Our concern is the music in the worship of the New Testament church. Ephesians 5: 19 says: “Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” Colossians 3: 16 says: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” When we sing, we must not allow the words simply to roll from our lips, while failing to allow the message of the song to engage our minds or penetrate our hearts.

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We learn that our singing is reciprocal i. e. “Teaching and admonishing ONE ANOTHER,” “Speaking to ONE ANOTHER.” We are to sing “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.” When we sing, we “teach and admonish ONE ANOTHER.” Our singing is to be “vocal,” i. e., “SINGING” and making melody in our hearts to the Lord.” Our singing is both vertical and horizontal directed “to the LORD,” and “to ONE ANOTHER.” Singing involves “teaching” and “speaking,” which involves words, not just sounds, such as humming. Our singing must “teach truth,” therefore it is just as wrong to sing error as to preach error! Our singing must “come from the heart.” Having said all of that, we must “sing with understanding.”

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There are only two kinds of music; vocal (voice) and mechanical (piano, organ, etc.), and the New Testament authorizes vocal (SINGING). Thus, playing a mechanical instrument in worship is not vocal, and therefore is an addition to the Word of God. Adding to the Word of God is a serious matter to God. (Rev. 22: 8-9). Why do we sing and not use mechanical music in our worship? Singing is authorized and mechanical music is not! Think on these things.

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Dennis Abernathy