In our last blog, I emphasized that the kind of music God desires today is singing.  Specifically, a cappella singing or singing without the accompaniment of musical instruments.  How do I know this is true?  I know it because that is the only kind of music that is authorized by the New Testament, and, as I referenced last night, we must have Bible authority for everything that we preach and practice religiously (Colossians 3:17).

This begs the question, “What about the Old Testament?  Does it not authorize the use of musical instruments in worshipping God?”   It did when the law under the Old Testament was in force, but we are no longer under that law.  The law that God’s people were under during much of the Old Testament period was the law of Moses, but it has been taken out of the way and nailed to the cross.

Colossians 2:13–14 (KJV)
¹³ And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; ¹⁴ Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.

The law of Moses was given to the Jews, and them alone (Deuteronomy 5:1-3; Exodus 20:1-17).  When the time was fulfilled, that law was blotted out.  It is a good thing it was too because, as Paul wrote, it was contrary to those who were under it.  Why?  Because it could not forgive trespasses (Acts 13:38-39).

Regardless of the reason why, the Bible is clear—the law of Moses has been abolished.

Ephesians 2:14–15 (ESV)
¹⁴ For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility ¹⁵ by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,  

The “law of commandments expressed in ordinances” clearly refers to the law of Moses.  It has indeed been abolished, or, as the Hebrews writer wrote, it has become obsolete (Hebrews 8:13).  Paul understood this to be true, and, thus, realized what law he had to observe.

1 Corinthians 9:21 (ESV)
²¹ To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.

So, we should all be clear on this—today we are under the law of Christ, not the law of Moses.  What does this teach us so far as the music God desires is concerned?  It teaches us that we must go to the New Testament to discover what that is.  When we do this, we discover that the constant refrain is to sing.

Ephesians 5:19 (ESV)
¹⁹ Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,

So, when you are trying to discover what kind of music God desires for us to make unto Him, you must turn to the right source.  That source is the New Testament.  It tells us to sing but where is the passage that authorizes playing?  The answer is, there is none.”

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.