Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: February 19, 2006
IS THERE BIBLICAL AUTHORITY FOR CHORUSES?
Ben Justice
A “chorus” is very simply a group of singers who sing together to an audience that listens.
There are all kinds of choruses. Certainly, we see religious choruses on television or
advertised in the local paper to perform at a certain religious institution. The fact is, many
churches of Christ are now having choruses to perform for the congregation. Years ago
(before I learned better), I heard the Harding University Chorus perform at the
congregation I attended. This was done after the closing prayer of the evening service.
While many object to having choruses in the corporate worship assemblies, many believe it
is permissible to have a chorus after the closing prayer has been said — in other words
after the corporate worship assembly is over. For those who love the truth and hate every
false way, the question, “Does the Bible authorize it” should always come to mind. The
faithful truth lover will always want a “thus saith the Lord” for all that he does in worship
and service to God. As Paul said, “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7), yet faith
comes by hearing the Word of God (Rom. 10:17). Therefore, we walk (indicative of our
lifestyle) by the Word of God. Col. 3:17 declares, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do
all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” This verse just
doesn’t cover the worship assemblies, but it governs our everyday affairs. Christians are
not permitted to act and behave and do things their way Monday through Saturday or
anytime they are not in the worship assemblies of the church. No, the Christian is
governed by the authority of God’s word 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Paul put it like this
in I Cor. 10:31 — “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of
God.” The only way to glorify God is to abide by the authority of his word — either
generically or specifically.
Now, to the issue at hand. What about choruses, not in the corporate worship
assemblies, but after the closing prayer and after the formal worship has come to a close?
What does the Bible say and authorize about singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
(religious songs)? There are a handful of passages that address this subject. The two
most common are Eph. 5:19 and Col. 3:16. This is because these two scriptures contain
the most detail of any scriptures that address this subject. The passages read as follows:
Eph. 5:18b-19 — “. . . be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”
Col. 3:16 — “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing
one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the
Lord.”
Note the following parallels between these two passages:
EPHESIANS 5:18b-19 COLOSSIANS 3:16
“Be filled with the Spirit” “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly”
“Speaking to yourselves” “Teaching and admonishing one another”
“In psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” “In psalms and hymns and spiritual songs”
“Singing” “Singing”
“Making melody in your heart” “With grace in your hearts”
“To the Lord” “To the Lord”
These scriptures teach us some very important truths:
1.) Being filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18b) is explained by the parallel expression “let the
word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Col. 3:16).
2.) The expression “speaking to yourselves” (Eph. 5:19) is a reflexive, reciprocal pronoun.
This simply means that there is interchange of action. In other words, everyone is to sing
— not some sing while others listen. Choruses and the like violate this instruction.
“Teaching and admonishing one another” (Col. 3:16) is also reciprocal — everyone is to
teach and admonish.
3.) “Making melody in your heart” (Eph. 5:19) clearly defines where the melody is to be
made.
4.) What is to be sung? Paul said, “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.”
5.) These songs are to be sung “to the Lord.” This clearly indicates that singing psalms,
hymns, and spiritual songs is an act of worship that is to be directed to the Lord.
Do these scriptures apply when the worship of the church is being conducted? Must we
abide by the authority of these two scriptures? Since the singing of psalms, hymns, and
spiritual songs was very much an act of worship in the first century church (see I Cor. 14:
15; Heb. 2:12), and since the only two scriptures that give specific instructions concerning
the singing of these spiritual songs are Eph. 5:19 and Col. 3:16, then it has to be the case
that Eph. 5:19 and Col. 3:16 are the authority concerning the singing of these spiritual
songs in the worship assemblies.
Here is a question that we must take into consideration. It is a question that many fail to
think about. The question is, “When does the authority of Eph. 5:19 and Col. 3:16 apply?
Do they apply only when we are in the corporate worship assemblies, or do they apply at all
times, places and circumstances?” In other words, would the time of day in any alter or
make void God’s instructions as given in these two scriptures? Would the place in any way
alter or make void these instructions? Is there any circumstance that would render these
scriptures void? These are good questions, for they are basically asking, “When does God’s
authority apply?” Many people are not aware of the fact that the context of Eph. 5:19 and
Col. 3:16 is not specifically addressing the formal worship assemblies. The context in
which these two verses are located speak about everyday Christian living. The following
chart on the next page will bring the matter into clearer focus:
THE CONTEXT OF EPHESIANS 5:19
EVERYDAY CHRISTIAN LIVING ACTS OF WORSHIP
“Followers of God” (v. 1) “Speaking to yourselves in
“Walk in love” (v. 2) psalms and hymns and
Christians must not engage in immorality (v. 3-5) spiritual songs, singing and
Don’t be “children of disobedience” (v. 6) making melody in your heart
Don’t be partakers with false teachers (v. 6-7) to the Lord” (v. 19)
“Walk as children of light” (v. 8)
“Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord” (v. 10)
“Have no fellowship with darkness” (v. 11)
“Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead” (v. 14)
“Walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise” (v. 15)
“Redeeming the time” (v. 16)
“Be ye not unwise; understand the will of the Lord” (v. 17)
“Be not drunk with wine” (v. 18)
“Be filled with the Spirit” (v. 18)
“Giving thanks always for all things unto God” (v. 20)
If we were to make the same chart in reference to Col. 3:16, it would look the same, with
only one item of worship specifically mentioned in the context. As the above chart reveals,
Paul was addressing Christian living. The worship assemblies were not being addressed.
Yet, in v. 19, Paul addressed an act of worship, but he did so right in the middle of a
context addressing Christian living. Even after v. 19, Paul continued to address Christian
living. Why did he do that? Certainly, a part of Christian living is the singing of spiritual
songs (more on this later). Whenever Christians engage in such, here are the
instructions. This context therefore authorizes Christians to sing spiritual songs outside
the formal worship assemblies. It therefore follows that the instructions concerning
singing spiritual songs apply at all places, times, and circumstances.
In Acts 16, we learn that Paul and Silas were cast into prison. While in prison, “Paul and
Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God” (v. 25). This is an example of where two
Christians were together; it was not the worship assemblies, but yet, they engaged in the
act of singing praises. Now, does God’s word say anything about this matter? Indeed it
does, as we have already studied from Eph. 5:19 and Col. 3:16. These two scriptures not
only regulate our singing in the formal worship, but also outside the formal worship. The
bottom line is this: God’s authority applies all of time — not when we get ready for it to
apply. Note to whom Paul and Silas sang praises. The text says, “unto God.” This is
exactly what Paul commanded in Eph. 5:19 and Col. 3:16. Christians are not authorized to
use choruses, quartets, trios, duos (or whatever). Why not? Because God has nowhere
authorized there use in the NT. Think about this: Doesn’t it seem quite hypocritical to
condemn these practices in the formal worship assemblies and then turn right around
after the closing prayer and engage in that which was condemned 5 minutes earlier? It is
this inconsistency that many non-Christians have noticed in some congregations.
Brethren need to understand that worship is not where you are at or what time of the day
it is; worship is what you do! May we strive to teach our children to respect and uphold
the authority of the scriptures in all things! May we never lead them to believe that some
things are permissible when they are not authorized! If children are taught that choruses
and the like are okay outside of the formal worship assemblies, then when the get older,
don’t be surprised to actually find them in the formal worship assemblies! Based upon the
above, this is why I am against members of the church getting together singing (as a
singing group) to the elderly at the nursing home (or wherever). Also, based upon the
above, I am against have singing groups at weddings and funerals. Again, God’s authority
applies all of the time — not when we determine for it to apply. We don’t have the right to
turn it on and off like a light switch.