THE SINGING IN THE WORSHIP

Shelby G. Floyd

“The Singing in the Worship,” is the topic of our lesson. In the worship of the Heartland congregation our singing is outstanding. Everyone is encouraged to continue to sing praises to God with all of your heart. It has been said,

“One of the advantages of pure congregational singing
Is that you can join in whether you have a voice or not.
The disadvantage is that your neighbor can do the same.”
–Charles Dudley Warner

All Christians are commanded to sing whether we have a great voice or not. Everyone can “sing and make melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19). This is good and acceptable and pleasing in God’s sight.

THE TRUE TABERNACLE MUST BE ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN

Let us now focus upon the eighth chapter of Hebrews:

Hebrews 8:1-13:
Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man. For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah–not 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 did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the LORD. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”
In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
NKJV

From our text we notice that God told Moses, “See that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain” (Hebrews 8:5). If it was necessary for Moses to follow the pattern in building the tabernacle, it is even more necessary for us to do all things according to the pattern in the church, of which the tabernacle was only a type. The church is, “the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man.” And Jesus Christ is the Minister of the true tabernacle—the church (Hebrews 8:2).

SINGING IS ALWAYS SPECIFIED IN NEW TESTAMENT WORSHIP

First, we shall emphasize that in following the pattern of the New Testament for our worship, every time the scriptures have anything to say about music in regards to the worship of God, we are always commanded specifically to sing. Singing is mentioned many times, but we will only notice the four passages listed on the following chart:

CHART NO. 1

Let us read each of these scriptures listed on this chart followed by a few brief comments.

1. Romans 15:7-11:

Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. 8 Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, 9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written:
“For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles,
And sing to Your name.”
10 And again he says:
“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!”
11 And again:
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles!
Laud Him, all you peoples!”
NKJV

In these five verses it is stated twice that Christ and the Gentiles would praise God by singing hymns and praises to the Lord. This is an obvious reference to the worship of the New Testament church which was made up of Jews and Gentiles. Notice that singing is specified. The Jews and the Gentiles were to accept one another in order to bring praise to God.

2. Hebrews 2:11-12:

For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying:

“I will declare Your name to My brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.”
NKJV

God and Christ sanctify or set us apart for a special purpose. The writer says that the one doing the setting apart and those who are set apart are all of one. Therefore, Christ calls his people “brethren.” Christ dwells in his people and therefore “in the midst of the assembly” he sings praise to God. “The assembly” (ekklesias) is the church! Christ is in our assembly today: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). Christ was singing praise to God with us today. Notice the kind of music is specifically to sing.

3. Colossians 3:16-17

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
NIV

Notice that according to these verses we must have authority for everything we do in word or deed. To do something “in the name of the Lord Jesus,” is to do that thing by his authority. Therefore, what we do in worship to God must be authorized by God’s will. And what are we commanded to do? We are to “sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.” Let us also read the scripture in Ephesians that is parallel with what we have just read from the book of Colossians.

4. Ephesians 5:17-21

Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.
NKJV

In these two scriptures we are not only specifically commanded to sing, but we also are specifically commanded in the kind of music we are to sing. We are to sing “psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.” Every kind of song not included in these three classes has been excluded. In other words we are to sing spiritual lyrics and not secular lyrics. Concerning the spiritual songs, God did not give us a certain melody, he did not say sing it fast or slow, he did not say that we should sing songs written 100 years ago or songs written today. He left that up to man as long as we are obeying the command “to sing and make melody in our heart to the Lord.” We do not have any patience with these “church clowns” who can sing “Bringing in the Sheaves” with a sanctimonious face like they’re going to a funeral, but will make a fuss over singing a joyful song of praise to the Lord. We must be as specific as the scriptures, but not less or more specific. To do so is either to take away or add to God’s word, and we remember the warning about doing that (1 Corinthians 4:6; Revelation 22:19).

From the reading of these four scriptures we have noticed that singing is specified in our worship to God. But where are the scriptures for the use of instrumental music in worship? They are not to be found in the New Testament. We’re not under the Law of Moses. We are amenable to the law of Christ. We cannot go back to the old law and try to find authority for instrumental music in worship to God. We are to worship God in the church—the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched, and not the tabernacle that Moses pitched in the wilderness. Where is the scripture in the New Testament authorizing the use of instrumental music in worship to God? I used to say that instrumental music is not mentioned in the New Testament. I do not say that anymore, because it is mentioned in the New Testament. But where it is mentioned it is always in regards to something other than worship. It is used as an illustration of the certain sound of a trumpet calling the army to battle (1 Corinthians 14:7-8). All mention of instrumental music in the New Testament is in reference to something other than worship. All reference to the music of the church in regards to worship specifically commands us to sing. But there are no commandments for instrumental music in worship to God.

THE LAW OF GENERICS AND SPECIFICS

Next we shall speak of the law of generics and specifics. This law is outlined and illustrated for us in the following chart:

CHART NO. 2

This is a law that we use in our everyday activities. For example if some of you men went to a dealership and said, “I am interested in buying a truck.” The salesman could show you any and all trucks on the lot. But if you specified that you were interested in a red Dodge, half ton pickup, with an extended cab and a V-8 engine, then that would exclude all trucks not within that specific description.

This same principle has been used in the Bible down through the centuries. God told Noah to build an ark out of gopher wood. When God specified gopher wood, then that excluded any and all other coordinate species of wood. There were many different coordinate species of wood—pine, oak, cypress and cedar. Out of these God selected one kind—gopher wood. In order for Noah to obey God he had to use the wood selected by God.

Our second example involves the commemorative institution of the Passover. This was designed to remind future generations of the bitterness of slavery and their mighty deliverance by the hand of God. In this act of worship they were commanded to offer up a sacrifice to God. Out of all the coordinate species of animals God selected one kind—a lamb without spot and blemish. This command excluded all other species of animals. Israel’s worship would only be accepted when they offered up the sacrifice selected by God. This lamb was a type of our Paschal lamb—Jesus Christ the Lamb of God offered up for the sins of the world.

Our third example pertains to the worship in the assembly of the church. We shall notice the kind of music that is to be offered up to God in praise. There are only three kinds of music: vocal, instrumental and a combination of both. Out of these coordinate species of music God named one kind—singing. The church can only obey God by using the kind of music he specified. When God selected singing, then that command excluded all other kinds of music. These three examples are all parallel.

MAN MUST WORSHIP GOD IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH

In the conversation Jesus had with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well, he declared to her that the true worshipers must worship God in spirit and truth:

John 4:21-24
Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
NKJV

This means that true worship must be with the right spirit or attitude. God seeks worship from the honest and sincere heart. True worship also must be according to truth. In regards to worship God’s word is truth. When worship is directed by truth, man is within the realm of faith. Let us illustrate this on the following chart:

CHART NO. 3

THE LAW OF FAITH

When man serves God it must be in the realm of faith. “We walk by faith and not by sight.” This means that we act according to the way that God speaks. Faith comes by hearing God’s word (Romans 10:17). When we act by faith there must be God’s word to back it up.

In the realm of faith, we are speaking of things commanded by God. These things are included in the realm of faith. Those things that are not commanded are therefore excluded. Let us notice those things involved in worship that are of faith:

THINGS COMMANDED

1. We are commanded to assemble every first day of the week. We are commanded to assemble by being commanded not to forsake the assembly (Hebrews 10:25).

2. We are authorized to worship God on Sunday, the Lord’s Day. The church at Ephesus assembled to worship on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7). The Lord’s Day is in the realm of faith.

3. Observing the Lord’s death by eating the Lord’s Supper each first day of the week is a command of God. It is in the realm of faith because the church at Corinth was commanded to observe the Lord’s Supper with the right spirit when they came together on the first day of each week (1 Corinthians 11:22-33).

4. To engage in preaching the gospel, teaching the apostles doctrine and lifting up prayers are all in the realm of faith, because God’s word backs up these actions (Acts 20:7; Acts 2:42).

5. The New Testament church took up a weekly contribution to support all the work that God gave the church to do. This action is in the realm of faith because it is a command of God (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).

6. And in the same manner the command to sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs is a direct command of God. Singing is in the realm of faith (Hebrews 2:11-12; Ephesians 5:19).

THINGS NOT COMMANDED

On the right side of the chart we notice several things that have been introduced in worship by some religious groups. But not one of these is in the realm of faith. Therefore, burning incense, the adoration of images and statues, the counting of beads, the worship of the Virgin Mary, the use of so-called holy water, the kissing of the Pope’s toe and the washing of feet are things that are not commanded and therefore are excluded from the realm of faith. And in the same way instrumental music in worship to God is also excluded, because there is not one passage of Scripture authorizing its use in New Testament worship.

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC WAS USED IN OLD TESTAMENT WORSHIP

Finally we shall test the argument that is sometimes made that instrumental music is acceptable today because it WAS acceptable under the law Moses.

This is not a sound defense of the instrumental music in worship. It assumes that we are still under the old covenant. But our text emphasizes that the old covenant would vanish away and that God would make a new covenant with his people:

Hebrews 8:6-13
But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
NKJV

When we have something that is old and not useful anymore, we do away with it and get something new that is useful. When the old law had served its purpose it was removed, and the new law was inaugurated in its place. The old law was nailed to the cross of Christ (Colossians 2:14). Therefore the cross stands as the dividing line between the old law and the new law.

No man can find any authority for instrumental music in the worship of God in the new law. It can be found under the old covenant but not in the new covenant. Notice on the following chart that any scripture for the use of instrumental music must be placed under the Old Testament. It WAS scriptural. But IS the instrument authorized now? No! There is a world of difference between WAS and IS! As one preacher I heard said, “Are you a Wasser” or an “Isser?”

Another reason that this argument is not sound is because if we accept the premise that what was used in Old Testament worship can be used in New Testament worship, then we must accept the logical conclusion that many other shadows of the Law of Moses can be brought over to the pure spiritual worship of the church. Notice on the following chart some things that people might not want to bring over to our worship today:

CHART NO. 4

The cross is the dividing line between the old law and the new law (Ephesians 2:14). Notice on the chart that if we can bring instrumental music over to our worship because it was used in the Old Testament, then likewise we can bring over the seventh day or Sabbath worship, infant membership and polygamy.

But we should not bring any of these over. We should be content with the acts of worship given to us by Christ and the apostles. And in the area of music the specific act of singing is commanded. It is something that everyone can do. It is something done physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally.

Therefore, it involves the whole man in the act of worship. We are to sing and make melody in our hearts unto the Lord. Let us sing and praise God in the very best way that we possibly can. *

*Shelby G. Floyd delivered this sermon May 5, 2002 at the Heartland Church of Christ, Greenwood, Indiana. The foregoing charts are adapted from Instrumental Music In The Worship, M. C. Kurfees, Scope of the Divine Command Authorizing Music in the Worship of God, pp. 72, 74, 77; and Bulwarks Of The Faith, Foy E. Wallace Jr., Innovations In The Church—Instrumental Music, pp. 226-294.

Shelby G. Floyd
Heartland Church of Christ
1693 West Main Street
Greenwood, Indiana 46142

THE SINGING IN THE WORSHIP

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