Thursday, February 21, 2013
What about instrumental worship?
Because I have a long history in churches of Christ, the question of instrumental music in our communal worship has been an interesting discussion. For years, almost all churches of Christ were non-instrumental. Lately, many churches of Christ are instituting instrumental services. It is an issue that can provoke strong feelings in those of my heritage. (By the way, other fellowships fight over worship also -- just not this particular issue). So we at Southern Hills church of Christ have just finished working through this. Let me share some of what we studied.
There was instrumental worship in Old Testament settings. Check out Psalm150.
Martyrs in heaven have harps given to them by God. Revelation 15:3
But what about the church? How about Acts and the Letters? What does the New Testament say to us about using the instrument in our assemblies today?
A review of all New Testament passages that talk about the use of instruments in worship assemblies.
Now I will list all the New Testament verses that condemn the use of instruments in worship.
And here are all the New Testament verses that commend the use of instruments in worship.
So what does the silence of Scripture mean for us today?
Some would argue that silence is prohibitive. That is, if God does not specifically command it then we should not do it.
Some would argue that silence is permissive. That is, if God does not specifically command it then we should do it.
But what if silence is what it is. Silence. What if silence is not intended to be prohibitive or permissive? What if God was silent because it is just not that big a deal to Him?
But what about inferences that might apply? You can talk about inferences all day but they are not the same as what God has said. And He was silent on this issue.
So be very careful about dogmatic positions based on what God did not say.
So how do you decide what to do? And how does it fit into a church's conviction about What Matters?
In a future post, I will share the Southern Hills answer to that question.
There was instrumental worship in Old Testament settings. Check out Psalm150.
Martyrs in heaven have harps given to them by God. Revelation 15:3
But what about the church? How about Acts and the Letters? What does the New Testament say to us about using the instrument in our assemblies today?
A review of all New Testament passages that talk about the use of instruments in worship assemblies.
And here are all the New Testament verses that commend the use of instruments in worship.
So what does the silence of Scripture mean for us today?
Some would argue that silence is prohibitive. That is, if God does not specifically command it then we should not do it.
Some would argue that silence is permissive. That is, if God does not specifically command it then we should do it.
But what if silence is what it is. Silence. What if silence is not intended to be prohibitive or permissive? What if God was silent because it is just not that big a deal to Him?
But what about inferences that might apply? You can talk about inferences all day but they are not the same as what God has said. And He was silent on this issue.
So be very careful about dogmatic positions based on what God did not say.
So how do you decide what to do? And how does it fit into a church's conviction about What Matters?
In a future post, I will share the Southern Hills answer to that question.
