To play or not to play, IS that the question?

Greetings! Apparently that same morbid curiosity, or plain old ennui has brought you back to my lair once again. Eh? You heard music on the way in? Probably Here To You by a christian rock group called Decypher Down. One of several christian groups that I happen to enjoy very much. In my humble opinion, they're up there with Decemberadio, Big Daddy Weave, Ten Shekel Shirt, Jars of Clay, DC Talk, (way better than Creed), and as good as Day of Fire and Third Day.
Third Day is especially good. In fact the praise band at my church has played Third Day's version of quite a few songs.
What's that?
Yes, we have a praise band at the church I attend.
Heh, heh, well yes, it IS a Church of Christ.
This suprises you? Yeah, well the idea of instrumental worship, especially in a C of C tends to suprise or offend many people. In fact, it's a very volatile issue with strong feelings on both sides. Both sides think they are right. Both sides think the Scriptures support their views. Hmmmm.
Ok, lets start there.
How do you take scripture, and argue against having instruments in the worship service?
Some people go to the Old Testament (OT) and try to show that unauthorized worship consituted a death sentence. One example they use is the story of Nadab and Abihu. The problem there is that those guys were violating some very explicit instructions about their worship. They were not dealing with something that God had been completely silent about. Another problem there is that if one uses examples from the OT to enlighten us on how we should worship, then that would suggest we should use instruments in our worship service, because it is clear from numerous examples throughout the OT they they used instruments in theirs. Also, I seriously doubt that when Moses recorded this story in Levitcus he was thinking that, (thousands of years later), Christians would be trying to decide whether or not to use instruments in worship, and so decided to include this story. The point of the story of Nadab and Abihu is not that they tried to introduce innovations in worship, or that they broke some "Law of Silence", it's that they blatantly broke several very explicit rules regarding their worship service.
Another reason I believe that arguments against instruments fail is because it cannot be applied to other aspects of worship. For example, people who evoke the Law of Silence will say that since God didn't say to do something, then we have no authority to do it. Well, when did God say to use non-alcoholic grape juice in Communion, when the New Testament example is clearly wine? In scripture, we're told to greet each other with a holy kiss. Who does that? In my entire life, I've met ONE man that did that. One. Everyone else greets with a handshake or hug.
As far as I can tell, first century believers met outside, or in one another's homes. Nowhere in the New Testament are christians commanded to erect church buildings, or purchase a church bus, or provide baptistries, all things that even very conservative christians seem to be perfectly fine with. One cannot argue for or against instrumental worship based on Jesus' teachings, because Jesus simply never said a word about instruments.
Which brings us to my next point. Why are so many people getting so bent out of shape on this issue, when it seems to me to be exceedingly low on the Important Stuff list. There are so many things, such as hypocritical worship, hypocritical church leaders, sexual immorality, personal finances, legalism, and other issues on which Jesus did have very much to say. And yet many churches conveniently overlook, or ignore, or pretend these problems don't exist in their congregation. Church leaders and members alike will sit and argue passionately for hours about things such as instruments, the communion table, the name on the sign, even about the exact number of songs to be sung before the sermon is delivered. Meanwhile, Joe Lost and Suzy Sinner across the street remain in darkness and despair. If Jesus showed up to one of those meetings, do you think he'd stick around for very long? I doubt it. I think he'd be outside, having an impact on the community. And let me tell you something, having an impact on the community is what instrumental worship is all about.
Folks, this is not the 1800's anymore. It's not even the 1900's anymore! It's time to catch up.
I know, I know, scripture tells us to be in the world, but not of the world. But if we are to remain effective in having an impact for Christ on the world, then we have to always be able to communicate with the world. Most people who don't attend church today, especially those under 40 years of age, aren't going to be attracted to a church whose members drone on about The Old Rugged Cross while looking as if all the joy has been sucked out of their lives the moment service began, then sit through a thirty or fourty-five minute "fire and brimstone" sermon which does nothing but make them feel guilty while re-enforcing the idea that God is some vengeful Creator sitting up in heaven just waiting to zap us with his Gospel Gun.
Scripture tells us that God is Love. Jesus said in Mark12:28-31 that the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And that the second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as much as you love yourself. I believe that our worship service, especially the musical aspect of it, should reflect those commandments.
Worship should be joyous. It should be uplifting. It should reflect our love for God, our eagerness for Jesus to return, and the awe and reverence we feel at the thought that He who created the universe loves each individual one of us. (Enough to die for us. Wow.)
That worship must also be honest, truthful, and heartfelt.
Jesus said "God is spirit, and they that worship Him, must worship Him in spirit and in truth."
Tell me this, if the worship leader at church is leading the song "Amazing Grace", and he believes the words and ideas in that song with every fiber of his being, then would you say he is worshiping in spirit and in truth? Now suppose that same worship leader, leads that exact same song, with the same amount of passion and belief one week later, only this time there is someone accompanying him on piano, does that make his worship any less spiritual, or truthful?
Well I don't. God doesn't just see what you're doing on the outside, He sees what's in your heart as well.
More on this issue coming soon. Stay tuned!