| SINGING IN WORSHIP: AND RESPECTING THE SOUND OF SILENCE IN SCRIPTURE |
| “churches of Christ salute you” Romans 16:16 |
I. Why Singing?
A. Singing in the church praises God. Hb 2:12.
B. Singing helps the spirit be merry. Js 5:13.
C. Singing glorifies God among the world. Rm 15:9.
D. Singing teaches and admonishes one another. Co 3:16.
E. Singing speaks to the Lord and to one another. Ep 5:19.
F. Singing can be done with the spirit and the understanding. 1Cr 14:15.
G. Singing helps turn trouble into triumph. Ac 16:25.
A. Singing in the church praises God. Hb 2:12.
B. Singing helps the spirit be merry. Js 5:13.
C. Singing glorifies God among the world. Rm 15:9.
D. Singing teaches and admonishes one another. Co 3:16.
E. Singing speaks to the Lord and to one another. Ep 5:19.
F. Singing can be done with the spirit and the understanding. 1Cr 14:15.
G. Singing helps turn trouble into triumph. Ac 16:25.
II. Why Not Playing?
A. Christ established His church on earth and His authority set the rules for public
worship to God. Ac 16:5. Mt 28:18-20. Jn 4:24. Singing was part of that worship of the
faithful, but playing mechanical instruments was not. 1Cr 14:15. Co 2:5-8.
B. This authority of Christ bound on all people is in the new testament (1Cr 9:21. Hb 1:
1-2. Hb 9:16-17), surpassing old testament laws that had been bound only on the Jews.
Ep 2:11-12. From Adam until Christ everyone was under God’s general law, (Gn 4:7; 20:
3; 1Jn 3:4; Rm 2:14,26; Hb 1:1; Ps 96:1-10), but worship of the Jews was under those
now “done away” old law ordinances (2Cr 3:11; Co 2:14), which made the Gentiles
“aliens,” Ep 2:12. Then Christ died on the cross for Jews and Gentiles, “that He might
reconcile both unto God in one body,” Ep 2:15-16. Now “in Christ Jesus”, all can sing
with “one mind and one mouth”, Ep 2:13; Rm 15:6-9.
C. The gospel of Christ is now the worldwide standard for acceptable worship. Rm 1:
16; 12:1-2; Co 1:5. Hb 11:6. Not old covenant Jewish ordinances, Hb 10:9-10. Not
traditions of men, Mk 7:5-9. Not opinions, Mt 16:14. Not majority rule, Ex 23:2. Not
good speeches, Rm 16:18. 1 Jn 3:18. Not dreamers and visionaries, 1Cr 14:37. Not
false brethren, 2Cr 11:26. And not gospel perverting troublemakers, Ga 1:6-9. It is His
church, and Christ is the standard for the music God desires.
D. Example of Christ’s apostles and Christians in the first century was pure vocal (a
cappella) singing. Mt 26:30. Ac 2:41-42. Hb 2:12. Mechanical man-made instruments
were never played in the early church.
E. The command to sing (Ep 5:19), supported by the command to “speak as the
oracles of God” (1Pt 4:11), and by the command “not to think (of men) above that which
is written” (1Cr 4:6), and the command to reject “will worship” (Co 2:23), and the
command against “add unto” or “take away from” (Rv 22:18-19) – all these commands
forbid the playing of mechanical instruments in worship to God, by precept and by
silence.
F. If instrument playing were allowed, on what basis could worshipers of all nations and
manners then agree? 2Cr 6:16. Since John 4:24 forbids worship music that is not “in
spirit and in truth,” all people everywhere do agree that the music of God-given vocal
cords – singing – is sacred. Pi 3:15-19.
G. When the congregation sings all together, the singing of each one prevents the
puffing up of any one. 1Cr 4:6. 2Cr 4:5. This is God’s powerful and simple wisdom at
work. Ep 3:8-12. Many acts involve using talents, but that does not make them
acceptable acts of worship. Gn 4:112. Mt 15:7-9. Rm 12:1-2. Worship helps man best
by putting Christ first. Mt 6:33. Rm 10:17. Ep 5:17. Co 1:18.
A. Christ established His church on earth and His authority set the rules for public
worship to God. Ac 16:5. Mt 28:18-20. Jn 4:24. Singing was part of that worship of the
faithful, but playing mechanical instruments was not. 1Cr 14:15. Co 2:5-8.
B. This authority of Christ bound on all people is in the new testament (1Cr 9:21. Hb 1:
1-2. Hb 9:16-17), surpassing old testament laws that had been bound only on the Jews.
Ep 2:11-12. From Adam until Christ everyone was under God’s general law, (Gn 4:7; 20:
3; 1Jn 3:4; Rm 2:14,26; Hb 1:1; Ps 96:1-10), but worship of the Jews was under those
now “done away” old law ordinances (2Cr 3:11; Co 2:14), which made the Gentiles
“aliens,” Ep 2:12. Then Christ died on the cross for Jews and Gentiles, “that He might
reconcile both unto God in one body,” Ep 2:15-16. Now “in Christ Jesus”, all can sing
with “one mind and one mouth”, Ep 2:13; Rm 15:6-9.
C. The gospel of Christ is now the worldwide standard for acceptable worship. Rm 1:
16; 12:1-2; Co 1:5. Hb 11:6. Not old covenant Jewish ordinances, Hb 10:9-10. Not
traditions of men, Mk 7:5-9. Not opinions, Mt 16:14. Not majority rule, Ex 23:2. Not
good speeches, Rm 16:18. 1 Jn 3:18. Not dreamers and visionaries, 1Cr 14:37. Not
false brethren, 2Cr 11:26. And not gospel perverting troublemakers, Ga 1:6-9. It is His
church, and Christ is the standard for the music God desires.
D. Example of Christ’s apostles and Christians in the first century was pure vocal (a
cappella) singing. Mt 26:30. Ac 2:41-42. Hb 2:12. Mechanical man-made instruments
were never played in the early church.
E. The command to sing (Ep 5:19), supported by the command to “speak as the
oracles of God” (1Pt 4:11), and by the command “not to think (of men) above that which
is written” (1Cr 4:6), and the command to reject “will worship” (Co 2:23), and the
command against “add unto” or “take away from” (Rv 22:18-19) – all these commands
forbid the playing of mechanical instruments in worship to God, by precept and by
silence.
F. If instrument playing were allowed, on what basis could worshipers of all nations and
manners then agree? 2Cr 6:16. Since John 4:24 forbids worship music that is not “in
spirit and in truth,” all people everywhere do agree that the music of God-given vocal
cords – singing – is sacred. Pi 3:15-19.
G. When the congregation sings all together, the singing of each one prevents the
puffing up of any one. 1Cr 4:6. 2Cr 4:5. This is God’s powerful and simple wisdom at
work. Ep 3:8-12. Many acts involve using talents, but that does not make them
acceptable acts of worship. Gn 4:112. Mt 15:7-9. Rm 12:1-2. Worship helps man best
by putting Christ first. Mt 6:33. Rm 10:17. Ep 5:17. Co 1:18.
III. What About These Scriptures?
A. Psalm 150:1-6. “ . . . Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet: praise Him with the
psaltery and harp . . . . with the stringed instruments and organs . . “ Whenever
reading the Bible, the student needs to know which way is the cross. The Psalms were
given before the cross, under the old covenant law. Therefore (as explained in section
II above), Psalm 150 is not the reigning authority for worship in the church today.
B. Furthermore, the old testament has a prophet rebuking the instrumental music
excesses of some lazy Israelites. In Amos 6:5, the prophet pronounces a “woe” (trouble)
to them, “That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of
musick like David.” Just because an action is recorded in the Bible, does not
necessarily mean that it is right.
C. Revelation 5:8. “ . . . the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the
Lamb, having every one of them harps . . . “ Some try to justify instruments in worship
by pointing to “the harps in heaven.” As stated in Rv 1:1, God revealed many visions
and signs to the apostle John, which John wrote in this book of Apocalypse. This vision
was round about a throne “set in heaven,” where those having harps and vials sang a
new song, Rv. 4:2; 5:8-9. The church on earth does not get its pattern for worship from
this apocalyptic vision “set in heaven.”
D. Revelation 14:2-3. “ . . . and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps.”
This again was a heavenly vision, in which the voice and song heard were “from
heaven” and “before the throne.” The subject is not about how Christians should
worship in the church.
E. Revelation 15:1-3. “ . . . and I saw . . . them that had gotten the victory over the
beast . . . having the harps of God.” Verse one starts by saying, “And I saw another
sign in heaven . . . “ First, this was not a worship instruction for the church. Second, it
was a “sign” – meaning it was a symbol for some meaning, in this case the assurance
that good overcomes evil. This was and is the message to the members of the church.
F. This book of Revelation written by John included visions of “things which thou hast
seen,” and “things which are,” and also “things which shall be hereafter,” Rv 1:19. The
book of Revelation often uses figurative speech to convey a lofty and concealed
message of encouragement to persecuted Christians. Revelation reminds Christians
that time and history belong not to man, but to God. Music in the church was not being
addressed.
G. Revelation 18:22. “And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and
trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee . . . “ In cities and towns all across
the world, musical instruments have always played, which is usual. Here in Rv. 18:22-
24, it is saying that the usual sounds of the city’s pomp and ceremony will be heard no
more at all. This vision concerns the ultimate judgment and fall of the high and mighty
rebels, such as the city of Babylon. It does not concern worship in the church of Christ.
A. Psalm 150:1-6. “ . . . Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet: praise Him with the
psaltery and harp . . . . with the stringed instruments and organs . . “ Whenever
reading the Bible, the student needs to know which way is the cross. The Psalms were
given before the cross, under the old covenant law. Therefore (as explained in section
II above), Psalm 150 is not the reigning authority for worship in the church today.
B. Furthermore, the old testament has a prophet rebuking the instrumental music
excesses of some lazy Israelites. In Amos 6:5, the prophet pronounces a “woe” (trouble)
to them, “That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of
musick like David.” Just because an action is recorded in the Bible, does not
necessarily mean that it is right.
C. Revelation 5:8. “ . . . the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the
Lamb, having every one of them harps . . . “ Some try to justify instruments in worship
by pointing to “the harps in heaven.” As stated in Rv 1:1, God revealed many visions
and signs to the apostle John, which John wrote in this book of Apocalypse. This vision
was round about a throne “set in heaven,” where those having harps and vials sang a
new song, Rv. 4:2; 5:8-9. The church on earth does not get its pattern for worship from
this apocalyptic vision “set in heaven.”
D. Revelation 14:2-3. “ . . . and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps.”
This again was a heavenly vision, in which the voice and song heard were “from
heaven” and “before the throne.” The subject is not about how Christians should
worship in the church.
E. Revelation 15:1-3. “ . . . and I saw . . . them that had gotten the victory over the
beast . . . having the harps of God.” Verse one starts by saying, “And I saw another
sign in heaven . . . “ First, this was not a worship instruction for the church. Second, it
was a “sign” – meaning it was a symbol for some meaning, in this case the assurance
that good overcomes evil. This was and is the message to the members of the church.
F. This book of Revelation written by John included visions of “things which thou hast
seen,” and “things which are,” and also “things which shall be hereafter,” Rv 1:19. The
book of Revelation often uses figurative speech to convey a lofty and concealed
message of encouragement to persecuted Christians. Revelation reminds Christians
that time and history belong not to man, but to God. Music in the church was not being
addressed.
G. Revelation 18:22. “And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and
trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee . . . “ In cities and towns all across
the world, musical instruments have always played, which is usual. Here in Rv. 18:22-
24, it is saying that the usual sounds of the city’s pomp and ceremony will be heard no
more at all. This vision concerns the ultimate judgment and fall of the high and mighty
rebels, such as the city of Babylon. It does not concern worship in the church of Christ.
IV. Summary Of Why Pure Singing Is Offered
A. God commands His people to sing. 1 Jn 5:3 (“commandments”).
B. The Bible example of Christians is to sing. 1 Tm 4:12 (“example”).
C. By precept, offering instrumental music in church worship, is a “strange fire” (Lv 10:1-
5) that is forbidden. Ps 119:104 (“precepts”). Worship must be acceptable to God. Hb
12:28-29.
D. There is no authority in scripture to bind or to permit the playing of mechanical
instruments in worship of God today. Unlike songbooks for singing, it is not an aid, but
an “add.”
E. We are commanded to not think above what God has written. 1 Cr. 4:6.
F. Burden of proof is on those who play instruments in worship, not on those who sing.
G. Worship is not for feeding man's vainglory, but for glorifying God, and saving souls,
through Christ.
A. God commands His people to sing. 1 Jn 5:3 (“commandments”).
B. The Bible example of Christians is to sing. 1 Tm 4:12 (“example”).
C. By precept, offering instrumental music in church worship, is a “strange fire” (Lv 10:1-
5) that is forbidden. Ps 119:104 (“precepts”). Worship must be acceptable to God. Hb
12:28-29.
D. There is no authority in scripture to bind or to permit the playing of mechanical
instruments in worship of God today. Unlike songbooks for singing, it is not an aid, but
an “add.”
E. We are commanded to not think above what God has written. 1 Cr. 4:6.
F. Burden of proof is on those who play instruments in worship, not on those who sing.
G. Worship is not for feeding man's vainglory, but for glorifying God, and saving souls,
through Christ.
OvercomingSelf.net
Help Your Self article #18