Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled” (Matthew 5:17-18).

“And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Colossians 2:13-14).

“For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity” (Ephesians 2:14-16).

“Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. ... For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God” (Hebrews 7:11-12, 18-19).

“For the law can never make those who approach perfect” (Hebrews 10:1).

“All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.’ Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, ‘The righteous will live by faith’” (Galatians 3:10-11).

“Whatever is not from faith is sin” (Romans 14:23). “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

Someone might ask, “What’s wrong with using a piano in our worship to God?” The answer is quite simple – the New Testament doesn’t say we can.

There’s not one single New Testament verse to which we can turn and gain from it that the first century Christians used an instrument in their worship to God. Yet, we read, “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, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:18-20).

A piano, or an electric piano, or a guitar, or a tuba adds to the simple commandment of God to sing and make melody in our hearts to Him.

“For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18).

Someone might argue that instruments were used in the Old Testament, so why can’t we? Quite simply, because the Old Testament is not our authority anymore – Jesus fulfilled it and nailed it to the cross, thus removing it.

Again, “All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.’ Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, ‘The righteous will live by faith’ ” (Gal. 3:10-11).

The Contradiction

Some don’t realize the contradiction when they seek authority from the Old Testament to have a piano or any other musical instrument in their worship to God, while ignoring the selfsame authority of the Old Testament for offering animal sacrifices for sin; circumcising every male (Genesis 17:12); worshipping God on Saturday (the seventh day of the every week), stoning to death “outside the camp” those who don’t observe the seventh day of the week with holiness (Numbers 15:32-36); making tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners (Numbers 15:38); and all the other commandments which God commanded under the authority of the Old Testament!

We cannot simply pick and choose those commandments from the Old Testament we like, deliberately leaving out the ones we don’t – “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.’ But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for ‘the just shall live by faith.’ Yet the law is not of faith, but ‘the man who does them shall live by them.’ Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:10-14).

What Did Jesus Teach

Concerning Instrumental Music?

Jesus said, “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him— the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak” (John 12:48-50).

There’s not one verse in which Jesus allows musical instruments in worship to God. However, by Jesus’ example, we know that they sang hymns – “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives” (Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26).

While Paul and Silas were imprisoned, they “were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them” (Acts 16:25). Since nothing is mentioned of anyone using a musical instrument in the accounts with Jesus in Matthew and Mark, and here in Acts with Paul and Silas, we must see this as proof of the apostle’s tradition set forth in Ephesians 5:18-19 and Colossians 3:16 of singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.

“Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle” (2 Thessalonians 2:15). Paul did not command them to abide by Old Testament traditions, but by their word and by their epistles.

2 Corinthians 8:10 establishes that the apostles of Jesus were given “authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction” (and see 2 Corinthians 13:10; 2 Thessalonians 3:9).

Again, we’re to “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

The Old Testament is very important, but it is not the authority of God for us today. If anyone strives to live by any rule which can only be found in the Old Testament, then he must live by every rule of the Old Testament.

“What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

     “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:19-29).

Is It Possible To Worship God In Vain?

Traditions of men don’t please God – “Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men’ ” (Matthew 15:7-9).

Believing something to be right because “My church has always done it this way” is not a guarantee God is pleased with it.

And it takes more than worshipping God with sincerity of heart – “Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, ‘Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to the unknown god. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you’ ” (Acts 17:22-23).

Now why does the apostle Paul feel obligated to tell them about this unknown God if they were worshipping Him already? He did so because they were not worshipping God on God’s terms.

Singing Is Commanded and Exemplified in

Worship of the New Testament

Singing is the kind of music specified by God:

• Matthew 26:30 – After the institution of the Lord’s Supper.
• Acts 16:25 – Paul and Silas in prison.
• Romans 15:9 – David’s prophecy of the Gentiles.
• 1Corinthians 14:15 – Singing with the spirit and understanding.
• Ephesians 5:19 – Singing and making melody in your hear unto the Lord.
• Colossians 3:16 – Singing with grace in your hearts.
• Hebrews 2:12 – It is said of Jesus Himself, “I will declare your name to My brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.”
• Hebrews 13:15 – “Therefore by Him let us continually offerthe sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.”
• James 5:13 – “Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.”

Common Reasons Offered to Justify

Instrumental Music In Worship Answered

·    The Bible doesn’t say “not” to use them.

     1.  By the same poor reasoning we could add lamb to the Lord’s

          Supper.

     2.  God punished Nadab and Abihu for offering worship to God

          which He did not authorize (Leviticus 10:1-3).

·    David used instrumental music in worship.

     1.  He did, under the authority of the Old Testament, the law of

          Moses, which Jesus “nailed to the cross” (Colossians 2:14),

          fulfilling it all (Matthew 5:17-18).

          a. Yet, no one wants to add lamb to the Lord’s Supper just

               because David ate it during the Passover feast.

          b.  David also, under the authority of the law of Moses, of-

               fered the blood of bulls and goats for a sin offering.

          c.  David also had many wives.

Proof From History

The first organ certainly known to exist and be used in a church was put in by the German Emperor Charlemagne in ad 768. It wasn’t until 1545 that the Roman Catholic Church accepted it into their own worship. And so, in doing the simple math, we can see that the innovation of the instrument of music being added and accepted into the RCC apostasy (they had done so much more in tearing down the organization of the Lord’s church in other ways) took 777 years!

Martin Luther, “The organ in the worship is an [sign] of Baal.” lutheran

John Calvin, “It is no more suitable than the burning of incense. The Catholics borrowed it from the Jews.” presbyterian

John Wesley, “I have no objection to the organs in our chapels provided they are neither seen nor heard.” methodist

Adam Clarke, “Instrumental music in worship to God has never been productive of good, it is an abomination to the Lord.” methodist

Charles Spurgeon, “I would just as soon pray to God with machinery as to sing to God with machinery.” baptist

Joseph Bingham, “Music in churches is as ancient as the apostles, but instrumental music not so.” anglican

A Recent Historical Proof

Just before the Civil War, the subject of instrumental music had been discussed, but not successfully employed since most of the preachers and disciples did not see it as any but an addition to the Lord’s commandment “to sing.”

Ben Franklin, a reformation preacher in the 1860s wrote the following in his magazine American Christian Review, that there might be occasion when the instrument would be permissible, such as the following –

     1.     Where a church never had or has lost the Spirit of Christ. . . .

     2.  If a church has a preacher who never had, or has lost the Spirit of Christ, who has become a dry, prosing and lifeless speaker, so as to be entirely incapable of commanding and interesting an audience, it is thought that instrumental music would draw out and interest the people. . . .

     3.  If a church only intends being a fashionable society, a mere place of amusement and secular entertainment, and abandoning all idea of religion and worship, instrumental music would be a very pleasant and agreeable part of such entertainment.

Concluding Remarks

The basic reason why not to use instrumental music in worship to God is that He has nowhere allowed it in His New Testament, the testament (or covenant) under which all people are held accountable – the standard of God’s word applies to everyone.

“Then Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him’ ” (Acts 10:34-35).

Paul said, “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:30-31).

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:11-14).

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10).

What Must I Do To Be Saved?

1. Hear — “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

2. Believe — “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

3. Repent — “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30).

4. Confess — “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. . . . For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:10, 13).

5. Be Baptized — “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:38-39).