A Conversation About Instrumental Music
The following report of a telephone conversation that occurred on Monday is not intended in any way to demean the woman who called. She was pleasant and not really argumentative; undoubtedly, she believes herself to be a sincere person, yet she would not consider the evidence of the Scriptures.
A married woman, who shall be called Melinda (not her real name) called with two Bible questions. First, however, she asked if I knew about a certain website. I did not, but a quick perusal of it showed that it belonged to the Mormons although they did not so identify themselves, preferring to use only Church of Christ and omitting “of the Latter-Day Saints.” Nothing she had read on that site pertained to us.
Melinda’s first question had to do with instruments of music and why we do not use them. I told her she would never understand us unless she understood Colossians 3:17: “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” I explained that whatever we teach or practice in worship and service must be authorized by Jesus. She said, “Oh, I totally agree with that.” Then I asked, “Have you ever read in the New Testament where instruments of music were used by Jesus, the apostles, or any of the churches?”
She seemed to already know that fact, and without a moment’s hesitation she said, “But all churches do things the Bible doesn’t say. When I was younger, we were taught that women couldn’t wear pants, and that wasn’t in the Bible. All churches teach things that are not in the Bible.” I pointed out that the teaching about pants was not authorized. She had entirely abandoned Colossians 3:17 and her agreement with it—and did not even realize it.
When she brought up an idea concerning the use of instruments that seemed logical to her, I said that I was glad she had introduced logic because she had used the tu quoque fallacy, which is saying, “OK, this is bad” (using instruments of music), “but you’re just as bad” (teaching against women wearing pants). I called attention to the meaning of Colossians 3:17 again.
“But I love to sing with instruments. I feel closest to God during these moments.” I agreed that music can be very powerful and affect us emotionally but then added that the question is, “What does God want—not what do we want, or what makes us happy?” I cited Cain and Abel and the fact that God rejected Cain’s offering because it was what he wanted rather than what God commanded (Gen. 4).
She had no comment about that but immediately went to another point. “I have discovered that your church (as she referred to the church of Christ) used to be with the Christian Church, but you guys took out the instruments.” “No,” I answered. “In the 1800s, when many of these congregations originated in America, they did not use instruments. They were not removed; they were added. They were never part of the worship until some began using them in the latter part of the 19th century. And when they were introduced, it caused division among Christians. We have debated their use for over 100 years, and they have not presented one valid argument to justify its use. All they can say is, ‘We like it, and we’re going to use it.’”
All she could do was respond, “I just can’t think that God would condemn me to hell for using instruments of music—especially when they make me feel so close to Him.” My final comment on that subject was, “There are two ways to discover that He will condemn you: The first is through the Word” (applying properly Colossians 3:17); The second is through experience” (actually being lost); “I hope you find out the first way.”
The second question, which was discussed somewhere in the middle of the previous subject, concerned modern-day miracles. I pointed her to Mark 6:54-56 and asked why no one today did what Jesus did—walk into an area where sick people are (such as a local hospital) and walk out with all the patients cured. She immediately fell into the old dodge that sometimes people don’t have enough faith. I told her I knew of a lady who believed so much that she threw away her medicine and died two days later.
“I meant that the person doing the healing didn’t have enough faith.” “Really?” I responded. “Then why are they on television all the time talking about what they can do?” That discussion got nowhere; so finally I asked her, “Do you believe God is still revealing truth today?” “Oh, yes,” she answered. “Then you’re going to have to decide whether you believe that doctrine or you believe the Scriptures because 2 Peter 1:3 says that God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness.”
“Well, sometimes people take verses out of context.” “It’s only the third verse of Peter’s letter,” I replied, “It would be pretty difficult to take it out of context.” Then I added, “Do you not see that you have the same problem as others? The Mormons claim to have more revelation from God. So does the pope. Pentecostals are always getting fresh revelations, and none of these agree with each other. Do you not sense that something is wrong? Trinitarian Pentecostals disagree with ‘Jesus only’ Pentecostals, yet they both claim to do miracles. Genuine miracles bore witness to the truth (John 20:30-31).”
What Melinda did not see is that she is not open-minded. Like so many people, she actually had her mind already made up before she telephoned to ask her questions. No amount of evidence would change her mind on those topics. She did not want to know what the Bible teaches. How many are like her—confident that their alleged sincerity will save them though they deny the truth?