Where In The Bible Will I Find:

Instrumental Music Is Acceptable To God?

Isaiah gave to Israel the admonition of the Lord, "Seek ye out of the book of the Lord and read..." (Isa. 34:16). The seeker is one who is searching for a desired object, and realizes he must seek in the right place. The book of the Lord enters into our heart by reading or hearing, and is the means of establishing saving faith (Rom. 10:17; Jn. 20:30-31). Paul urged Timothy in the New Testament, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (II Tim. 2:15).

Since the Bible is our only infallible standard of right and wrong, and since it is the only accurate source of information of how to please God, how important it is that we carefully consider its contents! This is especially true in the worship we offer. Jesus declared that the object of our worship is God, the Father, and that He must be worshipped "in spirit and in truth" (Jn. 4:24).

To worship Him "in truth" means to worship Him according to His revealed will which is Truth (Jn. 17:17). It is always in order to examine our practices in worship to be sure they are acceptable to the Lord. Most modem religions incorporate instrumental music into their worship. Is this action authorized and acceptable to God? We are not asking: Is it pleasing to our ears? Do we like it? Does it entertain us? Does it allow us or our children to show our talents? We should rather ask: Is this commanded by God in the Truth? Are we authorized by Heaven's Word to use instrumental music?

Where in the New Testament can we find the Lord's church, under inspired men, using instrumental music? There is no need for us to attempt to go to the Old Testament to "prove" we can use instrumental music in New Testament worship, since we are not under the Law today (Rom. 6:14; Col. 2:14-17). Instead of a New Testament command to "play," we have a specific command to "sing" (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). These verses also make clear that every worshipper is to "sing" in worship. That excludes solos, choruses, quartets, whistling, humming, etc. If instrumental music is being used where you attend, would you please ask your preacher for New Testament authority for the practice?

--Gary Colley