One of the things that never fails to catch the attention of first-time visitors to the Apostolic Christian Church is the complete absence of musical instruments. To an outsider, this may seem, well, positively un-Christian! After all, instrumental music (especially organ music) and Christianity go hand-in-hand, don't they? No, not really, the idea of musical instruments in the church is a very late--and very Roman Catholic idea! The Christian church went without musical instruments for centuries and that was a conscious choice on its part. Why was that? Because they were following the Scriptures and the example of the New Testament churches.

The New Testament Model For Worship

There isn't a single instance of instrumental music used in Christian worship in the New Testament.  Here are the most relevant examples regarding music in the church:

And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. (The Biblical account of the Last Supper, Matthew 26:30) (see also Mark 14:26)

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:18-20)

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. (Colossians 3:16)

What is it then? 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. (Paul talking about church services, 1 Corinthians 14:15)

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. (Acts 16:25)

Now admittedly, Paul and Silas probably were not holding a formal religious service in prison (Acts 16:25), but it was a notable instance of Christian worship, nonetheless. However, the Last Supper was a religious service (a Passover service, but with special Christian significance). And wouldn't you like to have been present when Jesus and His disciples sang that last hymn before His crucifixion in the upper room? What a moving hymn that probably was. And you can be sure that there was no pipe organ, or amplifiers or drums or synthesizer music either. And you can be doubly sure that the disciples did not do a lewd hip-hop dance while singing (like you see in some churches these days)! And I am quite certain that they all participated, it was not a show where only a few sang and the others watched, fighting to keep back the yawns!

Some would argue that there are some references to angels strumming harps in the book of Revelation, which is based on John's apocalyptic vision. That is true, but it is purely instrumental music (no singing). And we need to point out that we are not angels in heaven, but humans on earth; what applies to angels does not necessarily apply to human beings! Others point to the numerous references to the sound of the trumpet in the New Testament. Yes, the trumpet is mentioned, but always in the context of an alarm or calling the troops to war, not as a musical instrument to play songs with; and it is never associated with singing or worship. The verses most relevant to music in Christian worship are those from Paul's epistles (see the verses from  1st Corinthians, Ephesians and Colossians above) and clearly no musical instruments are mentioned therein.

What About Instruments In The Old Testament?

But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. When He said, "A new covenant " He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear. (Hebrews 8:6-7, 13) (NASB)

Now proponents of musical instruments in the church are quick to point out that there are verses in the Old Testament which reveal that instruments were used in temple worship services. These are usually also the same people who alternately pick and choose verses from either the Old Testament or the New Testament depending on the action or theory they are trying to justify. To use an extreme example, many cult leaders have used the Old Testament to justify their polygamy, while ignoring the fact that polygamy is not endorsed in the New Testament. Or to use another example, many point to the Old Testament in an attempt to justify war, while ignoring Jesus's words against violence. Or in another example, Zwingli, the father of the Swiss Reformation, tried to justify infant baptism by comparing it with circumcision in the Old Testament; however he conveniently ignored the fact that there was not a single example of it in the Bible and that the Apostle Paul wrote numerous New Testament letters exhorting readers to not become entangled with the demands of the Mosaic law of the Old Testament (and especially circumcision!)!

Chapters eight and nine of Hebrews makes it clear that there were two covenants, one for Old Testament times and a second with the coming of Christ--and the second covenant superceded the first (see Scriptures above). Therefore, it is unwise to choose the Old Testament over the New when both touch on the issue you are addressing. Incidentally, the primacy of the New Testament has been one of the main tenets of the Anabaptist faith since the beginning. So the next time you hear someone try to use the Old Testament to try to justify musical instruments in the church, ask them if they also want to go back to animal sacrifices, ritual cleanliness, kosher observances and all that went with Old Testament worship!

Music In The Early Christian Church

Now because references to church music are so scant in the New Testament, you many wonder if it is possible that musical instruments really were used, but just somehow escaped mention in the Scriptures. No, that's very unlikely.  How do we know? We know because we know about the Apostolic tradition (the tradition passed down from Jesus's disciples, the very people who led the very first Christian churches). Early historical records tell us that the Apostles set down a pattern of oral and written instruction which the first Christian congregations used to organize their churches and to order their worship services. In addition to the Scriptures, we have many writings of the early church leaders who succeeded the Apostles as leaders of the churches. From what they wrote it is abundantly clear that they did not use musical instruments, nor did they think they were appropriate for Christian worship. Here are a few quotes from them:

But as for us, we make use of one instrument alone: only the Word of peace by whom we pay homage to God, no longer with ancient harp or trumpet or drum or flute which those trained for war employ. (Clement of Alexandria, c. 190)

What trumpet of God is now heard--unless it is in the entertainments of the heretics? (Tertullian, c. 210)

Why should I speak of strings set vibrating to noise? Even if these things were not dedicated to idols, they should not be approached and gazed upon by faithful Christians. (Novatian, c. 235)

The unison voices of Christians would be more acceptable to God than any musical instrument. Accordingly in all the churches of God, united in soul and attitude, with one mind and in agreement of faith and piety we send up a unison melody in the words of the Psalms. (Eusebius, Commentary on Psalm 91:2-3, c.320)

David formerly sang songs, also today we sing hymns. He had a lyre with lifeless strings, the church has a lyre with living strings. Our tongues are the strings of the lyre with a different tone indeed but much more in accordance with piety. Here there is no need for the cithara, or for stretched strings, or for the plectrum, or for art, or for any instrument; but, if you like, you may yourself become a cithara, mortifying the members of the flesh and making a full harmony of mind and body. (Chrysostom, Exposition of Psalm 41, c. 381-398)

For the sound of these [trumpets, harps, cymbals and timbrels of the Old Testament] we now have a better instrument in the music from the mouths of men. The daily ablutions, the new moon observances, the careful inspection of leprosy [of the Old Testament] are completely past and gone, along with whatever else was necessary for only a time, as it were, for children. (Niceta, Bishop of Remesian, c. 400)

Now were these Christian leaders the exception to the rule? Was it possible that musical instruments were common in some early Christian churches? Not at all! Every single scholar of early Christian history of note has concluded that instruments were not used in the early Christian church (see our links below for quotes from various scholars on early Christian music). The fact is that instruments were not introduced into the Roman Catholic Church until Pope Vitalian asked that they be used in the church in 685, and even then, it was over many objections from the religious leaders of the day. The first installation of an organ in a church can be traced to the 800's, but organs did not become common until the 1200's because of the resistance to instrumental music by the clergy and laity. The Eastern Orthodox Church, which broke away from the Roman Catholic Church in 1054, has continued many of the church traditions from that time, including the rejection of musical instruments in nearly all of their churches until this very day.

Of course, by the time of the Protestant Reformation in the 1500's, the use of musical instruments in the Roman Catholic Church had become well entrenched, particularly the use of the pipe organ. The introduction of instruments was just one of many errors brought into the church (click on History above to read about the gradual decline of the church). However, nearly every Reformation leader sought to go back to the type of worship prescribed by the Bible, which included the removal of musical instruments from the church. Zwingli, the father of the Swiss Reformation, made a name for himself by removing organs from every church that was under his control. John Knox, the father of the Presbyterian church, had the organs removed from churches that had been converted to his Protestant faith. The Anabaptists did not allow use of musical instruments. And even Martin Luther railed against the use of the organ in the church and called it the "insignia of Baal."!1

These Protestant attitudes against musical instruments prevailed in most denominations until the 1800's or even later in America. Most of the newer Protestant groups condemned instruments as well, including the Calvinists, Puritans, Baptists and Methodists. In fact, John Wesley (the father of Methodism) said, "I have no objection to instruments of music in worship--provided they are neither seen nor heard."2  

Of course, it is obvious that these attitudes have changed in most Protestant denominations, as musical instruments of some type are found in nearly all of their churches. But one has to ask himself why this happened. Did those in these denominations become convinced that worshipping without instruments was contrary to the Bible? No, there is no record of that. Did the New Testament, the Apostolic examples and long tradition of the first Christian church and the Reformers change? Of course not! Instead, it is fairly obvious that after the embers that started these denominations started to cool off, following the example of the Bible, the Apostles, the early church and the Protestant reformers became less important to the parishioners and clergy, and following the example of the world around them became more important.

Historical Concerns About Instrumental Worship Music

In additional to the Biblical and Apostolic tradition, the early church fathers and church historians have named a number of reasons why musical instruments should not be used in churches:

It Creates A Disconnect Between The Congregation And Worship: While this concern was only hinted at by the early church fathers, history has shown that this was the result of bringing instruments into the church. Worship is meant to be participated in by all, it is not something meant only for a select few. But when instrumental music is made a part of worship, the focus becomes the instrumentalists instead of the act of worship on part of the laity. Obviously, not everyone can be an instrumentalist, so all can not participate equally.

One church historian observed, "The tendency of this [instrumental music] was to secularize the music of the church and to encourage singing by a choir [instead of the congregation]."3  This is true. If you attend a church that has instrumental music, it almost guaranteed that it also has a church choir. The church choir is a group of people (generally chosen from the congregation, but not always) who presumably sing better than the rest of the congregation. The trend started by employing trained instrumental musicians inevitably creeps into vocal music as well. Worship becomes the domain of the better-trained professionals and the remainder of the laity is left out.

This is not unlike the destructive, devastating divide that was created between the laity and clergy in the Roman Catholic Church. It wasn't long before the priests were seen as God and it was claimed that the prayers of the laity were to no avail (click on History above for details on the decline of the church). There was no divide between the congregation and musical worship in the first Christian church--and there shouldn't be any such divide now.

It Turns Worship Into Entertainment: When one steps onto the slippery slope by using instruments in worship, the next step  is that the concept of worship becomes distorted to mean entertainment, that is passively listening or watching someone else making music for the Lord. Why is this? Because when instrumental musicians and/or a choir are used, the musicians make music--while the congregation sits and listens; rarely does the congregation become involved in the music making. And why should they? They are just amateurs! In other words, the congregation is not participating in the worship at all; the worship service has turned into a form of entertainment. So it is natural for them to see worship as just another kind of entertainment.

That many parishioners regard church services as entertainment is plainly evident. For example, many churches regularly applaud musical performances in the church with clapping (and sometimes even cheering and whistling); this is exactly the same response they have to other common forms of secular entertainment. Now consider if such conduct would be considered appropriate after a prayer (another form of worship)?  I think not! Most churches would not think of applauding with raucous cheering after an especially fervent prayer, but the fact that they commonly cheer after listening to music in their church services speaks volumes (no pun intended). Now some may point out that most churches do have the congregation sing a song or two during the service. Yes, that is true, but it is clearly secondary to the professional music productions put on by the church.

Some churches have taken the entertainment model to the next level. For example, the large Willow Creek church in Illinois has disposed of anything remotely resembling a church service and has instead put on various kinds of theater type productions. Evidently, they believe that entertainment and worship are one and the same. From the early church quotes we list below (as well as many more that we don't have the space for here), it is clear that the early church fathers would have been horrified at the thought of turning Christian worship into a form of entertainment, and often a form of entertainment barely distinguishable from the secular entertainment outside of the church.

Secular, Godless Music Should Not Be Brought Into The Church: The early church believed that it was unwise to bring secular music into the church because of its associations with pagan religions and godless entertainment. In contrast with the many forms of instrumental music, a cappella music apparently had no unsavory, worldly associations. Here is a sampling of early church quotes on the subject:

Musical instruments were not used. The pipe, tabret, and harp are associated so closely with the sensual, pagan religions, as well as with the wild revelries and shameless performances of the degenerate theater and circus, that it is easy to understand the prejudices against their use in the worship. (Augustine, describing the singing at Alexandria under Athanasius, c. 354)

Outside [the church] they foolishly amuse themselves with impious amusements . . . occupied with flute playing, dancing, intoxication and all kinds of frivolity. (Clement of Alexandria, c. 195)

One might say that there is no danger in present society of bringing music into the church that has pagan origins. Oh really? Let's not forget about the beliefs commonly associated with music styles; for example, New Age music is associated with New Age philosophies and even pagan religions! Certain types of rock music are associated with Satanism and other such things. So this concern is relevant even today.

We can see from Augustine's quote that instruments were used in pagan religions, as well as the "degenerate theater." Amazingly, his references to the entertainment of almost two thousand years ago are quite applicable to our modern society, with its filthy music videos, movies and television fare! Yet this is exactly what many "progressive" churches are doing--that is, stooping so low that they are even attaching Christian lyrics to rap and hip-hop music, complete with lewd dancing and gestures! And these are music styles dominated by hoodlums and pimps! Churches claim to be doing this so they can "connect with the young people." Clearly, this kind of compromise was unthinkable to the early Christian church; converts were expected to reject worldly entertainment and embrace Christian worship, not the other way around!

The Scriptures tell us that we are not to love the world (1 John 2:15) because friendship with the world makes us an enemy of God (James 4:4). We are warned not to let ourselves be conformed to (Romans 12:2) or tainted by the secular world (James 1:27) and furthermore that we must overcome the world (1 John 5:4). Considering this, we must ask ourselves, what kind of church would knowingly open its doors, yes, even its very worship services, to some of the most vile, ungodly forms of musical entertainment?

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (James 1:27)

You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4) (NASB)

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2)

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:2)

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. (Titus 2:11-12)

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1 John 2:15-16)

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:4)

Bringing instruments into the church, especially those associated with worldly music, has divided many churches. The old (who prefer organ, piano or orchestral church music) are divided from the young who prefer various styles of rock music that employ electric guitars, drums, synthesizers and the like. Traditionalists who prefer hymns with meaningful lyrics are divided from those who prefer the less weighty lyrics that most often accompany "contemporary" Christian music. Those who resist newer music because it is the "devil's music" are divided from those who believe that the devil's music can be tamed with Christian lyrics. Yet all of these people are wrong. There is no support in scriptures or early church history for the use of any instruments in church worship! How much better it would be if they followed the New Testament example. The case would be closed and there would be less division in the church.

Instruments Can Inspire Sensuality And Violence: Another common objection to instruments was that they inspire sensuality (particularly sensual movements) in the hearers or even violent feelings or outright violence. If anyone doubts this, all he has to do is to is view a rock n' roll music video or concert, most are saturated with blatant sexuality. And some dark, cutting edge music can to be overtly violent; there have been cases where people have been killed at concerts of this kind of music or have been so influenced by the dark music that they have committed suicide! Church should be a place of solemn worship, not dancing, disorder and sensuality. Here's what the early Christian church said on this topic:

Your [pagan] public assemblies I have come to hate. For there are excessive banquets and subtle flutes that provoke people to lustful movements. (Justin Martyr, defending Christianity to a pagan audience, c. 160).

If people occupy their time with pipes, psalteries, choirs, dances, Egyptian clapping of the hands and such disorderly frivolities, they become quite immodest . . . However, if you investigate, you will find other instruments to be warlike, inflaming to lusts, kindling up passion, or rousing wrath. (Clement of Alexandria, c. 195)

Some may pooh-pooh the idea of music stirring up emotions. However, we know that music has a great deal to do with sparking emotions in entertainment; for example, imagine how boring movies would be without any background music to set the mood (if you are a movie fan, try watching an emotional video with the sound turned off, you'll be surprised how much the music adds to the movie). And I would dare say that every reader here would find it inappropriate if we were to sing happy, frivolous music at a funeral instead of the somber fare most of us have come to associate with such sad occasions! Or what would a wedding be like without some appropriate songs? Or Christmas, for that matter? So it is appropriate to use the type of instruments that would stir up emotions, so that, for example, you might want to get up and dance? Or how about music that has sexual overtones? Is this kind of music appropriate for worship? The early church did not think so.

Of course, as the early church writers have implied, the style of music, in addition to the instruments, has a lot to do with the emotional effect. One could argue that the organ music common in churches in years gone by probably did not stir up the wrong kind of emotions. This may be true, but it is almost a moot point; every day more and more churches are turning to more modern styles of music, particularly, rock n' roll (so-called "contemporary Christian music"). Once one opens the church doors to let one musical instrument in, it is very hard to bar another from getting in. And the fact is that it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to do a respectable rendition of most modern music styles without any musical instruments, so churches following the New Testament model are not in any danger of bringing worldly music into the church. So in the end, the best choice is to follow the example of the first Christian church.

Congregational A Cappella Singing Does Not Foster Pride: Apostolic Christians often point out another benefit to their practice of congregational singing, one that the church fathers did not mention. Congregational singing lessens the possibility that someone will become proud because he has been selected as an instrumentalist in the church band, or as the church organist or as a singer good enough for the church choir or as a soloist. By definition, congregational singing does not put the focus on a single person or select group of people.

Music In The Apostolic Christian Church

As noted above, the Apostolic Christian Church models its worship after the New Testament, which means that all music is done a cappella, by the entire congregation. The only exceptions might be during funerals, where a choir is employed because the mourners may be too distraught to sing. The Apostolic Christian Church sings in four-part harmony (soprano, alto, tenor, bass), which is quite easy for one to learn because of their separated seating arrangements (that is, men sit with men and women sit with women--see "What To Expect" from our Library for more information) as you will naturally be sitting near someone singing the same part. 

We know that the earliest Christian music was sung without harmony (i.e., there wasn't more than one musical part) as harmony was virtually unknown at that time. However, harmony was eventually incorporated into Christian music and only put into full service when the Protestants revived the practice of congregational singing during the Reformation (the Roman Catholic Church had banned all singing by the laity many centuries earlier). The Apostolic Christian Church does not (and never did) use the "Ausbund," the traditional Anabaptist hymnal that a few Anabaptist denominations still use. That hymnal does not use four-part harmony which was in keeping with the older style of singing. The Apostolic Christian Church chose instead to create their own hymnal, The Zion's Harp, which utilizes traditional four-part harmony and incorporates many Pietistic hymns along with those of their own making.

The practice of congregational singing is so enjoyable and inspiring to Apostolic Christians that they regularly hold "singings," that is, formal or informal meetings where families get together and sing hymns for an hour or more. These can happen in homes or church fellowship halls or church basements. This practice is unknown to most denominations, with the exception of some Anabaptist groups and a few groups in the Southern United States that get together to sing, especially from old Southern shape-note hymnals.

We should note here that many Apostolic Christian Churches have pianos or organs in their fellowship halls and many Apostolic Christians play musical instruments and have them in their homes. As these are not used in formal worship services, they are not seen to be in conflict with the New Testament model of worship. Pianos and organs in fellowship halls are only used to accompany hymns at singings, or to play hymns at wedding and anniversary celebrations, or in some cases, to help train young people to sing four-part harmony. However, even at singings, it is generally seen as preferable to sing without any musical accompaniment if there are enough people present to fill the room with sound without any instrumental support.

Musical instruments in the homes are generally only used to play hymns and in some cases, classical music or folk tunes, but not for playing rock n' roll or other worldly music. And Apostolic Christians do not necessarily see instrumental Christian recordings as evil; some Apostolic Christians have even made such recordings themselves. However, Apostolic Christians draw the line at music in church worship services--no instruments are allowed.

Is Instrumental Music Sinful?

Most Apostolic Christians would fall short of saying that instrumental music in Christian worship services is inherently sinful. However, they certainly think congregational singing without instruments is a better, more fruitful approach to worship for all of the reasons mentioned above. And all would agree that a cappella singing is consistent with the Scriptures. However, to be clear, there is no Scripture that specifically condemns the use of musical instruments, yet the total absence of the mention of the use of instruments in Christian worship should give pause to anyone trying to model his life after the Apostles and ultimately, Jesus Christ Himself.

More Information

Want more information? Apostolic Christian music is discussed in the document in our library called "What To Expect." It even includes a snippet of music from a real church service! Other documents on Apostolic Christian music are in the works so check our web page every now and then to see what is new! And see the third-party references below for additional information.

References:

1  Quoted in McClintock & Strong's Encyclopedia, Volume VI, page 762.

2  Quoted in Adam Clarke's Commentary, Volume 4, page. 685.

3  Primitive Church, Lyman Coleman, pages 376-377

 

 

 

anidia_blue.gif Historical Quotes On The Use Of Instruments In Worship Find out what the early church fathers had to say about musical instruments in Christian worship, as well as what noted historians had to say about the use of instruments in the church.

anidia_blue.gif Instrumental Music And Church History A brief review of the history of instrumental church music. Click Here for part two of this article.

anidia_blue.gif New Testament Finality The primacy of the New Testament has been one of the main tenets of the Anabaptist faith since its beginning. However many Anabaptists are not even aware of this! Here is a brief discussion of this doctrine and how it came to be.

 

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