Instruments in Worship

For the average National Baptist, such a topic seems to be irrelevant. All National Baptist churches are going to have at least one instrument, an organ (better if the organ is a Hammond organ), and the majority of churches will have a diversity of instruments: organ, piano, keyboard, drums, lead guitar, and a bass guitar. The more instruments the better.

About a month or two ago while reading a history of Black Baptists in Alabama, I read that black Baptists there during the latter half of the 19th century worshiped without the aid of musical instruments. These folk may not have had a biblical reason why they practiced this. Probably there were few black folk in Baptist churches immediately following Emancipation who could play a piano. A Capella singing was probably practical. I mention this to make a larger point: it is not a necessity to have musical instruments in the song worship of Christian churches.

Another historical point I would like to make is that instruments in worship is an innovation among Protestant churches since the late 19th century. Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians all worshiped without the aid of musical instruments the balance of their histories as distinct Christian communions. J. L. Dagg, a Baptist theologian of the 19th century, stated this regarding instrumental music: "Instrumental music formed a part of the temple worship; but it is nowhere commanded in the New Testament; and it is less adapted to the more spiritual service of the present dispensation." Dagg's assertion is significant because it establishes the framework of the argument against the use of musical instruments in NT worship: first, musical instruments were part of Temple worship, which has been superseded (with the exception of psalm-singing); and second, there is no command to use musical instruments in NT, or a clear example of their use in worship. I agree.

Why I am placing forward such an argument in this day and age? First, I believe it is biblical. We are to obey our Lord who speaks through the Holy Scriptures. Second, I believe the plethora of instrumentation in National Baptist churches takes away from true worship in spirit and truth. Musical instruments create undue emotionalism in worship, which is as much intelligent as it is with the heart. Does not Paul implore us to making melody in our hearts anyway? See Ephesians 5:19.

In National Baptist churches, music drives worship. If it sounds good, it must good for worship. Who determines the sound? Nashville? Detroit? Chicago? I hate to state this but the sound coming out of National Baptist churches is unholy, for the most part. It scintillates; it titillates; it makes the body move, but it fails to capture something of the holiness of God and the reverence that is supposed to mark his worship.