Musical Instruments in Christ's church

[Darron Steele]

King David, the writer of the Psalms, was under the law therefore his works were under the law. ....

Are you serious? Never mind; I am sure you are.

So everything David did was a work of the Law? Wow! I guess I should never pray. I guess I should never confess my sins to God. I guess I should never show compassion on my enemies. I guess I should do none of the good works that he did in his life.

No I do not believe that. Nor would you believe the statement you made if it was not for a `Our group can do no wrong' devotion to your group.

 

[defenderofthefaith]

Come now, no sense in insulting our intelligence. And you use the "rediculous" to illustrate a non-point. Nice try, though.

(but, regarding communion...are you sure you do it JUST like Jesus did? Careful, now...)

I wasn't insulting your intelligence, I was creating examples so that you might understand how rediculous the argument "well the NT doesn't say you can't" is.

(to illustrate a non-point? Sorry, I seriously don't mean to be rude, but whats a non point?
The dictionary told me it was "of or pertaining to a source of pollution that is not readily and specifically identifiable, as water runoff."
Of course I know thats not what you meant....)

Wait...now we get to use the OT as an example? You can't have your cake...er, bread and cup...and eat it, too...make up your mind.

We're not using the OT to see how to do things (i.e. worship), we're using it to see and understand how angry God becomes when we change and add things to his commands.
Totally different concept.

 

[defenderofthefaith]

Any change?
Then give up your church buildings. That is a change. Take off your shoes. That is a change. In eastern countries they still take off their shoes before entering into their churches because they believe that they are entering a "sacred place," even as Moses met with God at the burning bush. So you don't follow the Bible after all do you?
You meet in a building exclusively built for assembling the church--not Biblical.
You don't take off your shoes--like the saints of old.
You drive in cars rather than by donkeys or on foot.
You use a computer to email, instead of sending everything by snail mail.
Even todays snail mail is much faster than in Paul's day.
You don't have the authority for any of the above.

The interesting thing is....buildings, shoes, cars, email, ect - have nothing to do with worship to God.
As I've said before - the place we worship makes no difference! The building was built for a convient place for us to meet, but it has nothing to do with worship because if we took the building totally out of the picture...we would still worship the same way!

Yes, see my answer above. You cannot make an answer from silence.
You cannot make a prohibition against cars from Scripture, and therefore you use one. But you don't use instruments, and thus are hypocritical in your use of cars driving to your church building for worship. Both the car and the church building are used either directly or indirectly in worship. But you have no command in Scripture to use them--only your rationalization. You play the part of a hypocrite--pick and choose what you will obey--through the silence of Scriptures.

It leaves lots of room.
Arguing from silence means you can make the Bible say anything you want. And that is exactly what you do.

The concept your not understanding here is that if you believe that silence in the scriptures has no power - then our type of worship could be a rediculous and radical worship and all we'd have to say is "nowhere does the NT prohibit us doing this". That is not right.

Are you serious? Never mind; I am sure you are.

So everything David did was a work of the Law? Wow! I guess I should never pray. I guess I should never confess my sins to God. I guess I should never show compassion on my enemies. I guess I should do none of the good works that he did in his life.

Its funny how everything you mentioned has been commanded of us or showed to us (through an example) in the New Testament.
Pray (Matthew 18:20)
Confess sins (1 John 1:9)
Compassion on enemies (Matthew 5:44)

The entire OT was written for our learning (Romans 15:4), and everything David did wasn't a work of the law; he layed with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:24); but David and his use of musical instruments was under the law and having the works of the law done away with - we cannot use musical instruments anymore in worship.

 

[Darron Steele]

...
Its funny how everything you mentioned has been commanded of us or showed to us (through an example) in the New Testament.
Pray (Matthew 18:20)
Confess sins (1 John 1:9)
Compassion on enemies (Matthew 5:44)

The entire OT was written for our learning (Romans 15:4), and everything David did wasn't a work of the law; he layed with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:24); but David and his use of musical instruments was under the law and having the works of the law done away with - we cannot use musical instruments anymore in worship.

But those were works David did while the Old Law was in effect!

Further, Jesus spoke His words at Matthew 5 and 18 while the Old Law was in effect.

Adding comments about Bathsheba helps clarify the matter. Adultery is not a work of the Old Law; it was and is a sin. You helped me make my point: not everything David did was under the Old Law.

This includes his use of musical instruments. Musical instruments were something beyond the Old Law, as Psalm 150.

Once again, there is no authority for the ban your portion of the Churches of Christ has added against musical instruments.

 

[DHK]

The interesting thing is....buildings, shoes, cars, email, ect - have nothing to do with worship to God.

If Christ is the Lord of your life, everything, and I mean everything we have and everything we do has to do with the worship of God. Worship is not confined to one or two hours a day. This is where you are absolutely wrong.

1. Buildings. You are following that which you have a command from the Scripture, particularly the NT. You have no permission, no command to worship in a church building. You are outside of the will of God. You are wrong.
--Buildings are used in the worship of God. Just because they didn't have them in the first century does not mean they were not permissible. The same is true with music. If music is wrong, then buildings are wrong.

2. Shoes. God told Moses to take off his shoes, for the land that he stood on was holy. Do you not consider the place where you worship holy? If so, going by OT example (which you do), you must take off your shoes to worship. Otherwise you contradict yourself, for the things in the OT are written for our example that we might follow after.
Also, if we are to follow the commands of Jesus, when he sent out his disciples, this is what he said:

Luke 10:4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.
--If your going by the commands of Christ, then take off your shoes; do away with them. You are not being Scriptural by your own standards.

3. Cars. Cars are used in worship for they are used in transporting people to and from worship places. In the days of Christ, Christ rode on a donkey. If you want to follow the example of Christ, sell your car, buy a donkey and use that to get around. That would be the Scriptural example. Are you willing to follow the example of Christ? Cars are used in worship (indirectly) as they transport people to and from church. BTW, have you ever heard of a "bus ministry." I used to have one. It is a ministry of the church. Every ministry involves worship.

4. emails--a form of communication. Paul wrote epistles. God inspired them. They make up a good part of our NT. God ordained communication. It is part of the way that we are made in the image of God. We are different from animals in the sense that we are able to communicate through a language. We can reason, think, etc. It is what makes us different from animals, and is why we are made in the image of God.
--Yes the things I mentioned have to do with the worship of God, as do all things.
Do all to the glory of God.

As I've said before - the place we worship makes no difference!

Then why in the OT did God ordain for the Temple to be built? It was the only place that the Jews could worship. In the OT the place was important. Does God put importance on place in the NT? To some degree, yes.

The building was built for a convient place for us to meet, but it has nothing to do with worship

Please! No lies! Do you, or do you not, worship in that building? A simple yes or no answer will be sufficient.
Does the building have nothing to do with worship?
Do you worship in the building? Yes or No? Be honest!!!!!

because if we took the building totally out of the picture...we would still worship the same way!

No you wouldn't. I know that already just because of my missionary experience in foreign nations. Tomorrow night the expected low is minus 30 with a windchill of minus 40 where I live. Without a building would our worship still be the same? I don't think so!!! But I have been in subtropical nations that do not have buildings.
I note that in your profile you don't say what part of the country you are from?

The concept your not understanding here is that if you believe that silence in the scriptures has no power - then our type of worship could be a rediculous and radical worship and all we'd have to say is "nowhere does the NT prohibit us doing this". That is not right.

Your concept is that you must have leave from the Bible or permission from the Bible to do something. In order to logically take that position much of what you do must be argued from silence, for the Bible is silent on the issues that you bring up. Musical instruments is a very good example. You cannot argue for or against something that the Bible is silent on. You have no defense.

 

[BTM]

Nowhere in the New Testament do we see a ban against musical instruments in worship being in the will of God.

Nowhere do we see in the New Testament that God wants mortals to add a ban against what God time and again showed approval of in BOTH Testaments.

The burden of proof is against those who would presume to add a ban against what God time and again showed approval of in BOTH Testaments.

Neither do we see where God has commanded the instrument, or sanctioned its' use in the NT. The repeated instruction is to "sing", to offer the "fruit of our lips", yet many insist upon adding "play" to the command.

There are only two KINDS of music. Many types or styles, but only two KINDS. They are vocal and instrumental. Vocal music is singing. Instrumental music is playing. Singing is commanded. Playing is not.

Add to this that if the command to "psallo" includes playing, as many aver, then all must play, since all are to sing. Nobody wants that, though.

And then there is the fact that the music of the NT church is to "teach and admonish one another". What mechanical instrument of music can do that? None. Only the voice can teach and admonish.

Bottom line, we must do all things by the authority of Christ (Col 3:17). Faith comes by hearing the word of God (Rom 10:17). If we do not have an command or example of instruments being used in the NT, then we cannot do so by faith. Whatsoever is not of faith is sin (Rom 14:23).

I know the context of Rom 14:23 is meat. But if dietary choices are sinful if we're not sure if they're right, how much more so adding to the worship of the Almighty?

 

[BTM]

originally posted by DHK - If Christ is the Lord of your life, everything, and I mean everything we have and everything we do has to do with the worship of God.

How about when you puke, or go to the bathroom? Is that worship? Of course not! All of life is not worhsip.

Gen 22:5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.

What can we learn from this text? That Abraham was not worshipping at the time. He and Isaac were going to go yonder to worship. They'd return when they were done. The trip there was not worship. The young men were not worshipping.

All of life is not worship. All of life is service, and some of service is worship.

 

[hillclimber1]

Bands and even orchestras are a large part of the Mega churches, and smaller ones to, today... It is a cornerstone of their entertainment. Frankly, when we visit some of these churches when we're out of town, the musical entertainment is better than most any messages from their pulpits. sad commentary, but that's the way we feel.

 

[rbell]

The concept your not understanding here is that if you believe that silence in the scriptures has no power - then our type of worship could be a rediculous and radical worship and all we'd have to say is "nowhere does the NT prohibit us doing this". That is not right.

Your use of absurd comparisons is humorous. "Rediculous," even.

When the Bible is silent on issues, you can't invent theology, and then try and justify it using the Bible's silence. (Of course, I'm really giving you a long leash here...the Bible is not silent on praising God with musical instruments. It encourages it. Oh, wait...I forgot: it upsets your apple cart, and so it is relegated to the realm of "the law," thus a no-no.

Its funny The entire OT was written for our learning (Romans 15:4), and everything David did wasn't a work of the law; he layed with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:24); but David and his use of musical instruments was under the law and having the works of the law done away with - we cannot use musical instruments anymore in worship.

Congrats. You've just added to Scripture. You've taken something Scripture doesn't say, and you've attempted to "make" it say it.

Back to an earlier assertion: are you 100% sure that you do worship exactly the way Jesus did, no exceptions whatsoever? Think about your answer carefully.

 

[rbell]

Neither do we see where God has commanded the instrument, or sanctioned its' use in the NT. The repeated instruction is to "sing", to offer the "fruit of our lips", yet many insist upon adding "play" to the command.

It is discussed. At length. I can't help it that you feel the need to disqualify passages from the OT, just because they don't fit your theological box.
So now, it's not just enought that Scripture discusses playing...but we need an official "sanction" from God? This gets into the "adding to Scripture" realm, IMO...

There are only two KINDS of music. Many types or styles, but only two KINDS. They are vocal and instrumental. Vocal music is singing. Instrumental music is playing. Singing is commanded. Playing is not.

Which Scripture were you using as foundation for this assertion: the one in 1 Hezekiah, or the passage in 2 Confusions?

Add to this that if the command to "psallo" includes playing, as many aver, then all must play, since all are to sing. Nobody wants that, though.

Of course, this would be a great place to mention that four-part harmony is not specifically sanctioned in the New Testament. Thus, it must be sinful. :tonofbricks:

And then there is the fact that the music of the NT church is to "teach and admonish one another". What mechanical instrument of music can do that? None. Only the voice can teach and admonish.

More 1 Hezekiah, eh?

Well, I guess I'll have to throw out my books, written sermons, and my copy of Handel's Messiah, since they ain't no good.

Bottom line, we must do all things by the authority of Christ (Col 3:17). Faith comes by hearing the word of God (Rom 10:17). If we do not have an command or example of instruments being used in the NT, then we cannot do so by faith. Whatsoever is not of faith is sin (Rom 14:23).

I would be very, very careful indeed about calling another's worship of God "sin." You get into quite dicey territory in a hurry.

I know the context of Rom 14:23 is meat. But if dietary choices are sinful if we're not sure if they're right, how much more so adding to the worship of the Almighty?

Translation: I'm engaged in eisegesis, but I'm passionate about my position, so it should be OK.

Let me re-pose the question: are you 100% sure that every single facet of your worship is conducted exactly in the same manner as Jesus and the disciples?

 

[defenderofthefaith]

Bands and even orchestras are a large part of the Mega churches, and smaller ones to, today... It is a cornerstone of their entertainment. Frankly, when we visit some of these churches when we're out of town, the musical entertainment is better than most any messages from their pulpits. sad commentary, but that's the way we feel.

When did worship to God suddenly become all about entertainment? Remember, the audience is God - the one really listening is God...it doesn't matter if we're entertained or not!

But those were works David did while the Old Law was in effect!

Further, Jesus spoke His words at Matthew 5 and 18 while the Old Law was in effect.

Adding comments about Bathsheba helps clarify the matter. Adultery is not a work of the Old Law; it was and is a sin. You helped me make my point: not everything David did was under the Old Law.

This includes his use of musical instruments. Musical instruments were something beyond the Old Law, as Psalm 150.

Once again, there is no authority for the ban your portion of the Churches of Christ has added against musical instruments.

This is what Alan Highers said about the matter (Thanks BTM for getting this)
"You also raised the question about the Psalms - psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. First of all, that does not necessarily mean that it has to be an Old Testament Psalm. But even if it includes those Psalms, it does not justify everything mentioned in the Psalms because Psalm 66 aslo commands animal sacrifice. The Psalms were written under the old law and embraced many principles of the law. If Christians sometimes sang praises to God from the Psalms, it did not mean they endorsed animal sacrifices, instrumental music, or toher shadows of the law tht are abolished in the New Testament (Col 2:14)."

Notwithstanding the eternal truths that are in the psalms (and other parts of the OT), we have to understand that they were written by men living under the Mosaic Law, and will contain references to and instructions for people living under that Law."

1. Buildings. You are following that which you have a command from the Scripture, particularly the NT. You have no permission, no command to worship in a church building. You are outside of the will of God. You are wrong.
--Buildings are used in the worship of God. Just because they didn't have them in the first century does not mean they were not permissible. The same is true with music. If music is wrong, then buildings are wrong.

You keep repeating yourself - and not listening to logic.
The buildings do not partake, add to, take away, or even matter in our worship to God.
Musical instruments partake in and add to the worship service.
Stop beating a dead horse.

2. Shoes. God told Moses to take off his shoes, for the land that he stood on was holy. Do you not consider the place where you worship holy? If so, going by OT example (which you do), you must take off your shoes to worship. Otherwise you contradict yourself, for the things in the OT are written for our example that we might follow after.

Nope, the church building and the grounds it is not is not holy. Jesus said that wherever to or three are gathered in his name he will be there in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20) - so it doesn't matter where we are.

Also, if we are to follow the commands of Jesus, when he sent out his disciples, this is what he said:

Luke 10:4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.
--If your going by the commands of Christ, then take off your shoes; do away with them. You are not being Scriptural by your own standards.

Your arguments don't make any sense! We're talking about worship here - wearing shoes has nothing to do with worship!

3. Cars. Cars are used in worship for they are used in transporting people to and from worship places. In the days of Christ, Christ rode on a donkey. If you want to follow the example of Christ, sell your car, buy a donkey and use that to get around. That would be the Scriptural example. Are you willing to follow the example of Christ? Cars are used in worship (indirectly) as they transport people to and from church. BTW, have you ever heard of a "bus ministry." I used to have one. It is a ministry of the church. Every ministry involves worship.

Again, cars do not partake in worship indirectly or directly. We could take cars completely out of worship and the worship will not change in any way

4. emails--a form of communication. Paul wrote epistles. God inspired them. They make up a good part of our NT. God ordained communication. It is part of the way that we are made in the image of God. We are different from animals in the sense that we are able to communicate through a language. We can reason, think, etc. It is what makes us different from animals, and is why we are made in the image of God.
--Yes the things I mentioned have to do with the worship of God, as do all things.
Do all to the glory of God.

Emails have absolutely nothing to do with worship at all! Its as simple as that!

It is discussed. At length. I can't help it that you feel the need to disqualify passages from the OT, just because they don't fit your theological box.
So now, it's not just enought that Scripture discusses playing...but we need an official "sanction" from God? This gets into the "adding to Scripture" realm, IMO...

We disqualify the OT from worship because Jesus took it away and established the NT (Hebrews 10:9)

Of course, I'm really giving you a long leash here...the Bible is not silent on praising God with musical instruments. It encourages it. Oh, wait...I forgot: it upsets your apple cart, and so it is relegated to the realm of "the law," thus a no-no.

You humor me, once you bring in some scripture and stop telling me what you think - then I'll start to consider your arguments.

Which Scripture were you using as foundation for this assertion: the one in 1 Hezekiah, or the passage in 2 Confusions?

Our foundation for this assertion is...common sense.
And of course every KIND of music found in the Bible has been simply instrumental/vocal (OT) or just vocal (NT).

Of course, this would be a great place to mention that four-part harmony is not specifically sanctioned in the New Testament. Thus, it must be sinful.

A four-part harmony fulfills the command to SING. It doesn't go outside the command of singing and it doesn't leave anything out.

Let me re-pose the question: are you 100% sure that every single facet of your worship is conducted exactly in the same manner as Jesus and the disciples?

We pray. We teach. We sing. We partake of the Lord's Supper. We give.
That is what the NT church did and that is what we do - we don't add to it.

 

[defenderofthefaith]

Then why in the OT did God ordain for the Temple to be built? It was the only place that the Jews could worship. In the OT the place was important. Does God put importance on place in the NT? To some degree, yes.

To some degree?
Matthew 18:20
"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."
Christ places NO importance on place, he implies that ANYWHERE on earth that two or three are gathered in his name he will be there among them.

Please! No lies! Do you, or do you not, worship in that building? A simple yes or no answer will be sufficient.
Does the building have nothing to do with worship?
Do you worship in the building? Yes or No? Be honest!!!!!

Your reasoning is rediculous! THE BUILDING DOES NOT MATTER IN WORSHIP.
There is a MASSIVE difference between musical instruments and the building.
Musical instruments directly worship God. The building in no way partakes in the worship.
Its a very simple concept to grasp.

Your concept is that you must have leave from the Bible or permission from the Bible to do something. In order to logically take that position much of what you do must be argued from silence, for the Bible is silent on the issues that you bring up. Musical instruments is a very good example. You cannot argue for or against something that the Bible is silent on. You have no defense.

Speak where the Bible speaks, be silent where the Bible is silent.
We have no authority to use musical instruments and we must not add to that which is confirmed (Galatians 3:15) and the Word has been confirmed (Hebrews 2:3).

 

[rbell]

You humor me, once you bring in some scripture and stop telling me what you think - then I'll start to consider your arguments.

Our foundation for this assertion is...common sense.
And of course every KIND of music found in the Bible has been simply instrumental/vocal (OT) or just vocal (NT).


We pray. We teach. We sing. We partake of the Lord's Supper. We give.
That is what the NT church did and that is what we do - we don't add to it.

39 books of the Bible isn't Scripture? Last I checked, the OT counts.

A four-part harmony fulfills the command to SING. It doesn't go outside the command of singing and it doesn't leave anything out.

Oh....you might've messed up here. If I play a piano & sing a hymn...then I'm not going any further outside a command than you are...and I'm not leaving anything out. What was that you said about our foundation being common sense? But...by your logic, it is "outside the sanctioned bounds."

We pray. We teach. We sing. We partake of the Lord's Supper. We give.
That is what the NT church did and that is what we do - we don't add to it.

Think about it, now: do you use real wine in your communion? If not, by your definition, you're sinning. Is the bread exactly like the bread used in the first Lord's supper? If not, bad news. I could go on and on, but my point is made.

Face it: the Church of Christ went goofy on the instrument issue, and they've spent decades tying theological and logical knots trying to make sense of the silly prohibition.

 

[rbell]

Musical instruments directly worship God.
Its a very simple concept to grasp.

Well, your grasper broke, then.

Musical instruments directly worship God...you're kidding, right?

They are inantimate objects. They are played. They cannot worship anything.

Perhaps you should more closely look at your definition of worship.

 

[DHK]

To some degree?
Matthew 18:20
"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."
Christ places NO importance on place, he implies that ANYWHERE on earth that two or three are gathered in his name he will be there among them.

This verse says nothing about worship. You have taken it out of context--typical.
It is speaking of church discipline, not worship. Read the verses that precede it. When the church comes together to discipline an erring member, even if the quorum is just two or three, then Jesus is among them, no matter what the decision the church makes. It is the local church that Jesus is speaking about. And the subject is church discipline. Why are you taking Scripture out of context to try and prove a point that you cannot prove.

This is the Scripture of how and where we worship.
Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Note the phrase "as the manner of some is..."
We gather or assemble together as our manner is in this society, not in the first century society. In our society we use church buildings. But you have no authority to do so. In the first century they had no church buildings. You violate your own Scripture, and the way you exegete Scriptures. The Bible does not give you the authority to meet in church buildings for worship.
"as the manner of some is," means that they met in barns, houses, cemeteries, fields, synagogues, etc. You don't have authority to meet in any such building as a church building. You are hypocritical if you do. You violate your own method of interpretation of Scripture.

 

[Jim1999]

The Welsh people are given to song. I know that a lot of Welsh churches refuse to use musical instruments, but they do use a pitch pipe. Shame on them!

They don't make any biblical claims, by the way. They just prefer the natural voice.

I like organs and pianos, but have bad feelings about drums, especially the way they are pounded these days.

Jim 1:1 is my authority.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[defenderofthefaith]

39 books of the Bible isn't Scripture? Last I checked, the OT counts.

Book, chapter and verse please
All you say "the old testament says...." but don't back it up with actual verses.

Oh....you might've messed up here. If I play a piano & sing a hymn...then I'm not going any further outside a command than you are...and I'm not leaving anything out. What was that you said about our foundation being common sense? But...by your logic, it is "outside the sanctioned bounds."

Last I checked - the command to sing means SING. You say if you play a piano and sing a hymn then your not going any further outside the command than we are with our 4-part harmonys.
Your messed up here - 4 part harmonys consist of singing and only singing therefore not (in any way) going beyond the simple command to just 'sing'.
Piano playing and singing consist of singing and playing therefore it is going beyond the simple command to just sing - because YOU ARE PLAYING.

Think about it, now: do you use real wine in your communion? If not, by your definition, you're sinning. Is the bread exactly like the bread used in the first Lord's supper? If not, bad news. I could go on and on, but my point is made.

We have no evidence that show us that they used real fermented wine in the Lord's supper. Of course you'll say that they did drink real wine back then but the meaning of the term “wine” in the bible is the Greek word oinos and is a generic term that includes all forms of the grape (Unlike the English word - which always connotes an alcoholic beverage). The term oinos was used by the Greeks to refer to unfermented grape juice every bit as much as fermented juice.
Therefore simple grape juice would do - it musn't be real wine.

Second, we do use the same type of bread because we know they used leaven bread which is bread without yeast - and this is what we use. :thumbsup:

But all this argument is pointless because you are completely exaggerating what we're saying.
Your acting as if we want everyone to be EXACT in everything, but this is impossible and nowhere commanded. We can not sing exactly as they did back then - but its simple to understand that we should just sing (because that is what they did) and not add anything to; such as instruments.

 

[DHK]

Your acting as if we want everyone to be EXACT in everything, but this is impossible and nowhere commanded. We can not sing exactly as they did back then - but its simple to understand that we should just sing (because that is what they did) and not add anything to; such as instruments.

I do hope that you are singing in Hebrew, or at the very least in Greek!

 

[BTM]

Bands and even orchestras are a large part of the Mega churches, and smaller ones to, today... It is a cornerstone of their entertainment. Frankly, when we visit some of these churches when we're out of town, the musical entertainment is better than most any messages from their pulpits. sad commentary, but that's the way we feel. (emphsis added - BTM)

You used the key word: entertainment. That is the rock-bottom reason for the instrument in worship.

I've given a few quotes from denominational men on the subject of instrumental music in worship, here's one from the Restoration Movement.

Alexander Campbell said, "To all those whose animal nature flags under the oppression of church service, I should think instrumental music would not only be a desideratum but an essential prerequisite to fire up their souls to even animal devotion. But to all spiritually minded Christians such aids would be as a cowbell in a concert."

Instrumental music cannot teach and admonish (part of the purpose of music in the NT church), it merely entertains the worshippers.

What's "a capella" mean?

 

[defenderofthefaith]

I do hope that you are singing in Hebrew, or at the very least in Greek!

I don't think you quite understood what the whole point of that part of my post meant.

This verse says nothing about worship. You have taken it out of context--typical.
It is speaking of church discipline, not worship. Read the verses that precede it. When the church comes together to discipline an erring member, even if the quorum is just two or three, then Jesus is among them, no matter what the decision the church makes. It is the local church that Jesus is speaking about. And the subject is church discipline. Why are you taking Scripture out of context to try and prove a point that you cannot prove.

Church discipline? I wouldn't say so, I'd say its more about you trying to save an erring brother from falling away from grace - but the verse still stands because in worship are two or three or more not gathered in his name?

This is the Scripture of how and where we worship.
Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

So you say this is the verse that shows us how and where we worship
Hebrews 10:24-25
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (ESV)

But I do not see this prescribing where we should worship.

Note the phrase "as the manner of some is..."
We gather or assemble together as our manner is in this society, not in the first century society. In our society we use church buildings. But you have no authority to do so. In the first century they had no church buildings. You violate your own Scripture, and the way you exegete Scriptures. The Bible does not give you the authority to meet in church buildings for worship.
"as the manner of some is," means that they met in barns, houses, cemeteries, fields, synagogues, etc. You don't have authority to meet in any such building as a church building. You are hypocritical if you do. You violate your own method of interpretation of Scripture.

You not understanding this verse correctly (or I am not understand how your interepting this verse) but the words "as the manner of some is" or [ESV] "as is the habit of some" is referring to "neglecting to meet together". Some people were "forsaking the assembly" and he is telling us not to do so as "some" people where doing.