Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: October 23, 2005
SINGING PSALMS AND HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS:
WHEN DOES GOD’S AUTHORITY APPLY?
Ben Justice
Many of us are very familiar with the divine injunction given in Col. 3:17 — “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 is a very simple verse, but what it teaches
under girds and serves as the foundation for all that we do in our Christian
lives. We must have God’s authority (either generic or specific) for all that we do
in this life.
Paul declared in 2 Cor. 5:7, “For we walk by faith, not by sight:” Since faith comes
by hearing the Word of God (Rom. 10:17), and since we walk by faith, we
therefore walk by the Word of God, for this is the only way that one can walk by
faith.
Rom. 14:23 plainly states, “. . . for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Again, since
faith comes by hearing the Word of God, it therefore follows that whatsoever is
not of God’s word is sin. There is not a person anywhere that can operate by
faith and do things by faith apart from the revelation of God.
The Bible student is certainly aware of the fact that the NT speaks of singing.
Singing was/is an act of worship (I Cor. 14:15; Heb. 2:12). Eph. 5:19 and
Col. 3:16 are the only two Scriptures to be found in the NT that give the most
explicit and detailed instructions concerning the singing of psalms, hymns, and
spiritual songs. It is because of these two scriptures that we know how God
wants the singing of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to be carried out.
These two passages are parallel. They teach the following specific truths:
1.) We are commanded to “filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18). This is synonymous
with “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Col. 3:16). In other words, the
way a person is filled with the Spirit is by letting the word of Christ dwell in
them richly.
2.) “Speaking to yourselves” (Eph. 5:19) is synonymous with “teaching and
admonishing one another” (Col. 3:16). These two phrases are reciprocal,
reflexive pronouns, which means that everyone is to do it. You teach and
admonish me and I teach and admonish you. This, therefore, rules out someone
singing to me while I sit there and listen. There is simply no NT authority for
choirs, quartets, trios, duos, or solos.
3.) “Singing and making melody in your heart” (Eph. 5:19). is parallel with
“singing with grace in your hearts” (Col. 3:16). These phrases explain how we are
to speak to one another and teach and admonish one another.
4.) Singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs is to be done “to the Lord.”
This points to the worship aspect of our singing of spiritual songs.
These are clear commands of God regarding the singing of spiritual songs. God
has told us the way he wants it to be done. When we do otherwise, we have
sinned; we have ignored God’s teaching on the subject. Now, here is a question
that must be raised and addressed: When does the authority of Eph. 5:19 and
Col. 3:16 apply? Let’s now address some questions related to this specific
question.
1.) What about mechanical instruments outside of the corporate worship
assembly? Suppose after the closing prayer, we decided to sing spiritual songs.
However, this time, we would employ the mechanical instrument. Some have
argued that since the corporate worship assembly is over that we can now sing
with the mechanical instrument. However, just because we are outside of the
formal worship does this give us the right and liberty to set aside God’s authority
concerning the singing of psalms and hymns and spiritual songs? Does God
authority cease to apply any longer? Is God’s authority like a switch in that we
can turn it on or off whenever we desire?
2.) What about solos, quartets, and choirs outside of the corporate worship
assembly? Can the church, after the closing prayer has been said, have a choir
sing to them? Again, the question is, “When does the authority of Eph. 5:19 and
Col. 3:16 apply? Is it only in the formal worship services or in all situations and
circumstances?” It is highly inconsistent to argue that using mechanical
instruments in conjunction with the singing of spiritual songs is sinful outside
the formal worship and then argue that choirs are permissible outside of the
formal worship. The fact of the matter is this: THERE IS NO AUTHORITY FOR
EITHER. Think about this: When the closing prayer is said and thirty seconds
later we say that we can bring in the choir and have them sing to us, in reality
we have said, “Yes, God, we will obey your laws in the formal worship setting,
but now that the formal worship is over, we will just do it the way we want to do
it. We will just disregard your authority and laws, Lord.”
I believe it would do us well to consider the context of Eph. 5:19 and Col. 3:16.
The context of these passages doesn’t even deal with the worship services, but
with everyday Christian living. Verses 1-17 clearly deal with everyday Christian
living. Verse 18 commands the Christian to be filled with the Spirit. How the
Christian is filled with the Spirit is answered in v. 19ff. In v. 19, does the
apostle Paul have the formal worship assemblies in mind when he set forth the
laws of God on the singing of spiritual songs? Most certainly he did. The
question is, “Why didn’t he place those laws in a context that does regulate the
formal worship services? “ The answer is very simple: BECAUSE THAT IS THE
WAY IT IS TO BE DONE, NO MATTER WHERE OR WHEN THE SINGING OF
SPIRITUAL SONGS TAKES PLACE.
Suppose there is a funeral. And, suppose someone decided to get a woman
preacher to preach a message and lead a prayer. Would there be anything wrong
with that? I believe most everyone would say, “Yes.” The question is, “Why
would it be wrong?” Very simply, because it violates Scriptures (I Tim. 2:11-14).
Suppose someone says, “But it is not in the worship services.” No, that will not
work, for God’s laws apply all of the time, not when we get ready for them to
apply. The same applies to the singing of spiritual songs. Again, God’s laws
apply all of the time.
A question that most always comes up is this: “What about singing groups at
funerals and weddings?” Someone who is thinking logically will say, “Since the
authority of God’s laws apply all of the time, then it is wrong at funerals and
weddings.” On the face of it, when a group sings psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs at a funeral or wedding, are they or are they not in violation of
the instructions set forth in Eph. 5:19 and Col. 3:16? The answer is, “Yes.”
What if someone says, “It’s not worship.” If it’s not worship, then what is it?
Many brethren have been misled to believe that worship only occurs at a certain
place and time. However, worship is what we do, no matter at what time or at
what place. Singing spiritual songs is always an act of worship. While Paul and
Silas were in prison at Philippi, Acts 16:25 records, “And at midnight Paul and Silas
prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.” Paul and Silas
did exactly what Eph. 5:19 and Col. 3:16 teaches. One did not sing while the
other was silent. Both Paul and Silas sang. They sang praises “unto God.” Isn’t
this exactly what Eph. 5:19 and Col. 3:16 teaches? Indeed, it does! Were Paul
and Silas offering worship up to God? No doubt about it.
Why would one think it unscriptural to use a woman to preach and pray at a
funeral, but not unscriptural to have a singing group at a funeral? Why would we
apply God’s authority in the case of a woman preaching or praying, but not apply
God’s authority in the case of singing. Just because it is a time of mourning
does not give us liberty to cast aside God’s laws on the matter and say, “I will do
it the way I want to.”
Sometimes, people will ask, “What about listening to religious songs on the
radio or tape that employs the instrument?” Question: “Is it wrong for those
singing religious songs to employ the mechanical instrument?” I believe most
everyone would say, “Absolutely.” Now, how in the world can we show our
approval by listening to them? You have endorsed their practice, whether one
wants to admit it or not. How in the world can I say it is wrong for them, but
turn right around and listen to them? Such seems to be hypocritical. Why would
anyone who truly believes that it is wrong to use the mechanical instrument in
the singing of spiritual songs show their approval for such by participating in
listening to those songs?
The bottom line is this: GOD’S AUTHORITY APPLIES ALL OF THE TIME, not
when we get ready for it to apply.