Sermon Tone Analysis

Instrumental Music in Worship: Singing or Playing

📷Most denominations play instrumental music in worship.

This includes playing organs, pianos, harps, and even whole bands or orchestras.

Does the gospel of Jesus teach us to praise God with instruments of music, or should we simply sing (vocal or a cappella music)?

What about David and his instruments in Old Testament Psalms?

Singing or playing: which does God want?Click here to listen to this material as a free Bible study MP3 recording.Introduction:The purpose of this study is to examine whether mechanical instruments of music are acceptable to God in our worship of Him today.

Most denominations today play instruments to praise God, but historically instrumental music was often accepted only after much controversy.

Introduction of instruments in denominations historically has often led to division.

Members of churches that play instruments are often surprised to find that there are still churches that do not use instrumental music but simply sing (vocal music, a cappella).Our goal is simply to determine God's will and to encourage everyone to follow it with conviction.

We have no personal ill will toward others.

But God's word must prevail.

We must stand for truth and help others correct their lives where necessary.

Singing or playing: which does God want?Part 1: Evidence Against Instrumental Praise Today I.

A Summary of Scriptures about Musical Praise A. Musical Praise in the Old TestamentSinging as a means of praising GodEach passage below describes singing in God's worship9 - Write down this song ... put it in their mouths1 - David spoke to the Lord the words of this song..0 - Sing praise to the Lord with the words of David..3 - He has put a new song in my mouth - Praise to our God45 - My tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.

O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.3 - My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to you...1 - I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; with my mouth will I make known your faithfulness..2 - Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing...8 - With their voices they shall sing together...Words like "sing," "spoke," "lips," "mouth," etc. clearly refer to vocal music.

Altogether over 125 Old Testament verses describe worshiping God by singing.

Instrumental music as a means of praising God2 Samuel 6:5,21 - Israel played before the lord on instruments.5 - They praised the lord with instruments which David made for giving praise (NKJV)6 - The Levites had instruments of music, which David had made to praise the lord.

David offered praise by their ministry5 - The Levites were arranged with cymbals, stringed instruments, and harps.

This was commanded of the Lord4 - On the harp I will praise you.

Cf. 71:22; 33:25 - Singers went before, players followed after5 - Praise Him with the trumpet, harp, etc.Altogether over 60 Old Testament verses refer favorably to worshiping God by using instruments.

[Cf.7;8;8.]Dancing

as a means of praising GodDancing in the Bible was generally not a sexually suggestive act involving couples as is done today.

It meant to leap, twirl, and gyrate as an expression of joy01 - Miriam led the women with timbrels and dances, saying to sing to the Lord4 - David danced before the Lord with all his might3 - Let them praise his name with the dance4 - Praise him with the timbrel and dance.At least 6 Old Testament verses refer favorably to dancing in worship to God.Observations on musical praise in the Old Testament The Old Testament is clear and explicit.

(1) Singing, playing instruments, and dancing were all clearly stated to be acceptable acts of worship.

(2) Singing, playing, and dancing were three different types of musical praise.

They were often done together, but each one constituted an additional, distinct act of praise to God. (3) Playing instruments and dancing were each, in and of themselves, a means or avenue of praising God, just as singing was.

(4) When God was willing to accept instrumental praise, He very plainly said so.These facts will be important in our study; however, they prove nothing about what God wants in His worship today.

We will later show that we are no longer under the Old Testament, and the acts it authorizes do not apply to us 4;90;6;4).B.

Musical Praise in the New TestamentSinging as praise to God for New Testament ChristiansMatthew 26:30;6 - After instituting the Lord's supper Jesus and His disciples sang a hymn5 - In prison, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God.9 - Prophets had predicted that (in the gospel age) Gentiles would glorify God for His mercy and sing to His name5 - I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the understanding9 - Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord6 - 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.2 - In the midst of the congregation I will sing praise to You5 - 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.3 - Is any cheerful, let him sing psalms.This is a complete list of all New Testament verses that mention musical praise to God by Christians on earth.

As in Old Testament examples, words like "sing," "speak," "teach," "admonish," and "lips" all clearly refer to vocal music.

Note that this is proved, not just by the word "sing," but also by other words.Observations about instrumental music and dancing as New Testament praise to God The Old Testament explicitly stated that singing, playing instruments, and dancing were three distinct forms of musical expression, and each was an acceptable act of praise to God.

The New Testament continues to describe singing as acceptable praise, but not one time are instruments or dancing mentioned as accepted forms of praise to God.

The New Testament mentions instruments (12 times) and dancing (5 times), but never as acts of praise to God.

Why does the New Testament contrast so powerfully to the Old Testament regarding instrumental music?

If God still wants it today, why does He not clearly mention it in the New Testament, as He mentioned it in the Old Testament?

He mentions instruments in the New Testament, but never for our praise to God.

Why not?The Old Testament expressly authorized many practices which are nowhere authorized in New Testament service to God: the seventh-day sabbath, animal sacrifices, Levitical priesthood, burning incense, infant membership, circumcision, tithing, holy days, roast lamb in memorial feasts, dancing, and instrumental music.

Since this law does not apply today, people generally omit these from service to God, yet some people want to keep instrumental music.

Why leave some but take others?

The very fact that God mentioned these practices repeatedly in the Old Testament, but does not mention them at all in the New Testament, proves that He does not want them now.

If He wanted them, He would mention them now as He did then.Consider some important principles in reaching the proper conclusions about this evidence.II.

Instruments Do Not Fit New Testament Truth.4 tells us to worship God "in spirit and in truth."5

says to sing "with the spirit and with the understanding."

Hence, musical praise in the New Testament must meet three criteria: (1) truth, (2) understanding, and (3) spirit.

Let us see how instrumental praise measures up.

First, consider worshiping God in truth.

People often defend a practice by saying "God nowhere said not to do this."

But when a practice cannot be found in God's word, is that practice right or wrong?

Does God's silence about a practice give us consent to do it, or does it prohibit us from doing it?

Consider the following teachings of God's word:A.

The Bible Completely Reveals ALL God's Will.

God reveals in the gospel everything which He approves.3

(14:26) - The Holy Spirit revealed all truth to the apostles.

What the Spirit revealed, they then wrote in the Scriptures 3;7;8;4;5).07 - Paul preached the whole counsel of God, keeping back nothing that was profitable.67 - All good works are recorded in the Scriptures.

So the Scriptures are profitable to teach and instruct men in righteousness, etc.3 - In Peter's lifetime, people received all things that pertained to life and godliness.

Having received these things, Peter wrote them down so that, even after he died, we could be reminded of the words of Jesus' apostles and prophets 5;12).5 - This word of truth is the perfect law of liberty.

[See also0;2;3;0,31;01;4;6.]

Consider the consequence for practices not revealed in the New Testament.

Since the Bible contains all truth, all good works, etc., does it not follow that any practice not found there is not true, not a good work, and does not pertain to life or godliness?

How then can we practice these things and expect to please God?Specifically, if God wants instrumental praise today, wouldn't the New Testament reveal this like the Old Testament did?

Singing is part of the truth and a good work, etc., since it is revealed.

But instruments are not revealed, so how can we use them and be abiding in the truth?B.

Practices Not Included in God's Word Are Unacceptable.Consider the Bible teaching about worship34 - We must worship God in spirit and in truth.

But God's word is truth 7), and all truth is revealed in the gospel 3).

It follows that any practice is unacceptable if it is not included in the gospel.934

- Worship is vain (worthless) when based on precepts of human origin.

But every religious practice is based either on God's authority, or else on man's authority 7).

Since the Bible reveals everything that God ordained, then any practice which is not revealed in the gospel must be human in origin and therefore displeasing to God.

The purpose of worship is to please and glorify God.

We honor and respect Him when we do what He says.

If we do what men say instead, then we are showing respect for men, not for God.

So God is displeased.

Specifically, we know singing in worship pleases God, because the New Testament commands it.

But instrumental music is different from what God said to do in worship.

It is nowhere included.

Therefore, it must be human in origin and shows disrespect for God.Consider the Bible teaching about love for God.Loving God is the most important command there is 7).5 - But love means that we keep God's commands 3;6].

Love leads us to please the person we love, rather than pleasing ourselves.89;5

- God's thoughts and ways are completely different from ours.

What is highly esteemed by men is an abomination to God.

The fact that we like a thing means nothing regarding whether or not God will like it.

Yet people often defend their religious practices by saying, "I think it's beautiful," "I like it," or "We're satisfied with it."

Such statements reveal love for self, not love for God.

When we love God, we do what pleases Him, regardless of what we want.

Where can we learn what God wants?

Only in the Bible, which completely reveals everything He wants.

If we love God, then, we will do only what His will says to do.

89;2;2;6]Specifically, we show love for God when we sing in worship, because He says He wants this.

But instrumental music is different from what God said to do in worship.

It is nowhere included.

So to use it is an act of love for ourselves, but not for God.

Consider the Bible teaching about faith7 - Faith comes by hearing God's word.

We can practice a thing "by faith" only if it is in God's word3;2;8 - The way of man is not in himself.

It is not in man who walks to direct his steps.

There is a way that seems right to man, but the end is death.

Not he who commends himself is approved, but he whom the Lord approves.

Since we do not think like God does, we cannot possibly know God's will unless He reveals it.

And His will is completely revealed in the Bible.

It is impossible, therefore, to practice anything by faith if it cannot be found in the Bible.56 - Trust in the Lord and don't lean on your own understanding.

True faith teaches us to do only what the Lord reveals.

To do what is not revealed is to lean on human wisdom instead of trusting God.Specifically, we can worship by singing, since God has revealed this.