Music In Worship

By Dan C. Bailey       People often ask the question, "Why don't you have a piano or organ in your worship service?" My response is, the Lord's church stands upon the solid rock of the authority of God's Word.  Mechanical instruments of music, like the piano, organ, drums, saxophones, etc., are simply not authorized by God in New Testament worship. God did not teach us in the New Testament to simple make music. He specifically teaches us to sing. Since God specifies singing, that is what God authorized.     The communion or the Lord's Supper is authorized by God in the New Testament.  The two elements in the communion are clearly specified, the fruit of the vine and the unleavened bread. In general terms, the fruit of the vine is a drink. And in general terms the unleavened bread is food. Now who could say that it is alright to take Pepsi Cola and potato chips at the Lord's table?     Had God used the general term to make music, then we could play instruments or we could sing, or we could do both. But God specifically said sing. That rules out all other types of music, in exactly the same fashion that the fruit of the vine rules out all other drink, and the unleavened bread rules out all other food.     Please consider the following scriptures in order to determine the type of music that God authorized in the New Testament:   Ephesians 5:19 - "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; "   Colossians 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."   Hebrews 2:12 - "Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee."   1 Corinthians 14:15 - "What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also."

- Dan C. Bailey serves as a minister with the State Street Church of Christ in Bristol, VA. He may be contacted through the congregation's website at https://www.thelordsway.com/statestreetchurchofchrist/framedindex.asp?Group=Home