Introduction
- Scriptures that refer to worship with music in the New Testament:
- Acts 16:25
- Romans 15:9
- I Corinthians 14:15
- Ephesians 5:19
- Colossians 3:16
- Hebrews 2:12
- Hebrews 13:15
- James 5:13
Why don’t we add instruments to that?
- The simple answer is: because God does not authorize us to do so.
God didn’t say NOT to.
God didn’t say NOT to … carry the ark on an ox cart.
- Exodus 25:14; Numbers 4:15; 7:6-9 – God’s specifications for the ark.
- I Chronicles 13:7-12; 15:2, 2, 12-15
- God’s instructions:
- Poles
- Kohathites
- Shoulders
God didn’t say NOT to … appoint a priest from Judah.
- Numbers 13:10; Hebrews 7:11-14; 8:4
God didn’t say NOT to … offer strange fire.
- Leviticus 10:1-2
God didn’t say NOT to … preach circumcision.
- Acts 15:5-6, 24
| If God only authorized: | Then that leaves everything else unauthorized: |
|---|---|
| The Kohathites using poles to carry the ark on their shoulders | Ox cart, etc. |
| Priests to comes from the tribe of Levi | Priests from Judah, etc. |
| A certain fire | Some other fire, etc. |
| Preaching the gospel of Christ | Preaching circumcision, etc. |
| Singing as musical worship | Instruments, etc. |
Instruments are just aids, like pitch pipes or song books.
- Mark 16:15 – “Go”: how?
- II Timothy 2:2 – “Teach”
- I Corinthians 16:1-2 – “collection … put aside and save”
- Psalms 150:1-6 – Instruments were regarded as worship under the Old Covenant.