AN OLD APOSTASY IN A NEW AGE--4

True worship is described by Jesus in John 4:24: “God is spirit; and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

God—The Object of our worship
In Spirit—The Attitude of our worship (sincerely; from the heart)
In Truth—The Standard of our worship (God’s Word)

We can offer up vain worship, according to Matthew 15:8-9: “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” Instrumental music is according to the commandments of men; thus, our worship would be in vain if we used it and taught that it would be OK to use it.

Let’s consider some arguments made in favor of it.

“The Bible does not say, ‘Thou shalt not use instrumental music.’”

1. Neither does it say, “Thou shalt not put pizza and Coca-Cola on the Lord’s Table.” We serve God by what he says in his Word.
2. As we saw earlier in this series, the command to do a specific thing excludes the doing of another. God commanded the Israelites, “kill a lamb in the Passover.” He did not have to say, “Thou shalt not kill a pig.”
3. When God commands us to sing, playing an instrument is excluded. He said, “Sing.”

“Instrumental music is an aid, like a song book, communion cups, or a microphone.”

1. When God specifies a thing to be done, whatever is needed to obey him that does not change the nature of the thing is authorized—like communion cups in the Lord’s Supper, or a microphone to be able to better hear those who lead worship.
2. He commands us to sing; the songbook provides words and does not change the nature of the command.
3. Instrumental music brings in another kind of music altogether, and changes the nature of what is done.

“They used instrumental music in the Old Testament.”

1. They also circumcised their male children, kept the Passover feast, offered up animal sacrifices, and executed those who broke the Sabbath.
2. We do not serve God today under the Law of Moses.
3. (Galatians 5:1-4) “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.”

“Instrumental music will be in heaven.” Revelation 14:2, 3 says, “And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders.”

1. What did John hear? “A voice.”
2. What were they doing? “They were singing.”
3. What did it sound like? “Harpists harping with their harps.”
4. There will be babies in heaven; can we baptize babies into the church?
5. We will be judged by what we do on earth in worship; not what might happen in heaven.