More and more "churches of Christ" are going to the use of mechanical instruments of music in their worship. The more I read and hear of such, the more I ponder, "where do they get authority for it?
Is it Acts 16:25: "...at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and SINGING hymns to God..."? NO! Could it be Rom. 15:9: "...I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And SING to Your name."? Not hardly! What about 1 Cor. 14:15: "...I will SING with the spirit, and I will also SING with the understanding."? Not there! Maybe it’s Eph. 5:19: "speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, SINGING and making melody in your heart to the Lord."? Maybe not! Perhaps they use Col. 3:16: "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 grace in your hearts to the Lord."? Not even close! Do they get it from Heb. 2:12: "...In the midst of the assembly I will SING praise to You."? No way! How about Jas. 5:13: "...Is anyone cheerful? Let him SING psalms."? Didn’t say a thing about "playing".
The obvious conclusion? There is no N.T. authority for mechanical instruments of music in worship. Where do they get it? Opinions 3:27, I guess. (See Pro. 14:12; Mt. 15:9).
|
