MECHANICAL INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC IN WORSHIP
By
J. Edward Nowlin
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” (I Pet. 3:15). In this age of religious corruption when a large number of religious people use mechanical instrumental music in worship services, many think it strange that churches of Christ do not use them, and often ask why. It is our prayerful purpose in the following discussion to give some of the scriptural reasons that rule the conscience of New Testament Christians regarding acts of worship, that "every man that asketh" may know "the reason of the hope that is in" us when we praise God by singing without mechanical instruments. If at times we seem too strict, please remember that truth is our desire, and frankness in statement leads to clearness in understanding.
With no desire for personal satisfaction, but that we may serve our Lord Christ acceptably, we respectfully submit the following reasons why churches of Christ do not use mechanical instrumental music in worship:
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1. Jesus never taught its use - In Acts 1:1 Luke says he had made a former treatise "of all that Jesus began both to do and to teach." Nowhere in the life of Jesus can it be shown that he ever taught men to use the mechanical instruments of music in worship, either by word or deed. Hence, to show proper respect for Christ's authority it behooves us not to do so.
2. The disciples of Christ never taught its use - In Matthew 28:20 Jesus gave the Great Commission to the disciples. He told them to teach all nations, to baptize those who were taught, and then teach "them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." This the disciples did, yet they never taught the use of mechanical music in the worship. If Jesus had taught them such they would have been bound to teach others; they did not teach others, therefore we do not by word or deed.
3. Peter, who had the keys of the Kingdom, did not authorize such music on earth - In Matthew 16:19 Jesus said to Peter, "And I will give unto thee the keys of the Kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." After the Kingdom was established on the day of Pentecost, Peter commanded many things on earth, but never did he command or authorize mechanical music in worship in the Kingdom. Therefore, to use or teach the use of mechanical music in worship of the Lord in his Kingdom today is to usurp Peter's authority and introduce something not bound in heaven.
4. The Holy Spirit never taught its since Pentecost - In John 16:13 Jesus said to his disciples, "Howbeit when he the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." Jesus ascended to heaven and the Holy Spirit descended on Pentecost
(Acts 2:1-4). From that day the Apostles spoke ''as the Spirit gave them utterance"; yet, never did the Spirit tell them to use or teach the use of mechanical music in worship. However, the Spirit did tell them that "the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (II Tim. 4:3, 4). The "truth" does not authorize mechanical music; the doctrines of men (fables) do! Again, the “Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith” (1 Tim. 4:1). The “faith” does not contain authority for mechanical music in worship; therefore, to use or teach the use of such in worship is to depart from the faith! Now, please, would you blaspheme the Holy Spirit by saying that he should have given authority for instrumental music in worship?
5. You cannot "speak as the oracle of God" and teach use of mechanical music in worship –The inspired Apostle Peter said, "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God"
(I Pet. 4:11). Men are limited in their teaching to what the "oracles of God" say. Since the oracles of God do not authorize the use of mechanical music in worship today, the man who says it may be used is violating this injunction.
6. Such is not "in truth" - In John 4:24 Jesus said "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." To worship "in spirit" is to worship sincerely; to worship "in truth" is to worship according to the teachings of the truth. The truth does not authorize mechanical music in worship today; therefore, to use it is not worship "in truth" regardless of how sincere the worshiper may be.
7. Such does not “pertain unto life and godliness” - Peter says, "According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue" (II Pet. 1:3). The knowledge of Christ contains all things that pertain unto godliness. To follow that knowledge is to add the characteristics of godliness. If the use of mechanical music in worship today pertained unto godliness, it would have been contained in the knowledge of Christ. The very fact that it is not found in the knowledge of Christ is proof that it is no part of godliness!
8. Such is not a "good work"-In II Timothy 3:16, 17 Paul says that the scripture is inspired of God and thoroughly furnishes the man of God "unto all good works." Nowhere does the inspired word teach men to use mechanical music in worship today. If such were a good work it would be found in the Scriptures; hence, the very fact that it is not found in inspired Scripture proves that it is not a good work.
9. To teach such is to preach "another gospel" - In Galatians 1:6, 7 Paul says, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the Gospel of Christ." The gospel Paul preached to the Galatians did not include the use of mechanical music in worship; therefore, any man who preaches that it should be used, preaches "another gospel." Furthermore, Paul said any other gospel is not really another gospel, but the efforts of men to make trouble and "pervert the Gospel of Christ." Hence, the man who preaches the use of mechanical music in worship, or anything else not found in the Gospel of Christ, is guilty of perverting the Gospel of Christ. Verses 8 and 9 call down the curses of heaven upon men or angels who would preach any other gospel than the gospel Paul preached. Read it: "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."
10. Such teaching is an effort to "please men" - In Galatians 1:10 Paul says, "For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." There is no assurance from high heaven that God will be pleased by mechanical music in worship, but men are outspoken in their approval of it and do not hesitate to argue that it is all right to use it because they are pleased to do so. On that basis incense burning, drunkenness, adultery, and a dozen other things could be justified in the worship! They please men, too. Indeed, such is the reasoning of the heathen who have indulged in all kinds of carnal revelry and lasciviousness in their worship on the theory that whatever pleased them would please their gods. God forbid! How long will it take a sinful world to awake to the fact that there is a vast difference between what will entertain men and what will please God? Popularity-loving preachers have condoned and catered to the ungodly whims of self-centered, worldly-minded people and injected so much entertainment into their church services in an effort to please their membership, that precious few church members know the difference between worship of God and entertainment of man. Frankly now, do you know where to draw the line between acts of worship and acts of entertainment in the average public church service? If not, it is high time that you wake up and investigate this matter for the welfare of your own soul. If so, then you should draw the line and observe it and point out the truth to others that they may please God.
11. Such did not come "by revelation of Jesus Christ" - In Galatians 1:11, 12 Paul says, "I certify you brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man, for I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by revelation of Jesus Christ." The "revelation of Jesus Christ" to Paul did not include authority for mechanical music in worship; therefore, Paul never preached it, yet his was a certified gospel. Again I must remind you that the curses of heaven were called down upon any man or angel who should "preach any other gospel" than the certified gospel revealed to Paul by Jesus Christ. It is a dangerous business one engages in when he teaches use of mechanical music in worship today.
12. Such is no part of "the counsel of God" - In Acts 20:27 Paul said he had "not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God"; yet, nowhere is it recorded that he ever taught the Ephesians or anyone else to use mechanical music in worship. Then in verses 29, 30 he foretold that men would not be satisfied with "all the counsel of God." He said, "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock; also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." That condition came and men have drawn away disciples after them by teaching many perverse things, including the use of mechanical music in worship. Men ought to love the Lord, his Word, and his people enough to speak only those things found in the counsel of God.
13. Such is not according to “sound words” - In II Timothy 1:13 Paul told Timothy to "Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." Nowhere in those sound words did Paul authorize mechanical music in worship. Therefore, to teach such is to hold fast the form of unsound words.
14. Such is not in the "better Covenant" - Every argument offered in support of mechanical music in worship has been offered as an afterthought. Men began to use the instrument in worship, and then began looking for something in the Bible to justify them in so doing. That is always a bad way to study the Bible. One of the most common efforts to justify the use of mechanical music in worship today is an appeal to the Old Covenant, saying, “David did it!” Well, what if David did use the instrument? And what if the Old Testament did teach it? David offered animal sacrifices in worship; and the Old Testament taught that, too; but did that make it right for us to offer animal sacrifices in worship today/ The fatal mistake here is that David lived under one Covenant, the Old, and we live under another, entirely different, the New. Hebrew 8:6, 13 says, "But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. . . . In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away." You do not burn animal sacrifice and keep other commands of the Old Testament, because Christ has made a "better covenant" and sealed it with his own blood. Animal sacrifice is not authorized in the New Covenant; neither is the use of mechanical music.
15. Such "is not of faith" - In Romans 10:17 Paul says, "So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." Since the Word of God does not authorize use of the mechanical instrument, it cannot be "of faith." II Corinthians 5:7 says, "For we walk by faith, not by sight." You cannot walk by faith in using the instrument in worship, because faith comes by hearing the Word of God and the Word of God does not authorize it.
The Bible is right. You may ignore it; but that does not change it. We are going to be judged by it (John 12:48).
16. Such is not a blood-sealed practice - Hebrews 10:28, 29 says, "He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses; of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of Grace?" All that is contained in the "better covenant of Christ is sealed with His blood; use of mechanical music in worship is not included, therefore is not sealed by His blood. Those who corrupted the worship under Moses' law, despised that law and suffered punishment. That law was sealed with the blood of animals. If we corrupt the worship today by adding something not sealed with the blood of Christ, shall we escape the "sorer punishment" of God? I tell you, friend, this is a serious matter. The blood of Christ was holy and those things sealed by it are holy; those things not sealed by that blood are unholy and should not be confused with those that are.
17. Such is a doctrine "of men" - In Matthew 15:9 Jesus said, "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrine the commandments of men." Since the use of mechanical music in worship today is not authorized in the New Testament, it is a "doctrine" of men, practiced on no higher authority than that of men; therefore, such is "vain" according to Jesus.
18. Use of mechanical music is an addition to the worship prescribed in God's Word - In Revelation 22:18 Jesus said, "If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book." The things spoken of by Jesus do not include the use of mechanical music in worship; therefore, to use such in the worship is to add to the things that are written in "this book" and to be in danger of the plagues written therein.
But someone may object that this scripture refers only to the book of Revelation. If so, let me suggest that the sin of adding to God's Word has always been condemned. In Deuteronomy 4:2 Moses said, "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish aught from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you." Again, Jeremiah 23: 28 says, "The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully." Hence, any addition to the word of God in any age of the world is equal to not speaking his word faithfully and not keeping his commandments.
19. Such is offering "strange fire" unto God - Leviticus 10:1 says, "And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not." This is a case of doing something in worship “which he commanded them not.” Nadab and Abihu might have said, "Well, he didn't say not to use strange fire!" Would this have justified them in using it? You know that it would not, for every time God told them to get fire off the altar he was thereby excluding any other fire. Even so, those who use mechanical music in worship often try to justify themselves by saying that God did not say not to use it. There are a thousand and one things God has not said not to do in worship. He did not say not to put ham and eggs on the Lord's table, but when he specified the bread and cup he excluded every other kind of food. In like manner, when he specified the kind of praise music to use in worship, he by that act excluded every other kind of music; and those who use mechanical music are guilty of the same sin committed by Nadab and Abihu when they offered strange fire "which he commanded them not." That fact shall maintain until the one thing needful, the passage that teaches use of mechanical music in worship of the church, is found.
20. To use mechanical music in worship is to abide "not in the doctrine of Christ" - II John 9 says, "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son." To transgress the doctrine of Christ is to go beyond it, to break out of its limits. Since the use of mechanical music in worship is not authorized within the bounds of the doctrine of Christ, those who use it go beyond and transgress the doctrine of Christ. John says those who transgress the doctrine of Christ have not God. What good can come from a worship which does not have God's approval? Why not stay within the doctrine of Christ and have both Father and Son?
21. Such use of mechanical music in worship today is "will worship" - In Colossians 2:23 Paul says with reference to the doctrines and commandments of men that they "have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body." That which depends upon the opinions of men for authority is will worship; that is, it springs from the will of man.
22. Such use of mechanical music is a substitute for the instrument authorized in the New Testament. - In Ephesians 5:19 Paul says, "Singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord," thus pointing out the "heart" as the instrument in which the melody is to be made. When the mechanical instrument alone is played in worship, a mechanical instrument has been substituted for the "heart." Nadab and Abihu substituted "strange fire" for the holy fire from the altar and suffered the consequences. Shall he who substitutes something else for which God has commanded today escape the wrath of God? To do so is to rebel against God and exalt the opinions of men above the will of God Surely God knows what he wants done in worship to him.
23. Such cannot be done "in the name of the Lord" - Colossians 3:17 says: " And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." To do a thing in the name of the Lord is to do it by his authority. Since the Lord has not authorized the use of mechanical music in worship, no man can use it in the name of the Lord, any more than a man might transact business for me if I had not authorized him to do so. The man who cashes a check in my name when I have not authorized such a transaction, commits forgery. Then why is not the man who claims to use mechanical music in the name of the Lord, when he has not authorized it, guilty of spiritual forgery?
24. Preaching such is not preaching "the word" - II Timothy 4:2 says, "Preach the word." But one can preach the word and never mention the use of mechanical music in worship, except to oppose their use, for nowhere does the word teach use of them in worship. A man who taught the use of the instrument and divided churches over the matter once challenged me to debate, with him in the affirmative, a proposition stating that he could preach the full Gospel without mentioning the mechanical instrument. I told him he had my side of the question, and if he would affirm a proposition which represents his position, I would gladly meet him. I have never heard from him again.
25. Such is not to be contended for - In the third verse of Jude's letter to Christians he wrote "that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." Since the use of mechanical instruments in worship is not a matter of faith, it should not be contended for by anybody. It was never delivered unto the saints.
26. The playing of mechanical instruments is excluded when Paul says "singing" - (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16.) Just as God excluded all other kinds of wood when he commanded Noah to build the ark of "gopher wood"; and Christ excluded all other kinds of food when he said "bread" and "fruit of the vine"; and God excluded all other fire when he said get fire off the altar and burn incense in the Tabernacle; so he has excluded all other kinds of music when he specified "singing." If not, why not?
27. One cannot "walk in the light" and use mechanical instruments in the worship - To "walk in the light" (I John 1:7) is to walk according to the teaching of the word which is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Since the word does not authorize the use of the instrument, those who use it "walk in darkness" and not in the light.
28. Mechanical music is not the “fruit of our lips” - Hebrews 13:15 says, "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." When we worship God our sacrifice of praise should be the fruit of lips, singing; not the playing of a lipless mechanical instrument.
29. Try to justify such by the law and you fall "from grace" - There is a common tendency to point to the law of Moses and say, "There is my authority in the Bible." No. That is no authority to you today. That law was in force to the Jews for 1500 years but never was binding upon any but the Jews, and is not binding upon them today. It has been fulfilled in Christ and replaced by the will of Christ to all nations. (See Matt. 5:17, 18; Col. 2:14;
Eph. 2:15; Gal. 3:19, 24, 25.) Furthermore, if the Law is sufficient authority for the use of the mechanical instrument today, why not burn incense and animal sacrifices, and observe all the other commandments of the Law? The same Law that authorized the one authorized the others. The truth of the matter is that the Law is no authority to us today for anything in worship, and Galatians 5:4 says, "Christ is become of no effect unto you whosoever of you are justified by the Law; ye are fallen from grace." Better be content with the teaching of grace and be saved in eternity.
30. Use of such departs "from the simplicity that is in Christ" - II Corinthians 11:3 says, "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." The "simplicity that is in Christ" is "singing." The complicated performance of playing a mechanical instrument is far from simple and is not taught "in Christ"; therefore, is a departure from the simple things of Christ.
31. Introduction of mechanical music causes division - Many times this case has been repeated; a congregation of the church of Christ builds a house, preaches the gospel, worships the Lord scripturally, and does every good work possible for a congregation without mechanical music! Along comes some man or woman who has no respect for the authority of the Word and wants to make a big show before men, and starts agitation for addition of the mechanical instrument in the worship. Finding no authority for such, godly brethren earnestly and sincerely oppose its use and are called "moss-backs," "anti's", "narrow", "croakers", and such other uncomplimentary names as malice and prejudice suggest. The congregation immediately is divided into two opposing camps. The well-informed and faithful contend earnestly for the faith; the worldly-minded and shallow join the hue and cry of the innovationists and determine to have the mechanical instrument. As soon as the trouble-makers gain enough sympathizers the authority of the eldership, the pleadings of conscientious brethren, and the word of God are set aside, and a second unscriptural thing is introduced - majority vote. At the first opportunity an election is held and the unscriptural music forced in by majority vote. Then, in order to carry on scriptural worship, it is necessary for all who cannot conscientiously worship with the mechanical instrument to withdraw themselves to a new meeting place. Thus the church has been split by use of something which the ones who introduced it will admit they can worship God without!
The group who introduced the mechanical instrument lay the blame upon those who objected, but Paul says. "It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak (Rom. 14:21). Anything under the sun could be justified in worship if the blame could be rightly laid upon those who object. Indeed! The wicked king, Ahab, went out to meet Elijah, the prophet, and accused him of troubling Israel. Elijah replied. "I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord" (I Kings 18:18).
32. The mechanical instrument cannot teach and admonish - Colossians 3:16 says. “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”. The songs should instruct and admonish, but it goes without argument that the mechanical instrument speaks no words of teaching or exhortation.
33. Addition of mechanical music to the worship is a presumptuous sin - Deuteronomy 18:20 says, "But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die." No one can prove that mechanical music has been commanded; therefore, it is a presumptuous sin to teach its use. David prayed, "Keep back thy servant from presumptuous sins" (Psalm 19:13).
34. "Psallo" in the Greek does not authorize the mechanical instrument - "Psallo" is never translated "play" in the New Testament. The Authorized version was translated by 47 scholars; the Revised by 101. All together, 148 of the ripest Greek scholars of all time have considered the word and never once translated it "play." If you say they did not translate it correctly, how do you know they translated the Sermon on the Mount correctly? Therefore, to reject their translation of this word is to repudiate the entire English Bible. Then if you go to the Greek text you get no encouragement for the mechanical instrument, for 130 million Greek Catholics who read the Greek text do not use the mechanical instrument in their worship!
35. Finally, the only safe course is not to use mechanical music in worship - Because all will be judged by the Word of God. In John 12:48 Jesus said, “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 days.” The word does not contain authority for mechanical music in worship; therefore, in the Judgment those who have presumed to add to his word will stand condemned by that same word. Those who have kept his word will be justified by it. What will your lot be in that awful day?
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For these and other scriptural reasons churches of Christ do not use mechanical instrumental music in worship to God. Friend, will you not honor God's holy word by being obedient to it without addition or subtraction?