# Musical Instruments in Worship > [!summary] Our stance We believe musical instruments are a biblical and God-honoring part of worship. Instruments serve the congregation's singing. They are never the point of worship, but they can help us praise God with skill and joy. ## Instruments Throughout Scripture ### In the Old Testament - **David organized musicians and instruments for worship** in the house of the Lord (1 Chronicles 15:16; 25:1-7). - **Hezekiah restored instrumental worship,** and the text says it was "the commandment of the LORD through his prophets" (2 Chronicles 29:25-28). - **At the dedication of Solomon's temple,** trumpets, cymbals, and instruments joined the singers, and the glory of God filled the house (2 Chronicles 5:12-14). - **The Psalms call for instruments again and again.** "Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!" (Psalm 150:3-4, ESV). See also Psalm 33:2-3; 81:2-3; 98:4-6. ### In the New Testament - **Paul tells believers to sing "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs"** (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). The Psalms themselves repeatedly call for instruments. - **The word translated "making melody"** in Ephesians 5:19 (_psallō_) originally meant to pluck strings, though by the New Testament era it could also mean simply singing praise. - **Heaven's worship includes instruments.** The elders hold harps before the Lamb (Revelation 5:8), and John hears the sound of harpists (Revelation 14:2; 15:2). ## The Heart Comes First Instruments are never a substitute for a worshiping heart. - Paul says to make melody "to the Lord with your heart" (Ephesians 5:19). - God rejected Israel's music when their lives were full of injustice (Amos 5:21-24). - Jesus warned against honoring God with lips while hearts are far from Him (Matthew 15:8). ## Principles for Instruments in Our Worship 1. **Serve the singing.** The congregation's voice is the main instrument. The band supports it. 2. **Play with skill.** "Play skillfully on the strings" (Psalm 33:3, ESV). Chenaniah led because he was skilled (1 Chronicles 15:22). 3. **Point to God, not performers.** Worship leaders are servants, not stars (John 3:30). 4. **Serve clarity and order.** Everything should build up the church (1 Corinthians 14:26, 40). ## Other Views - **Some churches, such as many Churches of Christ, worship without instruments (a cappella).** They follow the _regulative principle_, which says worship should include only what the New Testament explicitly commands. Because the New Testament mentions singing but not instruments in church gatherings, they choose voices alone. - **Some Reformed churches** historically sang only the Psalms without instruments for similar reasons. We respect their desire to honor God carefully. We hold that the consistent biblical witness, from the temple to the Psalms to the worship of heaven, shows that instruments are welcome when they serve God-centered worship. ## What This Means for Us Whether it's a full band or a single guitar, our music exists for one reason: to help God's people sing the truth of God to the glory of God.