Church of Christ people question

[ydouxist]

Why no instruments? I don't want to start a debate.
I'm just curios?
Please, please, please, no debates.

[Jim Woodell]

Why no instruments? I don't want to start a debate.
I'm just curios?
Please, please, please, no debates.

What, no debate. You are going to make us violate our reputation of wanting to argue about everything.;)

Seriously, I am happy to respond without debate. As a general rule members of the Churches of Christ see mechanical instruments for music to be unauthorized in the New Testament and divisive to the fellowship of Christians. Historically, instrumental music was not introduced into the Christian movement until hundreds of years after the church was established. The argument for not using instruments in worship comes from the silence of the Bible on the subject, not from a command not to use instruments.

Interestingly, the Greek Orthodox Church is non-instrumental today, and noted men of the past refused to use instrumental music in their worship (i.e. Charles Spurgeon).

As with other things, this will be an ongoing discussion in the Christian community until Jesus comes.

There may be other Church of Christ folks that want to address this query. I would like to hear your view myself.

[woman.at.the.well]

When I first became a christian I was attending the Church of Christ and was told that the reason no instruments were used was because the early New Testament church did not want to be anything like the pagans and how they worshipped their gods - which was with instruments, dancing, etc..

[StevenL]

I can worship just fine without instruments. I can worship just as well with instruments. I can worship without any melody line at all. :)

[WesWoodell]

Why no instruments?


Because we know from history that the early church didn't use them when they met together for worship on Sundays.

Personally, I don't feel that having instruments in worship service is wrong, but many in the brotherhood of the church of Christ would disagree with me. The fact is the New Testament doesn't mention musical intruments in congregational worship, so we don't use them.

[Matthew 16:18]

We are church of Christ members and here are the 8 New Testament Scriptures that call for vocal singing. (Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16, 1 Corithians 14:15, Hebrews 2:12, Matthew 26:30, Acts 16:25, Romans 15:9, James 5:13, ) If you study the Bible closely and understand rightly dividing the Word of Truth you would see that in the Old Testament David worshiped God with instruments. But Christ came to bring a better covenant henceforth, different and better promises.

Hebrews 8:8-13
8For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
9Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
13In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

So in the new covenant things are different... just like we don't offer animal scarifices or burning of incents God didnt command us to play instruments.

[billychum]

I think that we probably sound a lot like the woman at the well, Jesus told her that one day you will worship in truth and Spirit. And until that day comes we will have these issues concerning our worship.
Billy <><

[Stinker]

The reason musical instruments are not used by churches of the Restoration (not Reformation) movement is because God is still specific as to how He wants to be worshipped. We are told in 1Corinthians and Romans that the instances recorded for us in the Old Testament are there for admonition. From Leviticus we know How God still feels about homosexuality and beastiality. Also from that same book we know how He feels about things removed from worship and especially.........things added that were not commanded! Nadab & Abihu should readily com to mind, and what they did in Levitucus 10:1-3

From the harmony of the scriptures we see that most churches have added something that was not commanded (instrumental music)........add removed that which was commanded........which is the fruit of the vine and bread (the Lord's Supper) This was practiced every 1st day of the week (Acts 20:7)

[StevenL]

Sorry. I had to debate there for a moment. Forgive me. :) I got rid of it.http://www3.christianforums.com/images/buttons/report.gif (http://www.christianforums.com/report.php?p=13788530)

[Jim Woodell]

Church of Christ people question

Just a little reminder here: Churches of Christ are independent and autonomous (self-governed), therefore you will get differing opinions on many Biblical issues, such as instrumental music. Don't expect to find a "cut and dried" answer to this question or any other question where there are different perspectives and understandings of what God wants from members of Churches of Christ. Our only creed book is the Bible, our headquarters is in heaven, and our Chairman of the Board is Jesus Christ (not elected men or women).

I read my son, Wes' statement and realize that there are many members of the Churches of Christ that will take serious issue with what he said, but he stated his personal conclusion on the use of instruments in worship. He deferrs his opinion for the sake of unity. Personally, I like that.

[ydouxist]

Sorry. I had to debate there for a moment. Forgive me. :) I got rid of it.http://www3.christianforums.com/images/buttons/report.gif (http://www.christianforums.com/report.php?p=13788530)
Bessed are the peacemakers. :holy:

[- DRA -]

Why no instruments? I don't want to start a debate.
I'm just curios?
Please, please, please, no debates.



Because of Col. 3:17. You can't just assume a practice is authorized, you need to be assured that the Lord authorized it -- then you can have confidence that it pleases Him. :bow: