Instruments in Worship?

INSTRUMENTS IN WORSHIP?

One of the most debated issues in today’s church is instruments in worship. There have been many arguments for the use of instruments, but none of which are accurate. The one debating for instruments must ignore biblical silence and add on to what God has ordained. The two most widely used arguments for instruments are: there is no condemnation of the use of instruments and that instruments are used in the same manner as a visual aid is in preaching.

One can argue that there is no condemnation of worshipping with instruments. This is true. There is no text in the bible that says, “thou shalt not use instruments.” This argument is obviously faulty because of the parallels of this in the bible. Moses was told by God to speak to the rock and water would come out. God did not say for Moses not to strike the rock. Moses struck it and he was not allowed to see the promise land but was to die in the wilderness (Numbers 20:8-11).

“While they were eating, He took some bread and after He broke it, and gave it to them, and said, ’Take it; this is my body.’ And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And He said to them, ’This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many’” (Mark 14: 22-24). We are commanded to use the fruit of the vine and unleavened bread for the Lord’s supper. We aren’t told not to use Pork and water, but that would not be the Lord’s supper. Mark 16:16 says, “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he who does not believe is already condemned.” It doesn’t say that he who is not baptized is unsaved, but it is deducted from the statement that the one who is not baptized is unsaved.

It is not hard to see that this is a very week argument. “Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19). If we are told to sing and not told to use instruments, then we are not allowed to use instruments. Biblical parallels prove this.

Another argument, and perhaps the best argument, states that using instruments is simply to assist one’s worship. The use of instruments is not worshiping, but simply an aid to worship just as a visual aid is used in