Is it really a big deal to use a piano or some mechanical instrument in worship? That’s a question often asked when someone visits the church of Christ, and it is a very good question to consider, as we must examine every “word or deed” in which we engage to ensure we “do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Col. 3:17).
Worship is God-directed and, therefore, must be God-directed. That may sound repetitive but consider this. The first time Jesus spoke of worship, He said, “You shall worship the Lord your God” (Matt. 4:10). God is the audience; our worship must be directed toward Him. Since true worship is directed toward Him, it must, of necessity, be directed by Him. God determines what worship is.
True worshipers must worship as governed by truth. Again, that may sound repetitive but consider this. When Jesus first spoke of worship in the gospel of John, He affirmed, “…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). Jesus, again, not only emphasized that God is the focus of worship, but the Son of God emphasized that true worship is regulated by truth—not some manmade truth but THE truth, that is the word of God, “the word of truth” (John 17:17; 2 Tim. 2:15).
The only worship that God will accept is worship which He has authorized as acceptable. Many examples can be found in Scripture of those who approached God in worship but did so in an unacceptable manner (Gen. 4:3-7; Lev. 10:1-3; 1 Sam. 13:8-14; Matt. 15:7-9; etc.). Frequently the New Testament speaks of approaching God “acceptably” (Rom. 12:1-2; Eph. 5:10; Phil. 4:18; 1 Pet. 2:5). God demands acceptable worship and only God can determine and dictate what is acceptable.
New Testament worship is New Testament worship, not Old Testament worship. Again, this statement may seem obvious, like the others, but it is significant. Old Testament worship included killing animals, offering them on an altar, sprinkling their blood, burning incense, playing various instruments, etc. None of these are authorized in New Testament worship.
When God specifies what He wants, He’s specific. God told Noah to build an ark of wood—specifically gopher wood (Gen. 6:14). No other wood was authorized. God told Moses to build an ark of wood—acacia wood (Ex. 25:10). No other wood was authorized. God told Christians to worship Him with music—singing music (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). No other music was authorized. We must do all by His authority!