Perhaps you have heard the saying,
“Where the Scriptures speak we speak,
and where the Scriptures are silent we are silent.”
This thought sounds good on the
surface but is it practical or viable to put into practice? Our
non-instrumental brethren would tell us that because musical instruments are
not specifically mentioned in the Scriptures we should not use such resources
in worship. Yet, the Scriptures also do not mention church buildings,
church buses, Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, a communion table,
communion trays, offering plates, and the list could go on. With this
reasoning, we should not have church buildings since they are not mentioned in
the New Testament. In truth there were no church buildings until at least
the 3rd century A.D. The earliest known Christian Church building (a remodeled cave) dates to
about 230 A.D. and was found in northern Jordan. If you study the
world of the Roman Empire it makes sense that there were no church buildings in
the first two-three centuries. Christianity was technically an illegal religion
in the Roman Empire and there were many persecution periods towards Christians
from various Roman rulers. Buildings dedicated as a church building
began to emerge in earnest and multiply during the 4th Century A.D. after the rise of
Constantine when Christianity became tolerated and later became the state
religion of the Roman/Byzantine Empire.
Some time ago, while on
vacation I attended a church that does not believe in the use of musical
instruments in worship. Though
different than what I’ve been accustomed to I experienced a fine time of
worship. However, I did notice that the
song leader used a pitch pipe to start each song with the right note. Is not
the pitch pipe a musical instrument? In addition, I also noticed they had a piano
in their fellowship hall. Oh, but that was not the “sanctuary” or “worship hall”.
So am I to assume that piano is used only for worldly or secular music? If they sing hymns or other Christian songs
with the piano in the fellowship hall are they not worshiping? In truth, before we judge our non-instrumental
brethren too harshly let us acknowledge that we probably have some
double-standards of our own that have yet to be reconciled.
“Where the Scriptures speak we speak, and where the Scriptures are
silent we are silent.”
Be careful with such phrases that you do not take them as “gospel”. Where the Scriptures are silent we are at
liberty to use or do certain things, as long as
it is God-honoring and helping to fulfill the mission of the Lord’s
Church. Be careful not to criticize someone or a congregation by saying what they do or use is not in the Scriptures, before we take a hard look in the mirror.
“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. -Matthew 7:1-5 (ESV)
