Worship is a sacred act that connects humanity with its Creator. In Scripture, God has always revealed how He wants to be worshipped—not based on human preference or cultural innovation, but by divine command. As we study worship under the New Covenant of Christ, one of the most discussed and sometimes controversial elements is church music. The Bible has a clear pattern: God desires His people to glorify Him in singing, not with instrumental music.
The Twofold Purpose of Worship
Every act of worship has two primary purposes:
To glorify God – Worship is directed upward, offering praise, thanksgiving, and honor to God.
Hebrews 13:15 teaches, “Through Him [Jesus] then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name.” This "fruit of lips" is vocal, not mechanical.
To edify the church – Worship is also directed inward, strengthening and building up the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 14:26 says, “Let all things be done for edification.” Whether teaching, praying, or singing, every element of worship must build up the faith of those gathered.
Singing in the Assembly
The New Testament reveals that singing is the form of music God has authorized for the Christian assembly.
- Ephesians 5:19 – “Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”
- Colossians 3:16 – “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly… teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
These verses teach several important truths:
- Christians are to speak and teach one another through singing.
- The melody is made in the heart, not on an instrument.
- Worship in song is both horizontal (to one another) and vertical (to God).
Paul also affirmed in 1 Corinthians 14:15, “I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.” This highlights the importance of understanding and intention in worship—not just noise or performance.
Instrumental Music in the Old Covenant
Some argue that instrumental music was used in worship during the Old Testament. And indeed, it was—by command.
2 Chronicles 29:25–28 records how King Hezekiah restored worship in Jerusalem and set Levites in the temple with “cymbals, psalteries, and harps… for the command was of the Lord through His prophets.”
These instruments were not merely optional; they were commanded by God for a specific people (Israel), under a specific covenant (the Law of Moses), at a specific time (temple worship). It would have been sinful not to use them then—just as it would be sinful to add them now, under a covenant where they are not authorized.
The Silence of the New Testament
The New Testament contains no command, no example, and no implication of instruments being used in Christian worship—neither individually nor in the assembly.
Some argue, “But the Bible doesn’t say not to use instruments.” But God’s silence is not permission. God doesn’t have to say "do not use drums" or "do not use a piano." He has already said what to do: sing.
This principle is seen throughout Scripture:
- God commanded unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine for the Lord’s Supper. We don’t need a verse saying, “Do not use coffee or cake.” God’s instructions already exclude alternatives.
- In Leviticus 10:1–2, Nadab and Abihu offered “strange fire” before the Lord, which He had not commanded, and they were consumed by God’s judgment.
- In Colossians 3:17, Paul writes, “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,” meaning by His authority.
Covenant Authority and Worship
Christians live under the New Covenant, not the Old. The Law of Moses, with its temple, priests, animal sacrifices, and instrumental worship, has been fulfilled and taken away (Colossians 2:14, Hebrews 8:13).
- David, a man after God’s own heart, used instruments because God commanded him to under the old covenant.
- But David also had multiple wives and offered animal sacrifices—practices not repeated under Christ.
Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 2:15, “Stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught by us, whether by word or epistle.” The apostolic traditions are the binding teachings of the New Covenant, and they include singing—but never playing.
Warnings About Adding to Worship
Scripture consistently warns against adding to or subtracting from God’s commands:
- Deuteronomy 4:2 – “You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it.”
- Proverbs 30:6 – “Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and you be found a liar.”
- Revelation 22:18–19 – A stern warning against adding to or taking away from God’s revealed will.
In 2 John 9, we read: “Whoever goes onward and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God.” This includes those who go beyond what is authorized in worship.
Conclusion: Sing and Be Content
God has told us what to do in worship: sing. He has told us how to do it: from the heart, with understanding. He has told us why to do it: to glorify Him and edify one another. And He has told us when and where to do it: both as individuals and together in the assembly.
To add anything—such as instrumental music—is to go beyond what is written (1 Corinthians 4:6), and to engage in will-worship (Colossians 2:23), not true worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24).
Let us hold fast to the pattern of sound words (2 Timothy 1:13), worship God in the way He has commanded, and find joy in the simplicity and beauty of singing praise to His name.
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly… singing with grace in your hearts to God.” – Colossians 3:16
