Should churches use musical instruments?
Throughout Christian history, believers have used musical instruments in worship, finding them to be a powerful aid in expressing praise and invoking a sense of the divine. This tradition, rooted in the Old Testament, where instruments were frequently part of temple worship and celebrations, continues in many churches today. While the New Testament doesn’t explicitly command or prohibit musical instruments, the broader biblical narrative suggests that instruments can play a meaningful role in communal worship, enhancing the congregation's ability to offer heartfelt praise and connect with God.
Churches can use musical instruments in worship, drawing from Old Testament precedents and the freedom found in the New Testament to express praise.
Old Testament Precedents for Instruments
The Old Testament provides numerous examples of musical instruments being used in the worship of God. From the earliest days, instruments were part of Israel's communal life and religious observances. For instance, after crossing the Red Sea, Miriam and the women celebrated with tambourines and dancing (Exodus 15:20-21). In the tabernacle and later the temple, instruments were integral to the Levitical worship. David, often called the "sweet psalmist of Israel," organized the Levites to minister with instruments like harps, lyres, and cymbals for praise and thanksgiving before the Lord (1 Chronicles 15:16; 16:42; 25:1-7). The Psalms themselves, a foundational hymnbook for God's people, often call for praise with various instruments, including trumpets, harps, lyres, tambourines, strings, flutes, and cymbals (Psalm 33:2; 98:5-6; 150:3-5). These passages clearly demonstrate that under the Old Covenant, instrumental music was not only permitted but divinely sanctioned and organized as part of corporate worship.
New Testament Silence and Interpretation
When we turn to the New Testament, we find a different landscape. There are no explicit commands or prohibitions regarding the use of musical instruments in Christian worship. The passages that discuss congregational singing mention "psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs" (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16) but do not specify accompanying instruments. This silence has led to different interpretations among Christians throughout history and today.
Some traditions, often emphasizing the New Testament's focus on spiritual worship and the direct access believers have to God through Christ, have historically chosen to worship a cappella (singing without instrumental accompaniment). They argue that since instruments are not explicitly mentioned in New Testament instructions for worship, they should not be used. This perspective sees the New Testament as representing a more spiritual and less ceremonial form of worship compared to the Old Testament temple sacrifices and elaborate rituals.
However, another common interpretation is that the New Testament's silence on instruments does not equate to a prohibition. Instead, it suggests a freedom in how churches express their worship. Given the pervasive use of instruments in Old Testament worship and general cultural life, it's argued that if instruments were forbidden, the New Testament would likely have made that clear. The focus on spiritual songs in Ephesians and Colossians is understood as emphasizing the content and heart of worship rather than dictating the means of musical expression. Therefore, to these traditions, instruments are a permissible and often beneficial aid to worship, helping congregations to sing with greater fervor and unity.
Principles for Worship
Ultimately, the decision of whether to use musical instruments in church worship often comes down to theological interpretation and congregational conviction rather than a direct biblical command. Both approaches—a cappella and instrumental—can be pursued with sincerity and devotion to God.
The overarching New Testament principles for worship emphasize that everything should be done "decently and in order" (1 Corinthians 14:40) and for "edification" (1 Corinthians 14:26). Worship should be offered "in spirit and truth" (John 4:24), meaning it should be sincere, from the heart, and aligned with God's revealed character and will. If musical instruments contribute to these aims—helping the congregation to sing praises to God, express gratitude, and focus their hearts on Him—then their use can be seen as consistent with biblical principles. Conversely, if instruments become a distraction, overshadow the message, or lead to disunity, their use might be reconsidered.
Therefore, while the Bible does not issue a direct command for or against musical instruments in Christian worship, its broader testimony affirms the value of musical expression in praising God. Churches can prayerfully discern how best to incorporate music, ensuring that it supports and enhances a congregation's ability to glorify God.
Bible verses about instruments in worship
"And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances."
"And David and all the house of Israel played before Jehovah with all manner of instruments made of fir-wood, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with castanets, and with cymbals."
"Moreover David and the captains of the host set apart for the service certain of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of them that did the work according to their service was:"
"Give thanks unto Jehovah with the harp: Sing praises unto him with the psaltery of ten strings."
"Praise him with trumpet sound: Praise him with psaltery and harp. Praise him with timbrel and dance: Praise him with stringed instruments and pipe. Praise him with loud cymbals: Praise him with high sounding cymbals."
"speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;"
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God."
"What is it then, brethren? When ye come together, each one hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying."
"But let all things be done decently and in order."
"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth."
Frequently asked
Did early Christians use musical instruments?
Historical evidence suggests that early Christians, particularly in the first few centuries after Christ, generally did not use musical instruments in their congregational worship. This was likely due to several factors: early church meetings were often simpler, held in homes, and instruments were associated with pagan temples and entertainment, which the early church sought to distinguish itself from. Additionally, a strong emphasis was placed on congregational singing as a direct expression of faith, often *a cappella*. As Christianity grew and became more established, especially from the medieval period onward, instruments gradually became more common in Western church music.
What is *a cappella* worship?
*A cappella* is an Italian term meaning "in the style of the chapel" or "of the church." In music, it refers to vocal music performed without instrumental accompaniment. Some Christian traditions practice *a cappella* worship as a matter of theological conviction, believing that the New Testament examples of congregational singing do not include instruments and that the human voice is the primary and most appropriate instrument for praising God. This approach emphasizes the purity of the human voice and collective participation.
Why do some denominations avoid instruments in worship?
Denominations that avoid instruments in worship often do so for theological reasons rooted in their interpretation of Scripture and church history. They frequently emphasize the New Testament's silence on instruments in worship, arguing that if God intended them to be used, they would have been explicitly commanded or described. They may also point to the practice of the early church, which largely worshipped *a cappella*. For these groups, refraining from instruments is seen as a way to maintain spiritual simplicity, avoid worldly influences, and prioritize the direct, unadorned praise of the human voice in communal worship.
Are there specific instruments mentioned in the Bible for worship?
Yes, the Old Testament frequently mentions various instruments used in temple worship and other celebratory acts. Examples include the trumpet (Numbers 10:1-10; Psalm 98:6), harp (1 Samuel 16:23; Psalm 33:2; 150:3), lyre (1 Chronicles 15:16; Psalm 33:2), tambourine (Exodus 15:20; Psalm 150:4), cymbals (1 Chronicles 15:19; Psalm 150:5), and various stringed instruments and flutes (Psalm 150:4). These references establish a clear precedent for the use of instruments in praising God under the Old Covenant.
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