Should We Use Musical Instruments In Our Worship To God?
When it comes to worshipping God, some churches do so in a manner of their own choosing; 
other churches worship a certain way because that is the tradition they have inherited; still others try to borrow from other cultures and religions. But if we are to call ourselves followers of Jesus, doesn’t that mean we should be doing as His word commands us?
The purpose of this tract is not to condemn those believers who worship God in a different way than me. For so many of them the words of Paul are true, that “they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge” (Rom.10:2). The purpose is simply to ask, “How does God want to be worshipped?” The public worship of our Father and Saviour is the most important thing believers do each week, so isn’t it important that we do it in a way 
that is pleasing to Him (Eph.5:10)? “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (Jn.4:24). God has not left it to us to guess at how He wants to be praised. He has clearly revealed in His word what is truthfully pleasing to Him. Putting it as plainly as possible: The Lord’s disciples must not use instruments in worship because it is not in the New Testament and because it is contrary to the nature of Christian worship.
In order to help us all to understand better what the Lord’s will is, we need to look at all that the New Testament has to say concerning Singing and the use of Musical Instruments in Praise and Worship. 
The earliest mention of singing in the New Testament is found in the account of the Upper Room, where Jesus and His apostles were gathered together to celebrate the Lord’s Supper. The Holy Spirit tells us, “After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives” (Mt.26:30; Mk.14:26). Years later, when Paul and Silas had been beaten and thrown into prison for preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God, we are told, “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them” (Acts16:25).
Paul had to take the time to teach the church in Corinth what the Lord required of them when they worshipped together. In admonishing the tongue
-speaker to pray that he might interpret also, Paul remarks, “I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also” (1 Cor.14:15). In the context he talks about flutes, harps and trumpets, but these musical instruments are used only to illustrate Paul’s point regarding the use of speaking in foreign languages. Each of us knows the difference in sounds between a flute and a harp and we can easily recognize a tune played on either instrument (v.7). Soldiers are trained to recognize the difference in commands that are given by a trumpet (v.8). Paul’s use of musical instruments in 1Cor.14 is simply to teach that speaking in tongues must serve a purpose; that both the speaker and the hearer should understand and be edified by the words spoken.
Two other verses in the New Testament speak of Jesus singing with his people; one group predominantly Jewish and the other predominantly Gentile in origin. “THEREFORE I WILL GIVE PRAISE TO YOU AMONG THE GENTILES, AND I WILL SING TO YOUR NAME” (Rom. 15:9). Here the context is talking about the acceptance of the Gentiles into the Kingdom of God and their cause for hope now. But it is clear that Jesus with his followers will praise the Father and sing to His name. Heb.2:12 states; “I WILL PROCLAIM YOUR NAME TO MY BRETHREN, IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE.” Again, the verse in its context talks of Jesus associating with his people in their worship of the Father in song.
Let us now consider those verses where the Holy Spirit teaches us how we are to conduct ourselves in private and public adulation of the Father. Jas.5:13 states plainly; “Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.” Both praying and singing are counterparts to suffering and cheerfulness. Singing does not involve the use of mechanical instruments, in just the same way that praying does not involve their use.
The last two verses for consideration are parallel passages, which express the exact same desire of the Holy Spirit as to how we are to praise God. “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19) “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Col. 3:16). Look at the words that He uses to express His Divine will; “speak”, “sing”, “teach”, “admonish”. Does the Lord ever tell us to use musical instrument? Make “melody with your heart to the Lord,” “singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Could it be any plainer?
The teaching of the New Testament is clear in the manner of 
worship that Our Father wants. He desires that we sing praises to Him, that we sing and make the melody with our heart to the Lord. There is not a single passage in the pages of the New Testament that talks about the church ever using musical instruments, there is no scripture that commands its use, or ever infers its presence in the assembly of worshippers. Having looked at all the verses, the only conclusion left to those who wish to be pleasing the Lord is to do as He says, regardless of other traditions, other religions or other churches. “If you love me you will keep my commandments” (Jn.14:15). Do you love Him?
