I ask myself if musical instruments were permitted before the law, during the law, why and for what purpose what they not be permitted after the law? And secondly if this is such an important issue to God as this organization is making it, why is the bible silent on it? We no there is no plurity in marriage because Paul said let every man have his own wife and vice versa? No somebody in the new testament would have said something.

Here's my point. Before the flood they were commanded not to eat meat, after the flood it was permitted; before there was no capital punishment; after the flood capital punishment was instituted for the first time. The absence of anything related to what not to do in the form of music is suspect and to say it is wrong when we can clearly see other times when God makes definite statements of when He changes things is just not right.

I can be persuaded if the argument was persuasive. Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt commit adultery - it tells us what to do and what not to do. That's what the bible tells us. If God has problem with something, such as fornication God says, don't fornicate. I'm not saying it's not right to sing acapella. I'm saying it's wrong to say that all other forms of worship is wrong. I happen to like acapella.

@evangelistL , If the bible was full of what's not authorized (or forbidden) it would be infinitely longer, literally. Instead it is full of what is authorized. There is a law. The law says to sing. eph 5:19, col 3:16. many things in the old are not ok in the new. I.E. plurality of spouses and animal sacrifices. I see why it is right to sing a capella because I can read it. The same can not be said for playing because you cannot read it in the new testament that we are now under.

I love all forms of worship including Acapella. My problem is with stating this is the only acceptable form of worship. That's not true. I need to see in the New Testament where God says "no instruments." Where there is no law, there is no transgression. I want to see where it says in the OT I want instruments, but not in the new? I don't see why acapella is wrong or right or why the use of instruments are wrong or right. If I worship on an organ, what is wrong with that?

i agree with you i do not sing with instruments whether you do or you dont is not the issue the issue i being in christ and worshiping him nothing else matters

Acapella worship has a rich and biblical history. It was defended by tradition of the jews, early church, church fathers, and reformers. Church of Christ is by no means the know all end all and far from the ideal church. But good on you for standing firm in this."The best defender of acapella worship is acapella worship." I can't remember who said that, but it's pretty clever.If you disagree, don't feel judged. Why do people always feel judged?

maybe you overlooked that the Bible is not only a book about GOD, HISTORY AND COMMAND as what you have said.. It is also a book of instruction, poetry, music , story and love letter. Do not read the bible as if you are reading a world geography and history. Ask the holy spirit the guide you.

and what are the worship service designed by Christ???? The bible says if we acknowledge GOD in eveything we do, He shall direct our path. So if we worship GOD with or without instrument as long as we give all our praises I believe that is pleasing to HIM. I LOVE singing praises to GOD using my GOD GIVEN talent of playing instruments, so whats wrong with that? did you came to Judge? how did you know that those people did not used the worship service designed by Christ?

"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." (Romans 15:4)The old testament is for learning God's nature and history. The new is for commands for today.

Did they use it in the worship service Christ designed? No we know they didn't.

We should just throw Psalms out of the window where it says praise God with string INSTRUMENTS and Organ, the harp, etc.

did the angels used musical instruments? I thinks so...

I love this song. Church of Christ is right in the no instrumental music thing. Think of it this way, Church of Christ plays it safe in that they have acappella music. Denominations that have instrumental music are really rolling the dise. God commanded us to sing in our hearts to the Lord. Instrumental music could interfere with that.

Flextones, you have said here what very few would dare to say. Most of the Modern church sadly would disagree. However, if I was a musician, there would be no other place I would want to play in surrendered and acceptable worship to my Father in heaven IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH instead of some smokey "stage" showing off my abilities. Music is meant to be played for the Lord, NOT THE WORLD. Unless repented, those in his body playing for the world will be held accountable for their actions. Peace :)

I attend a church that both sings and has music. I can tell you that we put all of our hearts into our singing, instruments do not interfere in that in anyway. Also when the musicians are playing , they are always saying that they are not there to entertian us with their abilities, but they are playing in surrendered worship to our Father in Spirit and in truth. They dont "worship" for us nor do we just sit and listen. When they are playing, we worship quietly amongs ourselfs in our heart.

personally i leave it to God to see my spirit in worship not human eyes or ears. :) He is truly AMAZING for giving us this awesome way of worshipping Him. It is sadly true that some people don't put their heart into songs sung to worship our God, but that is on them. At least i know that service is not about keeping Me awake or keeping Me entertained.Alot of people let the band "worship" for them and just listen. This could be one of the reasons God didn't permit instruments. just speculation.

Music should be performed in church only. I have been a professional jazz musician and classical pianist for decades but I play exclusively in church now. "As the Deer" is a beautiful song: It reminds me of the Largo in the 9th Symphony of Antonin Dvorak. His so-called New World Symphony.

Hey Paul, if it is a sin to use instruments in worship, then God would not allow such in Heaven WHERE NO SIN CAN BE COMMITTED. But wait, he does allow such worship because we see harps and harpers in worship to God in the Rev passages in the NT. CLEAR EXAMPLES. If it is not a sin in Heaven, it is not a sin in our worship. This should end the debate right here, but the COC will also ignore this because ITS BIBLE. Worship is NOT confine to a place and a sin in another.

according to Exo34:27-28 All the instructions God gave Israel besides the 10 commandments were rules are laws telling them how to keep the 10 commandments. David was a prophet for Israel and God made it clear in Matt 17 that Moses and the old testament prophets are no longer prophets for us todayThis last part is the last of the long paragraph that i sent earlier. Its continued.