Singing

In the Old Testament, God asked for singing + instrumental music for use in worship (2 Chr 29:25-26; Psa 150). It was something they could be sure about.

In the New Testament, God just asks for singing (Eph 5:19) or the "fruit of lips" (Heb 13:15). Hence, singing was something that the worshiper could absolutely be sure about.

After the church came into being and for at least 400 or so years, God was given just what he asked for (singing). As a result, the word "a cappella" came into being and was the term for "music in the church style."

Before the New Testament was completed, the church used the Old Testament scriptures as their primary source (Acts 17:11; 18:28, etc.). They had the very scriptures before them that approved and encouraged the use of instruments right down to the naming of specific types (2 Chr 29:25-26; Psa 150). And at the time of the early church, instruments were available and many Christians had the talent to play them ... yet this talent was not exercised in worship! The Old Testament scripture was not followed.

That instrumental music was absent from Christian worship during the days of the inspired Apostolic teaching (Jn 14:26; Acts 2: 42) proves that the Apostles, who were very familiar with the use of instruments in Temple worship, never encouraged churches to use them.

The above also means that the Holy Spirit never encouraged churches to use instruments (Jn 14:26) in spite of the fact that it once did so in a direct way (2 Chr 29:25ff).

Eph 5:19 has two parts: Singing + Making Melody. The "making melody" is translated from the Greek word "psallo." It means to "pluck or twang." The phrase that follows tells where this action takes place. It is "in the heart" and not on a harp.

The design of the New Covenant worship will be different than that of the Old Covenant (Jer 31:31; Jn 4:23; Heb 7:12; 9:1, 9:10, 10:1). Many physical things of the Old pointed to their true substance in the New. For example, in the Old it was the priests that offered physical sacrifices to God, but in the New everyone is a priest with spiritual sacrifices to offer (1 Pet 2:5).

It is specifically the "fruit of lips" that is the sacrifice of praise asked for (Heb 13:15) and not the sounds from man-made devices.

In the Old Testament, Levites were called to worship in the temple with instruments of music (2 Chr 5:11-13, Psa 81:1-3, 98:4-6, 149:2-3).

In the New Testament, believers are called to worship in the Spirit with heart and lips (Heb 13:15, Eph 5:18-19, Col 3:16).

Much of the argument in the New Testament (e.g. Acts 7, Gal 3, Heb 7-10) is in order to show that Old Testament ceremonial worship is ABOLISHED.

There were many things in Old Testament ceremonial worship that were NOT a part of worship in the New Testament church.

In the Old Testament ceremonial worship, there were: Images (Exo 25:18-19, 36:8), Priests (Exo 40:13-15), Incense (Exo 30:8), Candles (Exo 25:31), etc.

All of these were given, as the New Testament informs us, as "a FIGURE for the time then present" (Heb 9:9). They were "imposed" (by divine commandment) "until the time of reformation" (Heb 9:10). They were "patterns of things in the heavens" (Heb 8:5), which things now belong to us because of the finished work and present intercession of Christ (Heb 9:24, 12:18- 24).

In the Old Testament period, worship (except that which was performed by the priests and Levites at the temple in Jerusalem) was commonly offered without musical instruments.

Worship in the ancient synagogue was always devoid of such. So was the worship of the early church. NEVER in the New Testament do we find mention of their (musical instruments) use. What we do find is an abundance of teaching to the effect that the whole system of tabernacle and temple worship (shadowy and typical in nature) has been ABOLISHED. It follows, therefore, that the use of musical instruments is NOT AUTHORIZED in the worship of the church today.

Eph 5:19 has two parts: Singing + Making Melody. The "making melody" is translated from the Greek word "psallo." It means to "pluck or twang." The PHRASE THAT FOLLOWS "in the HEART" tells where this action takes place. It is IN THE HEART and NOT on a harp or on some instrumental music.

God HAS SPECIFIED the kind of music He wants!!!

Matt 26:30 - "And when they had SUNG a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives." Acts 16:25 - "But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and SINGING hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them." Rom 15:9 - "and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: 'For this reason I will confess to you among the Gentiles; And SING to Your name'." 1 Cor 14:15 - "What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding; I will SING with the spirit, and I will also SING with the understanding." Eph 5:19 - "Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, SINGING and making melody in your heart to the Lord," Col 3:16 - "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, SINGING with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Heb 2:12 - "saying: 'I will declare your name to My brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will SING praise to You'."

Note that EVERY passage specifies SINGING.

By adding the instrument, men ADD to the word of God and violate His specific instruction.

We are now under the "New Covenant" (Heb 8:7-12). God has made the first Covenant obsolete (Heb 8:13).

Every example of music practiced by Christians was vocal. (Matt 26:30, Acts 16:25, Rom 15:9, 1 Cor 14:15, Heb 2:12) Every command concerning Christians and music was a command to practice vocal music instead of instrumental music. (Eph 5:19, Col 3:16) The ONLY music commanded in the New Testament is vocal.

It is a specific command, therefore it excludes all other kinds of music.

No where in the New Testament 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, there is no hint that it was used.

The word SING in Rom 15:9; 1 Cor. 14:15; Jas 5:13, and MAKE MELODY in Eph 5:19 are translated from the Greek word PSALLO. The word PSALM in 1 Cor 14:26; Eph 5:19; and Col 3:16 is translated from the Greek word PSALMOS. Some Greek lexicons say that these words can mean to sing to the accompaniment of a harp. Some people argue that this authorizes the use of instrumental music in worship.

The word PSALLO is consistently translated as SING or MAKE MELODY in your heart, and PSALMOS is translated PSALM or HYMN. Not one major English translation ever says SING WITH A HARP or any other expression that IMPLIES the use of musical instruments.

From reading the English translations of the Bible, NO ONE would ever believe that instruments are included in the worship of the NT church if they weren’t already indoctrinated as such by their denomination for one CANNOT get this understanding by only reading the NT. If PSALLO and PSALMOS include the use of instruments, why don't the English translations state this as a fact that they are to be used in worship?

The men who made these translations were members of churches that use instruments in their worship to God! If these words [PSALLO and PSALMOS] imply the use of instruments, why did these men NOT translate as such in order to defend their practice? These men knew by the time the NT was written and in the context of NT passages, the words PSALLO and PSALMOS did NOT and DO NOT refer to instruments!!!

God has told us the kind of music He approves which EXCLUDES all other types and the music He approves of in the NT is SINGING.

We must not only worship with the proper spirit, but also as the truth directs (Jn. 4:24). We must have divine authority for ALL that we do in word or deed (Col.3:17). Instrumental music in worship has NO divine authority, therefore it is a sin to use them in our worship to God.

There were many things that were performed in OT worship, animal sacrifices, the burning of incense, etc. that are NOT AUTHORIZED under the NT and this includes the use of instruments.

Instrumental music is not found in any of the teachings of Christ, or His apostles. It is a precept added by the Pope; therefore, it is vain worship. "Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up." (Matt 15:13).

Since instrumental music in Christian worship is of the Pope's planting; God will root it up.

Peter and the apostles were given authority to bind on earth (Matt 16:19; 18:18). They did not bind instrumental music by command, example, or inference. Peter enjoined brethren not to lord it over the church (1 Pet 5:3). To lord it over God's heritage would be legislating where God has not legislated. Since God has given no indication that He wants instrumental music in the worship, those who bring it in are binding where neither Christ nor the apostles bound.

We are to hear Christ (Matt 17:5), and any soul that does otherwise will be utterly destroyed (cf. Acts 3:22). When we turn to the OT or to the pope we are NOT hearing Christ.

If we return to the Old Law, we are severed from Christ, and fallen from grace (Gal 5:6). To practice circumcision, polygamy, tithing, Sabbath-keeping, instrumental music, or animal sacrifice, means apostasy from Christ.

Christians are "dead to the law" (Rom 7:4), and "discharged from the law" (v. 6), for Christ abolished the law (Eph 2:15). No Christian, therefore, will return to it, and find justification for instrumental music.

The church has been espoused to Christ (2 Cor 11:2). Any time it accepts Moses, David, or the pope it is guilty of spiritual adultery.

Faith comes by hearing God's Word (Acts 15:7; Rom 10:17). Instrumental music is not by faith, and "whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Rom 14:23).

Our "sacrifice of praise to God" is to be "the fruit of lips which make confession to His name" (Heb 13:15). Instrumental music is not the fruit of the lips. Neither is it anything more than a soulless sound that can make no confession of Christ's name.

Our singing is to be a form of teaching and admonition (Col 3-16). Instrumental music can neither teach nor admonish. In so far as these functions are concerned, it is little more than filling the air with a sound.

James says, "Is any cheerful? Let him sing praise" (5:13b). No provision is made for playing an instrument.

John says, "Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God (2 Jn 9). Paul says of himself and Barnabas "that in us ye might learn not to go beyond the things which are written (2 Cor 4:6). Instrumental music cannot be found in the teaching of Christ. Therefore, to practice it is going beyond the things that are written.

Solomon warned Israel, "Add thou not unto his words lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar." (Prov 30:6). John warns Christians in a similar vein in the final words of the Bible: "I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto them, God shall add unto him the plagues which are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book." (Rev 22:18-19). God says "sing", when we add "and play", we place ourselves under the condemnation of Almighty God.