MUSIC IN WORSHIP
By Rod
When people visit churches of Christ for the first time, they are often surprised to hear only singing. There are no instruments of music such as pianos, organs, drums, or guitars. Neither do they hear choirs, quartets or solos. Every member of the congregation is encouraged to join in the singing. Why are churches of Christ different from most churches in the kind of music they have?
Churches of
Christ follow only the Word of God (Isaiah
The only kind of music authorized by the New Testament is singing. Please note the words of the inspired writers of the New Testament: “And do not be drunk with wine in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:18,19). “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. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:16,17). “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews13:15).
Please note that these verses mention an instrument. It is not an instrument made by man, but one made by God. We are commanded to sing. This is the “fruit of our lips.” Our singing must be accompanied by our hearts. We are commanded to sing and make melody in the heart. We must sing with grace in our hearts to the Lord. The only instrument authorized in worship is one’s heart!
The New
Testament tells us how God wants us to worship Him today (John
According to
historians, the church did not use instruments of music for several hundred
years after the time of the apostles. In
fact, the first known instrument of music to be brought into the church was one
which the emperor of
Please note too the expressions speaking to yourselves and teaching and admonishing one another. These statements show reciprocal action. This is action that we do to one another at the same time. It means that each member of the congregation joins in the singing. By doing so, he teaches and encourages his fellow Christians. At the same time, they are teaching and encouraging him by their singing. This shows that every Christian must participate in the singing as best he can. There is no authority in the New Testament for one person to sing, or even a group to sing to the rest of the congregation. God’s will is that every Christian should sing and by doing this teach and encourage every other Christian. Special singing groups are an unauthorized addition to the pattern of worship given in the New Testament. Therefore, those who use them are sinning.
If we simply
follow that which God has revealed in the New Testament for His church, we will
praise Him with our voices. The whole
congregation will join in this praise. No
other kind of music is commanded. If we
add mechanical instruments or special singing groups, we are not abiding in the
teaching of Christ (2 John 9). We have added to that which God has authorized
(Revelation
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