Thanks for the question. This is one I've been asked
several times in the last several days so I'm going to answer it a little less personally
if you don't mind and just cover the whole group at once.
The entire worship question and what is right is
worship is on the minds of people today. We are searching for answers and the fact others
have searched in the past isn't sufficient. If the Bible were absolutely clear on the
whole theme in instrumental music in the worship assembly it would not continue to be such
a boiling topic of discussion among honest believers who love the Lord and want to be
pleasing to Him.
But we must be extremely careful that we are not
like the Israelites simply wanting to be like the nations about us an searching for the
latest new thing because we think we aren't growing with what we have. If the message of
God won't save folks then they won't be convinced though one rise from the dead. So, let's
look honestly at what the Bible says for a moment.
It is true the instrument was common in the Old
Testament worship. It is true it is talked about in heaven. It is also true the New
Testament is silent as the tomb about the use of an instrument in worship to God as it
relates to the church and it's worship, even though it was talked about all around that
oasis of the church. Do you really think that was just an accident?
The second thing which is significant is that The
Holy Spirit took the very word He had led the Holy Prophets of Old to use in the Old
Testament to apply to them playing the instruments such as harps and applied it to each
person who sings making melody or playing their own heart to the Lord as they sing. Can't
you do that and use an instrument also? Maybe? But it is powerful to me that God to His
normal word and used it to apply to the instrument we all are to play today as we sing.
The third thing which stands out is the Holy Spirit
was very specific about the kinds of songs we are to sing. He said Psalms, hymns, and
spiritual songs are the songs to sing as you praise the Lord. Now some would challenge my
thinking and say, Leon these verses you are referring to in Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians
3:16 don't even apply to the assemblies but are simply having to do with the actions of an
individual in daily life. If such is the case, you are limited to these kinds of songs all
the time. Also, note the fact the singing of these test are pointed in two directions, to
"One another" as for as the voice is concerned and "unto God" as for
as the heart is concerned. If that doesn't sound like worship then I'm missing something
somewhere.
Is this so air tight that I'm ready to consign
someone to hell for disagreeing with me? Not on your life. The truth is, I'm not ready to
consign anyone to hell for disagreeing with me period. Each of us will stand before the
Lord all too soon.
I hope and pray we will not allow something else to
drive another wedge between us as brothers and sisters in the Lord. The mission of
reaching the lost and helping those who hurt is simply far too great to get sidetracked
with such things.
Leon Barnes