Articles
Why Our Worship is Acapella (Part 2)
Why Our Worship is Acapella (Part 2)
Often people say, “Oh, you’re the church with no music.” I respond, “We have lots and lots of music, it just happens to be acapella!”
Last week I explained how God’s New Testament word authorizes acapella music, and how acapella music in church worship is the original, while instruments are the innovation.
Here are some additional thoughts.
Edification, not Performance
To look at the issue from a more positive angle, a study of Ephesians 5:18-19 and Colossians 3:16 will reveal God’s wisdom in commanding acapella music.
Do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord (Ephesians 5:18-19).
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God (Colossians 3:16).
We can readily see that the emphasis is on the communication, the “word of Christ” spoken. These words are spoken with thanksgiving “to the Lord,” and God is the real audience in any worship service. But the words are at the same time spoken “to one another.” The content of the verses is important. The participation of the singers, as those who admonish the congregation and those who are admonished in turn, is key to fulfilling God’s purpose for coming together in worship. Which, by the way, reminds us that sitting home watching worship, while handy in a pinch when sick or disabled, will never fully substitute for assembling for worship.
Still, the quality of the voices, the blending of the harmonies, the cadence of the leader, all are nice and probably could be trained for better worship. On that note, I’ve heard it said that acapella worship is either our greatest advertisement to visitors, or our greatest obstacle. Let’s strive to have the kind of singing about which people say, “I’d never ruin this by bringing in an electric guitar and drum kit!” It’s worth putting our best efforts and energy into our singing.
While it’s certainly possible to worship with an instrument (Psalm 33:2, 150:3), today’s tendency toward productions and applause suggests that a desire for entertainment can easily distract our focus from praising the Lord to praising the performer, and as a result, acting more as a consumer of worship than a participant in worship. Think of yourself as speaking the message of these spiritual songs to the assembly as you sing them, and you’ll understand how vital acapella worship is.
Challenge One—Old Testament
There are two arguments often advanced in support of instrumental music in the church: it’s in the Old Testament, and it’s in heaven.
Though the Jews were accustomed to instrumental music in the temple services, as shown in the Old Testament (Psalm 147:7, etc.), there is no mention of it in the New Testament.
This is a striking omission!
Remember that the Law is not a source of authority for Christians. We are under a new covenant (Heb. 8:6-13, Col. 3:14). If someone is to demand the return of musical instruments into worship on the basis of the Old Testament, he might also demand the return of animal sacrifices, special priestly garments, and headpieces, keeping the Sabbath, traveling to Jerusalem three times a year, and burning incense.
Challenge Two—Revelation 15:2
Harps are depicted in Heaven (Rev. 15:2). But then again, Heaven is not the church. The highly figurative descriptions of worship in the spiritual realm of Heaven are special and those experiences don’t necessarily carry over (like Matt. 22:30). Remember that burning incense and an altar are pictured worship scenes in Revelation, too (Rev. 8:3).
Is It That Big A Deal?
That’s for God to decide. But I recall that God expressed His anger toward Nadab and Abihu for the apparently minor sin of using the wrong fire in their firepans (Lev. 10:1-3). I have long thought this to be the wrong recipe for the incense, which is dictated in Exodus 30:34-38. Whatever the real form of the careless error, it was major to God.
Instrumental music is a form of worship “which He has not commanded.” Let us not tempt God by overstepping the specific commandments He has given.
—John Guzzetta
