Instrumental music in church?


Next issue addressed in Ayuda Pastoral:

What biblical principles deal with the use of instrumental music in worship?

Dealing with the following questions helps to answer this:

1.  What was the most important part of New Testament worship?

Probably the form of 1st century Christian worship was similar to that of the synagogue.    James even uses "synagogue" to describe the meeting place of Christians (Jas  2:2).    Such worship was directed to the Lord with particular emphasis upon his Word.   Jesus was “teaching in their synagogues…” (Luke 4:15-30) and Paul wrote to Timothy:  “devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture,  to preaching and to teaching”  (1 Tim 4: 13 cf Col 4:15-16).

2.  How did the first Christians sing?

The early Christians would have sung Psalms and probably some Christian hymns:  “speaking to one another with psalms, hymns,  and songs from the Spirit.  Sing and make music from your heart …”  (Eph 5:19 cf 1 Cor 14:26;  Col 3:16-17).   It is unlikely that they would have used formal musical accompaniment in the synagogue or in the church.    After the first Lord’s Supper,  Christ and the disciples would have sung unaccompanied   (Matt  26:30 cf  Acts 16:25).

3.  What does the Holy Spirit use to influence the worshippers?

Since worship and singing were centred on the Word,   the wills and emotions of the first Christians were influenced by their understanding of that Word:  “...I will sing with my spirit,  but I will also sing with my understanding”  (1 Cor 14:15).   The Spirit moves in union with the Word  (Acts  2:37;  10:44).

4.  What use is instrumental music in worship?

From answering the previous questions we can say that Christian praise is a poetical expression using mainly God´s words and sung in worship to him.   Similarly Jesus says God’s worshippers must “worship in the Spirit and in truth”  (John 4:23 cf 2:42).    So, if present,   instrumental music should not draw attention to itself but rather serve this aim.   

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