"To play or not to play" verse 2

Many proponents of a capella worship will say that instrumental worship is invalid, because a piano, or a guitar, or an accordian (ha ha), is not alive, and therefore cannot worship God.
These people are being completely obtuse and idiotic. If you see a man standing up in front of a congregation, singing a worship song while strumming a guitar, would you think to yourself, "that guitar sure is trying to worship God"?
No?
Of course you wouldn't.
Why not?
Because you're not barking mad, that's why not.
If you observed a hunter with a rifle stalking a deer through the forest, taking aim with his rifle, then shooting the deer dead. Would you think to yourself, "that Winchester M 94 sure is doing a good job hunting down that deer"?
No, because again, you are not a complete moron.

My friend, when instruments are used in worship to God, IT IS NOT THE INSTRUMENTS DOING THE WORSHIPING, it is still the PEOPLE who are worshiping.
Again, anti-instrumentalists will remind you that Hebrews 13:15 calls vocal worship "the fruit of our lips".
Well what about the fruit of our hearts? Do they think that God doesn't see that as well?
There are several examples throughout the New Testament (I'll let you look them up yourself. Consider it "homework") where we are told to use our gifts for God. Use your talents to bring glory to God. Do everything you do, as if you were doing it for God. Sounds familiar, right?
Why is musical ability (other than singing) excluded then? If someone discovers that he has a natural affinity and ability for playing guitar, hones his skills, becomes quite accomplished at playing this instrument, then meets and gives his life to Jesus, are you telling me he should not use that amazing ability in His service?
Oh, perhaps you think he should just use his guitar to play uplifting songs that, in some vague way, promote Christian principles? Or maybe he could play jazz, classical, or country music, in concert gatherings that otherwise have nothing to do with promoting Christ, as long as he remembers to give his "testimony" or make some remark about loving Jesus at some point during the show?
Poppycock and Balderdash.
Whether with instruments or without, it is still, and always will be, the people doing the actual worshiping. The inclusion of instruments does not make worship any more or less valid, any more or less holy. But for many unbelievers, it makes praise music more accessible.
Let's go back to the hunting example. If I were to tell you I went dove hunting this weekend, you would undoubtedly make some assumptions. The first one probably would be an assumption that there were firearms involved. You wouldn't picture me chasing down doves, trying to catch them in a large net, or picnic basket. You probably wouldn't picture me holding a rod and reel. Or a baseball bat. Or a taser. You'd picture me with a rifle, correct?
Same thing with music. You tell most people that we're going to sing a whole bunch of worship songs, they assume there will be instruments even though you said "sing".
If I said to you, "I heard Celine Dion sing at Carnegie Hall.", would you assume there were no musical instruments there, other than her voice? If I invited you to a venue, and told you it was because I wanted you to come hear my friend Mandy Holmes sing, would you be suprised to find at least a piano there? What about a full band? You wouldn't say to me "Hey! What are all these instruments doing here? I thought you said she was going to 'sing' !" ?
No, I doubt you'd say that. And yet afterwards, you wouldn't leave the place saying "I really don't think that was a valid display of Mandy's vocal talents because she was accompanied by instruments.", would you?
So how can someone say that another person's worship is invalid because while that person sang to God with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength, he was also playing a musical instrument? That playing that mechanical instrument somehow completely negates all the love and devotion that the worshiper was trying to communicate to God?
Codswallow!
Then there are those who question the church musician's motives. That the church praise band members are really just up there to entertain, or put on a show, or to draw attention and/or glory to themselves rather than God. . . . .
Stay tuned for verse 3.