What if I like having
instrumental music in worship?

When discussing the subject of instrumental music in worship, most people are quick to defend the practice by simply saying that they like it. Interestingly, God likes it too! Yes, you heard me right. God not only likes instrumental music in worship, He demands and commands it. Let’s take a closer look at this subject.

You cannot find a clearer passage of scripture to reveal God’s expectations for worship than Colossians 3:16. “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.”

This verse is plain and clear – Christians are commanded to use a specific instrument for music in worship, namely their voices. This helps us understand why psalms and hymns and spiritual songs were listed. These forms of music contain words that we can use to praise the Lord and teach and admonish one another with. In contrast, the notes made by mechanical instruments cannot teach, admonish or offer praise.

Remember, the purpose of this article is to determine what is expected out of saints when they worship the Lord musically. Consider also Paul’s argument in I Corinthians 14:16. “What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.”  Here again we see that we must understand what we are singing – merely offering music as general praise is not enough. Clearly, 1 Cor. 14:16 is not an admonition to “play” some sort of mechanical instrument with understanding.

Just as we need Biblical authority to use our voices as instruments to please our God, we should also seek Biblical authority to use mechanical instruments in worship. The fact is, the only instrument authorized is the voice. Many religious groups today will play instruments during prayer or when a teacher is winding down his lesson. Just as there is no scripture to support mechanical instruments for praising God in song, there is no Biblical support musical accompaniment during prayers and preaching either.

The verses of the New Testament feature a consistent pattern of acapella singing. When Paul and Silas were cast into prison and started to sing, is it logical to assume that they also started to play instruments (Acts 16:25)? Of course not. If we were hypothetically commanded to both sing and play instruments, then it would be sinful to sing without instrumental music. On top of that, it would be sinful if everyone was just singing and not playing an instrument.

“Is it wrong to sing praises to God without mechanical instruments?” Every time I have asked this question to someone advocating for instrumental music, the answer has always been “No!”  I then ask how they can be so sure it is not wrong.  My purpose is to get them to realize that Biblical authority is necessary and that anything else is just an opinion. I recall attending a denominational church years ago where a man got up and played a “spiritual song” that consisted solely of musical notes. There were no words at all. How does this match the instructions of 1 Cor. 14:16 or Col. 3:16? We need to listen to our God and walk by faith to please Him (Heb. 11:6). Only those who listen to His words and abide are walking by faith (Rom. 10:17).

                                                                                               Chuck