What role should Music and Musical Instruments have in the Church?

Sometimes, It can feel like many of the questions that I ask on my blog seem to be going against contemporary streams in the modern church. However, our constant measuring rod for the church is not our personal preferences, ideas or plans, but everything must be brought to the bar of Scripture. Listen to what Paul wrote to the church at Rome: 'For what does the Scripture say?' (4:3). I have travelled widely overseas in the work of the gospel and it seems like there is an invasion of musical instruments into the church. Beatles style 'rock n'roll' bands seems to be the flavour of the month but we have to ask if this is part of the church's ministry.

Do we ever read of the apostles been instructed to use dramas or music to draw the crowds, so that Peter could stand up to give a quick gospel message? Do we ever read of Timothy being told by Paul to use Greek or Roman entertainment methods to keep the young people? What does the scripture say concerning these things? Musical instruments are not mentioned as a means of grace in the church, but preaching is. Once I heard a saying: 'When candles go up in the church, then preaching goes down'. I agree, but I think that I could also say: 'When the music band and PA goes up in the church, preaching goes down!'. Let us all examine these matters in the light of scripture. By the way if someone points us to Psalm 150 and the array of instruments in the ceremonial worship under the law, just ask them a simple question. Are these for the New Testament church? According to 1 Chronicles 16: 37-42, the instruments were at the giving of sacrifices. The supreme sacrifice has now been offered through Jesus Christ, who declared on the cross "It is finished" (John 19:30). Since then, these instruments are not required in the sense of Psalm 150. The church has moved forward! Instruments may help congregational singing but they must never take over the church's worship.

Listen to John Calvin's wise pastoral advice from his Institutes of Christian Religion,Book 3:10:32 on 'Church Singing': 'We should be very careful that our ears be not more attentive to the melody than our minds to the spiritual meaning of the words'. Wise counsel and this is much needed for our generation in 2012.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16.