instruments

Churches that Refrain from Use of Instruments in Worship

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Music is one of the arts that God has given for man’s expression and joy. Scripture records the origin of instrumental music; in Genesis 4:21, we read that Jubal was “the father of all who play the harp and lute.” The use and appreciation of instrumental music should be encouraged among the people of God.

While most people would agree that a capella singing is the best expression of the human voice, there is not unanimity when it comes to the use of instrumental music in worship. There are those who believe that an organ sets an atmosphere for worship and that musical instruments help people to worship.

The worship of the early Christian church was patterned after the synagogue, where instruments were not used in worship. It wasn’t until the eighth century that instruments were generally used in the Roman church. The Eastern church never did introduce them. At the time of the Reformation, Reformed and Presbyterian churches removed instrumental music from their churches; early Methodist, Congregational, and Baptist churches had a strong position against the use of musical instruments in worship. It has been in comparatively recent years that many churches have departed from that historic position.

There are still churches that do not use musical instruments in worship. The Reformed Presbyterian Church is one of them. Our reasons are summarized briefly as follows:

  1. We are committed to the Bible as the inerrant Word of God and the only infallible guide for faith and life. In this context of the authority of Scripture, we believe that God, who is the object of worship, has revealed to us in his Word how we are to worship Him. In contrast to those who worshiped other gods, and in order that God’s people would not be ensnared in false worship, God said, “See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it” (Deut. 12:32).
  2. This regulative principle is stated in the Testimony of the Reformed Presbyterian Church as follows: “Worship is to be offered only in accordance with God’s appointment, and in harmony with the scriptural principle that whatever is not commanded in the worship of God, by precept or sample, is forbidden.”
  3. Instruments were used in Old Testament worship by the command of God in direct connection with the sacrificial offerings of the ceremonial law. “As the offering began, singing to the Lord began also, accompanied by trumpets and the instruments of David, king of Israel. The whole assembly bowed in worship, while the singers sang and the trumpeters played. All this continued until the sacrifice of the burnt offering was completed” (2 Chron. 29:27–28). Back in verse 25 we see that this use of instruments was commanded by God. Its integral relationship to the ceremonial law is articulated clearly since the instruments began when the sacrifice began and stopped when the offering was completed.
  4. The typical nature of the use of instruments in the Old Testament is evident in the fact that their use was the special prerogative of the Levities, and that they were used almost exclusively in connection with the offering of sacrifices and burnt offerings.
  5. It would seem clear that the music of the Levitical choir accompanied with instruments was designated to portray the joy and gladness which should characterize God’s covenant people as they come into his presence (2 Chron. 29:30).
  6. There is neither command nor example given by Christ or the apostles of the use of musical instruments in worship. The Old Testament types of Christ are fulfilled in His coming. Our joy in Him is complete. Musical instruments are no longer needed nor are they appropriate.
  7. Everything necessary to bring us into the presence of God has been accomplished by the finished work of Christ. The simplicity of New Testament worship makes this clear. We no longer need a priest to burn incense, for Christ is our great High Priest who hears our prayers. We no longer need to bring sacrifices for offerings, for Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us. We no longer need the Levities to sing praise for us with the accompaniment of instruments; God has made us all priests before Him and has given to each of us an instrument which only He can teach us to play—namely a heart overflowing with the thankful song of salvation (Heb. 13:15).

Scriptural References to Percussion Instruments

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Percussion instruments are those that make their sound when struck or shaken; biblical percussion instruments include cymbals, the sistrum, bells, the gong, and the tambourine.

Cymbals

The usual Hebrew word for cymbals is mƒtziltayim (1 Chron. 15:16; 16:42; 25:1; 2 Chron. 5:13), a dual form indicating a pair of instruments struck together. Another form is tziltzƒlim, which may be onomatopoeic, that is, an attempt to represent the clashing sound made by the instrument in its name. This word is used in Psalm 150:5, which refers to two types of cymbals, literally “cymbals of sound” and “cymbals of shout”; these expressions are usually translated as “loud cymbals” and “high sounding cymbals,” although their exact meanings are uncertain. According to 1 Chronicles 15:19, the cymbals of the sanctuary were made of bronze; there they joined the wind and stringed instruments in concerted praise to the Lord. Paul mentions the cymbal, kumbalon, in a metaphor, comparing to it the exercise of vocal gifts where love is lacking (1 Cor. 13:1).

The Sistrum

This instrument, not well known in Western culture, was widely used in antiquity, being common, for example, in Egypt. It consisted of a small frame with metallic pieces loosely attached, which made a rattling sound when shaken. The term mƒna‘anƒ‘im in 2 Samuel 6:5 seems to indicate such an instrument or perhaps another type of shaken instrument, such as beads in a gourd. The translation “castanets” (NASB) is questionable.

The Tambourine

Although large drums were used in ancient times, especially by the military, in Scripture the drum family is represented only by the timbrel or tambourine (Hebrew tof). Again, the name may be onomatopoeic; the instrument consisted of membranes of animal skins stretched over a cylindrical frame, which made a “tof” sound when beaten by hand. The modern tambourine has discs that produce the jingling sound we now associate with the instrument; the biblical timbrel may have had these discs also, but unlike the tambourine of today it always had the membrane. It was a small hand-held drum usually played by women and was used in dance (Exod. 15:20; 1 Sam. 18:6; cf. Ps. 68:25); however, Isaiah mentions it in the context of warfare (Isa. 30:32), and it also accompanied prophetic activity (1 Sam. 10:5). The timbrel was not used within the sanctuary, since women could not perform Levitical functions; its use may also have been forbidden there due to its connection with fertility rites. The instrument designated as sumponyah in Daniel 3:5 maybe a drum of some type, if the word is related to the Greek tumpanon; in any case, the translation “bagpipes” (nasb, RSV) is incorrect.

Bells

Bells are not mentioned in the Bible as musical instruments. However, bells were attached to the hem of the high priest’s robe (Exod. 28:33–34). They probably did not have clappers but made their sound by striking one another or the simulated pomegranates with which they were interspersed. The Bible does not explain the purpose of these bells; some have suggested a magical function of warding off evil spirits, attested in other cultures, but their biblical usage may have been purely decorative.

The Gong

Paul refers metaphorically to the gong, or “brass” (chalkos, 1 Cor. 13:1). Gongs were used in pagan temples of the ancient world, as in oriental temples today, but were not used in the worship of Israel.