Instrumental Music in the New Testament

Shelby G. Floyd

December 10, 2006

Instrumental Music Is Found In the Apostate Church

Although instrumental music was used in worship to God under the Old Testament, when we come to the New Testament, we find instrumental music conspicuously absent in New Testament worship. This order of things continued for seven or eight hundred years, and then when the apostasy was in full bloom, the organ and other instruments of music were introduced into the worship services; but not without some protest. However, after a few years, instrumental music in worship to God became a settled practice in the apostate church.

Only Singing Is Authorized In New Testament Worship

It was not until the time of the reformation that a few men began to raise their voices against using an instrument of music in worship to God. Many of the reformers in going back to study the Bible realized that only singing is authorized in our worship to God. Instrumental music was not used in the churches of Christ during the early days of the restoration movement. The motto of the men who led that movement was, “To speak where the Bible speaks, and to be silent where the Bible is silent.” These men understood that the Bible authorized Christians to sing and excluded the use of the instrument of music. However, it was not too many years until men wanted to introduce their own opinions and doctrines into their worship to God. The result was division in the church of our Lord over the instrument of music.

Instrumental Music Created Division

In 1922, N. B. Hardeman lamented over the introduction of the instrument of music and the division which it brought. He said,

“I regret more than I can ever express to you the fact that after this movement of restoration had shaken this entire earth and made men sit up and take notice of the very fine principle, every plank in the platform on which was based upon a ‘Thus saith the Lord,’ by and by a very lamentable occurrence transpired, and that was the introduction into the service and the worship of a thing untaught in the New Testament Scriptures. In the year 1869, in the city of St. Louis, there injected into the church an instrument of music. The result was a division in what had been a contented, united brotherhood.” (Hardeman’s Tabernacle Sermons, Vol. 1, p. 269.)

During, and after the division, there were many religious debates upon the subject of instrumental music; but not one advocate of instrumental music has been able to prove by the scriptures that such practice is authorized by God. Today there are some, even in the churches of Christ that are raising their voices in favor of bringing the instrument of music into the worship to God. There have been many who have grown up in the church who do not understand principles whereby an action is authorized in the scriptures.

Instrumental Music Is Found In the New Testament

Instrumental music is mentioned in the New Testament scriptures, but we unequivocally affirm that it is never used in such a way as to authorize its use in worship to God. Let us notice a few instances in which we find instrumental music mentioned in the New Testament.

Matthew 6:2

First, it is used in Matthew 6:2, when Jesus instructed his disciples not to sound a trumpet as the hypocrites did in the synagogues and in the streets when they gave to the poor. Here it is used as an illustration of making a lot of noise and fanfare about the good that we do to others. Surely no one could construe this scripture in such a way as to say it authorizes instrumental music in worship to God, for it has nothing whatsoever to do with that subject.

Matthew 11:16-17

Secondly, the instrument is mentioned in Matthew 11:16-17, where Jesus compared the generation of his day to children sitting in the marketplace and calling unto their fellows, and saying, “We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.” Jesus compared the generation of his day to the fickleness of little children in the marketplace. The piping under consideration is something that would have been done in a marketplace and not in worship to God. Therefore, this scripture falls way short of authority for instrumental music in worship to God.

Luke 15:25

In the third place, in Luke 15:25, when the elder son came near to his house, he heard music and dancing. The music was a part of the festivities and joy over the return of the prodigal son. Music is a generic term; in fact, this is the only time in all the New Testament scriptures that we find the generic term music. It would include vocal and instrumental music, but here it has reference to the social and domestic activities of a home and not a worship service in the church. No one would deny that instrumental music is alright in the home; the contention is over its use in worship to God. Therefore, this scripture could in no way be used as authority for instrument in worship to God.

1 Corinthians 13:1; 14:6-9

In The fourth place, the apostle Paul mentions the sounding brass and tinkling cymbal, instruments of music, in his great chapter on Christian love. In this particular context, Paul compares a man able to speak in the languages of men, and even angels, and yet not having Christian love, as one being as empty and useless as a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. There is no authority in this passage for using these instruments in worship to God. In the next chapter, Paul continues his comparison of speaking in languages or tongues without anyone understanding what is being said to the empty sound of certain instruments of music:

Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. (1 Corinthians 14:6-9.)

Language that is uttered and cannot be understood is just as meaningless and useless as someone playing on an instrument of music without playing by the science of harmony and distinction of sounds. Again, this passage cannot authorize instrumental music in our worship to God since it is not under consideration in this context.

Let those today who are clamoring for the right to use instrumental music in worship to God consider what is said in this regard in the word:

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…--Ephesians 5:18-20

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.—Colossians 3:16-17