Are musical instruments allowed in a church service?

Question: Dear Dr. Jim: My Church of Christ friends say that we should not have musical instruments in the church. What do you think?

Answer: Good question. First of all, I am glad that you referred to them as “friends” for indeed they are our Christian brothers and sisters—friends. Secondly, you are correct in asking me “what I think” for after all everyone is entitled to have an opinion. That opinion, however, I believe should reflect what scripture has to say on the matter as well as tradition must also have its influence.

So, now let us consider what the New Testament has to say about music in the church. For that, we refer to Ephesians 5:19, where Paul encourages the church at Ephesus to:

[Speak] to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with our heart to the Lord …

The phrase "making melody" uses a Greek word, psallo which according to Strong’s Lexicon (1995) means,

"1) to pluck off, pull out, 2) to cause to vibrate by touching, to twang, 2a) to touch or strike the chord, to twang the strings of a musical instrument so that they gently vibrate, 2b) to play on a stringed instrument, to play, the harp, etc. 2c) to sing to the music of the harp 2d) in the NT to sing a hymn, to celebrate the praises of God in song."

Also, Col. 3:16 reads,

"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 gladness in your hearts to the Lord."

By this, we can assume that the making melody to the Lord involves the use of musical instruments.

Our Church of Christ brethren, however, feels that since (in their opinion) God doesn’t expressively command the use of musical instruments in the church then it should be prohibited. Of course, with that, I disagree and furthermore maintain that we cannot establish a doctrine solely on the bases of silence. There are many practices that are not particularly mentioned but that does not exclude them from use in the church. For example,

1. A baptistry;
   
2. Whether or not we should have pews or sit on the floor.
   
3. The number of hymns to be sung during a service;
   
4. The use of a lectern to preach behind;
   
5. Which Bible translation to use;
   

Also, it seems strange to me that God would encourage, indeed command the of instruments during Old Testament times to suddenly forbid the use of musical instruments in New Testament times.

In short, to be fair the Bible neither forbids nor commands the use of musical instruments in church. There is the freedom to use musical instruments in worship, and on the other had a church has the freedom not to use instruments. With or without musical instruments, however, we should “do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Now, on a personal note, music in the church, in my opinion, should never be used for entertainment purposes only—that is not to say that there should not be a pleasant sound, but that such pleasantness is conducive to worship. The psalmist wrote:

"I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee." (Psalms 144:9).

The key to any worship service, musically or otherwise is that we sing praises unto God, and thereby edify ourselves and in attunement with His desires.

Trust this helps,

 JimR_/