Did our Lord Jesus the Christ sing in the midst of his church with a mechanical instrument of music?

By Wendell Tenison

The use of mechanical instruments of music were never authorized by Christ in his church assemblies, nor were they ever used. The law of Christ being spiritual as opposed to the carnal law of Moses, Heb.7:16; 9:10, requires that we worship God in spirit and in truth, Jn.4:24. Worshipping God with things made with men's hands are strictly forbidden, because innovations concocked by man severs the avenue of communion between God's Spirit and man's in the matter of covenant relationship.

Acts 17:24-25 "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;.....Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;"

Eccl 7:29 "Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions."

The Lord Jesus Christ said in his new testament, to sing and make melody in your heart, (not harp).

Eph 5:19 "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;"

Did our Lord Jesus the Christ use mechanical instruments of music when he sang praises?

Mat 26:29 "But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom......And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives."

Rom 15:8-9 "Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:.....And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name."

Heb 2:11-13 "For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,.....Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee......And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me."

The answer is absolutely not. God cannot be pleased with worship made with men's hands no matter how pleasing it is to the masses.

The following is in response to letters written to the Christian Chronicle, February 2007, Opinion, entitled "Readers respond to coverage of instrumental service."

Of the eleven letters sent to the Chronicle, six maintain the solid integrity of the covenant of Christ, three are judged to affirm the use of instrumental music in the worship of churches of Christ and it appears that two are fence riders.

"If the apostle Paul could ask Timothy to become circumcised for the sake of the gospel, I wish that our brothers and sisters in Christ would grant one another the freedom to use contemporary music as a way to draw in the "unchurched" to the message of the gospel.

In an age where kids have to travel with their music loaded into their iPods, we are not going to reach some because of our stance on doing church music only in one manner. We have to be willing to become all things to all people in order that some might be saved. The good news is about Jesus, not a cappella music." Bradford Stevens, St. Louis

Perhaps this responder has not read Gal.2:1-6, where Paul many years later after having Timothy circumcised set his foot down and would not yield to have Titus circumcised because of the false brethren brought in to spy out their liberty in Christ. The commandment of Christ, Eph.5:19, through Paul as already quoted is to sing making melody in the heart. Paul also stated in Gal.1:6-9, that if he himself or an angel from heaven preached any other gospel, let him be accursed. False brethren will go to any length to spy out our liberty in Christ and bring us back under bondage to the law of Moses. The apostle Paul became all things to all men, 1Cor.9:20-22, but not at the risk of losing his own soul by preaching another gospel other than what he had already preached. In regards to the rampant illiteracy in the church Paul says:

1 Cor 14:38 "But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant."

"The strategy currently used by those who wish to introduce instrumental music into our worship is now evident: 1. Make those who oppose the innovation appear to be the bad guys who are causing division. 2. Insist that those who oppose the instrument should not voice their objections to others. 3. No negative comment should be expressed regarding those who are promoting, justifying or using instruments. 4. Those who wish to do so must be allowed that liberty. 5. When contemplating unity only ask, "Do they believe in Jesus? Have they been immersed?" 6. Depict those who object to the change agenda as unlearned, narrow and legalistic folks who are to be pitied and ignored." John Waddey, Sun City West, Ariz.

Thanks John for the most excellent description of those in the apostate church. The things you described are those that the denominations used years ago against the church of Christ in undermining the truth. Diversity in unity destroys the unity that Jesus prayed for in Jn.17:20-23. Not only did Jesus pray for his close disciples to be one as the Father and the Lord Jesus are one, but all who believed on him through their word.

"Why is the music thing even an issue? Have we not read the Old Testament, particularly sections dealing with the temple, and all through Psalms?

Why is this a hangup? Read what David used music for, even before he was king. Some of the most positively influential people in my life have been involved in worship to God with music. Some of the biggest answers to prayer in my life have been when I was involved with music. Please listen." Chris Cope, Tulsa, Okla.

The music thing is an issue because the Lord does not allow it and further, he condemns it because it stands as a shadow from the tabernacle under Moses as having a worldly sanctuary. That is, the different items such as the candlestick, table and the shewbread. The piano, or any other instrument is not identified within that sanctuary, but if brethren like you had been there, you would have insisted that it have one. The false apostate brethren beyond any doubt are bringing back into the Lord's spiritual tabernacle, Heb.8:2, by reincarnation, fixtures of the Mosaic law.

We read the new testament and have learned that whosoever is justified by the law is fallen from grace, Gal.5:4. Based on your admission that your trust is in the law of Moses, pick yourself up from whence you are fallen and only trust in the law of Christ.

"I think you were pretty thorough with the article concerning Richland Hills. I have been a member of the church for many years and used to think of it in the "old" way. We are all not perfect, so I believe the Holy Spirit directs us to change at times on our opinions. I respect all the elders at Richland Hills and love our minister, Rick. I really believe they have heard from God on this matter. Since the early '90's I have been praying for positive change in the Churches of Christ.

If one thinks we are just going to sing a cappella in heaven, I believe this is not what it is all going to be." Sue Thornburg, Haltom City, Texas

Jesus Christ has not changed from the old way; he is the same today, yesterday and forever, Heb.13:8. You are saying, the Holy Spirit directs you at times the right to change on your opinions and by doing so you ignore what He has written in the law of Christ, because you are not perfect. Your opinions means nothing to God. If you want to say that the way of Christ is negative and not positive, that is your problem. Dear sister, that is a slap in the face of the Holy Spirit of God! You have been carried about by divers and strange winds of doctrine, Heb.13:9. The apostle Paul states it best:

1 Tim 4:1 "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;"

Justification for the use of instruments from King David:

The following are quotations from "MECHANICAL INSTRUMENTS OF MUSIC IN WORSHIP", by V. E. Howard, 1970.

... "Not Used In Tabernacle"
"Efforts are made to justify the use of mechanical instrumental music in worship by appealing to the Old Testament law. It is obviously known to any Bible student that the instruments were used in Old Testament times in some cases, although not used in the tabernacle and synagogues."

"The Jews did not use mechanical instruments of music in the Tabernacle and the Synagogue worship, although it was used in the temple. Church Music in History and Practice, page 15, by Winford C. Douglas, states: "The synagogue music was an adoption without music instruments of the Temple music."

"In McClintock and Strong Encyclopedia Vol. 6, page 762, it is stated: "The instruments were never used in ancient worship."

"The instrument was first used in the Jewish synagogue in Berlin in 1815 under violent opposition by many of its members. An appeal to civil authorities and its use was prohibited until the year of 1818. Then, when it was used the Jews were not allowed to play the instrument. A non-Jewish organists was employed."

"The Jews in the United States first introduced the organ in their worship in 1840 in Charlestown, South Carolina. The opposition was bitter. By majority vote, forty six to forty, the use of the instrument was adopted. The matter was carried into court, but the court decision was given in favor of the majority. The case was appealed, but lost again in 1846." ...

For those who vehemently cling to the law of Moses and King David for their authority, are without any hope of the grace of God.

Gal 2:16 "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."

Gal 3:11 "But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith."

Gal 5:4 "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace."

Acts 13:39 "And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses."

Rom 3:20 "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin."

There is no gray area in the previous verses, but black and white of which an elementary student can understand. We know that the law of Moses could not save anyone and those who seek to be justified by it are fallen from grace. So the question is why the law of Moses could not justify anyone?

Col 2:13-14 "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;...... Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;"

Just to name a few of the things that were contrary and against the Jews under the law were; giving of 10% and much more; putting away their wives for no cause; obeying the command to circumcise on the eighth day even if it fell on the Sabbath of which no work could be done according to the law; the offering of animal sacrifice, etc; and the command to keep the law of circumcision itself.

As stated in Col.2:14, Jesus nailed the law to his cross, why?

Gal 3:10-13 "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them......But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith......And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them......Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:"

The apostle Paul tells us that any who are under the works of the law are under the curse, because it was impossible to keep all of the laws. The second reason the law is a curse is because Jesus nailed it to his cross. As noted in Gal.3:13, cursed is anyone who is hanged on a tree according to the law of Moses. Therefore, the law became a curse when Jesus nailed it to his tree.

Heb 8:7 "For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second."

Heb 8:13 "In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away."

Here Paul says, that if the first covenant had been faultless, then why would there be a need for a second? Finally he says, the first covenant was old and ready to vanish away. Even though Jesus ended the law of Moses by nailing it to his cross, God drove the final nail in its coffin when he destroyed Jersusalem in A.D. 70 and all of the records of linage so that there could be no more priests of the tribe of Levi under the law.

Heb 10:1-4 "For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect......For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins......But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year......For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins."

Under no circumstance did the law of Moses ever forgive just one sin. Why? Man could not be redeemed by something less than himself, nor anything equal to himself, but only by the blood of his creator, Jesus Christ. What about those under the law who had all of their sins as a yoke about their necks to the time they died?

Heb 9:15 "And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance."

According to the reading, the blood of Christ flowed backward to cleanse all of the righteous Jews from their sins.

Gal 3:24-25 "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith......But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster."

The law of Moses was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ and when he ended the law and faith came in his name, the schoolmaster was no longer needed.

Ancient denominational fathers who bitterly opposed mechanical instruments of music in worship:

The following are quotations from "MECHANICAL INSTRUMENTS OF MUSIC IN WORSHIP", by V. E. Howard, 1970.

... "ORIGIN OF INSTRUMENTS IN WORSHIP"

"Let us consider briefly the origin of mechanical music in what is called Christian worship. From whence did the use of mechanical instruments of music in worship originate? If it came not from the New Testament, where did it come from?

The first organ introduced into worship of any body of people claiming to be Christians was 670 years after Christ. It was introduced by Pope Vitalian 1. It threatened division in the Roman Catholic Church and was removed to preserve unity. Eight hundred years after Christ the organ was reintroduced into Roman Catholic worship over some opposition. The Greek Catholic Church refused it then and still refuses it today." ...

... "The churches of Christ are not alone in refusing the use of mechanical instruments of music in worship. Many of the world's great religious leaders and Bible scholars have opposed it use in worship. Among them "Orthodox Catholic Apostolic Easter Church," with its thousands of communicants, the Greek Orthodox Church, older than the Roman Catholic Church, have never used instruments in its worship."

OPPOSED BY RELIGIOUS LEADERS
"John Calvin, a great protestant reformer and one of the founders of the Presbyterian Church, said, (Calvin Commentary, Thirty - Third Psalm): "Musical instruments in celebrating the praises of God would be no more suitable than the burning of incense, the lighting up of lamps, and the restoration of the other shadows of the law." ...

... OPPOSED BY METHODIST
"John Wesley, a protestant reformer and the founder of the Methodist Church, when asked about the use of mechanical instruments of music in worship, relied: "I have no opposition to the organ in our chapel provided it is neither seen nor heard." (Clarke's Commentary, Vol.1V, page 686)."

"Adam Clarke, a Methodist, is one of the best Bible commentators, said, (Clarke's Commentary, Vol. 1V, page 686), "I am an old man and a minister; and I declare that I never knew them (mechanical instruments) productive of any good in the worship of God; and I have reason to believe that they were productive of much evil. Music, as a science, I esteem and admire; but instruments of music in the house of God I abominate and abhor. This is the abuse of music and I here register my protest against all such corruption in the worship of the Infinite Spirit who requires his followers to worship him in spirit and in truth." ...

... OPPOSED BY BAPTIST
"Another influential religious leader was Charles Spurgeon, a Baptist minister. For twenty years he preached in the Metropolitan Baptist Tabernacle in London, England, to ten thousand people every Sunday. Never were mechanical instruments used in his services. When asked why he did not use the organ in his services he first quoted 1Cor.14:15, which says, "I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also," then he declared, "I would as soon to pray to God with machinery as to sing to God with machinery."

Andrew Fuller, one of the most respected Bible commentators in the Baptist Church, wrote the following declaration concerning the use of instrumental music in worship:

"The New Testament speaks of praising God by singing, but further it says not ... Paul speaks more than once in his epistles to the Corinthians of instruments of music, but not as being used in religion. He described them as necessary to war, but not to worship: and speaks of them in a language of degradation, as 'things without life, giving sound ... The history of the church during the first three centuries affords many instances of the primitive Christians engaging in singing; but no mention, that I recollect, is made of instruments. Even in times of Constantine, when everthing grand and magnificent was introduced into Christians worship, I find no mention made of instrumental music. If my memory does not deceive me, it originated in the dark ages of popery, where almost every other superstitions are more prevalent, and where the last regard is paid to primitive simplicity" "(Works of Andrew Fuller, Vol. 111, page 520)." ...

Satan's bag of dirty tricks:

When apostate brethren despise the law of God, they also despise the lawgiver. God through Jesus Christ has given a strict commandment as to how we must worship him. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.

John 4:24 "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

All things that are made with men's hands are excluded and that includes the mechanical instrument of music. These fallen brethren remind me of what God had to say to the prophet Samuel regarding the rebellious Jews that he had to deal with.

1 Sam 8:4-7 "Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,.....And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations......But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD......And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them."

As the stubborn Jews rejected God to reign over them as their king, so does the apostate church reject Christ as their king. However, God tolerated their rebellion because of his promise to Abraham that through his seed all nations of the earth would be blessed. But, woe to him who thinks that God will have mercy on him who thumbs his nose at the law of Christ. Why are men so bold in raping the word of God? The carnal world mark those who are kind, forgiving, patient and loving as very weak. Religious men mark God as the same, because he is all of these things and more. Therefore, they think that God is to weak to do anything about their lawlessness.

Gal 6:2 "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."

James 1:25 "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."

The law of Christ is perfect, but the apostate brethren rummage through Satan's dirty bag of tricks and find the one that the denominations used against the law of Christ by saying, faithful brethren are legalistic, that is, too strict and literal. In civil law, men in authority often bend the law to appease or be lenient to the violators. As modern day Pharisees, the apostate church is bending the law of Christ to suit their own criterion.

The rationale of the apostate brethren dates back to those of Ezekeil's day:

Ezek 33:17 "Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal."

Men do not outwardly say that God is not equal, but accuse faithful brethren of not allowing the instrument into their worship. It is as God said to Samuel, they are not accusing you, but me.

Is Jesus the Christ our lawgiver really legalistic?

The supreme lawgiver to whom God gave all power and authority in heaven and earth can be as strict as he pleases. On the other hand, he is kind, forgiving, patient and loving, but rest assured that he is faithful to his law and will reward men according to their works, Matt.16:27. Based upon the apostate brethren's watering down of the gospel of Christ, he stands condemned by them as legalistic for his harsh condemnation of his fellow Jews. Note just a few of the things that he had to say to the Scribes, Pharisees, Lawyers and Chief Priests:

Mat 10:34-36 "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword......For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law......And a man's foes shall be they of his own household."

Mat 15:3 "But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?"

Mat 18:6 "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."

Mat 23:23-33 "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone......Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel......Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess......Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also......Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness......Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity......Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,.....And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets......Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets......Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers......Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?"

Luke 10:12-15 "But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city......Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes......But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you......And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell."

John 8:37 "I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you."

Mat 25:24-27 "Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strowed:.....And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine......His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strowed:.....Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury."

One of the greatest sinister stumbling blocks ever laid before the weak and immature member of the church of Christ is what is called "Church Doctrine", or more properly called, "Sacred Cows of Church Dogma." These are doctrines conceived by members of the church of Christ who make them binding on the church as the testament of Christ. Where did this idea come from? Of course, it was borrowed from the denominations who have their manuals, creed books, etc. Church doctrine is deeply entrenched within the members and trying to get it out of them is like pulling teeth.

The apostle Peter's description of these men apply perfectly today:

2 Pet 3:15-17 "And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;.....As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction......Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness."

The commandments of God are not legalistic nor grevious, but easily understood.

1 John 5:3 "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."

The words of Jesus has no place in the hearts of the modern day Pharisee. Was Jesus legalistic when he gave the stern warning regarding the rejection of his words (law)?

John 12:48 "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day."

Why would Jude tell us to earnestly contend for the faith? It is because Christ knew that there would be those who would apostatize and drift with every wind of doctrine.

Jude 1:3 "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."

There are many reasons why apostate brethren embrace the doctrines of devils. The apostle John in his description of those who will inherit the lake of fire that burns with brimstone, lists the fearful at the top of the list.

Rev 21:8 "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."

The Greek word for "fearful" is timid, fearful; Thayer page 127, "of Christians who through cowardice give way under persecutions and apostatize."

The apostate brethren are ashamed of the gospel of Christ and knuckle down to the pressure of denominations. After all, they do not want to be as our Lord and the apostle Paul who were branded with all sorts of unbecoming names.

The very bottom line of many churches of Christ is selling the sovereignty of the bride of Christ into man made institutions for money. Multimillon dollar buildings have to be paid for and let us not forget the huge salaries that the several preachers on staff are paid. Therefore, to accomodate these liabilities, the doors must be opened to denominationalism in order to bring in whoever can fill a pew and write a check.

Eccl 10:19 "A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things."

2 Cor 2:17 "For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ."

The Greek definition for the word "corrupt" in 2Cor.2:17 is "making gain by." Nothing much has changed today seeing that there a lot of preachers who are only looking for payday and quitting time.

Prov 28:9 "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination."

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