Author : Keith Sharp
The popular attitude of the day in the denominational world toward worship is capsulized in the trite saying, “It makes no difference how one worships; after all, we all worship the same God.” Probably no question is posed more often to members of the church of Christ by first time visitors to our worship assemblies than the inquiry, “Why don’t you have a piano or organ?” These observations lead to some crucial questions which I propose to let the Scriptures answer. Does it matter how we worship God? If so, what are the principles of acceptable worship? How do the answers to these questions apply to the issue of music in worship?
The first record we have of human worship of God is found in Genesis 4:3-5. Cain and Abel each offered a sacrifice to God. Each worshiper offered of his own produce. Cain, “a tiller of the ground,” “brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord.” Abel, “a keeper of sheep,” “brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat.” The “Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering.” Why did God accept one sacrifice but reject the other? It certainly was not due to “partiality” for one brother over the other (Romans 2:11).
As far as I know, the Old Testament does not answer this crucial inquiry. But the inspired writer of the Hebrew letter does. He reveals that Abel offered his sacrifice “By faith” (Hebrews 11:4). Thus, he did what God said to do (Rom. 10:17). A fundamental principle of acceptable worship is herein revealed. Our worship must be “by faith.” We must do what God tells us to do. Do you think you could now convince Cain that it doesn’t make any difference how we worship, as long as we worship God?
Uzziah was one of the good kings of Judah. He “did what was right in the sight of the Lord” (2 Chronicles 26:4). The Lord helped him to gain military might, but when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense (2 Chronicles 26:16).
The law limited the priesthood, including the burning of the incense, to the lineage of Aaron of the tribe of Levi (Numbers 16:39-40; 18:7). Uzziah, the heir of David, was of the tribe of Judah, “of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood” (Hebrews 7:14). The law did not specifically forbid one of the tribe of Judah to officiate as a priest, it simply limited the priesthood to the tribe of Levi and the lineage of Aaron. For King Uzziah’s trespass leprosy broke out on his forehead because the Lord had struck him. King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death. As a leper, He dwelt in an isolated house, for he was cut off from the house of the Lord (2 Chronicles 26:19-21).
This tragic incident in the life of an otherwise good king emphatically demonstrates that acceptable worship is that which God authorizes in His word. To do those things in worship unauthorized by Scripture, though they be not specifically forbidden, is to displease God and invite his wrath. Could you now convince King Uzziah that it doesn’t really matter how one worships?
The Lord announced the principles of acceptable worship under the New Covenant to a sinful. Samaritan woman. He declared:
But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24).
To worship “in spirit” is to worship with the right attitudes (cf. Romans 12:11). To venerate God “in truth” is to worship Him according to His Word, which is truth (John 17:17). Acceptable worship under the New Covenant must be offered with the right attitudes of heart and through acts that are authorized in the New Testament. To worship according to human doctrines is to worship God “in vain” (Matthew 15:7-9).
Does it matter how one worships God? Indeed it does! True worship of God is by faith, authorized in the New Testament and offered with the right attitudes. All other worship is vain.
How do these principles apply to the issue of music in worship? The only kind of music God has authorized in the New Testament for Christians to employ in worship on this earth is vocal (singing) (Acts 16:25; Romans 15:9; 1 Corinthians 14:15; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 2:12; James 5:13). To use another kind of music (i.e., instrumental, playing) is to fail to worship by faith, to introduce that which is unauthorized in the New Testament, and, thus, to worship God in vain.
The kinds of songs we are to employ are “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Ephesians 5:19). The purposes for which we are to sing are to praise God (Acts 16:25; Rom. 15:9; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 2:12) and to teach and admonish each other (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). The attitudes with which we should sing are “with the spirit” (1 Corinthians 14:15), “with the understanding” (Ibid), “making melody” in “the heart” (Ephesians 5:19) and “with grace in” the heart (Colossians 3:16).
Yes, it does make a difference how we worship God. We must worship Him in such a manner as to please God, not ourselves. All other worship is vain.
