A couple of weeks ago we spent some time showing the difference between aids and additions. This was directed to the topic of instrumental music in worship. Those who don’t accept the fact that mechanical instruments are unauthorized, point out the verses in the New Testament that mention the harp. Thus, we shall examine each text to see what it is talking about.

I Corinthians 14:7-8: To save time with each text, I want to point out that none of them have anything to do with Christians gathering together on the first day of the week, to worship God. This passage mentioned, not only a harp, but a flute and trumpet. Why? Paul was dealing with the subject of speaking in tongues. He pointed out that, without understanding what is said, nothing is gained. Just as instruments make distinctive sounds. They were not mentioned as use in worship.

Revelation 5:8: This figurative vision, speaks of four living creatures and twenty-four elders than fell down, each having a harp, golden bowls of incense. Amidst those mentioned was a Lamb having seven horns and seven eyes. We know these are symbolic and there is a danger in making things literal that are meant figurative. Again, there isn’t the slightest hint of using instruments in worship today for God.

Revelation 14:2: The key to understanding this text is the word “like”. The voice that was heard from heaven sounded like many waters, loud thunder and someone playing harps. That is a rather odd combination, but these were just descriptive terms to try and relate what it sounded like. It wasn’t literally any of them.

Revelation 15:2: This passage, like the others we have looked at, are terms given to help describe what they saw. There were seven angels with seven plagues, something like a sea of glass mingled with fire. There was a beast with a mark and a name, and those standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. Does this teach the use of instruments in worship? How?

Revelation 18:22: If you carefully read the text, the musicians of harpists, flutists, and trumpeters would not be heard anymore. They are linked with the destruction that will take place due to being destroyed by the power of God. 

We could also go through the New Testament and find the verses that mention other kinds of instrument. The word trumpet is mentioned at least a dozen times. None of which was used to imply that saints today are to gather and use mechanical instruments in worship. It’s important that one understands what God authorizes in worship and what He doesn’t. It isn’t my place to say God hates instrumental music, in and of itself. Sort of like people trying to prove God approves of brethren being hospitable (Rom. 12:13), but doing such in worship doesn’t make sense.

Producing scriptures that show God approves of something, doesn’t mean you can apply that to any situation. That is very dangerous and inconsistent. There is no doubt that our God approved of a faithful sister’s act of making garments for widows (Acts 9:36-39). However, to show this text and say that God would accept, as worship, His people all sitting around and making garments together. I know this is sounding absurd, but I want us to see the principle.

Christians were commanded to sing (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). Not to sing and play. That is adding to the word of God, which was are warned against (Gal. 1:6-9). The reason the early Christians didn’t use instruments, wasn’t because they didn’t have any, or couldn’t afford any. It was because they were not authorized, and didn’t need them to help them sing.  Instruments are no more an aid to singing than taking a drink of soda aids in helping me take the fruit of the vine (I Cor. 11:23-26).

                                                                                               Chuck