“Does it really matter to God if we use instrumental music in worship today or don’t use it?” “Doesn’t He have more important things that He is concerned about?” “How can it be conceivable that He would reject a worship service that had a piano or a guitar?”
These types of questions are often asked today to justify playing mechanical instruments in worship services. The basis of many argumentations is the opinion that says, “I just don’t see how using instrumental music would matter to God!” Let’s take that some line of reasoning and apply it to other commands of God.
God commanded Noah to “make an ark of gopherwood” (Gen. 6:14). What if Noah used oak and said, “I just don’t see how that matters to God”?
God commanded Abraham, “He who is eight days old shall be circumcised” (Gen. 17:12). What if he did it day nine and said, “I just don’t see how that matters to God”?
God commanded Moses, “Make two cherubims of gold” (Ex. 25:18). What if Moses used bronze and said, “I just don’t see how that matters to God”?
God commanded Moses, “Appoint the Levites over the tabernacle” (Num. 1:50). What if Moses appointed Judah and said, “I just don’t see how that matters to God”?
God commanded Naaman, “Go and wash in the Jordan” (2 Kgs. 5:10). What if Naaman dipped in the Pharpar River and said, “I just don’t see how that matters to God”?
God commanded Jonah, “Go to Nineveh” (Jonah 1:2). What if Jonah went to Tarshish and said, “I just don’t see how that matters to God”?
God commanded Zacharias, “Call his name John” (Lk. 1:13). What if Zacharias named his son Joe and said, “I just don’t see how that matters to God”?
The examples from Scripture could be multiplied over and over. When God gave these specific commands, would it really have mattered to Him if man altered them a bit to fit his wishes? Could the answer (i.e., “No!”) be any more obvious?
Here’s the key: when God specifies, He automatically excludes. Look back at these seven examples. God did not have to say, “Do not use oak, bronze, Judah, Joe, etc.” By specifying what He wanted, God gave clear indication that any other choice by man would definitely matter to God.
When God specified singing in New Testament worship (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16), He automatically excluded any other type of music being accepted. It matters to God!