A defense of Hymns and Musical Instruments in Worship

Have you ever come across the denominations that refuse to allow musical instruments in their service? I was a member of one that not only didn’t allow musical instruments but also only allowed the singing of the Psalms. I was a member of the Reformed Presbyterians for roughly a decade.

These acapella churches and Psalm-only churches follow the regulative principle of worship. Which says anything not expressly commanded/or shown as an example in scripture is forbidden in worship.

But I would dispute that it is not expressly commanded to sing additional songs to the Psalms. Specifically Esphesians 5:19, Romans 5:9, Acts 16:25, and Collossians 3:16. All of them either order/show the singing of hymns or differientiate between hymns and Psalms. And also some order the singing of hymns, psalms and spiritual songs. Showing that the Psalm-only churches are in error.

Now the no instrument churches argue that there is no command nor example in the New Testament ordering the use of instruments. And I admit I fail to see any. But the New Testament is not the only part of scripture. There is also the Old Testament which I see plenty of examples for use of musical instruments.

David played a harp for Saul that kept the evil spirits away from Saul and made him feel good in 1 Samuel 16. 1 Chronicles 25 sees the sons of Jeduthun using a harp to praise and thank the Lord. Now they will try to claim that only deals with the temple worship and that you can’t use the instruments because there is no temple. Although I fail to see how David’s use of the harp is exclusive t othe temple in Chronicles.

But then we turn to the Psalms. The very songs that are often sung acapella. Psalm 33:2- 3 - Praise the LORD with the harp;
make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
3 Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.

Isn’t a bit strange to sing about praising the Lord with a harp and playing skillfully and then turning around and saying you aren’t allowed to praise the Lord with a harp during worship?

Or Psalm 49:4, 57:8, 71:22, 81:2, 92:3, 98:5, 108:1-2, 147:7, 149:3, 150:3.

And those are just searches using the word Harp in Quickverse. There was one other Psalm 43 but the context involves the temple so I omit it from the list.

Look at the context of 98 with verse 4 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;

I think there is plenty of Biblical evidence for using the musical instruments during service. If all of these Psalms are wrong, then why are they being sung? If they have been determined to be no longer valid, then its rather erronious to continue to sing them.

Can you tell I wasn't always the most popular attendant at the old church? I never was one to hold back how I really felt about things(like you needed me to point that out).

Just one of the reasons when asked what was the difference between the PCA and the RP church, a PCA member said "The PCA is more reformed then the RP church." :D