Clement of Alexandria severely condemns the use of instruments even at Christian banquets. St. Chrysostum sharply contrasts the customs of the Christians when they had full freedom with those of the Jews of the Old Testament. (pg. 648-652)
For almost a thousand years Gregorian chant, without any instrumental or harmonic addition was the only music used in connection with the liturgy. The organ, in its primitive and rude form, was the first, and for a long time the sole, instrument used to accompany the chant…. The church has never encouraged and at most only tolerated the use of instruments….She holds up as her ideal the unaccompanied chant, and polyphonic, a-cappella style. The Sistine Chapel has not even an organ. (pg. 657-688)
From the New Catholic Encyclopedia
The organ has never been prescribed for use in the Roman Catholic Church by Church law; it has apparently been used in the Church consistently since the 9th century. By the 13th century the organ was certainly in general use. (pg. 129-131, 746)
However, Thomas Aquinas, 13th century Roman Catholic doctor of theology of the wrote,
But our Church does not make use of musical instruments such as harps and psalteries, in the divine praises, for fear of seeming to Judaize.... As the Philosopher says (Polit. viii, 6), “Teaching should not be accompanied with a flute or any artificial instrument such as the harp or anything else of this kind: but only with such things as make good hearers.” For such like musical instruments move the soul to pleasure rather than create a good disposition within it. In the Old Testament instruments of this description were employed, both because the people were more coarse and carnal—so that they needed to be aroused by such instruments as also by earthly promises—and because these material instruments were figures of something else. Summa Theologica.
Apparently in 1903 Pope Pius X opposed the use of instruments in worship, although he did approve of the organ and in 1939 Pope Pius XII relaxed this prohibition, allowing instrumental music that was executed artistically.
"Acapella" a word used to mean singing without instrumental accompaniment comes from a Latin phrase meaning "in the style of the chapel." Long ago when the word was coined (and long before) the style of music in the church was singing or chanting without instruments.
In addition to the history of the words we use to describe music in the church, there is more than a little that we know about the church's music from early Christian writers and their secular contemporaries. There is no mention of mechanical instruments in the worship assemblies of the early church. In fact, where the instrument is mentioned by early Christians it is rejected:
Roman historian, Pliny, writing about 100 AD to the Emperor Trajan (Letters, Book X.xcvi): "....they sang in alternative verses a hymn to Christ."
Tertullian, who lived about 155 to 222 AD, wrote from Carthage (On the Soul 9:4): "....the psalms are chanted...."
Early Christian, Clement of Alexandria (ca. 190 AD) in Miscellanies VI.xiv.113:3) wrote: "....praising, hymning, blessing, singing...." and in Instructor III.xi.80.4: "Those who sing such and sing in response are those who before hymned immortality...." and in Ante-Nicean Fathers, Vol. II, "We make use of only one organ or instrument, even the peaceful word, with which we honor God; no longer with the old psaltry, trumpet, drum or pipe."
Chrysostom:
David formerly sang songs, also today we sing hymns. He had a lyre with lifeless strings, the church has a lyre with living strings. Our tongues are the strings of the lyre with a different tone indeed but much more in accordance with piety. Here there is no need for the cithara, or for stretched strings, or for the plectrum, or for art, or for any instrument; but, if you like, you may yourself become a cithara, mortifying the members of the flesh and making a full harmony of mind and body. For when the flesh no longer lusts against the Spirit, but has submitted to its orders and has been led at length into the best and most admirable path, then will you create a spiritual melody. (Chrysostom, 347-407, Exposition of Psalms 41, (381-398 A.D.) Source Readings in Music History, ed. O. Strunk, W. W. Norton and Co.: New York, 1950, pg. 70.)
Eusebius:
Of old at the time those of the circumcision were worshipping with symbols and types it was not inappropriate to send up hymns to God with the psalterion and cithara and to do this on Sabbath days... We render our hymn with a living psalterion and a living cithara with spiritual songs. The unison voices of Christians would be more acceptable to God than any musical instrument. Accordingly in all the churches of God, united in soul and attitude, with one mind and in agreement of faith and piety we send up a unison melody in the words of the Psalms. (commentary on Psalms 91:2-3)
Music historians confirm the practice of the early church was to sing acapella:
No real knowledge of exact character of music which formed a part of religious devotion of first century Christian congregations. It was however, purely vocal. Instrumental music was excluded at first... (History of Christian Music From Christian Era To Present, - Dr. F. L. Ritter, Director of the School of Music, Vassar College)
All music employed in service was vocal and the rhythmic and gesticulations were forbidden. (Evolution of Church Music, F. E. Humphreys, p. 42)
Because the organ was a means of enjoyment by society in general, its use was rejected in early Christian circles...It was used in the churches, first to give the key-tone, then to accompany vocal music alternatively, and finally, also to prefix a prelude to the hymn. (Schaff-Herzog Religious Encycloped, vol. 8, p. 257.)
While the Greek and Roman songs were metrical, the Christian psalms were anitphons, prayers, responses, etc., were unmetrical; and while the pagan melodies were always sung to an instrumental accompaniment, the church chant was exclusively vocal. (Edward Dickinson, History of Music, p. 54)
This species which is the most natural, is to be considered to have existed before any other... Instrumental music is also of very ancient date, its invention being ascribed to Tubal, the sixth descendant from Cain. The instrumental music was not practiced by the primitive Christians, but was an aid to devotion of later times, is evident from church history. (Fessenden's Encyclopedia of Art and Music, p. 852)
Many Bible scholars and reformers of the past have rejected instrumental music in worship:
The general introduction of instrumental music can certainly not be assigned to a date earlier than the 5th and 6th centuries; yea, even Gregory the Great, who towards the end of the 6th 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 the 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 the Church service in the 13th century (McClintock and Strong, Cyclopaedia of Biblical Literature, Vol 6, p. 759)
The church, although lapsing more and more into deflection from the truth and into a corrupting of apostolic practice, had not instrumental music for 1200 years (that is, it was not in general use before this time); The Calvinistic Reform Church ejected it from its service as an element of popery, even the church of England having come very nigh its extrusion from her worship. It is heresy in the sphere of worship. (John Giradeau, Presbyterian professor in Columbia Theological Seminary, Instrumental Music, p. 179)
John Calvin (founder of the Presbyterian denomination) wrote:
Musical instruments in celebrating the praises of God would be no more suitable than the burning of incense, the lighting of lamps, and the restoration of the other shadows of the law. The Papists, therefore, have foolishly borrowed this, as well as many other things from the Jews. Men who are fond of outward pomp may delight in that noise; but the simplicity which God recommends to us by the apostles is far more pleasing to Him. Paul allows us to bless God in the public assembly of the saints only in a known tongue (1 Cor. 14:16)...What shall we say then of chanting, which fills the ear with nothing but an empty sound? (Commentary on Psalms 33).
John Knox, Presbyterian, in reference to the organ said it was "a kist (chest) of whistles."
John Wesley (Religious leader in the development of the Methodist denomination), when asked about the use of the organ replied: "I have no opposition to the organ in our chapel provided it is neither seen nor heard."(Adam Clark's Commentary, Vol.4).
Adam Clark (Methodist, known for his commentary on the whole Bible):
I am an old man, and an old minister; and I here declare that I never knew them (musical instruments) productive of any good in the worship of God; and have had reason to believe that they were 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. (Clark's commentary, Vol 4, p. 684).
Charles Spurgeon (Baptist preacher; preached for 20 years in the Metropolitan Baptist Tabernacle, London, England, to 10,000 people each Sunday. Instruments were never used.) Asked why he did not use the organ in worship, he gave 1 Cor. 14:15 as his answer and said: "I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with understanding also; I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with understanding also." Then he remarked: "I would as soon pray to God with machinery as to sing to God with machinery." (See his commentary on Psalm 42.)
Benedict:
In my earliest intercourse among this people, congregational singing generally prevailed among them. . . . The Introduction Of The Organ Among The Baptist. This instrument, which from time immemorial has been associated with cathedral pomp and prelatical power, and has always been the peculiar favorite of great national churches, at length found its way into Baptist sanctuaries, and the first one ever employed by the denomination in this country, and probably in any other, might have been standing in the singing gallery of the Old Baptist meeting house in Pawtucket, about forty years ago, where I then officiated as pastor (1840) ... Staunch old Baptists in former times would as soon tolerated the Pope of Rome in their pulpits as an organ in their galleries, and yet the instrument has gradually found its way among them.... How far this modern organ fever will extend among our people, and whether it will on the whole work a RE- formation or DE- formation in their singing service, time will more fully develop. (Benedict, Baptist historian, Fifty Years Among Baptist, page 204-207)
Anglican, Joseph Bingham:
Music in churches is as ancient as the apostles, but instrumental music not so . . . The use of the instrumental, indeed, is much ancienter, but not in church service. . . In the Western parts, the instrument, as not so much as known till the eighth century; for the first organ that was ever seen in France was one sent as a present to King Pepin by Constantinus Copronymus, the Greek emperor. . . . But, now, it was only, used in princes courts, and not yet brought into churches; nor was it ever received into the Greek churches, there being no mention of an organ in all their liturgies ancient or modern. (Joseph Bingham, Works, London Edition. Vol. 11, p. 482-484)
Lyman Coleman, a Presbyterian:
The tendency of this (instrumental music) was to secularize the music of the church, and to encourage singing by a choir. Such musical accompaniments were gradually introduced; but they can hardly be assigned to a period earlier than the fifth and sixth centuries. Organs were unknown in church until the eighth or ninth centuries. Previous to this, they had their place in the theater, rather than in the church. (Primitive Church, p. 376-377)
Obviously, instrumental music in worship is a late historical development in Christian religious groups based on the desires of would-be worshippers, rather than on the revealed will of the One Whom We Worship.
This is the real issue. We are not to add to or take away from the word of God. Many Bible passages indicate the source and sufficiency of Scripture and warn against going beyond what is written: 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20 & 21; Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; Proverbs 30:6; Ecclesiastes 12:11 & 12; Galatians 3:16; Revelation 22:18; etc.
Should we use musical instruments in worship? Everyone agrees that singing without instruments is acceptable to God in worship. Music historians (secular and religious) agree that singing without accompaniment was the practice in early churches--there can be no doubt that mechanical instruments are an historically late and unauthorized addition to Christian practice. Bible scholars (past, present, across denominational lines) and religious reformers (Luther, Wesley, Calvin, Knox, to name a few) agree.
The woman at the well challenged Jesus in regard to Jerusalem being the only authorized place of worship under the Old Law. She said, "Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem" (John 4:20). Jesus replied, "You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews" (John 4:22). In other words, the Samaritans had no authority from God to worship elsewhere; God had revealed/commanded that Jerusalem was the place to worship (Deuteronomy 12:10f; 15:20; 16:2; etc.).
The woman's challenge of authority provided the occasion for Jesus' statement regarding the kind of worship and worshiper God wants: "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23-24). To worship in "spirit and in truth" demands that we not add to God's revealed will:
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:19-20
—David Carl Swanson