Is it Alright to Use an Instrument During Worship Service?

Dear Taylor,

Thank you for writing. Your question is one that many people have asked over the years. Sadly, many churches base their decisions about what will happen in worship on what the members like, rather than what God said He wants. Because most people these days seem to like instrumental music better than just singing, many church leaders decide to "liven up" the service with instruments.

The Bible teaches that we should not design our worship services in order to please ourselves (John 4:24). We must

worship according to the plan of God. God has given us specific instructions about music in worship. Ephesians 5:19 says: "Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." If we do what God commanded us in that verse, we will sing, without the addition of musical instruments.

Notice what the apostle Paul also wrote: "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" (Colossians 3:16). Did God command us to use musical instruments? No. In fact, there is no authority for the use of musical instruments in New Testament worship. So, we should not use them.

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