DURING WORSHIP Does God Want Singing or Playing Instruments? Christian Joe Adjei C. J. Adjei Instrumental Music During Worship Does God Want Singing or Playing Instruments? 1 INTRODUCTION A Divine Warrant Is Necessary For Every Element of Doctrine, Government and Worship in the Church! i.e. whatsoever in these spheres is not commanded in the Scriptures, either expressly (or by good and necessary consequence from their statements), is forbidden. This principle is deducible by logical inference from the great truth that the Scriptures are an infallible rule of faith and practice, and therefore supreme, perfect and sufficient for all the needs of the Church. 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 perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. – 1Tim 3:15, 16 This truth operates positively to the inclusion of everything in the doctrine, government and worship of the church, which is commanded, explicitly or implicitly, in the Scriptures; and negatively to the exclusion of everything, which is not so commanded. A. DIDACTIC NATURE OF THE WORD OF GOD a) We should act according to its pattern – Ex. 25:40, Heb. 8:5 b) Remember the commandments and do all – Num. 15:39, 40 c) Shall not add unto nor subtract from – Deut. 4:2; 12:32, Prov. 30:5, 6, Rev. 22:18, 19 C. J. Adjei Instrumental Music During Worship Does God Want Singing or Playing Instruments? 2 I. Instances In The Scriptures a) Cain and his offering – Gen. 4 b) Nadab and Abihu – Lev. 10:1-3 c) Korah, Dathan and Abiram – Num. 16 d) Moses smiting the rock at Kadesh – Num. 20. e) Saul offering a burnt-offering at Gilgal – 1Sam. 13 f) Uzza and the ark, and David’s subsequent obedience – 1Chron. 13:7, 8; 15:11-15 g) King Uzziah officiating as a priest – 2Chron. 26:16-21 B. OLD TESTAMENT WORSHIP I. The Tabernacle Worship – (Exo 25-27, 30, 31-40) a. Moses received the mode of constructing the tabernacle and the order of its worship by divine revelation. It will be admitted that the divinely given instructions descended to the minutest details; to everything connected with the tabernacle these specific directions referred. Of course, if God had intended instrumental music to be employed, it would have been included in these particular directions; the instruments would have been specified for its performance, and regulations enjoined for its use – Ex. 25 b. Instruments were not used in worship – Num 10:1-10 Conclusion: there was nothing in the tabernacle worship, as ordered by Moses, which could be justly characterized as instrumental music. C. J. Adjei Instrumental Music During Worship Does God Want Singing or Playing Instruments? 3 II. The Temple Worship The absence of instrumental music from the services of the tabernacle continued not only during the wanderings of the Israelites in the desert, but after their entrance into the promised land, throughout the protracted period of the Judges, the reign of Saul, and a part of David’s reign. a. Although David was a lover of instrumental music, it was not until through divine command that he incorporated it in worship. – 1Chron 28:11-13,19; b. When the temple was to be built and its order of worship to be instituted, David received a divine revelation concerning it, just as Moses had concerning the tabernacle with its ordinances. This direct revelation to David was enforced upon Solomon, and upon the priests and Levites, by inspired communications touching the same subject from the prophets Gad and Nathan. Had not God expressly authorized it by his command, instrumental music would not have been an element in the temple worship. God’s positive enactment grounded the propriety of the change. There is positive proof that it was never made an element of that worship except by His express command. – 2 Chron 29:25, 26 C. J. Adjei Instrumental Music During Worship Does God Want Singing or Playing Instruments? 4 III. Class of Cases to be Noted a. Exo 15:20 -Miriam’s playing upon the timbrel at the Red Sea b. 1Sam 18:7 -The welcome of Saul and David by the women with singing, dancing and instrumental music c. Judge 11:34 -The instance of Jephthah’s daughter d. 2Sam 6:15 -The accompanying of the ark by David and Israel with bands of music Summary: Singing was a means of praising God 2 Samuel 22:1 -David spoke to the Lord the words of this song 2 Chronicles 29:30 -Sing praise to the Lord Psalm 51:14, 15 -My tongue shall sing Psalm 71:23 -My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to you Psalm 89:1 -I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever Instrumental music was a means of praising God 2 Samuel 6:5, 21 -Israel played before the lord on instruments 1 Chronicles 23:5 -They praised the lord with instruments 2 Chronicles 7:6, 29:25-The Levites had instruments of music Psalm 43:4 -On the harp, I will praise you Psalm 68:25 -Singers went before, players followed after Psalm 150:3-5 -Praise Him with the trumpet, harp, etc Dancing was a means of praising God Exodus 15:20,21 -Miriam led the women with timbrels and dances, saying to sing to the Lord. 2 Samuel 6:14 -David danced before the Lord with all his might. Psalm 149:3 -praise his name with the dance. Psalm 150:4 -Praise him with the timbrel and dance. C. J. Adjei Instrumental Music During Worship Does God Want Singing or Playing Instruments? 5 C. NEW TESTAMENT WORSHIP Intro: We have seen, by an examination of the OT that throughout the Mosaic dispensation this great principle exerted a controlling influence: That whatsoever God commands is to be observed, and that whatsoever He does not command is forbidden, as far as the public worship of His house is concerned. Under the operation of that principle, instrumental music, as an accompaniment of singing, was excluded from the tabernacle during almost the whole period of its existence, and was introduced into the temple in consequence of a divine warrant expressly furnished to that effect. We come now to the consideration of the New Testament, and the question is, Has Christ, the King of the church, prohibited the introduction of instrumental music into its public worship? KIND OF MUSIC SPECIFIED a. Every example of music practiced by Christians was vocal. Christ and His disciples – Mat 26:30 Paul and Silas – Acts 16:25 “I will sing unto thy name.” – Rom 15:9 Sing with the spirit and with the understanding – 1Cor 14:15 Sing in the midst of the church – Hebrews 2:12 Sing psalms – Jam 5:13 C. J. Adjei Instrumental Music During Worship Does God Want Singing or Playing Instruments? 6 b. Every command concerning Christians and music was a command to practice vocal music instead of instrumental music. Ephesians 5:19 – sing and make melody in your hearts Colossians 3:16 – sing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. The only music commanded in the New Testament is vocal. It is a specific command; therefore, it excludes all other kinds of music. c. Nowhere in the NT does Christ or an inspired man command the use of instruments of music. There is no command for its use in the church, there is no example of it being used by the church, and there is no hint that it was used. If we truly love the Lord, the positive command to sing would be sufficient to exclude instrumental music from the worship. He, who loves the Lord, obeys His commandments! D. REASONS GIVEN BY INSTRUMENTS USERS I. The OT commands the use of instrumental music in worship. We are told that David used instruments in Old Testament worship. David was a man after God's own heart, so surely God will be pleased if we use instruments as he did. Instrumental music was approved by God – II Chron 29:25 Christians no longer live under the commands of the OT – Heb 10:9-10, 15; Col 2:14, 15, Rom 7:1-7 C. J. Adjei Instrumental Music During Worship Does God Want Singing or Playing Instruments? 7 David observed all the following: a. Seventh-day/Sabbath b. Animal sacrifices c. Levitical priesthood d. Circumcision e. Holy days f. *Tithe g. *Roast lamb/Passover h. *Incense i. *Infant membership j. *Dancing k. *Instrumental music * No NT passage expressly says that any of these are NOT included today. II. ... But instrumental music is used in Heaven. Some argue that harps are used in heaven to praise God (Revelation 5:8, 9; 14:2, 3; 15:2, 3). No sin can enter heaven, and God accepts instrumental praise there. Therefore, it is not sin for us to use them to praise God. Most things in the book of Revelation are symbolic, not literal. Some things in the immediate context of the harps in Revelation were mentioned. Should we literally use them in our worship today on earth? a. A lamb – Rev 5:6; 14:1,4 b. Golden bowls of incense – Rev 5:8 etc In heaven, there is no marriage – Matthew 22:30 C. J. Adjei Instrumental Music During Worship Does God Want Singing or Playing Instruments? 8 Yet people who forbid marriage on earth are guilty of apostasy (1Tim. 4:1-3; Heb. 13:4). III. Using Our Talents for God We are told that playing an instrument is a God-given talent, just like singing. A dancer, chef, butcher, joker, magician etc all have talent. Talents must be used in ways authorized by God's word – Col 3:17, Mat 7:21-23, Rom 10:1-3 IV. Instruments as an Aid to Singing An aid is something that simply helps us to do what God authorized. When we use it, we must still be doing ONLY that which fits the definition of what God said. It must not be different or another kind of act. If it is different, then it is an unauthorized addition. We should not oppose true aids that simply help us do what God said. Bible Examples of the Difference between Aids and Additions God told Noah to build an ark of gopher wood. Tools like hammer, saw, etc. would definitely help Noah build the ark. When using them, he would be doing just what God said -build an ark. It fits the definition of building. However, using oak or acacia wood would be different from what God said. It is not just using gopher. God said to bury in baptism and to baptize those who believe and repent. Any pool, large enough to bury someone in, is an aid to baptizing. If I immerse someone in a baptistery, I am doing what God said -burying in baptism. It fits the definition. The baptistery helps me do what God said. But if I sprinkle or pour, or if I baptize a baby, I am doing something different from what God said. It does not fit the definition of burying a penitent believer. C. J. Adjei Instrumental Music During Worship Does God Want Singing or Playing Instruments? 9 NB: It is not claimed, as far as I know, by the advocates of instrumental music that it is necessary to any performance. In fact, in this part of the world (Ghana) they do not play these instruments (and they dare not), during the periods when a ban is placed on noise-making by the traditional leaders as part of the observance of their traditional occasions. Thus, these ‘Christians’ reject the so called command to use instruments (by The Almighty God) and succumb to the rules of the traditional religious group. What ridicule! E. EVIDENCE OF HISTORY a. Martin Luther (founded the Lutheran church) – ‘The organ in the worship of God is an ensign of Baal. The Roman Catholic borrowed it from the Jews’ – Martin Luther, Mcclintock & Strong's Encyclopedia Volume VI, page 762. b. John Calvin (the father of Presbyterianism) – ‘Musical instruments in celebrating praises of God would be no more suitable than the burning of incense, the lighting of lamps, and the restoration of the other shadows of the Law. The Papists, therefore, have foolishly borrowed this...’ – John Calvin, commentary on Psalm 33 c. John Wesley (the father of Methodism) – ‘I have no opposition to the organ in our chapel provided it is neither seen nor heard.’ C. J. Adjei Instrumental Music During Worship Does God Want Singing or Playing Instruments? 10 CONCLUSION A Divine Warrant Is Necessary For Every Element of Doctrine, Government and Worship in the Church! We have seen how God has instructed those under the OT to worship Him. Those practices were not the same as He ordered in the NT He made through Christ. Whatsoever, in connection with the public worship of the church, is not commanded by Christ, either expressly or by good and necessary consequence, in His Word, is thus forbidden. Instrumental music, in connection with the public worship of the church is not so commanded by Christ. The conclusion is instrumental music, in connection with the public worship of the church, is forbidden. IT IS PLAIN THAT THERE IS NO SCRIPTURAL AUTHORITY FOR THE USE OF INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC IN THE WORSHIP OF ALMIGHTY GOD IN THIS CHRISTIAN AGE. WHEN WE INTRODUCE IT INTO THE WORSHIP, WE VIOLATE GOD'S WILL.