Bible teaching
No band or Choir?
A cappella
Instrumental music in worship
Churches of Christ practice a cappella singing, which is vocal music without instrumental accompaniment, in worship. The practice follows the New Testament pattern. Every passage that mentions music in Christian worship specifies singing.
What the New Testament says
New Testament command
Ephesians 5:18 to 19
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.
The heart as the instrument
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
The early church
Acts 16:25
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
Singing with understanding
1 Corinthians 14:15
What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.
The cheerful sing
James 5:13
Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.
Early church practice
Historical evidence indicates that the early church practiced a cappella singing exclusively. Instrumental music was not part of Christian worship for several centuries after the church was established.
Many early Christian writers specifically mentioned that Christians used only vocal music, distinguishing their practice from both Jewish temple worship and pagan ceremonies which used instruments.
The one instrument of peace, the Word alone by which we honor God, is what we employ. We no longer employ the ancient psaltery, trumpet, timbrel, and flute.
Musical instruments belong to the Jewish ceremonies and agree with the childish state of the Old Testament.
I have no objection to instruments of music in our chapels, provided they are neither heard nor seen.
Introduction of instruments
The introduction of instrumental music into Christian worship came gradually and faced significant opposition. The organ was first introduced in Western church worship around the 7th century, but was not widely accepted until much later.
Many religious groups during the Restoration Movement of the 19th century sought to return to New Testament patterns of worship, which included a return to a cappella singing in worship services.
Our commitment to biblical worship
At Watkins Rd. church of Christ, we are committed to following the New Testament pattern for worship. Our practice of a cappella singing is not merely a tradition or preference, but a deliberate effort to honor God's instructions for Christian worship.
We believe that the beauty of congregational singing allows for the mutual edification described in Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16, where we are instructed to speak to and teach one another through our songs. Each member participates in this form of worship, making melody in their hearts to the Lord.
While we recognize that instrumental music is pleasing to many, our aim is to please God by adhering to the pattern He has established for His church. We invite you to experience the simple beauty and spiritual depth of congregational a cappella singing in our worship services.
Questions often asked
Isn't a cappella singing just a tradition or preference?
A cappella singing is a longstanding practice in churches of Christ, but it is not merely a preference or a tradition. It follows the consistent New Testament pattern for Christian worship, and the practice of the early church for several centuries. Churches of Christ seek to restore New Testament Christianity in every part of the faith, including worship.
The Bible doesn't explicitly forbid instruments, so why not use them?
Biblical authority is established by explicit commands, by approved examples, and by necessary inferences. When God specifies how something is to be done, that specification excludes other methods. The New Testament instructs Christians to sing and make melody in their hearts. That instruction shows what God desires for Christian worship.
Doesn't the Bible mention harps in heaven?
Revelation uses symbolic language, and that imagery includes harps. Those passages are apocalyptic. They do not set the pattern for the church's worship on earth. The instructions given to the church about music consistently specify singing, and they do not mention instruments.
Didn't they use instruments in the Old Testament?
Yes. Instruments were used in Old Testament worship, especially in the temple. Christians are under the new covenant, not the law of Moses. The New Testament gives a new pattern for worship. Animal sacrifices and incense were commanded then, and they are not offered in the church now. In the same way, the church follows the New Testament instructions for music, which specify singing.