The Bible teaches that in order for anything to be practiced by us (with God's approval) in New Testament worship, it must be authorized by God in the New Testament.
God instructed Cain and Abel as to the kind of offering that he required in worship (Gen. 4:1-9). "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain" (Heb. 11:4). Romans 10:17 states: "So faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God." The way of Cain was unbelief. His unbelief was brought to light in his worship. "Woe unto them! for they have gone into the way of Cain" (Jude 11). To worship God by singing is that which is authorized by God. "In the midst of the church, will I sing praise unto the" (Heb. 2:12). Those who do such are walking by faith as did Abel (Heb. 11:4).
1 Thess. 5:21 teaches that we are to "Prove all things; hold to that which is good."
Oft times it is said, "David used instrumental music in worship to God, therefore it should be permissible today." Without doubt David did use instrumental music. David also offered animal sacrifices in worship. Does that mean we are to offer animal sacrifices today? David had a multiplicity of wives. May we? (Rom. 7:1-3).
"Whosoever of you are justified by the law, ye are fallen from grace" (Gal. 5:4). Paul said if you try to go back to the Old Testament law to justify yourself, "you are fallen from grace."
We don't live under the Law that required animal sacrifices, that permitted pologamy, or that tolerated the use of instrumental music.
We read in Amos 6:5, "Woe unto them that invent unto themselves instruments of music like David." What did David do? He introduced instrumental music. What did the Lord say about it? "Woe unto them." Paul wrote in Col. 2:14, "Blotting out the handwritting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross." The Old Law (the law David lived under) was nailed to the cross when Christ died. "He taketh away the first that he might establish the second" (Heb. 10:9). We live under the second, the Law of Christ.
Since we live under the Law of Christ, the New Testament, let me call your attention to this fact: from the first verse of Matthew to the last verse of Revelation, there is no mention of instrumental music in worship to God.
The Bible warns: "If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophesy, God shall take away his part in the book of Life" (Rev. 22:18-19).
"Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord" (Col. 3:17). To do something in the name of the Lord is to do it by his authority. Paul said whatsoever you do, do it by the authority of Christ. One can't practice the use of instruments of music by Christ's authority, because He nowhere authorizes it.
"If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God" (1 Pet. 4:11).
Don H. Noblin
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