Article - Instruments in Christian Worship violate New Testament Doctrine
Mechanical instruments of music (hereafter instruments) in Christian worship violate the following 4 doctrines of the New Testament (hereafter NT): (1) THE DOCTRINE OF AUTHORITY (Colossians 3:17): All that Christians do must be done by Jesus’ authority (Matthew 28:18; Hebrews 1:1-2). Cite a NT passage that authorizes the use of instruments in Christian worship. If you cannot cite it, yet you use instruments in worship, you are doing that which is unauthorized by Jesus. Hence, you are going beyond the doctrine of Christ and you do not have God (1 Corinthians 4:6; 2 John 1:9)! (2) THE DOCTRINE OF SPECIFICATION (Hebrews 7:14): When the word of God specifies something (in absence of any other specifications), the method, means or thing not authorized is prohibited. For example, Moses “spoke nothing” (was silent) concerning the priesthood of One who was of the tribe of Judah. The fact that Moses specified the tribe of Levi (Numbers 3) necessitated that Jesus be a priest after a different order under the NT; because Jesus was of the tribe of Judah (Hebrews 7:11-14; 8:4-5). Likewise, the NT specifies singing spiritual songs to the Lord, thus excluding instrumental music from Christian worship (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). Cite a NT passage that authorizes the use of instruments in Christian worship. If you cannot cite it, yet you use mechanical instruments of music in worship - then, based on the doctrine of specification, you are doing that which is not authorized by Jesus. Hence, you are violating New Testament doctrine (James 1:25; 2 John 1:9-11). (3) THE DOCTRINE OF FAITH (Romans 14:23): Whatever is not of faith is sin. The faith that pleases God comes by hearing His word (Romans 10:17; Hebrews 11:6). Cite the NT passage that mentions the use of instruments in Christian worship. If you cannot cite it, yet you use an instrument in worship, it is not of faith and, therefore, you sin! (4) THE DOCTRINE OF WORSHIP (John 4:23-24): You MUST worship God in spirit and truth. To add traditions of men to Christian worship is to worship God in vain and according to man’s will (Matthew 15:8-9; Colossians 2:23). Cite the NT passage that indicates God’s will for instruments in Christian worship. If you cannot cite it, yet you use instruments in worship, your worship is useless (Ephesians 5:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:21)!
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