Why do we not use Mechanical Instruments in Worship?

Why do we not use mechanical instruments in worship? This is something that stands out to most people who attend one of our assemblies for the first time. Our members know that many other religious groups claim to worship the same God and employ them. For the church of Christ, it is one of those things that most outsiders recognize as a difference. Over the years, I have witnessed that some members have concluded that this is not important but rather an issue of opinion. In our country in the 19th century, there was a group of individuals who wanted to go back to the Biblical pattern. They left varying sects of Christendom and turned back to God's Word, and they found the New Testament church. 

Unity Achieved and Disturbed

Unity in the Truth of God’s Word led these individuals to enjoy full fellowship with God and one another. The Bible teaches this, “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). However, that unity proved fragile. In 1861, a Christian named Benjamin Franklin said that there were 50 of 10,000 congregations using mechanical instruments, within 40 years 8,500 of those congregations were using the instrument. Sadly, rather than turn from this error, the Independent Christian Church and Disciples of Christ departed from the unity of Truth. For the churches of Christ, we must seek to answer the common question: why do we sing without the accompaniment of mechanical instruments? First, let’s examine what is not the reason.

It Is Not Because of Preference, Poverty, or Tradition

In recent years, I have heard brethren try to cut the tension with other religious groups by apologetically saying, this is our preference. We believe that it just sounds good. Friends and brethren, in matters of expedience, we may employ what we prefer more but within reason. Some congregations utilize television screens to display the hymns we sing, and others use projectors with screens. Some congregations have three bible classes in addition to worship on the Lord's day, and others have two throughout the week. Expedience cannot change the mode, or elements, if you will, of any of the 5 acts of worship. 

For instance, when it comes to the Lord’s Supper, I observed a religious group during the pandemic and found that it was their Sunday they chose to observe the Lord’s Supper (not an issue of opinion either). Their pastor suggested that anything would do for the Lord’s Supper because you might not have unleavened bread or grape juice. He had an array of various drinks (Pepsi, Gatorade) and food items (Goldfish crackers). Anything in his estimation would work. This individual thought that changing the elements would be fine; he added to and took away what is an act of worship (cf. Acts 20:7; Acts 2:42; Matt. 26-29; 1 Cor. 11:23-29). Does anyone have a right to add to any act of worship including singing? This is not an issue of preference; it is an issue of authority. There is no authority for adding to the elements or mode of worship. 

Others have said the reason we do not use mechanical instruments is because the non-instrumental churches of Christ were primarily located in the southern United States. They reason that after the American Civil War, they could not afford mechanical instruments during the lean times of Reconstruction, and thus, they maintained as acapella only. Once again this is not an issue of poverty, it is an issue of authority. There is no authority for the employment of mechanical instruments in New Testament worship. 

The other common apology for our New Testament practice is that it is merely a tradition. Our brethren might say that this is what we did in the 19th century, and we like our tradition. We might even go as far as to say the tradition of the church in the first century was to sing acapella and that is why we keep it. This is not merely a tradition that we can just like. It is rather an approved tradition of which the Spirit defines. "So then, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye were taught, whether by word, or by epistle of ours” (2 Thess. 2:15). To sing is an approved tradition, it is an act of worship (Gal. 5:19; Col. 3:16). This is not about tradition; it is about authority. 

We Must Do All in the Name of the Lord Jesus

It has been said that Colossians 3:16 and its companion passage in Galatians 5:19 are not even in context about singing in worship. Have you considered the concept of authority given in Colossians 3:17? “And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” What does this teach us? Whatever we say, whatever we do, we do it all in the name. Does this mean every time I do anything I end it with "in the name of the Lord Jesus"? No, rather it means we do all things with the authority of Jesus.  Perhaps you have seen a crime drama where a police officer might shout at a suspected criminal, "Stop in the name of the law." The officer is appealing to the authority of the law. Why should the suspected criminal stop? The officer demands he surrender to the authority of the law. So, when we consider the context of the verse and the entirety of the New Testament, must we sing in worship according to the authority of the Lord? 

Consider these two verses together. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God. And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col. 3:16-17). There is a command to let the Word of Christ dwell in each of us. How is that shown? One way is how we sing in worship of the Most High God. In this singing, we are to sing according to all wisdom (Scripture), and we are to teach and admonish one another. Some standards are set, and ultimately, it has to be in the name of (the authority) of our Lord. No passage grants authority for man to employ mechanical instruments in worship. Thus, we conclude that one cannot add to this act of worship and be without sin. 

Grace and Peace, 

R.D. Beavers