1 Corinthians 14

Born and raised in a conservative Church of Christ, I have struggled with the issue of instrumental music in worship in the past.  Actually, for a short time, I even questioned the purpose of instrumental music in everyday life.  Praise God!  He has brought me through the false teaching of my past and has allowed me to glimpse the freedom I have in Christ.  But, I have landed in a unique place on the issue of the use of instruments because I have at one point or another been a believer on both sides of the issue.  I know that many outside of the Church of Christ cannot grasp "why" anyone would find the use of instruments wrong.  And many inside the Church of Christ cannot understand why anyone would want to "risk it" and worship with instruments.  There are so many reasons for this way of thinking and so many arguments to raise on both sides, and I'm not going to get in to all of that.  I just want to express something God has spoken to me during my own private debates on this issue.  But, far and beyond anything typed in this post – I will say that the most persuasive fact of all is the cross.  The freedom Christ purchased for me on the cross cannot and should not be mocked.  I need to wiggle free of the tangling issues of today's church and embrace the freedom of the cross and all the power that comes with it so that I can better serve Him. 

Recently God used 1 Cor. 14 in a new way for me.  While reading this chapter I found it a bit ironic that Paul would use instruments [flute, harp, and trumpet] as examples in making the point of his lesson.  "If" instruments are so evil, then why would Paul use them in his teaching illustration?  And if he was so bold to speak the names of these instruments in his lesson, wouldn't he also be quick to remind and point out to the Christians he was teaching that they were not "okay" things to use?  I have always been taught that the New Testament does not address the issue of instruments, but I am beginning to wonder about that statement.  Maybe it's because there wasn't an issue. 

At the Jerusalem Council in Acts, an Old Testament passage is quoted that refers to David's tent.  If you go back and read exactly what was in David's tent, you will find worship with instruments.  And David of all people was about worshipping from the heart and not from the rules.  And why even bring up David's name in the New Testament without reminding us that we no longer worship as David did in the Psalms?  In my NIV Bible, it states at the end of Habakkuk that this was written to be accompanied with stringed instruments.  Parts of Habakkuk are quoted in the New Testament.  I find it very tough to believe that such a drastic change in worship procedure would be mandatory and not be spelled out completely for new believers.  I also find it difficult to believe that the Jerusalem Council, Paul, and other New Testament writers would refer to instruments, or something associated with instruments, and not also address the fact that they are no longer pleasing to our God.  God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.  His nature does not change.  If something once pleased God and all of a sudden now it doesn't – well… the God I know would have clearly told us.  I think it is a non-issue to God and was a non-issue in the early church.  I think it should be a non-issue now.

In reading 1 Corinthians 14, I hear Paul saying that speaking in tongues doesn't really teach anyone anything, but it might be beneficial to your own spirit.  His answer is to do both.  Instruments cannot "teach" – I will agree with that point.  It is the words of the song that teach.  But, playing or listening to an instrument CAN benefit a person's spirit.  Why not, like Paul, do both?  I think our problems have stemmed from trying to stand on one side or the other of an issue that shouldn't be an issue to begin with.

My teenage boys would probably consider some of the more traditional hymns as 'speaking in tongues'.  They simply cannot understand the language because it is so different from the language used today.  I have never heard my sons or any of their friends use the terms thou, yonder, or wretch.  Sometimes it is even neccessary to interpret the meaning of the lyrics for them.  They are not gaining any understanding from singing songs in a language that they cannot interpret for themselves, even if someone else is benefitting from it.  They are glad others are benefitting from those words, but they do not understand what is being said.

I would probably consider some of the more contemporary songs my boys listen to as 'speaking in tongues'.  When you get the lyrics out to some of the Christian rock or Christian rap songs, you need to be pretty familiar with current trends in teenage language to understand the meaning of the song.  I cannot gain any understanding from singing some of these songs unless I have a teenager to interpret them for me.  I am thankful that my boys have these kind of music that touches their spirit and lifts them to a higher place, but I do not understand what is being said. 

Does all of this fit into the context of 1 Corinthians 14?  I think it does.

Let's stop making issues out of the methods and start helping each other to understand the Gospel message and to worship God together because of it.  You have your own needs in worship, and I have mine.  There's nothing wrong with "doing both" to help each other reach the goal.  Let's have a time of worship where I will sing songs that help you, and you will sing songs that help me, and God will be glorified.

"So what shall I do?  I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind."  1Cor 14:15

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