Bible
Study - Are You Worshipping God In Spirit And In Truth?
Lesson 19
Singing In Worship (Part
3)
In Ephesians 5:19 we read,
"Speaking to yourselves
in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making
melody in your heart to the Lord." Also we
read in Colossians 3:16, "Let
the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching,
and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual
songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."
Here we see in our singing, we are to speak, teach,
and admonish one another. This is what God expects
us to do when we sing.
But can a mechanical instrument
of music speak, teach, or admonish as God wishes us to do
when we sing? Of course it can not. A mechanical instrument
of music cannot accomplish anything God has commanded when
we sing to Him in worship. Here we see that when we sing,
we are "to sing with grace in your hearts" and "make
melody in your heart." The melody God wants is to come
from the human heart and not from lifeless mechanical musical
instruments. The mechanical instrument does not have a heart
from which it can worship God.
In 1 Corinthians 14:15 we
read, "I will sing with the
spirit and I will sing with the understanding also."
Not only does an instrument not have a heart, but it also
does not have a spirit with which to understand. Then why
use it? It is only because people like it.
It is sad to say but people
are more interested in pleasing themselves, than pleasing
God. They are not using the instrument to please God, because
God has not authorized its use in worship to Him. God has
only told us to sing. People like the sound of a piano, organ,
or a band. They like to be entertained. This is what they
want. They don’t really care what God has authorized. People
are on very dangerous ground when they take this attitude.
Please respect what God wants and has authorized in His word,
because this is the only way we will be able to please Him
and go to Heaven.
We read in 2 John 9,
"Whosoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine
of Christ does not have God." To go beyond the
doctrine of Christ is to do that for which we have no authority.
We can not practice instrumental music by the authority of
Christ, because Christ has nowhere authorized it, and because
of this we will not have God.
Some people say "I like
instrumental music in worship." If this is the case then
what "I like" becomes the authority and not God.
When man becomes his own authority then each worshipper can
introduce anything he likes with no regard to what God has
said. It becomes: "I like it, I want it, and I am going
to have it." Their feelings take precedence over everything
else. What God says becomes meaningless when we allow our
emotions and feelings to become our guide. Many people
seem to think they are wiser than God and believe that instrumental
music is more pleasing to God because it seems to be more
pleasing to them. In Proverbs 28:26 we read, "He
who trusts in his own heart is a fool."
The Bible is our only authority in matters of religion; not
our opinions, emotions, conscience, or human feelings.
In Colossians 3:16-17 we read,
"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. And whatever you do in word
or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus."
In verse 16 we are told to sing. In the very next verse we
are told, "whatever you do in word or deed, do all
in the name of the Lord Jesus." Notice it says to "do
all". Everything we do in religion is to be done in the
name of the Lord Jesus. To "do all in the name of the
Lord Jesus" means that we must do everything by His authority.
We can certainly sing by the authority of the Lord. But where
would we go in the New Testament for authority for instrumental
music in the worship of the church? It just isn’t there.
In Romans 10:17 we read, "Faith
comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ."
So we see that faith comes from the word of God. Then
we see in Romans 14:23, "For whatever
is not from faith is sin." Therefore if
we believe and practice something religiously that is not
authorized by the Bible it is sin. Worshipping in a
manner not authorized in God's word is sinful. Worshipping
God with the mechanical instrument of music is not authorized
in the Bible so it is sinful. But do people really care?
Questions Lesson 19
Singing In Worship (Part
3)
(click on the button of the
answer of your choice)
1) (Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16) In
our singing in our worship service
We are to entertain one another.
We are to impress others how well we can sing.
We are to speak, teach, and admonish one another.
2)
The mechanical instrument of music speaks, teaches, and
admonishes one another as God wishes.
3) (Ephesians 5:19, Colossians
3:16) When we sing in worship we are to make melody
On a piano.
In our hearts.
On an organ.
4)
The mechanical instrument of music has a heart on which
God wishes the melody to be made.
5) (1 Corinthians 14:15)
We are to sing with
A piano.
An organ.
The spirit and the understanding.
6)
A mechanical instrument of music cannot accomplish anything
God has commanded when we sing in worship to Him.
7) (2 John 9) If we transgress
and do not abide in the doctrine of Christ
We still have God.
We do not have God.
We are well pleasing to God.
8)
To go beyond the doctrine of Christ is to do that for
which we have no authority.
9) (Colossians 3:16-17)
All that we do in worship including our singing
Is to be done in the name or by the authority of
Christ.
Can be done as we choose.
Should be entertaining to all.
10)
We cannot use the mechanical instrument of music by
the authority of Christ in our worship services.
