Where's The Organ?

     It is not unusual for first time visitors in a congregation of Christ to ask,
"Where's the organ?" They are amazed by this major dissimilarity between
the congregations of Christ and the denominational world. Their allegiance
to human  tradition  has  led them so far down the road  of religious error,
that they  have  become  accustomed  to  doing  whatever  seems  right in
worship, irrespective of what the New Covenant teaches. It is always
appropriate to ask, "Where's the organ? Why do congregations of Christ
not use mechanical instruments of music in their worship of God?"

     First, while on earth Jesus promised the apostles that when he returned
to heaven, that he would ask the Father to send them another Helper, the
Spirit of truth, who would guide them into all the truth. (Jno. 14:16; 16:13)
The teaching of the apostles was of utmost importance in the first century,
and remains the same to this very day. (Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 14:37) On this
basis, inasmuch as the Holy Spirit did not reveal anything through the
apostles allowing the use of mechanical instruments of music in worship,
no faithful congregation employs such in its worship. It's use in the
worship of God in this age is no part of  "the truth" into which the Spirit
of truth guided the apostles. Therefore, it is rejected as an unacceptable
addition to the will of God.

     Second, God wants people to do what he authorizes in worship and
to shun all else. We have no right to do anything in religion except what
God authorizes. (Col. 3:17; 1 Pet. 4:11) We  learn  from  the apostles
that God authorizes people to act by  means   of   direct  statements,
approved  accounts  of  action, and implication. There is no direct
statement in the New Testament that tells us to use instrumental music
in worship. There is no account of action that shows any congregation
following the apostles lead by using instrumental music in worship.
Neither is there a text in the New Testament that leads to the unavoidable
conclusion that we may use instrumental music in our worship. Therefore
we reject its use since there is no authority from God permitting its use.

     Third, God has not left humanity in a state of doubt as to the kind
of music he desires. He has told us in specific terms to "sing and make
melody with the heart." (Acts 16:25; Rom. 15:9; 1 Cor. 14:15; Eph. 5:19;
Col. 3:16; Jas. 5:13; Heb. 2:12; Heb. 13:15) God's wisdom is perfect and
his plan is all sufficient. We demonstrate acceptance of God's wisdom and
trust in his plan when we worship the way that he has revealed. "God is
spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." (Jno. 4:24)
When we alter God's plan and supplant it with human schemes we imply that
we know more about what is right than God knows. Those who use
instrumental music in worship indict God with not knowing what he says he
knows. It is wrong to replace divine wisdom with human logic. God says
sing. Those who play on instruments in worship are presumptuous with their
substitute.

     Fourth, the New Testament teaches that people who live now are not
under the Old Covenant. (Rom. 7:4; Gal. 3:24-25; Heb. 8:8-13; 9:15)
Our worship does not consist of the same elements that were allowed in
O.T. times. We do not burn incense, offer animal sacrifices, or use
instruments of music as the Jews did under their law. We do not follow
David's instructions in Psa. 150. Christ Jesus is the great prophet through
whom God speaks. (Mat. 17:5; Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18;  Heb. 1:1-2)
Those who use instrumental music in worship fail to understand the
distinction between the Old and New Covenants.

     Fifth, the New Testament is clear that we are to "sing and make melody
with the heart." (Eph. 5:19) Not with drums, tambourines, guitars, pianos,
or the harp, but "with the heart." He did not say to make melody with the
h-a-r-p, but with the h-e-a-r-t. God has specified the means by which we
are to make melody. The person who loves God will do things God's way.
God's way is to sing, for that is what he said. We return to the original
question, "Where's the organ?" We know where it is not...it is not in the
worship of the faithful people of God!
                                                                                                RD

Copyright 2011