Why Churches of Christ Do Not Use Mechanical Instruments of Music in Worship

The churches of Christ do not now, nor have they ever used mechanical music in worship to God.  Christ did not command it, no apostle ever sanctioned it, no New Testament writer ever authorized it, and no apostolic church ever practiced it.  We have no authority for it.  Col 3:17shows that all we do must be done by the authority of Christ

1. The preceding page shows what the Bible says about our music to be used in praise of God and in teaching and admonishing each other.  The Bible is silent on mechanical music, just as the Law of Moses was silent on priest from Judah (Heb 7:14) and yet they weren’t spiritual (He 8:4).  Neither are mechanical instruments.
2. Some arguments people make trying to justify instruments (mechanical) of music in worship today.

• Some say David used them, therefore, we can praise with them today.  Answer: David had 18 wives and burnt sacrifices.  Is David our authority?
• David said he praised with the instruments – I Cor 23:5.  Many today say they don’t praise with them but only use them as an aid.
• They were used in the –temple but only in the portion which was not a type of the church 2 Chr. 29:25-30
• Some argue that the Greek words translated “sing” and “psalm” include the mechanical instrument.   “Psallo” is translated “sing” 3 times, make melody – 1, and using psalms 1.  “Psallo” a. to pluck off, pull out; b.  to cause to vibrate by touching, to twang;  to touch or strike the chord, to twang the strings of a musical instrument so that they gently vitrate….to play on a stringed instrument, go play the harp…..(in the) “Sept. for nagan and much oftner for zamar; to sing to the music of the harp; in the NT to sing a hymn, to celebrate the praises of God in song…”  Thayer.
• “Psalmos: – a striking, twanging, …..spec. a striking the chords of a musical instrument; hence a pious song, a psalm –Eph 5:19; Col. 3:16 ….” Thayer.  Thayer’s lexicon gives the derivation of the words meanings.  Since Thayer’s lexicon is a NT lexicon, it gives the meanings of words during the time of the writing of the NTeven though it may go back and give the origin and history of the word.  Sometimes people will pick up a Greek lexicon of some time other than the 1st century and try to make other believe the words in the Greek NT had such a meaning when, in fact, the words had no such meaning in the NT   ****  The words in the Bible uses do not include the instrument and there is no authority for such.  The instrument the of God specifies is the Heart.  Ep. 5:19

POINTS:

1. Mechanical music, to be approved, must be either a command or and aid or expedient.  Which is it??  If the Bible specifies it, all not using it are wrong and sinful and our worship to God in song depends upon having a musician with an instrument present.  If it is not commanded, it could be no more than an aid!!  Which command does it ail??  How does it aid singing when it is played (during the LS and the passing of the hat) when no one is singing like most who have it do?
2. A piano may or may not help to produce a higher quality of music (depending on a person’s likes) but God is interested in our praise, not just high quality music.  A piano would tend to drown out the teaching and the admonishing done by the human voice.
3. The OT is not our authority today.  Heb. 1:1-2; Col 2:14

Reference: “The Church The Greatest Work of God.”, David Bonner, 1971, pp 66-67.