I believe that we are to sing and not play because it is not authorized in scripture. What do you do when someone tells you that the context of Ephesians 5 does not talk about worship? I was wondering if you could shed some light on this subject for me and what about the elders and their harps. If you could I would appreciate it. Thanks ~ Ryan
Irrespective of what one may conclude regarding the surrounding context, Ephesians 5:19 does address one aspect of worship, a specific kind of worshipful music–singing! The verse reads: “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16 is comparable to Ephesians 5:19, and reads: “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.” Singing “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” rather than or combined with instrumental music, humming, percussion, etc. is authorized as worshipful music, such as one would find in an assembly of Christians for worship (1 Corinthians 14:15).
However, what many people fail to realize respecting Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 is that the place or occasion is not addressed in those verses, but the activity of worshipful music is addressed in those verses. Hence, the place or occasion is irrelevant as to the affect on worshipful music. Whenever and wherever one proceeds to voice psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, irrespective of the place or occasion, the Bible only and exclusively authorizes singing. Incidentally, instrumental music, humming, whistling, voices imitating instruments of music, etc. are incapable of “speaking” (Ephesians 5:19), “teaching” and “admonishing” (Colossians 3:16) with spiritual truths.
Finally, whatever God may have permitted under former dispensations or what may be permitted in heaven is irrelevant to the here and the now as we are amenable exclusively to the New Testament. In addition, few if any would concede literal, physical harps in the spiritual realm of heaven (Revelation 5:8; 14:2; 15:2).
