1. Do Bible principals allow for Christians to listen to any religious music as a secular form of entertainment with the instrument, such as Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) that is so popular among the youth of our time as well as adults? 2. Can a Christian perform individual acts of worship during the week in addition to that of the primary worship of god on the Lord’s Day, such as the songs we sing during mid-week Bible service or Gospel meetings or singings? ~ Edward R. Henderson, Jr.
Every instance of religious music associated with the church or Christians and about which one can read in the New Testament is a cappella or singing without instrumental accompaniment (Acts 16:25; 1 Corinthians 14:15; James 5:13.). The two primary New Testament passages that address singing in Christian worship are:
“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19).
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16).
Singing is the type of worshipful music authorized in the New Testament. Naturally, then, singing is the type of music authorized for use in the Lord’s Day worship each first day of the week. Likewise, whenever and wherever Christians assemble (e.g., Bible classes, Gospel meetings, lectureships, chapel services), the type of music authorized is singing of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). Whenever and wherever one (James 5:13) or more Christians sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, that worshipful music, singing, ought to be without the accompaniment of instrumental music. Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 do not address singing within the limited context of a time or a place, but they address worshipful music that is authorized, irrespective of when or where it may occur.
Personally, I cannot make the distinction between singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs in a context of worship from singing the same psalms, hymns and spiritual songs merely for entertainment. I fail to see how the time and the place that psalms, hymns and spiritual songs are sung transforms lyrics about heaven, God, Christ, grace, the church, etc. from worshipful music to entertainment. Singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs should be enjoyable, whether in the worship assembly, a Bible class or simply when and wherever one or more Christians sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.
The only act of worship limited to the first day of the week in the church’s assembly is observance of the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7). Each of the other four acts of worship may also occur on other days of the week: prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17; Acts 10:9; Colossians 1:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:11); giving (Acts 4:32-36; 5:1-10); preaching (Acts 13:14ff, 42; 18:4) and singing (Acts 16:25). What one does rather than where he does it determines whether it is worship; Paul and Silas worshipped in song while they were imprisoned.
None of the references about singing address what one hears, but what one sings. Scripture does not seem to anticipate, for instance, playing recorded music in the car as one drives along the highways. In many other areas in which God obviously cares, he saw fit to have Scripture anticipate those matters (e.g., objections to baptism pertaining to salvation, 1 Peter 3:21). In my judgment, (1) it is inappropriate to sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with the accompaniment of instrumental music, even if it is outside the worship assembly or Bible classes; (2) it is going beyond what is written to forbid listening to recorded psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, but (3) it is unwise to develop a taste for singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with instrumental accompaniment (which is not authorized in Christian worship) by listening to worshipful music that is augmented with instrumental music.
Worshipful music, which is enjoyable when sung, doubtless is enjoyable when heard as well. While trying to be biblically correct in our application of doctrine and doctrinal principles, we need to be careful that we do not legislate where God has not, even with the good intentions. Yet, CCM or psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with mechanical instruments (e.g., guitars, pianos, organs, etc.), whether sung or listened to is counterproductive and undermines what is authorized for worshipful music. The very next verse following Colossians 3:16, which authorizes singing, is this verse about religious authority: “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17).
