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NASB | Ephesians 5:19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ephesians 5:19 Speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, [offering praise by] singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; |
Bible Question:
I am a new member, and recently baptized in a congregation of Church of Christ. Being unaware of my churches doctrine with regard to musical instruments used during the time of worship, I am having a hard time resolving an issue. I enjoy both instrumental and Acapella music and have no preference as to whether or not instruments are used. I am beginning to decide that Church of Christ doctrine of no instruments used at worship is a stumbling block. Perhaps one of you could provide me with insite. Is there anywhere in the bible where God specifically tells us not to use insturments in worship. Have read David, the book of Amos. Thank you. |
Bible Answer: BMR47: It's always a pleasure to welcome a new registrant of the Forum and much more to welcome a new Christian. Before I attempt to respond to your question, I'd like to encourage you as a new-born child of God, to be "like newborn babies [who] long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation (1 Peter 2:2. And always to be a Berean (see Acts 17:10-12) who examined the Scriptures daily to whether the things they were being taught were so. ....... Now for your question. My parents were members of the group known as the Church of Christ, so I grew up in a small congregation of that group and at age 14 was saved while attending a Sunday evening worship service of a local congreation of the Church of Christ. I was baptized by immersion on that same evening. My status as a regenerate believer has not changed since that glorious evening 56 years ago. Neither has my membership in the church, the body of Christ, changed since that evening when the Lord added me to the number of the redeemed in Christ. (See Acts 2:47). My membership in local congregations has, however, changed. First to Presbyterian, then to Southern Baptist, in which I presently hold membership. But I was saved, not by being immersed in water, not by any denomination, not by having my name placed on any denomination's church rolls. I was saved the same way as you and all other born-again believers are saved, by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:8,9). ..... During the years that I attented a Church of Christ congregation, the only scriptural reference I remember hearing anyone give in support of their doctrine of using exclusively a cappella music in worship service was Ephesians 5:19, "speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." But the interesting paradox is that in using this verse as their "proof text," they are affirming something that is diametrically opposed to their doctrine of a cappella, because the phrase "making melody" literally means in the Greek "to pluck a stringed instrument." So it could refer primarily to instrumental music, while including vocal also. I know of no place in Scripture that forbids the use of instrumental music in worship. On the contrary, God's people throughout the Old Testament praised the Lord with instruments of music. The writer of Psalm 71:22 said, "I will praise You with a harp, even Your truth, O my God; to You I will sing praises with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel." There is no cogent reason and no theological basis to presume, in the absence of proof -- and there is no proof -- that in the Old Testament God delighted in the use of musical instruments by His people to praise Him and forbade it in the New. --Hank |