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Why does the church of
Christ not use musical instruments in their worship?
Faithful
congregations of the church of Christ seek to follow the New Testament pattern
in their worship, Christian living and doctrine. Doing this assures us
beyond any doubt that we are living an acceptable Christian life before God and
men. The scriptures teach that we must seek God's righteousness rather
than our own, (Romans
10:3). The only way we can be sure of seeking God's
righteousness is through His word. The church of the New Testament did not
use manmade instruments of music in their worship in the first century.
Manmade musical instruments were not introduced into worship for many centuries
afterward. Their use is therefore a manmade innovation and constitutes an
addition to the worship and therefore not authorized in the New Testament pattern.
Scripture teaches us
that we are not to think or go beyond what is written, (1 Corinthians
4:6) and
anyone who would teach a gospel other than the one received in the first century
is said to be cursed, (Galatians
1:8-9). In addition to this, we are
commanded to do everything we do by the authority of Jesus Christ, (Colossians
3:17). Doing something for which we have no authority would
be going beyond what is written therefore changing the gospel that was
received in the first century.
There are no
examples of manmade instrumental music in worship to God found within New
Testament scripture.
There are no commandments to use instrumental music in our worship, neither is
there any authority given to use them in worship. In view of this, their
use is rejected today in favor of being patterned precisely like the first
century church as written of in scripture.
We were given the
specific command to sing, (Ephesians
5:19, Colossians
3:16). When a
specific command is given by God, all other options are ruled out. We know
our worship to God is acceptable when we adhere closely to His pattern, leaving
nothing out nor going beyond what He has said.
Audio Lessons on
this topic:
Audio Lesson
1 (Bill
Robinson)
Transcription
Audio
Lesson 2
(Bill Robinson)
Transcription
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